Unload

Description

The Unload task () instructs a robot to move a defined set of labware out of a storage device.

Note: If you want to move a defined set of labware from one storage device to another, use the Unload task and Load task in sequence. For information about the Load task, see Load.

 

Task is available for...	Task is available in...
Labware MiniHub	Main Protocol
LiCONiC STX Series Incubators	Main Protocol

Storage location selections

When you add the Unload task, you can select the storage locations in one of the following ways:

•

Native locations. Native locations are known locations in a device file. For example, if the Labware MiniHub is in the device file, you can select a cassette in that carousel for the Load task. When you select a cassette, all 16 slots in the cassette are available for the task. If you only have 10 microplates to load into that cassette, six of the slots will remain empty.

•

Location groups. Location groups are device locations that are grouped together. For example, a location group might consist of 12 Labware MiniHub slots as follows: cassette 1 (5 slots), cassette 2 (5 slots), and cassette 3 (2 slots). If you want to load exactly 12 microplates, you can select that particular location group.

•	Plate groups. Plate groups are labware that are grouped together. Each group member has location information. So when you add the Unload task and select a plate group, the software knows where to go to unload the labware as long as the information is in the inventory database.

Unload parameters that affect labware order

The software always unloads the first labware in the plate group. For example, if a plate group contains microplates 1 through 5, microplate 1 is unloaded, then microplate 2, and so on. If microplate 1 is loaded back into the plate group location before the labware 2 is unloaded, the software will attempt to unload the first in the sequence, labware 1.

If you plan to load any unloaded plate groups back in storage devices in the same order, do one of the following:

•	Select the Use original locations option in the Load task parameters. The original storage locations will be reserved and the same labware order is preserved.

•

When adding the Unload task, select the Remove plates from group when processed option. When adding the Load task, either add the labware to the original plate group, or create a new plate group and add the labware to the new group. During the unload, the labware is removed from the plate group so that the software will seek the next labware in the group. If you select the same plate group for the Load task, the labware will be loaded back into the plate group at the bottom of the sequence.

Task parameters

After adding the Unload task at the desired point in the protocol, set the following Task Parameters:

 

 

Parameter	Description
Unload based on barcode	The option to use the specified barcodes to search for and unload specific labware from storage. If you select this option, you must supply the barcodes in the Barcode box.
Barcode	The barcode of the labware you want to unload. You can supply one or more barcodes as follows: • Type the single barcode in the box. • Manually scan the single barcode label. • Type a JavaScript variable to supply a different barcode per labware instance. This box is only active if you selected Unload base on barcode.
Task number	The number that indicates the position of the task in the protocol.
Task description	The description of the task.
Use default task description	The option to use the default task description or provide your own description for the task. Select the check box to use the default description. Clear the check box to provide your own description.

Storage Unload parameters

After setting the Task Parameters, click Storage Unload, and set the following parameters:

 

 

Parameter	Description
Native tab	The tab that allows you to select the storage locations from a list of known locations in the device file. Double-click a location in the Available locations area. The selected location appears in the Assigned locations area.
Locations tab	The tab that allows you to select locations from a list of location groups. The location groups are created in the Inventory Editor. Double-click a location group in the Available locations area. The selected location group appears in the Assigned locations area. To view or revise existing location groups, click Edit location groups.
Groups tab	The tab that allows you to select a plate group that you want to move out of storage. Double-click a plate group in the Available groups area. The selected plate group appears in the Assigned locations area. To view or revise existing plate groups, click Edit plate groups.
Remove plates from group when processed	The option to remove the specified labware from a plate group after the labware is moved out of storage.

Note: A compiler error will appear if you try to unload from a plate group (Groups tab) and another storage location type (Native tab or Locations tab).

Example: Unload microplates from the Labware MiniHub for processing

Goal

Unload the specified microplates from Labware MiniHub cassette 1 in preparation for liquid-handling tasks. In this example, barcodes will not be used to unload the microplate.

Implementation

In the protocol, add the Unload task before the liquid-handling tasks as shown.

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In the Task Parameters area, clear the Unload based on barcode check box.

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In the Storage Unload area, click the Native tab. Select cassette 1 in the Labware MiniHub to use the cassette.

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Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Adding devices	• Adding devices • Device user guide
Adding tasks in a protocol	Adding and deleting tasks
Setting up plate locations and plate groups in inventory manager	VWorks Automation Control Setup Guide
Load task	Load
Microplate-handling tasks	Setting parameters for microplate-handling tasks
Liquid-handling tasks	Setting parameters for liquid-handling tasks
Scheduling tasks	Setting parameters for scheduling tasks
I/O-handling tasks	Setting parameters for I/O-handling tasks