Support profile for laboratory automation system

• US 10,843,198 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2019
• Issued: 11/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Inventors: Meier, Theo, Kuster, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ayres, Timothy M
• Application Number:
  US16/375,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20190308195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 312209, 108155
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/06 of metal A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/16 Holders for glasses, ashtrays, lamps, candles or the like forming part of tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0012 Lateral beams for tables or desks
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0083 Furniture made of sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/02 Laboratory benches or tables; Fittings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/30 using threaded bolts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/02 Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/025 specially designed to compensate for misalignement or to eliminate unwanted play
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0614 in angled relationship
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/109 with two horizontal degrees of freedom

Abstract

A worktable for a laboratory automation system can include a worktop with a level surface and a support profile for supporting the worktop, bent from a metal sheet The support profile can include a facing edge, and an underside of the worktop can lie directly on the facing edge. The support profile can include at least one reception lug. The worktable can include a bolt-shaped fastener for attaching the worktop on the support profile. The bolt-shaped fastener can project through the worktop and be received in the reception lug.

Claims

1. A worktable for a laboratory automation system, the worktable comprising:

a worktop with a flat surface; and

a support profile for supporting the worktop, the support profile comprising a bent metal sheet,

wherein;

the support profile has a facing edge;

an underside of the worktop lies directly on the facing edge;

the support profile has at least one reception lug;

a bolt-shaped fastener for attaching the worktop on the support profile projects through the worktop and is received in the reception lug;

the support profile comprises a U-shape and has a first leg and a second leg;

the first leg of the support profile provides the facing edge that is connected with the worktop;

the second leg of the support profile extends in a direction towards the worktop;

the second leg and the worktop define an air gap therebetween;

the second leg comprises an end section at an upper end of the second leg;

the end section of the second leg is bent toward the first leg;

the end section of the second leg extends substantially parallel to an underside of the worktop;

the end section of the second leg does not touch the worktop;

the air gap is disposed between the end section of the second leg and the worktop;

the support profile has a floor section between the first leg and the second leg;

the floor section has holes through which bolts extend, at on which feet for positioning the worktables are attached; and

the support profile with the first leg, the floor section and the second leg with its end section forms an open polygon in cross section; and

the air gap is free from any portion of the support profile.

2. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein the reception lug extends along a section of the support profile that provides the facing edge.

3. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein:

the reception lug comprises upwardly extending sheet metal strips of the support profile;

or

the reception lug is provided by an insert attached on the support profile.

4. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein the fastener has a thread that engages the reception lug.

5. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein the second leg extends in the direction of the first leg at the end facing towards the worktop, so that the air gap is provided between a side surface of the support profile and the worktop.

6. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein:

the floor section between the first leg and the second leg extends transverse to the first leg and the second leg.

7. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein:

the facing edge is a straight metal sheet cut facing edge; and

/or

the facing edge is a straight laser cut facing edge.

8. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein the worktable has two support profiles extending in parallel, which are each attached on the worktop with a facing edge.

9. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein:

the worktop has holes; and

holders for components of the laboratory automation systems are inserted into the holes.

10. The worktable according to claim 1, wherein:

the worktable further comprises holes therein configured to receive holders; and

the holes are arranged between the facing edge and a second leg of the support profile.

11. The worktable according to claim 1, further comprising two side frames extending in parallel, towards which the support profile extends in an orthogonal direction and to which the support profile is attached with its ends.

12. The worktable according to claim 1, further comprising a rail for attaching a pipetting arm, wherein the rail comprises a rail profile comprising a bent metal sheet and is attached to two side arms of the worktable with its ends.

13. The worktable according to claim 12, wherein the rail profile of the rail has a rectangular cross-section.

14. A laboratory automation system, comprising a worktable, the worktable comprising:

a worktop with a flat surface; and

a support profile for supporting the worktop, the support profile comprising a bent metal sheet,

wherein;

the support profile has a facing edge;

an underside of the worktop lies directly on the facing edge;

the support profile has at least one reception lug;

a bolt-shaped fastener for attaching the worktop on the support profile projects through the worktop and is received in the reception lug;

the support profile comprises a U-shape and has a first leg and a second leg;

the first leg of the support profile provides the facing edge that is connected with the worktop;

the second leg of the support profile extends in a direction towards the worktop;

the second leg and the worktop define an air gap therebetween;

the second leg comprises an end section at an upper end of the second leg;

the end section of the second leg is bent toward the first leg;

the end section of the second leg extends substantially parallel to an underside of the worktop;

the end section of the second leg does not touch the worktop;

the air gap is disposed between the end section of the second leg and the worktop;

the support profile has a floor section between the first leg and the second leg;

the floor section has holes through which bolts extend, at on which feet for positioning the worktables are attached; and

the support profile with the first leg, the floor section and the second leg with its end section forms an open polygon in cross section; and

the air gap is free from any portion of the support profile.