How does a multi-port syringe pump + selection valve (e.g., J-KEM suite) combo work?

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@yangcyril.cao and co., curious if you could provide some feedback here.

This question is based on the SI of Delocalized, Asynchronous, Closed-Loop Discovery of Organic Laser Emitters,

The automated synthesis machine MEDUSA was constructed based on previous reports by Burke and co-workers. 8 The hardware design is summarized in Figure S1. It was reconfigured for high-throughput reaction screening using the same hardware (J-KEM 8-port syringe pump with 10 mL syringe, J-KEM 9-port 4-valve selection valve module, IKA r-visc heat/stir plate), and was controlled using a customized Python control software. All gas and liquid connections between ports were built with 1/16-0.030 inch PEEK tubing and ¼-28 flangeless fittings. Luer-lock connectors with needles were used to set up connections into septa sealed bottles/vials. 1½-inch 22G needles were used for gas connections to all vessels and liquid connections to reaction vials, and 4-inch 22G needles were used for liquid connection to stock solution vials, which could reach the bottom of the vials. All liquid vessels, including the reaction vials, the stock solution vials and the anhydrous SureSeal® solvent bottle, were connected to an 1 psi N2 supply for inert atmosphere protection. Ports 1–4 of the syringe pump were connected to valves 1–4 on the selection valve module, respectively. Port 5 was connected to the waste bottle, port 6 was blocked with a stopper, port 7 was connected to the anhydrous solvent bottle, and port 8 was connected to the N2 supply. All the 7 mL reaction vials were located on a circular aluminum heating block over the heat/stir plate with a thermocouple temperature probe.

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This seems to be the (single) syringe pump that was mentioned

It states as one of the features:

Multi-port distribution valve delivers 14 reagents to one reactor, or 1 reagent to 14 reactors, or any combination

Where is the “switching” occurring? Within the syringe pump system? Within the valve? In both? (see also this OpenAI Chat)

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Han would know more about the details, and he is writing a protocol paper for this.

Briefly, the syringe pump moves the liquid (I believe this can be bi-directional), whereas the selection valve decides which port the liquid goes to or draws from.

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It can also “pump” gas, although the volume is less accurate. The ports can be cleaned by flushing with pure solvents. I generally use different ports for different chemicals out of convenience.

This manual can give you some idea of how it works:
Syringe-Pump-User-Manual2020.doc (live.com)

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Technically a syringe pump is a syringe installed on a linear acutator that can move the piston forward/backward automatically. The challenge here is it can only be used for draw OR dispense, and can not execute both. E.g. after dispensing all contents the syringe need to be re-filled manually.
Vendors like JKem and many others e.g. Tecan and Hamilton integrate a seletion valve that can switch different paths (I can take photo of inside if needed) so it can direct to one port (and further to a vessel through tubing) for drawing, then to another port(s) for dispensing.

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This is great, thank you @clascclon! A picture of the inside would be very informative. This now makes a lot more sense in the context of Chemputer workflows as well.