Clamp for a microtiter plate and clamp module

Abstract

The invention relates to a clamp for pressing a rectangular lid onto an upper face of a rectangular microtiter plate having two parallel longitudinal sides and two parallel transverse sides and a lower face. The invention further relates to a clamp module for storing, positioning, fastening and removing such a clamp. In order to provide, for a lid of a microtiter plate, a clamping system that is not bound to a base plate of a shaking device and is suitable for use in an automated laboratory environment but can also be manually operated if necessary, a clamp is proposed which is effective directly on the unit consisting of the microtiter plate and the lid thereon and can be handled in an automated laboratory environment by means of a clamp module.

Description

[0001]Clamp for a Microtiter Plate and Clamp Module: The invention relates to a clamp designed for pressing a rectangular lid onto the top side of a rectangular microtiter plate with two parallel longitudinal sides and two parallel transverse sides, as well as a bottom side. The invention also relates to a clamp module for storing, positioning, attaching, and removing such a clamp. A microtiter plate is used to examine the biological properties of samples. Microtiter plates are usually made of plastic, typically polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride. They contain many isolated wells arranged in rows and columns. According to the ANSI standard, as recommended by the Society for Biomolecular Screening (SBS), the exact dimensions are approximately 127.76 mm × 85.48 mm × 14.35 mm.There are various formats, all based on the same rectangular base and varying in height: - 24-well plate - 48-well plate - 96-well plate - 384-well plate - 1536-well plate. The 384-well and 1536-well plates are not used for cell culture. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann. Microtiter plates are used for a variety of microbiological procedures, such as cell cultures or the screening of technical bioreactions. Due to the large number of wells and the use of identical types, they are well-suited for culturing and testing large numbers of samples. Filling is usually done manually with multichannel pipettes, and in high-throughput applications, mostly with pipetting robots. For cell culture in shaken incubators, microtiter plates and their wells are generally sealed with a lid. The lid prevents spillage and drying of the contents in the individual wells. To ensure a tight seal, the lid is pressed onto the microtiter plate using a clamping system. Spring clamps and screw clamps are commonly used, allowing for easy connection and separation of the lid and microtiter plate, provided the plate is placed on the shaker table.The clamping systems known from the prior art are operated manually and are permanently attached to the incubator's shaking table. Due to space constraints within the incubator and their manual operation, these known clamping systems are not suitable for automated laboratory environments. The necessary steps for inserting the microtiter plate into the clamping system are too complex to be automated with existing robots. Furthermore, a microtiter plate inserted into the clamping system and sealed with its lid cannot be transported further. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Clients\Kuehner\24014-02\note 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 2 von 30From EP 4 186 971 A1, a method for incubating cells in a microtiter plate is known, wherein the microtiter plate with its lid attached is placed on a movable base plate of a shaking device, and the shaking device includes a clamp for reliably attaching the microtiter plate with its lid to the base plate using a robot, and for easily releasing the clamp after incubation. The clamp comprises a frame which is rotatably mounted at a first end about a first axis of rotation parallel to the base plate. The frame can be pivoted about the axis of rotation from an open position to a closed position, in which the frame is relatively close to the base plate and clamps the microtiter plate between the frame and the base plate.The frame is fixed in the closed position by means of an elongated ferromagnetic element rotatably arranged at a second end of the frame, which interacts with a second elongated ferromagnetic element arranged on the base plate. The first and second ferromagnetic elements are rotatable relative to each other about an axis of rotation from a first orientation, in which the elongated first and second ferromagnetic elements are perpendicular to each other and are not magnetically attracted, to a second orientation, in which the elements are aligned in their longitudinal directions and are magnetically attracted. Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the objective of creating a clamping system for the lid of a microtiter plate that is not bound to a base plate of a shaking device, and which is suitable for use in [Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p.]eite 3 von 30The invention is suitable for an automated laboratory environment, but can also be operated manually if necessary. In particular, it should be ensured that the clamp is positioned and attached centrally to the lid, both during automated and manual clamping. The solution is based on the idea of ​​creating a clamp that acts directly on the unit consisting of the microtiter plate and the attached lid, and that can be handled in an automated laboratory environment by means of a clamp module. Specifically, the problem is solved by a clamp with the features of claim 1 and a clamp module with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the features of the dependent claims. The clamp is primarily designed for robotic handling, but can also be operated manually. For manual operation, a tool is required to rotate the drive element.The unit, consisting of a microtiter plate with a sealing lid attached to the clamp, can be transported between a shaking incubator and various laboratory devices, e.g., a liquid handler, while remaining sterile. The clamp according to the invention is compatible with conventional microtiter plates and common lid systems, e.g., the Duetz lid system. Automation is possible due to the design of the clamp and the threaded drive for clamping the lid. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 4 von 30To ensure that the clamp is positioned and attached centrally to the lid during both automated and manual clamping, the crossbar, which is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal beam, has an angled section at each of its opposite ends, particularly for manual operation. These angled sections at opposite ends of the crossbar can be brought into contact with the longitudinal sides of the lid. The side tabs, to which the longitudinal beam is attached at its ends, can be brought into contact with the opposite transverse sides, and the angled sections of the side tabs can be brought into contact with the underside of the microtiter plate. In automated operation, the angled sections at opposite ends of the crossbar are not strictly necessary, as the clamp is always automatically positioned centrally on the lid and then clamped.The permanently perpendicular arrangement of the crossbeam to the longitudinal beam, due to the anti-rotation device, ensures improved force transmission of the clamp into the microtiter plate with the lid attached at six different points, regardless of whether the operation is automated or manual. The clamp module according to the invention can be used as a stand-alone solution. The capacity of the clamp module can be expanded by appropriately adjusting the holding capacity of the clamp magazine. The clamp module can also be mechanically connected to other devices or integrated into other devices, for example, a liquid handler or an automated shaking incubator. In order to operate the drive element of the threaded drive with a combined screw and [Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p.] eite 5 von 30To set the gripper unit into a rotary motion, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is preferably arranged on the upper side of the longitudinal beam. The side tabs of the clamp are thin-walled to avoid unnecessarily increasing the dimensions of the unit consisting of the microtiter plate and the attached lid. To ensure the largest possible opening of the clamp on the underside and thus good contact of the microtiter plate with the flat support surface of the transfer platform of the clamp module, the length of the two angled sections of the side tabs in the direction of the longitudinal beam is less than a quarter of the length of the longitudinal beam. This ensures that the angled sections only contact the transverse side at the edges of the underside of the microtiter plate, while the longitudinal sides remain largely free, so that the microtiter plate can be easily manipulated by other actuators in an automated environment.In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the side tabs preferably have large openings arranged and dimensioned such that selected areas of the transverse sides of the microtiter plate are visible. These selected areas may be those in which, for example, a barcode is affixed to the transverse side of the microtiter plate, which is visible through the large opening and can be read automatically. The openings also reduce the weight of the clamp and thus improve handling in an automated environment. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 6 von 30To make the best possible use of the installation space in the staple magazine of the staple module, the crossbeam, arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal beam, is preferably designed such that several identical staples can be nested in one staple magazine within a single plane. This can be achieved by corresponding chamfers on the crossbeams, with the chamfers of the crossbeams of each pair of adjacent staples abutting each other.To ensure unimpeded gas exchange between the environment and the cavities in the microtiter plate, an advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the crossbar has at least one projection at each of its opposite ends, wherein only the at least one projection presses against the top surface of the cover placed on the microtiter plate in the clamping position, and the at least one projection is arranged such that, in the clamping position, no opening for gas exchange between the environment and a cavity in the microtiter plate is wholly or partially covered. The at least one projection is preferably an elastic nub to distribute the clamping forces evenly into the cover.The protrusions prevent the crossbar from obstructing any gas exchange openings on the lid by resting directly against it, thus preventing any impairment of cultivation. The elastic nubs also serve the function of increasing the frictional force of the clamp on the lid due to the high coefficient of friction of their material; these elastic nubs are made, for example, of rubber or rubber substitutes. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 7 von 30The increased frictional force prevents the clip from slipping off the microtiter plate during transport or, for example, in a shaking incubator. The clip module for storing, positioning, securing, and removing a clip according to the invention comprises a clip magazine, a transfer area adjoining the clip magazine with a transfer platform, a screw and gripping unit, and a positioning device for moving the screw and gripping unit. The clip magazine is configured to store at least one clip, with each clip preferably resting on a flat surface of the clip magazine with the angled sections arranged at the ends of the side tabs. In one embodiment of the invention, the clip can also rest on a clip table arranged such that the angled sections are located at a small, approximately uniform distance from the flat surface of the clip magazine.The stapler table can, for example, comprise two supports running transversely to the longitudinal beam of each stapler. The distance between the supports is chosen such that the longitudinal beam of each stapler rests securely on the stapler table thus formed. An air gap exists between the flat surface of the stapler magazine and the angled sections of the stored staplers. The support on the stapler table can increase the positional accuracy of the staplers in the stapler magazine, particularly if the side tabs and / or angled sections of the staplers exhibit manufacturing-related angular deviations. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 8 von 30The transfer area, adjoining the clamp magazine, includes a transfer platform that receives the microtiter plate with its lid in place. The underside of the microtiter plate rests on a flat support surface of the transfer platform. The transfer platform features recesses that fully accommodate the angled sections of the side tabs on the underside of the microtiter plate. These recesses allow the side tabs of the clamp to be positioned beneath the base of the microtiter plate without lifting the plate from the support surface. The screw and gripping unit is designed to grip the longitudinal beam of the clamp, preferably on both sides of the transverse beam, and to rotate the drive element of the threaded mechanism to change the distance between the transverse and longitudinal beams.The positioning device moves the screw and gripper unit along an X-axis in a plane parallel to the flat surface and the flat support surface between the staple magazine and the transfer area, and along a Y-axis perpendicular to this plane. This movement moves the staples from the magazine towards the transfer area or places a staple released from the microtiter plate and cover unit back onto a free space in the staple magazine. To simultaneously grip the staple and create a torque-transmitting connection for the clamping process, Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 9 von 30In one embodiment of the invention, the screw and gripper unit is provided to have two reciprocating gripping jaws and a screwing tool with a drive profile arranged between the two gripping jaws. Simultaneously with the gripping of the longitudinal beam of the clamp, a torque-transmitting connection is established between the drive profile and a counterpart of the drive element of the threaded drive on the upper side of the longitudinal beam. A structurally advantageous positioning device, integrated into the clamp module and the screw and gripper unit in a space-saving manner, comprises a linear guide with a carriage movable in the direction of the X-axis and a threaded drive with a spindle arranged on the screw and gripper unit. The spindle extends in the direction of the Y-axis and is attached to the movable carriage.To limit the torque transmitted to the threaded drive and thus the clamping force between the cover and the microtiter plate, a torque coupling is arranged between the rotary drive and the screw tool in one embodiment of the invention. The torque coupling limits the torque to a previously defined maximum value and interrupts the torque flow if this value is exceeded. The torque coupling can, for example, be designed as a friction-based slip clutch. Alternatively, the torque can be detected indirectly, for example by measuring the motor current of the rotary drive, and limited by controlling the rotary drive. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 10 von 30To largely decouple the transmission of vibrations from the rotary drive of the screw tool from the clamp, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention at least the screw tool and / or the rotary drive is elastically mounted. In another embodiment of the invention, instead of or in addition to the elastic mounting of the rotary drive and / or screw tool, the entire screw and gripper unit can be floatingly mounted on the slide of the linear unit. The floating mounting is intended to prevent the spindle from exerting excessive pressure on the clamp when the screw and gripper unit is lowered; this can occur if the drive profile of the screw tool is not precisely aligned with the drive element of the screw drive of the clamp. Additionally, to avoid excessive operating forces, the drive profile can be set into a slow rotary motion during lowering to facilitate engagement with the drive element.The clamping module according to the invention operates as follows: 1. The microtiter plate with attached lid is placed onto the support surface of the transfer platform by a robot or manually. The underside of the microtiter plate rests on the support surface of the transfer platform. 2. The screw and gripping unit grasps a clamp from the magazine and slides it laterally over the microtiter plate and the attached lid. [Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p.] eite 11 von 30The angled sections of the side tabs fully engage in the recesses in the transfer platform, ensuring that the position of the microtiter plate on the platform's support surface remains unchanged when the clamp is inserted. The screw and gripper unit preferably comprises two gripping jaws movable back and forth in a plane parallel to the surface of the clamp magazine and the support surface of the transfer platform, as well as a screwing tool with a drive profile arranged between the two gripping jaws. Simultaneously with the clamp's longitudinal beam being gripped, a torque-transmitting connection is established between the drive profile and a counterpart of the drive element on the upper side of the longitudinal beam.By actuating the screw tool, the drive element is set into a rotary motion, which the threaded drive converts into a translational movement of the crossbeam. This causes the crossbeam to press, either directly or preferably indirectly, onto the top of the cover placed on the microtiter plate. While the distance between the crossbeam and the longitudinal beam changes, the crossbeam, which is secured against rotation on the underside of the longitudinal beam, remains permanently in its perpendicular position to the longitudinal beam. As a means of preventing rotation of the crossbeam relative to the longitudinal beam, at least one guide pin, preferably two guide pins, arranged between the longitudinal and transverse beams, can be used. These allow a change in the distance between the longitudinal and transverse beams, but prevent rotation between them. [Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p.] eite 12 von 304. After closing, the gripping jaws open, and the screw and gripping unit is moved laterally away after the torque-transmitting connection between the drive profile of the screw tool and the counterpart of the drive element is released. 5. The microtiter plate, now closed with the lid, can be picked up by a robot and, for example, fed into a shaking process. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Figure 1 shows a rectangular microtiter plate with a lid on top, Figure 2a shows a clamp according to the invention in a perspective view from above, Figure 2b shows the clamp according to Figure 2a in a perspective view from below, Figure 3 shows a clamp module according to the invention, and Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a screw and gripper unit of a clamp module according to Figure 3.Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Clients\Kuehner\24014-02\note 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 13 von 30Figure 1 shows a rectangular microtiter plate 1 with two parallel longitudinal sides 1.1, two parallel transverse sides 1.2, and a bottom surface 1.3. A circumferential rib 1.4 reinforces the microtiter plate 1 along the edges of the bottom surface 1.3. For cell cultivation in shaken incubators, the microtiter plate 1 is sealed with a lid 2, which is placed on the top surface of the microtiter plate 1. The lid 2 is, for example, a so-called Duetz lid, which prevents cross-contamination and evaporation of the medium, but allows gas exchange through openings 2.1 in the lid's surface. Additionally, the lid provides a sterile barrier to the environment, meaning that no contaminating microorganisms can enter the wells of the microtiter plate 1 from the outside. Clamping systems are used to ensure that the lid 2 is pressed firmly and securely onto the microtiter plate 1.Figures 2a and 2b show a clamp 3 according to the invention for pressing the lid 2 onto the top surface of the rectangular microtiter plate 1. The clamp 3 comprises two side tabs 4, each with an angled section 4.1 at its end, wherein the two side tabs 4 can be brought into contact with the opposite transverse sides 1.2 and the angled section 4.1 with the underside 1.3 of the microtiter plate 1. The two side tabs 4 are connected to each other by a longitudinal beam 5. The longitudinal beam 5 is [Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p.] eite 14 von 30Each of the two side tabs 4 is attached to an upper section 4.2 by means of screws. A crossbeam 6 is mounted centrally on the longitudinal beam 5 in a rotationally secure manner by means of guide pins 6.1, but its distance from the longitudinal beam 5 is variable. To allow for this change in distance, the guide pins 6.1 attached to the crossbeam 6 are guided in sliding bearings 6.3 located on the longitudinal beam 5. The crossbeam 6 has an angled section 6.2 at each of its opposite ends, which can be brought into contact with the longitudinal sides of the cover 2. The angled sections 6.2 are specifically intended for manually clamping the cover, ensuring that the clamp 3 is always positioned and attached centrally to the cover during manual handling by an operator. For automated operation, the angled sections 6.2 are not strictly necessary and can be omitted, as the clamp is automatically positioned centrally on the cover and then clamped.As can be seen particularly in Figure 2b, retaining lugs 6.4 are arranged adjacent to the angled sections 6.2. When the crossbeam 6 is lowered, these lugs come into contact with the longitudinal edges of the cover 2 on its upper surface and clamp the cover 2 to the microtiter plate 1, with the angled sections 4.1 of the side tabs 4 forming the abutment. A threaded drive 7 is provided to change the distance between the longitudinal beam 5 and the crossbeam 6. The threaded drive 7 has a drive element 7.1, which in this case is designed in the form of a hexagonal head. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 15 von 30Together with a spindle 7.2 extending through an opening in the longitudinal beam 5, as shown in Figure 2b, the threaded drive 7 converts a rotary movement of the drive element 7.1 into a translational movement of the transverse beam 6 in order to change the vertical distance to the longitudinal beam 5. The transverse beam 6 is lowered until it reaches a clamping position in which the retaining lugs 6.4 at the outer ends of the transverse beam 6 press against the top surface of the cover 2 placed on the microtiter plate 1, and the angled sections 6.2 on the longitudinal sides of the cover 2 bear against it, so that the assembly of microtiter plate 1 and cover 2 is fixed in all spatial directions by the clamp 3. Centering surfaces 4.3 angled upwards from the plane of the angled sections 4.1 can be arranged on the side tabs 4. Each centering surface 4.3 prevents the angle 4.1 of the side tab 4 from moving outwards when the clamp 3 is tightened.Due to the eccentric force application and the thin wall thickness, the side flap 4 tends to move outwards when the lid is clamped. The centering surface 4.3 engages the web 1.4, which projects circumferentially beyond the underside 1.3 of the microtiter plate, like a barb, thus preventing outward movement of the side flaps 4. However, the centering surfaces 4.3 can be omitted if the side flaps 4 are made of sufficiently rigid materials. Furthermore, openings 4.4 are provided in the side flaps 4, arranged and dimensioned as follows: Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 16 von 30that a selected area of ​​the transverse side 1.2 of the microtiter plate 1 is visible, for example, to allow the reading of a barcode affixed there. The automated handling of identically constructed and dimensioned staples 3 using a staple module 8 is described in more detail below with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The staple module 8 comprises a base plate 9.1 with a flat surface. On the base plate 9.1, the staple magazine 9 for storing several staples 3 is spatially separated from an electrical compartment 9.2, in which the control unit and electrical supply for the staple module 8 are housed. Each staple 3 rests in the staple magazine 9 preferably on the bends 4.1 arranged at the ends on the side tabs 4 on the flat surface 9.2 of the base plate 9.1, wherein the bends 4.1 in the staple magazine 9 are aligned with each other in the direction of the X-axis 12.1.Alternatively, each staple 3 rests on a staple table 13, the staple table 13 being arranged such that the angled sections 4.1 of the side tabs 4 of the staples 3 are at a distance from the flat surface 9.2 of the staple magazine 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the staple table 13 has two supports 13.1 extending transversely to the longitudinal beam 5 of each staple 3. The distance between the supports 13.1 is selected such that the longitudinal beam 5 of each staple 3 rests securely on the staple table 13 thus formed. Between the flat surface 9.2 of the staple magazine 9 and the angled sections, Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Clients\Kuehner\24014-02\note 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 17 von 304.1 There is an air gap between the stored staples 3. The support on the staple table 13 can increase the positional accuracy of the staples 3 in the staple magazine 9 if the side tabs 4 and / or angles 4.1 of the staples 3 exhibit manufacturing-related angular deviations and thereby compensate for different positional tolerances in the staple magazine 9 that would otherwise complicate automated gripping of the longitudinal beams 5. Adjacent to the staple magazine 9, the flat surface 9.2 of the base plate 9.1 is a transfer area 10, which is formed by a transfer platform 10.1 with a flat support surface designed to receive the microtiter plate 1 with its lid 2 attached. The microtiter plate 1 rests with its underside 1.3 on the flat support surface 10.2 of the transfer platform 10.1. In the transfer platform 10.1, recesses for receiving the bends 4.1 of the side tabs 4 are arranged in such a way that the bends 4.1 can be slid under the underside of a microtiter plate 1 placed on the support surface 10.2 of the transfer platform 10.1 without changing its position. The recesses are designed for this purpose such that the angles 4.1 are completely accommodated by the recesses and do not protrude beyond the support surface 10.2 of the transfer platform 10.1. Furthermore, the clamping module 8 has a screw and gripper unit 11, shown in detail in Figure 4, which has two [positions] in a plane parallel to the flat surface 9.2 of the [patent attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 18 von 30The base plate 9.1 and the flat support surface 10.2 of the transfer platform 10.1 have gripping jaws 11.1 that are movable back and forth, and a screw tool 11.2 with a drive profile 11.3 arranged between the two gripping jaws 11.1, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as an internal hexagon. The screw tool 11.2 is rotatable in both directions of rotation by means of a rotary drive 11.6, for example, an electric motor. The gripping jaws 11.1 are moved back and forth by a linear drive 11.5 so that opposing contact points of the two gripping jaws 11.1 move towards or away from each other. Finally, a threaded drive 11.4 with a spindle 11.7 is arranged on the frame of the screw and gripper unit 11 to move the screw and gripper unit 11 in the direction of the Y-axis 11.8, i.e. perpendicular to the surface of the base plate 9.1 and perpendicular to the surface of the transfer platform 10.1.The screw and gripper unit 11 is attached to a slide 12.2 of a linear guide 12 shown in Figure 3, wherein the slide 12.2 is movable along the linear guide 12 in the direction of the X-axis 12.1 by means of a drive. The screw and gripper unit 11 is attached to the slide 12.2 by means of the spindle 11.7 of the threaded drive 11.4. By means of the aforementioned assemblies, the screw and gripper unit 11 is movable in an XY plane. Although spindles are preferred due to their high positioning accuracy, the screw and gripper unit 11 can also be moved with differently designed X / Y positioning systems that allow the linear movements. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 19 von 30This can be achieved with other drive concepts, for example, using rack and pinion or belt drives. The clamping process is described in more detail below: The screw and gripper unit 11 moves in the X-direction 12.1 to a position above the clamp 3 in the clamp magazine 9 that has the smallest distance to the transfer area 10. On the surface 10.2 of the transfer platform 10.1 is the microtiter plate 1 with its attached cover 2, which is to be clamped to the microtiter plate 1 by means of the clamp 3. Depending on the fill level of the clamp magazine 9, the screw and gripper unit 11 can move to a rear position adjacent to the electrical area 9.2 of the clamp module 8. As soon as the screw and gripper unit 11 is aligned above the gripping clamp 3 in the clamp magazine 9, it is lowered onto the clamp 3 in the Y-axis 11.8 direction with the gripping jaws 11.1 open. As soon as the gripping jaws 11.When the longitudinal beam 5 of the clamp 3 is located at the level of the longitudinal beam 5, the clamping jaws 11.1 are moved towards each other by means of the linear drive 11.5 until two cooperating working points of the gripping jaws 11.1 grip the longitudinal beam 5 of the clamp to the left and right of the transverse beam 6. Simultaneously, a torque-transmitting connection is established between the drive profile 11.3 of the screw tool 11.2 and the counterpart of the drive element 7.1 on the upper side of the longitudinal beam 5. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 20 von 30The gripped clamp 3 is raised to a pass-through height by means of the screw and gripper unit 11 and slid laterally over the microtiter plate 1 with its lid 2, which rests on the transfer platform 10.1. In doing so, the angled sections 4.1 of the side tabs 4 engage in the recesses below the support surface 10.2 in the transfer platform 10.1. The torque-transmitting connection of the drive profile 11.3 with the counterpart of the drive element 7.1 sets the latter into a rotary motion, which the threaded drive 7 converts into a translational movement of the crossbeam 6. This movement presses the retaining studs 6.4 on the crossbeam 6 onto the top surface of the lid 2 placed on the microtiter plate 1. Simultaneously, the angled sections 6.2 bear against the longitudinal sides of the lid 2. The clamping of cover 2 and microtiter plate 1 using the screw drive 7 is force-controlled and limited to a defined clamping force, in particular a clamping force ≤ 200 N.After clamping the unit consisting of microtiter plate 1 and cover 2 with the clamp 3, the gripping jaws 11.1 of the screw and gripper unit 11 open, and a vertical movement of the screw and gripper unit 11 upwards in the direction of the Y-axis 11.8 releases the torque-transmitting connection between the drive profile 11.3 and the drive element 7.1, so that the screw and gripper unit 11 is ready for the next task after the microtiter plate 1, closed with cover 2, has been removed. For this purpose, the screw and gripper unit 11 moves in the direction of the X-axis 12.1 to the clamp 3 in the clamp magazine 9 with the smallest distance to the patent attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 21 von 30Transfer platform 10.1. A clamping cycle of the clamp module 8 is thus completed. In addition to clamping the microtiter plate 1 and cover 2 using the clamp 3 with the clamp module 8, a microtiter plate 1 already clamped with a cover 2 can also be positioned on the transfer platform 10.1, and the clamp 3 can be released from the assembly of microtiter plate 1 and cover 2 using the screw and gripper unit 11 and placed in a free space in the clamp magazine 9. In an automated laboratory environment, further processing steps can be carried out on a microtiter plate 1 clamped with a cover 2. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Clients\Kuehner\24014-02\note 03.docx July 17, 2025 S eite 22 von 30 Reference symbol list Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Clients\Kuehner\24014-02\note 03.docx July 17, 2025 S eite 23 von 30

Claims

Patent Claims 1. Clamp (3), designed for pressing a rectangular cover (2) onto a top surface of a rectangular microtiter plate (1) with two parallel longitudinal sides (1.1) and two parallel transverse sides (1.2) and a bottom surface (1.3), comprising: - two side tabs (4) each having an angle (4.1) at their end, wherein the two side tabs (4) can be positioned on the opposite transverse sides (1.2) and the angles (4.1) on the bottom surface (1.3) of the microtiter plate (1) for contact; - a longitudinal beam (5) which is attached at each end to an upper section (4.2) of the two side tabs (4); - a transverse beam (6) arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal beam (5), which is arranged on a bottom surface of the longitudinal beam (5) in a rotationally secure manner, but with a variable distance to the longitudinal beam (5); - a threaded drive (7) with a Drive element (7.1), configured to produce a rotary motion of the drive element (7.1) to convert into a translational movement of the crossbeam (6) in order to change the distance to the longitudinal beam (5) such that, in a clamping position, the crossbeam (6) presses on the top of the cover (2) placed on the microtiter plate (1). Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Clients\Kuehner\24014-02\note 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 24 von 302. Clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive element (7.1) is arranged on an upper surface of the longitudinal beam (5).

3. Clamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the combined length of the two angled sections (4.1) of the side tabs (4) in the direction of the longitudinal beam (5) is less than one quarter of the length of the longitudinal beam (5).

4. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the side tabs (4) have openings (4.4) which are arranged and dimensioned such that selected areas of the transverse sides (1.2) of the microtiter plate (1) are visible.

5. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transverse beam (6) is designed such that several identical clamps (3) can be nested in a clamp magazine (9). 6.Clamp according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the crossbar (6) has at least one projection at each of its opposite ends, wherein only the at least one projection presses against the upper surface of the cover (2) placed on the microtiter plate (1) in the clamping position. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 25 von 307. Clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one projection is arranged such that, in the clamping position, no opening for gas exchange between the environment and a cavity in the microtiter plate is wholly or partially covered.

8. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the crossbar has an angle (6.2) at opposite ends.

9. Clamp according to claim 8, characterized in that the threaded drive (7) with the drive element (7.1) is further arranged such that, in the clamping position, the angles (6.2) of the crossbar (6) bear against the longitudinal sides of the cover (2). 10.Clamp module (8) for storing, positioning, fastening and removing a clamp (3) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, comprising: - a clamp magazine (9) configured for storing at least one clamp (3), - a transfer area (10) adjoining the clamp magazine (9) with a transfer platform (10.1) configured for receiving a microtiter plate (1) with a lid (2) attached, wherein the microtiter plate (1) rests with its underside (1.3) on a flat support surface of the transfer platform (10.1), Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 26 von 30- Recesses in the transfer platform (10.1), designed to fully accommodate the angled sections (4.1) of the side tabs (4) located on the underside (1.3) of the microtiter plate (1), - a screw and gripping unit (11), designed to grip the longitudinal beam (5) of the clamp (3) and to set the drive element (7.1) of the threaded drive (7) into a rotary motion, - a positioning device, designed to move the screw and gripping unit (11) in the direction of an X-axis (12.1) in a plane parallel to the flat support surface of the transfer platform (10.1) between the clamp magazine (9) and the transfer area (10) and in the direction of a Y-axis (11.8) perpendicular to the plane. Clamping module according to claims 2 and 10, characterized in that the screw and gripper unit (11) has two gripping jaws (11.1) movable back and forth in a plane parallel to the flat support surface of the transfer platform (10.1) and a screwing tool (11.2) with a drive profile (11.3) arranged between the two gripping jaws (11.1), wherein, simultaneously with the gripping of the longitudinal beam (5) of the clamp (3), a torque-transmitting connection of the drive profile (11.3) with a counterpart of the drive element (7.1) on the upper side of the longitudinal beam (5) is established. Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Clients\Kuehner\24014-02\note 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 27 von 3012. Clamping module (8) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the positioning device has a linear guide with a slide (12.2) movable in the direction of the X-axis (12.1) and a threaded drive (11.4) with a spindle (11.7) arranged on the screw and gripper unit (11), wherein the spindle (11.7) extends in the direction of the Y-axis (11.8) and is attached to the movable slide (12.2).

13. Clamping module according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that a torque coupling is arranged between a rotary drive (11.6) of the screw tool (11.2) and the drive profile (11.3).

14. Clamping module according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the rotary drive (11.6) of the screwing tool (11.2) and / or the screwing tool (11.2) are elastically mounted and / or the entire screwing and gripper unit (11) is floatingly mounted.15.A staple module according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the staple magazine (9) has a flat surface (9.2) which is configured for storing at least one staple (3), wherein each staple (3) is arranged on the flat surface (9.2) with the angled sections (4.1) arranged at its ends on the side tabs (4). Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Mandanten\Kuehner\24014-02\anm 03.docx July 17, 2025 p. eite 28 von 30 16. Staple module according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the staple magazine (9) has a staple table (13) on which each staple (3) rests, the staple table (13) being arranged such that the angled sections (4.1) of the side tabs (4) of the staples (3) are at a distance from a flat surface (9.2) of the staple magazine (9). Patent Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Kai Kohlmann S:\Clients\Kuehner\24014-02\note 03.docx July 17, 2025 S eite 29 von 30

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