High-throughput automation platform

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology company embarked upon a project to streamline its liquid handler loading/unloadingg processes with the support of Hampshire-based Peak Analysis and Automation (PAA). 

Early in the project, PAA recognised that the existing liquid handler loading and unloading process would create a major bottleneck in the automated workflow. To overcome this challenge and meet the required throughput, PAA implemented an innovative approach to optimise the loading, processing, and unloading of labware and consumables on the deck of the liquid handler.

The systems that PAA developed comprises two Mitsubishi Electric RV-8CRL industrial robots, loading three Lynx liquid handlers (Dynamic Devices) with bespoke conveyor loading systems, operating in two individual workcells that are linked together by an overhead 8m linear shuttle system, allowing for quick and effective sample transfer between the two platforms.

Mitsubishi Electric HG-KR servo motors and MR-J4B servo amplifiers drive a conveyor belt mounted onto the liquid handler deck, which allows for entire trays of labware to be fed into the instrument in one movement. As a result, the cell is capable of loading up to nine pieces of labware simultaneously rather than individually, delivering a significant improvement in overall throughput.

The Mitsubishi architecture can be configured using the CR800 robot controller’s standard functionality, while all the additional servo axes, communication and distributed I/O on both platforms were connected without additional components.

gb.mitsubishielectric.com/fa/products/rbt/robot/vertical