The Automation Partnership Introduces HomeBase Automated Plate Store
HomeBase stores any type of microtitre plate, including shallow, medium, and deep well plates. Designed for easy integration with other robotic systems, HomeBase can cherry-pick individual microtubes or bottles while supporting a variety of output mechanisms, including manually-accessed drawers, individual plate handoffs, multi-plate handoffs, and stackers.
HomeBase storage trays store, deliver any sized plate.
For Berlin's protein structure analysis factory, HomeBase will hold 10,000 special plates for growing crystals and will interface with an automated imaging system. According to TAP, Max Planck Molecular Genetics chose HomeBase because the system provides high-density, automated plate storage and interfacing without disturbing the crystallization process. Protein crystallization requires storage under controlled conditions with periodic retrieval to inspect for crystal growth. Crystals are then retrieved and examined by x-ray crystallography to determine their protein structure and reveal the best binding sites as targets for drug discovery.
Flexible, Controlled Storage
HomeBase advances TAP's Haystack line of storage systems for compound and reagent management. Like other Haystack modules, HomeBase is flexible, modular, and can grow or be modified as requirements change.
HomeBase consists of a robotically accessed storage rack holding multi-purpose storage trays. Trays are available for every type of labware in common use, allowing a single HomeBase store to hold mixed labware within the same racking system. HomeBase uses a tray transfer robot to pull trays out of the racking and transport them to the pick/place robot. A variety of pick/place robots are available for the transport of whole trays out of HomeBase, or for picking individual plates, tubes, or vials.
HomeBase advances TAP's Haystack automation system.
HomeBase is modular and can be tailor-made to your requirements. Various heights, widths and depths are available to suit your storage needs and available space. Single sided and double sided systems are also available. Standard HomeBase stores have a single tray transfer robot and a single pick/place module. High performance systems can have two tray transfer robots and multiple pick/place modules for the highest possible throughputs and flexibility.
Specifications
Dimensions—HomeBase is available in a variety of standard height, width and depth frames. The frames fit through a standard door and are bolted together on installation.
Height: 8, 9 or 10 inches
Depth: 6 inches (single sided); 8 inches (double sided)
Width: From 6 to 40 inches
Capacity—An end-user's selection of standard height, width, and depth frames, as well as the type and mix of labware to be stored, determines HomeBase's capacity.
The following tables detail the capacity of a 10-inch high store at available widths and depths storing some commonly used labware:
Throughput—The throughput of the store is determined by the number of storage modules, the number of tray transfer robots, the number of pick/place robots and the type of order being fulfilled. The throughput of a standard HomeBase store (with one tray transfer robot and one pick/place module) will vary from 150 to 450 items moved per hour. The fastest throughput of 450 items moved per hour is achieved when items are being retrieved serially.
Environmental Control—Various environmental control options are available, including: -20°C, 4°C, 14°C, 20°C, and 38°C. Controlled humidity options are also available.
Pick/Place Robot—Pick/place robots can be added to increase throughput or for stores providing more than one type of output (for example, a store which holds and supplies racks of microtubes, but which can also provide individually cherry picked tubes).
Integration Options—HomeBase is available in several formats:
- Standalone, manually loaded via stackers
- Robotically loaded
- Integrated with liquid handling equipment
- In a Haystack compound management system
About TAP
TAP designs and manufactures advanced automated lab systems for the life sciences using robotics, image analysis, and software. TAP products are installed at more than twenty leading life science companies world-wide, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, SmithKline Beecham, and AstraZeneca. Based in Cambridge, England and founded in 1988, TAP is a private company with more than 120 staff in Europe and the United States.
For more information: Eric Kaldy, The Automation Partnership, 266 Main St., Suite 26, Medfield, MA 02052. Tel: 508-359-5800, ext. 21. Fax: 508-359-9352.
Angelo DePalma