Pipette washer
View Patent ↗A pipette washer comprising a plurality of cells for receiving pipettes is disclosed. Each of the cells comprises a top opening for receiving pipettes to be washed and a bottom opening. A support member supports the cells with the top opening accessible to receive pipettes to be washed. A hose system is coupled to the bottom opening on the cells. A supply hose is connected to the hose system. Each of the cells is supported in the support member with an orientation extending transverse to the horizontal. Each of the support cells comprises a cell member having a top width and a bottom width. The width is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, each cell member is conical in shape. A housing contains and rechannels washing liquid while at the same time having an open front to allow for convenient access to the cells.
1. A pipette washer for washing pipettes having a wide top and a narrow tip, comprising:
(a) a plurality of cells for receiving pipettes, each of said cells comprising a top opening for receiving pipettes to be washed and a bottom opening, wherein said bottom opening is smaller than the top of said pipette;
(b) a support member for supporting said cells with said top openings oriented to receive pipettes to be washed;
(c) a plurality of manifolds communicating with a group of said cells;
(d) a hose system coupled to said bottom openings on said cells, said hose system being releasably connected to said plurality of manifolds communicating with a group of said cells, wherein said cells are organized into gangs, whereby each of the cells in each of said gangs is connectable as a group to said supply hose; and
(e) a supply hose connected to said hose system.
2. A pipette washer as in claim 1 , further comprising a metering device for adding a quantity of a cleanser material to a fluid being supplied through said supply hose.
3. A pipette washer as in claim 1 , further comprising a fluidic switch having a plurality of inputs and an output, said output being coupled to said supply hose.
4. A pipette washer as in claim 3 , wherein a vacuum is connected to one of said fluidic switch inputs.
5. A pipette washer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cell member is conical in shape.
6. A pipette washer as in claim 3 , wherein said fluidic switch is a valve.
7. A pipette washer as in claim 1 , further comprising a housing for containing said plurality of cells and said support member, said housing defining an open front for the convenient loading of pipettes to be cleaned and the convenient removal of cleaned pipettes.
8. A pipette washer as in claim 7 , wherein said housing comprises a roof for containing cleaning liquid and returning water to said pipettes to be cleaned.
9. A pipette washer as in claim 7 , wherein said housing comprises a roof for containing cleaning liquid and guiding water to said pipettes to be cleaned.
10. A pipette washer as in claim 9 , wherein each of said cells is supported in said support member with an orientation extending transverse to the horizontal, each of said support cells comprising a cell member having a top width and a bottom width, said width being wider at the top and narrower at the bottom.
11. A pipette washer as in claim 1 , wherein said fluidic switch is controlled by a control circuit.
12. A pipette washer for washing pipettes having a wide top and a narrow tip, comprising:
(a) a plurality of cells for receiving pipettes, each of said cells comprising a top opening for receiving pipettes to be washed and a bottom opening, wherein said bottom opening is smaller than the top of said pipette;
(b) a support member for supporting said cells with said top openings oriented to receive pipettes to be washed;
(c) a hose system coupled to said bottom openings on said cells;
(d) a supply hose connected to said hose system; and
(e) a fluidic switch having a plurality of inputs and an output, said output being coupled to said supply hose, wherein said fluidic switch is connected to a source of washing fluid and a vacuum, and wherein said fluidic switch is connected to allow washing fluid to the supplied to said supply hose for a first period of time, said fluidic switch having a position which allows for the draining of washing fluid during a second period of time, said second period of time being after said first period of time, said fluidic switch, after said second period of time configurable to take another position where said fluidic switch is coupled to said vacuum to allow for the drying of pipettes in said cells.
13. A pipette washer as in claim 12 , wherein each of said cells is supported in said support member with an orientation extending transverse to the horizontal, each of said support cells comprising a cell member having a top width and a bottom width, said width being wider at the top and narrower at the bottom.
14. A pipette washer as in claim 13 , wherein said cell member is conical in shape.
15. A pipette washer for washing pipettes, optionally pipettes having a wide top and a narrow tip, with a washing fluid, the pipette washer comprising a support member for supporting the pipettes and a hose system to supply the washing fluid to the pipettes wherein the support member comprises a plurality of cells for receiving pipettes, each said cell having a top opening for receiving pipettes to be washed and a bottom opening wherein the support member can support the cells with the top openings accessible to receive pipettes to be washed and wherein the hose system is coupled to the cell bottom openings to supply the washing fluid upwardly to the cells and upwardly into the pipettes received in the cells, wherein each of said cells is supported in said support member with an orientation extending transverse to the horizontal, each of said support cells comprising a cell member having a top width and a bottom width, said top width being greater than the bottom width, a fluidic switch having a plurality of inputs and an output, said output being coupled to said supply hose, wherein said fluidic switch is connected to a source of washing fluid and a vacuum wherein said fluid switch is controlled by a control circuit which causes, washing fluid to be supplied to said supply hose for a first period of time, said control circuit causing said fluidic switch to take a position which allows for the draining of washing fluid during a second period of time, said second period of time being after said first period of time, said control circuit causing said fluidic switch after said second period of time to take another position where said fluid switch is coupled to said vacuum to allow for the drying of pipettes in said cells.
16. A pipette washer as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising a metering device for adding a quantity of a cleanser material to the washing fluid.
17. A pipette washer as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said cells are organized into gangs, each of said gangs being connectable as a group to said supply hose.
18. A pipette washer for washing pipettes as in claim 17 , wherein said gangs are color-coded.
19. A pipette washer as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said housing comprises a roof for containing cleaning liquid and returning or guiding water to said pipettes to be cleaned.
20. A pipette washer for washing pipettes, optionally pipettes having a wide top and a narrow tip, with a washing fluid, the pipette washer comprising a support member for supporting the pipettes and a hose system to supply the washing fluid to the pipettes wherein the support member comprises a plurality of cells for receiving pipettes, each said cell having a top opening for receiving pipettes to be washed and a bottom opening wherein the support member can support the cells with the top openings accessible to receive pipettes to be washed and wherein the hose system is coupled to the cell bottom openings to supply the washing fluid upwardly to the cells and upwardly into the pipettes received in the cells, wherein each of said cells is supported in said support member with an orientation extending transverse to the horizontal, each of said support cells comprising a cell member having a top width and a bottom width, said top width being greater than the bottom width, further comprising a housing for containing said plurality of cells and said support member, said housing defining an open front for the convenient loading of pipettes to be cleaned and the convenient removal of cleaned pipettes, and a fluidic switch having a plurality of inputs and an output, said output being coupled to said supply hose and in that said fluidic switch is connected to a source of washing fluid and a vacuum, and wherein said fluid switch is controlled by a control circuit which causes washing fluid to the supplied to said supply hose for a first period of time, said control circuit causing said fluidic switch to take a position which allows for the draining of washing fluid during a second period of time, said second period of time being after said first period of time, said control circuit causing said fluidic switch after said second period of time to take another position where said fluid switch is coupled to said vacuum to allow for the drying of pipettes in said cells.
21. A pipette washer as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising a metering device for adding a quantity of a cleanser material to a fluid being supplied through said supply hose.