Agilent Technologies PlateLoc User manual

Original Instructions
This guide contains the following topics:
•“About this guide” on page 2
•“Safety information” on page 2
•“Getting started” on page 4
•“Sealing microplates” on page 12
•“Touchscreen menus and commands” on page 19
G5585B PlateLoc Thermal Microplate Sealer
Quick Guide

About this guide
2G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
About this guide
This guide summarizes the operator instructions in the PlateLoc Thermal Microplate
Sealer User Guide.
This guide assumes that the PlateLoc Sealer is installed correctly. For installation
details, see the PlateLoc Thermal Microplate Sealer User Guide.
Firmware version
This guide documents PlateLoc firmware version 6.2.0.
Where to find the user documentation
You can access the user guides for Agilent Automation Solutions products in the
following ways:
•Visit the online VWorks Knowledge Base at www.agilent.com/chem/askb.
If you are using the VWorks software, select Help > Knowledge Base or press F1 to
open the locally installed help system. Or, select Start > Agilent Technologies >
VWorks Knowledge Base from the Windows desktop.
•Download a pdf from www.agilent.com.
Contacting Agilent Technologies
Web: https://www.agilent.com
Contact page: https://www.agilent.com/en/contact-us/page
Documentation feedback: [email protected]
Safety information
Before using the PlateLoc Sealer
Make sure that you are properly trained in:
•General laboratory safety
•The correct and safe operation of the PlateLoc Sealer
•The correct and safe operation of lab automation systems or components used in
combination with the PlateLoc Sealer
If you are the person in your organization responsible for training others on the
PlateLoc Sealer and you have a safety question, contact Technical Support.
Safety standards
The PlateLoc Sealer complies with the applicable EU Directives and bears the CE mark.
See the Declaration of Conformity for compliance details.

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Safety information
G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
General precautions
For the general safety precautions, the intended product use statement, and the list of
safety labels, see the Automation Solutions Products General Safety Guide.
Chemical hazards
WARNING
To avoid potential injury, do not use chemicals that have low flash points in the
PlateLoc Sealer. Such chemicals include reagents that are used in radioactive
scintillation proximity assays (SPAs) and solvents, including alcohols.
High-temperature hazard
WARNING
The hot surfaces in the PlateLoc Sealer can cause a burn injury. Do not touch the
PlateLoc Sealer or pry open the door while it is in operation. Use care when
accessing the PlateLoc Sealer interior after the device is warmed up. Do not reach
into the PlateLoc Sealer when it is warmed up to a high temperature. Do not touch
the hot plate with your bare hands.
WARNING
A freshly sealed microplate might still be hot from the sealing process. To prevent
potential injury, use caution when removing a sealed microplate from the PlateLoc
Sealer.
Moving-parts hazards
The PlateLoc Sealer contains moving parts that can cause injury. Under normal
operating conditions, the PlateLoc Sealer is designed to protect you from the moving
parts. The door sensor is designed so that the seal cycle cannot start unless the door is
closed.
WARNING
Do not disable the door sensor or attempt to access the interior of the device through
any other openings. Exposure to the moving parts, such as the heated metal plate
(hot plate) or the seal-cutting blade can cause severe injuries.
PlateLoc

Getting started
4G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
Gas hazards
WARNING
Working with open, charged air lines can result in injury. Turn off the compressed air
line when disconnecting or reconnecting the PlateLoc Sealer. Contact your facilities
department or Agilent Technical Support with questions about setting up the air line.
WARNING
Gas-Purging PlateLoc only. Argon is an odorless, colorless, and nontoxic gas that
can cause rapid suffocation by displacing air. Use the Gas-Purging PlateLoc only in a
well-ventilated lab area. Turn off the argon gas source when the product is not in use.
Getting started
Turning on and turning off the power
Before turning on the PlateLoc Sealer, make sure:
•The lab requirements are met.
•You have properly installed the PlateLoc Sealer.
•You are trained in the proper operation of the PlateLoc Sealer.
The on/off switch is on the back of the PlateLoc Sealer.
To turn on the PlateLoc Sealer:
Press the on/off switch to the on position (I).
If you have not yet turned on the air, the touchscreen displays the Insufficient Air
Pressure error message. See “Turning on and turning off the air” on page 5. If you have
not yet connected the air supply to the PlateLoc Sealer, see the PlateLoc Thermal
Microplate Sealer User Guide.
To turn off the PlateLoc Sealer:
Press the on/off switch to the off position (o). The touchscreen turns off.
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Lower gripper to load seal
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Getting started
G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
Turning on and turning off the air
Before turning on the air, make sure:
•You have properly installed the PlateLoc Sealer.
•The air is turned on at the source (house, cylinder, or pump) and the air pressure
and flow rate meet the PlateLoc Sealer requirements.
•The PlateLoc Sealer is turned on.
The AIR ON/OFF switch is on the back of the PlateLoc Sealer.
To turn on the air:
Push the AIR ON/OFF switch to the ON position.
When you turn on the air, the PlateLoc Sealer door opens. If this is the first time you are
turning on the air, you must remove the packing foam inside the sealing chamber
before you can use the device.
To check that air is flowing into the device:
Check the pressure gauge on the back of the PlateLoc Sealer. If air is flowing into the
device, the gauge should show a non-zero pressure value.
If the gauge shows 0 psi, check the air tubing connections and the connections at the
source (house, cylinder, or pump).
IMPORTANT
The pressure reading on the back of the PlateLoc Sealer might be different from the
value shown on the touchscreen. The pressure gauge on the back of the PlateLoc
Sealer should be used to determine the presence of air flow only. To check the air
pressure inside of the device, view the air pressure information displayed on the
touchscreen.
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Getting started
6G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
Checking the internal air pressure
To check the internal air pressure:
On the touchscreen Home page, locate the Air Pressure readout. The regulated air
pressure should be approximately 0.599–0.62 MPa (87–90 psi).
To turn off the air:
Push the AIR ON/OFF switch to the OFF position.
Loading and unloading a roll of seal
Make sure you have the supplied seal-loading card.
To warm up or cool down the PlateLoc Sealer:
1On the touchscreen, press to display the Settings pages.
2Set the Seal Temp to a value from 30 to 40 °C.
Note: Press or to adjust the value down or up in 0.5 °C increments.
3Press Save to save the new Seal Temp value.

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Getting started
G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
4Press to return to the Home page. A status message appears at the top of the
page, indicating that the PlateLoc Sealer is warming up or cooling down to the new
set temperature.
5Wait for the PlateLoc Sealer to warm up or cool down to the set temperature.
The Home page displays the Ready message and the Run button is available when
the temperature is within the set range.
To assemble a roll of seal on the axle and hubs:
1Remove the seal roll (1), seal-roll hubs (2), and axle (3) from their packaging. See the
following figure.
2Screw one of the hubs onto the axle.
3Place the axle through the hole at the center of the seal roll. Make sure the hub fits
snugly against the roll.
4Screw the second hub onto the axle so that the roll is firmly secured between both
hubs.

Getting started
8G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
5Using scissors, cut off any wrinkled or torn material from the end of the seal so that
the end of the seal has a clean, straight edge.
CAUTION
The PlateLoc Sealer will not seal microplates properly if the seal is wrinkled or torn.
To mount the seal roll on the seal-roll supports:
1Orient the roll, and set the assembled seal roll onto the seal-roll supports (1) as
shown in the following figure. Notice that the end of the seal material rolls out from
under the roll.
2Pull the seal from under the cross-beam (2), as the following figure shows.
To insert the seal into the PlateLoc Sealer:
1On the back of the PlateLoc Sealer, push down the red recessed open-gripper
button until it clicks.
Pressing the button opens the seal gripper inside the device.
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Getting started
G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
2Remove the strip of paper that covers the adhesive on the end of the seal-loading
card.
3Follow the instructions on the card to:
aAttach the end of the seal to the card.
bInsert the card into the seal entry slot on the back of the PlateLoc Sealer.
cPush the card into the PlateLoc Sealer until it protrudes beyond the chamber
doorway at the front of the device.
dPull the card through the PlateLoc Sealer so that the end of the seal is past the
plate stage.
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remove loading card
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Getting started
10 G5585B PlateLocThermal Microplate Sealer Quick Guide
4While maintaining the alignment of the seal with the plate stage, press the silver
close-gripper button on the back of the PlateLoc Sealer until it clicks. The red open-
gripper button pops back up.
Pressing the silver button closes the gripper and holds the seal in place inside the
device.
5Turn the seal roll to remove excess slack in the seal.
6Load a plate stage on the plate-stage support.
7Load a spare microplate on the plate stage.
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Loading card removal
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