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From the Factory to the Lab:

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jt Applied Robotics

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Solutions in reach

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Flexible automation solutions that improve quality and quantity.

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INTRODUCTION

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As the life sciences market continues to

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grow so does the demand for automated

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solutions that can meet the needs of

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academic laboratories and biotechnology

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research companies across the country.

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Scientists in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology

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and clinical diagnostics seeking to produce

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faster, more accurate data at a reduced

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cost have increasingly turned to industrial

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automation suppliers—who have overcome

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similar obstacles in microchip and

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electronic applications—for flexible

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automation solutions.

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Applied Robotics, a global supplier of end-

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of-arm tooling, has responded to this need

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by developing a flexible solution package

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that enables laboratories to acquire the

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robotic tools necessary to carry out the

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multitude of automation applications

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required in scientific discovery. This

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customizable suite of products, including

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servo and pneumatic grippers, microplate

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hotels, tool changers, collision sensors and

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connectivity solutions, can be applied to the

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user's choice of motion systems—whether

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it is a robot arm, linear slide or other method

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of mobility. These products, which integrate

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easily with each other and operate within

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a closed or open architecture system,

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often result in high throughput at a

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significant cost reduction.

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By understanding the value of flexible,

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customized end-of-arm tooling solutions

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that Applied Robotics is able to provide,

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life scientists will be able to witness greater

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efficiencies and benefit from accelerated

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research and development processes,

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reductions in human error, increased

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volumes of sample tracking and/or

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improvements in sterile conditions.

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FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS

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Applications Served

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• Material handling (microplates, flasks,

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tubes, slides, tip boxes, etc.)

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•Assay development

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• Sample preparation

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• Compound storage and retrieval

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• Microplate reformatting-replication

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• High-throughput screening

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Key Performance Advantages

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•Accelerated research and

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development processes

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• Improved sterile conditions

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• Increased production volumes

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• Greater precision

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• Reduction in human errors

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• Reduction in human injuries

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• Conserved laboratory space

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• Decreased costs

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APPLIED ROBOTICS SOLUTIONS AT WORK

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This diagram demonstrates how

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Applied Robotics solution components can

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be integrated to automate a more effective,

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more efficient laboratory process.

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Robot

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INCREASE EFFICIENCY. REDUCE COSTS.

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Collision

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Sensor

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Tool

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Changer

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Servo

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Gripper

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Microplate

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Hotel

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Problem	Solution	Result	Savings
Timing problem with robot instrument interface leads to tool crashing and assay failure	Collision sensor	Preservation of experiments that would otherwise be lost	$10,000 to $100,000 or more (excluding costs associated with tool damage)
Automated plate handling and pipetting for plate reformatting applications are currently performed by two robots	Tool changer	One robot ready to handle multiple tasks	$25,000 or more per robot
Plates needing handling in both landscape and portrait orientation	Servo gripper with force sensing and feedback	Programmable to accommodate plates in varying orientations, eliminating the need for additional tooling	$1,000 to $5,000 per robot $25,000 or more by eliminating extra robots and multiple tools
Misalignments causing cross- contamination of costly research experiments	Microplate hotel and shelving	Precise location of plate storage in hotel and on microplate shelves	$1,000 or more in sampling errors

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APPLIED ROBOTICS SOLUTION

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COMPONENTS: AN OVERVIEW

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Collision Sensor

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• Operates on an air pressure system

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• Regulated air supply provides

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positive, variable pressure to

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hold the collision sensor rigid

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during normal operation

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• On impact, the air chamber seal is

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opened, while the shutdown signal is

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immediately sent to the system controller

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Tool Changer

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• Offers the flexibility needed

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for one robot to complete

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multiple tasks within a

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self-contained environment

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• Conserves floor space by

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minimizing number of

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robots needed

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• Reduces risk of contamination

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due to human error

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• Built with a unique latching mechanism-

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positive, non-gravity disconnect, greater

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repeatability area and reduced wear tolerances

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Servo Gripper

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• Designed for open or closed

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control architecture systems

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• Interchangeable fingers to

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handle microplates, test tubes

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and other media

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•Able to handle microplates in portrait or

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landscape orientation

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• Programmable to sense force

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(tactile and intuitive)

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• 76.2 mm of finger travel

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• Position servo control and feedback

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• Variable grip force

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• Easy installation and programming

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Microplate Hotel

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• Sturdy, lightweight hotel mounts

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to the working surface of an

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aluminum locator

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• Locator allows repeatability

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when hotel is removed for loading,

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unloading or cleaning

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•Available in portrait orientation

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• Shelves are autoclavable, made of

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chemically resistant plastic, and are

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able to move vertically to accommodate

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various plate thicknesses

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PROBLEM DEFINED. SOLUTION IN REACH.

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Case Study

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To automate the detection of IgG antibodies

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in human serum panels to cytomegalovirus,

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rubella virus and Toxoplasma gondii and to

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simultaneously perform all three tests at once

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from a single sample in sequential assays at a

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rate of 60 per hour.

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Applied Robotics' collision sensor protected

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the automation sequencing from unforeseen

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crashes and subsequent damage to the tooling

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and serum.

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Case Study

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An OEM provider of life science automation

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solutions needed to automate multiple steps of

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an enzymatic assay process to identify kinase

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inhibiting compounds from an enzyme inhibitor

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set within an "island" of automation. The "island"

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is comprised of a SCARA robot, plate handler

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and liquid dispense head.

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On-the-fly tool changing allowed for changes

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between the plate handling tool and the dispense

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head to occur within the closed environment.

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Case Study

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An international manufacturer of electrophoresis

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instrumentation needed to verify the electrical

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circuit integrity in machines used in sealing

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gel vacuum chambers.

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Quick connect/disconnect electrical modules

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provided the ability to test the correctness of

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the wiring.

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Case Study

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An international pharmaceutical research

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company using robotics for compound

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storage and retrieval needed to protect

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the robot from crashing during a 75-step

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programming sequence.

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Collision sensors were installed to prevent

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crashes and unnecessary reprogramming.

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For More Information

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For more information about Applied Robotics'

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laboratory automation solutions visit

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www.arobotics.com.

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