Transfer

Transfer is the autonomous link between storage and experimentation, moving cassette trays with Petri dishes between stations with repeatable precision.It usually transfers casettes from a MiniTower device to a Multiview device using its mobile cart to pick up and display the casettes. It coordinates pick-up, transport, and hand-off so single-worm assays in Multiview can run continuously, minimizing manual handling and reducing variability.

Fig. 1.- The Transfer design.

The system uses a mobile cart that carries one cassette at a time on an integrated conveyor belt. Motorized grippers pull the cassette from the source interface onto the cart, secure it with alignment fixtures and clamps, then drive the belt to deliver it to the destination interface; the process is mirrored for the return trip. Encoders and limit sensing ensure smooth motion, accurate positioning, and gentle transfers.

Fig. 2.- The Transfer carriage design (left) and a video representation of the pallet handling (right).

The Transfer uses a compatible cassette, which is similar to previous cassettes versiones except that it has a port that allows the Transfer to pick-up and hand-off the pallets. This cassette is replaced in the miniTower v1, as shown in the following figure.

The actual versión of The Transfer, perfectly functional in Avicemis Labs is shown in the following picture (Fig. 3.), along with a MiniTower Device and the new version of multiview

Fig. 3.- Actual versión of The Transfer shown in the Avicemis Lab.

Now some results performed at the Avicemis lab using the Transfer in order to differentiate strains of C. elegans are shown below (Fig. 4.)

Fig. 4.- Validation results for a healthspan assay in Multiview (TRL6 phase).