Decondenser unit

Abstract

To counteract condense dew on a transparent cover film ( 3 ) covering each well ( 2 ) in an array of wells which forms a test plate ( 1 ) having a lower side formed by the bottoms of the wells ( 2 ) and an upper side formed by the upper edges of the wells ( 2 ) onto which edges the cover film ( 3 ) is sealingly attached, the test plate ( 1 ) is for a set time placed with its lower surface contacting a cooling plate ( 5 ), which is by a cooling element ( 8 ) kept at a set temperature below the room temperature, and with its upper surface in a distance from a heating plate ( 4 ) which is by a heating element ( 7 ) kept at a set temperature higher than the room temperature. A control box ( 9 ), which receives feed back signals from the cooling plate ( 5 ) and the heating plate ( 4 ), controls the power supply of the heating and cooling elements ( 7, 8 ) to maintain the temperatures for the heating and the cooling plates ( 4, 5 ) set by temperature setting buttons ( 13 and 14 ).

1 . Method for counteracting condense dew on a transparent cover film covering each well in an array of wells which forms a test plate having a lower side formed by the bottoms of the wells and an upper side formed by the upper edges of the wells onto which edges the cover film is sealingly attached, characterized in that the test plate for a set time is placed with its lower surface contacting a cooling plate which is kept at a set temperature below the room temperature and with its upper surface in a distance from a heating plate kept at a set temperature higher than the room temperature.  
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1  characterised in that the cooling plate is maintained in the temperature interval 0-10° C. and the heating plate is held in the temperature interval 50-110° C., preferably 60-75° C.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the time the test plate stays between the cooling plate and the heating plate is 1-10 minutes, preferably 4-6 minutes.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for realising the method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises, 
 a cooling plate on which a test plate can be placed,    a heating plate parallel with the cooling plate in a distance from the cooling plate which distance is larger than the thickness of the test plate,    cooling means maintaining the cooling plate at a set temperature lower than the room temperature, and    heating means maintaining the heating plate at a set temperature over the room temperature.    
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  characterise din that the heating means comprises an electric resistive heating element and a heat distributing plate to obtain an even heating all over the heating surface facing the upper side of the test plate.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  or  5 , characterised in that the cooling plate is cooled by a Peltier element.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to any of the claims  4 - 6 , characterised in that means are provided for setting the temperatures of the heating and the cooling plate, which means cooperating with feed back signals from the cooling and the heating plate controls a power supply so that set temperatures for the respective plates are maintained at a set values.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to anyone of the claims  4 - 7  characterised in that the cooling plate is shaped with a raised platform mating a depression in the bottom of a test plate.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to anyone of the claims  4 - 8  characterised in that fans are provided which blows room temperature air over the cooling plate to keep this plate dew free.