About plate stage and applicator head positions

Microplate Labeler User Guide : Setting up the Microplate Labeler : About plate stage and applicator head positions

About this topic

During operation, both the plate stage and applicator head move to various positions. This topic summarizes those positions and gives the background information required for the following procedures:

• Setting the plate stage vertical positions

• Setting the robot pickup angle teachpoint

Plate stage teachpoints

The following plate stage positions are called teachpoints:

• Robot pickup angle. Specifies the position that the plate stage returns to when a print-and-apply cycle is completed.

• Apply angle (east). Specifies the teachpoint position to which the plate stage rotates so that the east side faces the applicator head.

• Read angle (east). Specifies the teachpoint position to which the plate stage rotates so that the east side faces the optional barcode reader.

Applicator head positions

The applicator head rotates to the printer to pick up a label, and rotates to the plate stage to apply a label. If the applicator head is out of alignment with either the printer or the plate stage, contact Agilent Automation Solutions Technical Support.

Positions summary

The following table summarizes the positions of the plate stage and applicator head at various points in a print-and-apply cycle.

Point in Cycle	Plate Stage Position	Applicator Head Position
Start	Factory-set home position.	Factory-set position pointing towards the printer
During microplate placing and pickup	At the robot pickup angle teachpoint. The default robot pickup angle value is 0.	Factory-set position pointing towards the printer
As a label is applied	At the apply angle teachpoint (with east side of stage towards the applicator head) and at one of two heights defined by the drop stage value. The default angle value is 349, approximately.	Pointing towards the plate
As a barcode is read	At the barcode angle teachpoint, with the east side oriented towards the optional barcode reader mounted to the side of the printer. The default angle value is 259, approximately.	Pointing towards the printer

For information about...	See...
The general steps in the labeling process	How the device applies a label
Setup workflow	Setup workflow
Setting the top and bottom positions of the plate stage	Setting the plate stage vertical positions
Adjusting the robot pickup angle	Setting the robot pickup angle teachpoint
Moving the plate stage	Using plate stage controls in Diagnostics
Applicator head and plate stage	Checking the basic applicator functions