Positioning Device for a Sample Distribution Apparatus, Sample Distribution Apparatus with Positioning Device and Method for Positioning

• US 20110209564A1
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Original Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Inventors: Mellenthin, Uwe, Von Beichmann, Boris, Disselbach, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 9,261,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864.01
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0217 of the plunger pump type medical syringes A61M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/00 Supporting devices; Holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/54 Supports specially adapted for pipettes and burettes automated pipetting stations G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1011 Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1067 for transfer to or from containers having different spacing

Abstract

The invention relates to a positioning device for a sample distribution apparatus, in particular a pipetting apparatus, providing a first part, at which a sample transport device can be arranged, a second part, at which a sample holder can be arranged, wherein the first part and the second part are arranged moveable in relation to each other between a first position and an adjusted target position of the first and second part for performing a positioning motion, such that a sample can be conveyed towards the sample holder by the positioning motion between the first position and the adjusted target position and is conveyable at the target position by release from the sample transport device to the sample holder, or can be conveyed in the sample transport apparatus towards the sample holder by the positioning motion between the first position and the adjusted target position and is conveyable by a motion of the sample transport device relative to the first part into a release position and is conveyable at the release position by release from the sample transport device to the sample holder, wherein an actuation motion is provided, which serves the conveyance of the sample, a positioning auxiliary device, which provides at least one means for limiting and the relative mobility of the first and the second part in the adjusted target position, which provides, preferably, at least one means for adjusting the n-th target position from a plurality of N predetermined target position as the adjusted target position, which, preferably, provides at least one means for changing of the adjusted target position from the n-th target position to an (n+1)-th target position, and which further provides at least one first means for coupling of said actuation motion and said positioning auxiliary device, or to the at least one means for changing of the same such that the actuation motion can effect the change from said n-th target position to said (n+1)-th target position via said at least one first means for coupling. The invention relates to a corresponding working method for the automatical change of a position of a first part relative to a second part and relates further to a sample distribution apparatus with such a positioning device.

Claims

1. Positioning device (1;

1′

) for a sample distribution apparatus (100;

100′

, 200), in particular for pipetting apparatus, providing;

a first part (10;

10′

), at which a sample transport device (102) can be arranged,

a second part (20;

20′

), at which a sample holder (103;

. . . ) can be arranged,

wherein the first part and the second part are arranged moveable relative to each other between a first position and an adjusted target position of the first and the second part for performing a positioning motion, such that a sample is conveyable towards the sample holder by the positioning motion between the first position and the adjusted target position and is conveyable at the target position by release from the sample transport device to the sample holder or is conveyable in the sample transport device towards the sample holder by the positioning motion between the first position and the adjusted target position and is conveyable by a motion of the sample transport device relative to the first part to a release position and is conveyable at the release position by release from the sample transport device to the sample holder,

wherein an actuation motion is provided, which serves the conveyance of the sample,

a positioning auxiliary device (30;

30′

),

which provides at least one means for limiting (40;

40′

) of the relative mobility of the first and the second part in the adjusted target position,

which provides at least one means for adjustment (50;

50′

) of the n-th target position from a plurality of N predetermined target positions as the adjusted target position,

which provides at least one means for changing (60;

60′

) of the adjusted target position from the n-th target position to a (n+1)-th target position, and

which provides at least one first means for coupling (70;

70′

) of the actuation motion and the at least one means for changing such that the change from said n-th target position to said (n+1)-th target position can be effected by the actuation motion via the at least one means for coupling.

2. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation motion is said positioning motion.

3. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation motion is a motion, which is manually conducted by user.

4. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of N means for limiting are provided by means of which N target positions can be adjusted.

5. Positioning device according to claim 4, characterized in that the positioning device is configured such that the n-th target position is adjusted, before the positioning motion of the first and the second part into the n-th target position is finished.

6. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that it provides a guiding device, by means of which a guided positioning motion of the first and the second part relative to each other between a first position and a n-th target position can be conducted.

7. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first means for coupling is mechanically such that it mechanically effects the change from said n-th target position to said (n+1)-th target position during the positioning motion.

8. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one means for limiting, the at least one means for adjustment and the at least one means for changing are operating mechanically, and are, in particular, not operating electrically, respectively.

9. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one means for limiting provide the plurality of N stopping areas, at which the motion of the first and second part in a motion direction is blocked by attachment of both parts, if they are guided from the first position in the direction of a target position.

10. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one means for coupling are moveable arranged at the first part and that the positioning auxiliary device provides also at least one second means for coupling the positioning motion to the at least first means for coupling such that the first means for coupling is moveable by the at least one second means for coupling during a positioning motion.

11. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that in at least means for adjusting are arranged at the second part and include, in particular, a rotatable drum device, at which, preferably, the at least one means for limiting and the at least one means for changing are arranged at least partially.

12. Positioning device according to claim 11, characterized in that the drum device provides a substantially cylinder-shaped exterior side and that the at least one means for changing provides, in particular, a plurality of N helically-shaped guiding grooves, which coil up at said exterior side, in particular being arranged equidistant, wherein the open ends of said guiding grooves are directed in the direction of the rotation axis of the drum device.

13. Positioning device according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one first means for coupling comprise an engagement element, which is arranged at the first part, which is, in particular, arranged moveable in a engagement direction perpendicular to said rotation axis at the first part, and is further arranged unmoveable in the direction of the rotation axis, and which is configured for engaging said guiding grooves.

14. Positioning device according to claim 6, characterized in that said guiding device is configured for performing a translatoric relative motion of the first and second part along a linear guiding direction, which runs substantially in parallel to said rotation axis such that the engagement of the engagement element into said guiding grooves of the drum device effects that the engagement element, which engages the guiding groove, rotates the drum device during said substantially translatoric positioning motion, whereby it is changed from the n-the target position to the (n+1)-th target position and the latter is adjusted to be said new adjusted target position.

15. Positioning device according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one second means for coupling is configured for moving the engagement element along the engagement direction, whereby the means include, in particular, a slotted link device and a slide block member, whereby the slotted link device is arranged at the second part and is arranged extending substantially along the linear guiding direction and the sliding block member being arranged substantially extending perpendicular to the engagement direction and substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis, arranged firmly to the engagement element.

16. Positioning device according to claim 15, characterized in that said slotted link device provides a slotted link and said sliding block member provides a sliding block which can be guided through the slotted link, wherein the slotted link is shaped such that the engagement element does not engage into said guiding groove during the positioning motion from the first position to the n-the target position and does engage into said guiding groove during the positioning back motion from the n-th target position to the first position, whereby it is changed during the return path from the n-th target position to the (n+1)-th target position and the latter being adjusted as the new target position.

17. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part is arranged moveable and that the second part is arranged unmoveable at the sample distribution apparatus (first preferred embodiment) or that the first part is arranged unmoveable at the sample distribution apparatus and the second part is arranged moveable (second preferred embodiment).

18. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part can be manually moved in relation to the second part by a user.

19. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning auxiliary device provides means for a manual adjustment of the n-th target position from a plurality of N predetermined target positions.

20. Positioning device according to claim 9, characterized in that a counter stopping area is assigned to the positioning auxiliary device, the counter stopping area being arranged at the first part such that the relative motion of the first and the second part can be blocked by the attachment of the n-th stopping area at said counter stopping area.

21. Positioning device according to claim 20, characterized in that the positioning auxiliary device provides a means for a manual adjustment of the position of the counter stopping area in relation to the first part.

22. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring means for suspension of the relative motion of the first and second part are provided, if the relative motion approaches the n-th target position.

23. Sample distribution apparatus, in particular a pipetting apparatus, which provides a positioning device according to any one of claims 1-22.

24. Sample distribution apparatus with a positioning device according to claim 23, wherein the positioning device provides a first part, at which a sample transport device can be arranged, provides a second part, which is moveable arranged in relation to the first part and at which a sample holder can be arranged, wherein the first part and the second part are moveable arranged relative to each other between a first position and an adjusted target position for the performance of a positioning motion such that a sample is conveyable against the sample holder by the positioning motion between the first position and the adjusted target position and is conveyable at the target position by release from the sample transport device to the sample holder, wherein a actuation motion is provided, which serves the conveyance of the sample,

wherein the sample distribution apparatus further provides an automatic height adjustment device, at which an height adjustable component of the apparatus is automatically adjusted in height by the actuation motion, in particular the positioning motion.

25. Sample distribution apparatus with a positioning device according to any one of previous claims 1 to 22, in particular a pipetting apparatus, wherein the positioning device provides a first part, at which a holding device for holding of a sample transport device is arranged, provides a second part, which is moveable arranged in relation to the first part and at which a sample holder can be arranged, wherein the first part and the second part are moveable arranged in relation to each other between a first position and an adjusted target position of the first and second part for the performance of a positioning motion,

and provides an inclination apparatus, by means of which in the holding device for holding the sample transport device is arranged to be inclined against the first part, in particular, by an angle of 0°

≦

α

≦

90°

against the vertical direction (z-direction).

26. Sample distribution apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that third means for coupling of the positioning motion and said means for changing are provided such that a change of the height of the supply container holder is effected during the approaching of a starting position.

27. Sample distribution apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the first part is configured for holding a sample transport device, which is a commercially available hand-operated pipette or a commercially available hand-operated dispenser.

28. Method for positioning a first part relative to a second part in subsequent steps at, respectively, different target positions by means of a positioning device according to claims 1 to 22, a sample distribution apparatus according to one of the claims 23 to 27, in particular a pipetting apparatus, comprising the steps,

that an n-th positioning motion of the first and the second part relative to each other is performed between a first position and a predetermined n-th target position, the n-th target position being adjustable at the positioning device as one of N possible predetermined target positions,

that a subsequent (n+1)-th positioning motion of the first and the second part relative to each other is automatically performed between a first position and the (n+1)-th target position,

by utilizing an actuation motion, which can be manual, in particular, to effect the change from the n-th target position to the (n+1)-th target position by the coupling of the actuation motion with a positioning auxiliary device such that the (n+1)-th target position is adjusted as said new adjusted target position.

29. Method according to claim 28, wherein the return path of the n-th positioning motion from said n-the target position back to a first position is utilized to effect said change from the n-th target position to the (n+1)-th target position by a coupling of the positioning back motion with a positioning auxiliary device such that the (n+1)-th target position is adjusted as said new adjusted target position.