Pipette dispensing block

Abstract

A pipette dispensing block has an improved piston seal and lift plate engagement/disengagement means. In a pipette dispensing block where a piston is used to create a pressure differential to aspirate or extract and dispense or eject fluid material, the maintenance of a vacuum or increased pressure is enhanced by a pair of O-ring seals engaging the piston. A reservoir separates the O-rings and is filled with a low vapor pressure lubricant such as silicone oil or grease. The lubricant is maintained in the reservoir by the O-rings and serves to enhance the vacuum seal while maintaining the O-rings in a pliable and resilient manner. The heads of the pistons are engraved or grooved to leave a circular central pillar surrounded above and below by the piston head and a lower intermediate piston pillar section. The individual pistons are arranged in straight rows so that a slat may slip through opposite pairs of opposing piston pillars thereby entrapping the pistons and preventing them from sliding past the lift plate as the lift plate is lifted upwardly. Shoulders present on the pistons below the lift plate serve to allow the lift plate to push the pistons into the cylindrical chambers of the head block so that a pipette dispenser is provided. The lift plate or portions thereof are then trapped between the slats and the piston shoulders, coupling the pistons to the lift plate. Upward and downward control is thereby established and maintained by the lift plate on the pistons.