DSE Stacker: Close-Packing Stacker with Double-Screw Elevating for Reagent Dispenser

Traditional stackers for reagent dispensers are complex and cumbersome in structure since the transmission systems in the chambers are as tall as the chambers storing separated microplates. This paper designs a novel close-packing stacker system with function of elevating and separating of microplates, called DSE stacker. The DSE stacker, driven by two motors, can manipulate close-packed microplates one by one in a tall chamber. The DSE stacker consists of two symmetrical screws, two stepper motors, a chamber, a carrier, and transmissions. In a DSE output stacker, the lowest microplate can be extracted, separated from upper microplates and then transferred automatically to a carrier under the chamber. In a DSE input stacker, the process is reversed. This paper gives framework on kinematics of the DSE stacker system in detail. The results of analyses show that the stacker system is valid.