Method for securing a distributor plate to a backing plate of a chromatography column and a chromatography column

1. A method of securing a distributor plate to a backing plate of an adaptor assembly of a chromatography column comprising:

providing the distributor plate and the backing plate of the adaptor assembly and a base assembly;

wherein the distributor plate and the backing plate of the adaptor assembly have an air pocket therebetween;

wherein the base assembly and the adaptor assembly have a cavity therebetween;

wherein the adaptor assembly is movable within the cavity of the chromatography column;

wherein the air pocket is in fluid connection with the cavity via an adapter passage in the distributor plate of the adaptor assembly; and

wherein the chromatography column comprises an adapter port putting the cavity in fluid connection with an exterior of the chromatography column;

closing fluid communication through the adapter port and through the adapter passage; and

moving the adaptor assembly within the cavity so that an internal vacuum is created between the distributor plate and the backing plate.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

closing the adapter port;

opening the adapter passage;

moving the adapter assembly away from the base assembly to remove air from the air pocket; and

closing the passage to secure the distributor plate to the backing plate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the face of the distributor plate in contact with the backing plate is reinforced.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the distributor plate is reinforced by ribbing.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using locating means to co-locate the backing plate and the distributor plate.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of allowing air to return to the air pocket to release the distributor plate from the backing plate.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of securing the chromatography column to the base distributor plate by generating an internal vacuum therebetween.

8. A method of securing a distributor plate to a backing plate of a base assembly of a chromatography column comprising:

providing the distributor plate and the backing plate of the base assembly and an adapter assembly;

wherein the distributor plate and the backing plate of the base assembly have an air pocket therebetween;

wherein the base assembly and the adaptor assembly have a cavity therebetween;

wherein the base assembly is movable within the cavity of the chromatography column;

wherein the air pocket is in fluid connection with the cavity via a base passage in the distributor plate of the base assembly; and

wherein the chromatography column comprises a base port putting the cavity in fluid connection with an exterior of the chromatography column;

closing fluid communication through the base port and through the base passage; and

moving the base assembly within the cavity so that an internal vacuum is created between the distributor plate and the backing plate.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

closing the base port;

opening the base passage;

moving the base assembly away from the adapter assembly to remove air from the air pocket; and

closing the base passage to secure the distributor plate to the backing plate.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the face of the distributor plate in contact with the backing plate is reinforced.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the distributor plate is reinforced by ribbing.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising using locating means to co-locate the backing plate and the distributor plate.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of allowing air to return to the air pocket to release the distributor plate from the backing plate.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of securing the chromatography column to the base distributor plate by generating an internal vacuum therebetween.