Abstract
A separating apparatus includes a feed device for feeding pipette tips, a dispensing device for dispensing pipette tips, a separating device arranged between the feed device and the dispensing device and having a transport shaft rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis, and a retaining element spaced apart from the transport shaft for retaining the pipette tips. The transport shaft has a thread for moving the pipette tips in an intermediate space between the transport shaft and the retaining element. The transport shaft has a transfer region for transferring the pipette tips from the feed device. The thread has a first thread pitch in the transfer region, and the transport shaft has an acceleration region after the transfer region. The thread has a second thread pitch in the acceleration region which is greater than the first thread pitch.
Claims
1. Separating apparatus for pipette tips, each having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a feed device for feeding pipette tips, a dispensing device for dispensing pipette tips, a separating device arranged between the feed device and the dispensing device and having a transport shaft mounted rotatable about a longitudinal axis and a holding element, arranged spaced apart from the transport shaft, for holding the pipette tips, wherein the pipette tips can be held in a friction- and positive-locking manner between the holding element and the transport shaft, and wherein the transport shaft is provided, at least in areas, with a thread, by means of which the pipette tips can be moved in an intermediate space between the transport shaft and the holding element along the longitudinal axis of the transport shaft, wherein the thread of the transport shaft is formed as a groove so that the pipette tips can be held in a positive-locking manner in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft, and wherein the longitudinal axes of the pipette tips are arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transport shaft during the movement, and wherein the transport shaft has a transfer area for transferring the pipette tips from the feed device, wherein the thread has a first thread pitch in the transfer area, wherein the transport shaft has an acceleration area arranged after the transfer area, wherein the thread has a second thread pitch, which is greater than the first thread pitch, in the acceleration area.
2. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is formed as a preferably rotatably mounted holding shaft with a longitudinal axis arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transport shaft.
3. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between the transport shaft and the holding element is adjustable.
4. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a control device is provided for detecting pipette tips which have not been separated.
5. The separating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control device is formed as a stop element.
6. The separating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control device is arranged in the acceleration area.
7. The separating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the areas between the thread in the acceleration area of the transport shaft are formed as passing areas for the pipette tips.
8. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport shaft has a dispensing area arranged after the acceleration area, wherein, in the dispensing area, the thread has a third thread pitch, which is smaller than the second thread pitch.
9. The separating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an empty run is provided at the end of the dispensing area facing away from the acceleration area.
10. The separating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the spacing between the transport shaft and the holding element is smaller in the dispensing area than in the acceleration area.
11. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread is formed as a groove and/or the thread flanks of the transport shaft are flattened at least in areas.
12. The separating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the depth of the thread, in particular the depth of the groove, has different values in the dispensing area and/or in the transfer area than in the acceleration area.
13. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing device has at least one push rod, which has a receiving element mounted movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft.
14. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing device has a dispensing shaft mounted rotatable about a longitudinal axis, wherein a holding means arranged spaced apart from the dispensing shaft is provided for holding the pipette tips, and wherein the dispensing shaft is provided, at least in areas, with a thread, by means of which the pipette tips can be moved in an intermediate space between the dispensing shaft and the holding means along the longitudinal axis of the dispensing shaft.
15. The separating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the thread on the dispensing shaft forms at least 6, 8, 12, 16 or 24 indentations on each side of the dispensing shaft.
16. The separating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the longitudinal axis of the dispensing shaft and the longitudinal axis of the transport shaft are parallel or coincide and/or wherein the dispensing shaft and the transport shaft are mounted rotatable independently of each other.
17. The separating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a transfer device for dispensing the pipette tips is arranged in or on the holding means.
18. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a detection device is provided for detecting a pipette tip moved into the dispensing area of the transport shaft.
19. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding element has at least one dropping device for moving pipette tips located outside the thread.
20. The separating and loading device for pipette tips, each having a longitudinal axis, with a filling device for pouring in pipette tips to be separated, a separating apparatus according to claim 1 and a removal device, from which pipette tips that have been separated and inserted into a pipette tip box can be removed.
21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the filling device has a rotatably mounted drum.
22. The device according to claim 20, wherein the device has a storage area for storing several pipette tip boxes.
23. The device according to claim 20, wherein a return device is provided, by means of which pipette tips not dispensed by the dispensing device can be transferred to the feed device.
24. The device according to claim 20, wherein the longitudinal axis of the transport shaft is mounted horizontally in the operating state of the device.
25. The method for operating a separating apparatus for pipette tips, each having a longitudinal axis, in particular according to claim 1, wherein the pipette tips are fed, via a feed device, to a separating device having a transport shaft mounted rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and a holding element, arranged spaced apart from the transport shaft, and wherein the pipette tips are moved, by means of a thread, which is arranged at least in areas on the transport shaft, in the intermediate space between the transport shaft and the holding element along the longitudinal axis of the transport shaft, wherein the spacing between the transport shaft and the holding element is chosen such that the pipette tips, in a transfer area of the transport shaft in which the pipette tips are transferred from the feed device, in the area of their center of gravity, are mounted rotatable about an axis arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transport shaft.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the longitudinal axis of the transport shaft is mounted horizontally and, for moving the pipette tips, is rotated such that the areas of the transport shaft facing the holding element are moved upwards.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0060] Further advantages and details of the invention are discussed, for various embodiment examples, with reference to the following figures. There are shown in:
[0061] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of the functional units of a separating and loading device according to the invention,
[0062] FIGS. 2a to c a top view, a cross section and a front view of a schematic representation of a separating device,
[0063] FIGS. 3a, 3b a cross-sectional representation and a front view of a schematic representation of a separating device,
[0064] FIGS. 4a to c a top view, a cross section and a front view of a schematic representation of a separating device,
[0065] FIGS. 5a to c a top view, a cross section and a front view of a schematic representation of a separating device,
[0066] FIGS. 6a to c a top view, a cross section and a front view of a schematic representation of a separating device,
[0067] FIGS. 7a to c a top view, a cross section and a front view of a schematic representation of a separating device,
[0068] FIGS. 8a to c a top view, a cross section and a front view of a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the separating device,
[0069] FIGS. 9a to c a top view, a cross section and a front view of a schematic representation of the further embodiment of the separating device,
[0070] FIGS. 10a to c a top view, a cross section and a front view of a schematic representation of the further embodiment of the separating device,
[0071] FIGS. 11a, 11b a side view and a cross-sectional representation of an embodiment of the transport shaft,
[0072] FIGS. 12a, 12b a top view and a cross section of a schematic representation of a separating apparatus,
[0073] FIGS. 13a, 13b a top view and a cross section of a schematic representation of a separating apparatus,
[0074] FIGS. 14a to d a top view, two cross sections of a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a separating apparatus as well as a side view of the holding element,
[0075] FIGS. 15a to d a top view, two cross sections of a schematic representation of this embodiment of a separating apparatus as well as a side view of the holding element,
[0076] FIGS. 16a to d a top view, two cross sections of a schematic representation of this embodiment of a separating apparatus as well as a side view of the holding element,
[0077] FIGS. 17a to d a top view, two cross sections of a schematic representation of this embodiment of a separating apparatus as well as a side view of the holding element,
[0078] FIG. 18 a partially cut open perspective view of a separating and loading device according to the invention, and
[0079] FIG. 19 a partially cut open side view of a separating and loading device according to the invention,
[0080] FIG. 20 a partially cut open perspective view of a further embodiment of a separating and loading device according to the invention,
[0081] FIG. 21 a further partially cut open perspective view of this embodiment of a separating and loading device according to the invention,
[0082] FIG. 22 a perspective view of parts of this embodiment of a separating and loading device according to the invention,
[0083] FIG. 23 a further partially cut open perspective view of this embodiment of a separating and loading device according to the invention,
[0084] FIG. 24 a further partially cut open perspective view of this embodiment of a separating and loading device according to the invention, and
[0085] FIG. 25 a perspective detail view of a further embodiment of the separating and loading device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0086] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the functional units of a separating and loading device 21 according to the invention. The pipette tips 5 to be separated are put into a filling device 22 for example in the form of loose products, from there they are transferred into a feed device 15, by which the pipette tips 5 to be separated are fed to a separating device 16, which singles, i.e. separates, the pipette tips 5. In the singled state, the pipette tips 5 are dispensed from the separating apparatus 23 by a dispensing device 17 and positioned in pipette tip boxes 25. The loaded pipette tip boxes 25 can then be removed from a removal device 24. In an embodiment of the invention, pipette tips 5a, 5b that are not separated are collected in a collecting area 28 and returned to the filling device 22 using a return device 27.
[0087] FIG. 2a shows a top view of a schematic representation of a separating device 16. For reasons of clarity, the thread 2 and the thread flank 3 of the transport shaft 1 are not represented in FIGS. 2a to 2c. In this embodiment of the invention, the holding element 4 is a holding shaft, the longitudinal direction of which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the transport shaft 1. The spacing d between the transport shaft 1 and the holding element 4 is chosen such that pipette tips 5 which are fed by the feed device 15 in an orientation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the transport shaft 1 of the separating device 16, in the area of their center of gravity S, which is located in the area of the collar 36 of the pipette tip 5, are mounted rotatable about an axis arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the transport shaft 1.
[0088] In the front view of FIG. 2c, a fed pipette tip 5 can be seen in the intermediate space Z between the transport shaft 1 and the holding shaft 4. In the operating state of the separating and loading device 21, the longitudinal axis L can be mounted horizontally. In FIG. 2c, the longitudinal direction of the fed pipette tip 5 is then likewise oriented substantially horizontally. The pipette tips 5 to be separated can generally be fed to the separating device 16 by the feed device 15 in a wide variety of orientations, with the result that the pipette tips 5 in principle can land in any conceivable position on the separating device 16. Depending on the embodiment of the feed device 15, the pipette tips 5 are often fed to the separating device 16 rolling, with the result that the pipette tips 5 often come to lie horizontally.
[0089] In the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 2b, along the section line A-A according to FIG. 2a, it is shown how the fed pipette tip 5 can rotate about its center of gravity. This rotation makes it possible for the pipette tips 5 to be easily caught by the thread 2 of the transport shaft 1.
[0090] FIG. 3a corresponds to the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 2b, wherein the pipette tip 5 is now rotated by approx. 90° and is located in a convenient position for catching by the thread 2. It can further be seen that the longitudinal axis LP of the pipette tip 5, represented dashed, is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the transport shaft 1. FIG. 3b shows the separating device 16 in a front view and corresponds to FIG. 2c, but with the pipette tip 5 rotated by approx. 90°.
[0091] FIG. 4a shows a schematic top view of a separating apparatus 16, wherein in this representation the transfer area 6 of the transport shaft 1 is represented. The holding element 4 is formed as a holding shaft with a smooth surface, as a result of which the movement of the pipette tip 5 by the thread 2 in the sense of an Archimedes' screw in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1 is made easier. The areas between the thread 2 are formed flat in the side view and in the top view, with the result that capturing the pipette tips 5 in the thread 2 formed as a groove 14 is made easier. The thread flanks 3 are thus flattened. In the groove 14, the pipette tip 5 is held not only in a friction-locking manner but also in a positive-locking manner, wherein the positive locking results downwards due to the conical design of the pipette tip 5 and the pipette collar 36. The pipette tip 5 is thus now properly caught and is held during its movement along the longitudinal axis L of the transport shaft 1 by means of the thread 2 such that the longitudinal axis LP is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, as can be seen particularly well in FIG. 4b. The pipette tips 5 are held in the thread 2 by the thread flank 3. However, the pipette tips 5 can move when the transport shaft 1 is rotated despite the connection to the holding shaft and the transport shaft 1 in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft, namely together with the thread 2 which is moved when the transport shaft 1 is rotated about the longitudinal axis L.
[0092] In the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 4b, the direction of movement of the pipette tip 5 is symbolized by the straight arrow. During this movement, the longitudinal axis LP of the pipette tip 5, represented dashed, is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the transport shaft 1. The spacing d between the transport shaft 1 and the holding element 4 is given by the minimum spacing between the deepest point of the thread 2 and the surface of the holding element 4 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1. Alternatively, the spacing d′ can also be defined by the minimum spacing between the highest point of the thread flank 3 and the surface of the holding element 4 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1. The spacing d (or the spacing d′) is chosen such that it is possible for the pipette tip 5 to be held securely during the movement.
[0093] A front view of the separating device 16 is shown in FIG. 4c. The transport shaft 1 is rotated such that the areas of the transport shaft 1 facing the holding element 4 are moved upwards, in this case counter-clockwise. This prevents the pipette tip 5 from becoming wedged.
[0094] A top view of a schematic representation of a separating device 16 is shown in FIG. 5a, wherein the transport shaft 1 with the transfer area 6 and the acceleration area 7 is represented. It can be seen that two pipette tips 5 are arranged properly in the thread 2 formed as a groove 14. A third pipette tip 5b has not been properly transferred from the feed device 15, but is lying on the collars 36 of the pipette tips 5. This is not an infrequent occurrence in particular when larger quantities of pipette tips 5 have to be singled. However, the separating apparatus 23 according to the invention can remedy these errors by correctly catching, i.e. correctly singling, the pipette tip 5b and hooking it into the thread 2 or feeding it to the separating device 16 again by (passive) return via the collecting area 28 and/or the return device 27.
[0095] It can further be seen that the first thread pitch s1 in the transfer area 6 is much smaller than the second thread pitch s2, wherein the increase takes place continuously. Due to the increased thread pitch s2, the pipette tips 5 are accelerated after being securely transferred and moved much more quickly in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1 when the transport shaft 1 is rotated about its longitudinal axis L.
[0096] FIG. 5b shows a cross-sectional representation along the section line A-A. FIG. 5c shows a front view of the separation device 16 according to FIGS. 5a and 5b, wherein again the pipette tip 5b lying on the collar 36 of the pipette tip 5 can be seen.
[0097] FIGS. 6a to 6c represent the separating device 16 of FIGS. 5a to 5c after a rotation of the transport shaft 1. Whereas in FIGS. 5a to 5c both pipette tips 5 properly caught in the thread 2 are still arranged in the transfer area 6, in FIGS. 6a to 6c the first pipette tip 5 in the direction of movement is already located in the middle of the acceleration area 7. On the other hand, the second pipette tip 5 is still arranged in the transfer area 6 and during the rotation of the transport shaft 1 moves more slowly in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1 than the pipette tip 5 located further to the left. The pipette tip 5b that is not caught properly and, in the situation of FIGS. 5a to 5c, is still lying on the collars 36 of both pipette tips 5 loses the hold, at its left-hand end, by the pipette tip 5 arranged further to the left, which moves away underneath it, and thus rests on only one collar 36. As a result, the pipette tip 5b can rotate about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the transport shaft 1 and be caught by the groove 14 in the transfer area 6. This is only possible because the pipette tip 5 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1 more quickly in the acceleration area 7 and as a result the spacing between the two pipette tips 5 is increased in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1. The rotation of the pipette tip 5b is shown by the arrow in the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 6b. FIG. 6c shows the separation device 16 of FIGS. 6a and 6b in a front view.
[0098] The situation resulting after a further rotation of the transport shaft 1 about its longitudinal axis L is shown in FIGS. 7a to 7c. The pipette tip 5b formerly not properly caught is now properly caught and can subsequently be sorted into a pipette tip box 25. Due to the acceleration of the movement in the acceleration area 7, a larger gap forms between the pipette tips 5, within which the pipette tip 5b that was not properly caught could be rotated.
[0099] FIG. 8a shows a further embodiment of the separating device 16, wherein a control device 9 formed as a stop element is arranged above the acceleration area 7. The control device 9 acts as a height control. Pipette tips 5a slotted into each other namely protrude further out of the intermediate space Z between holding element 4 and transport shaft 1 and cannot pass under the stop element 9. This is shown particularly well in the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 8b, along the section line A-A according to FIG. 8a, and also in the front view of FIG. 8c.
[0100] In this embodiment, in the acceleration area 7, areas between the thread 2 are further formed as free spaces 29, which are characterized in that the transport shaft 1 is cut out deeper in these free spaces 29. The free spaces form a second thread between the thread flanks 3, which is so deep, however, that pipette tips 5 cannot be held between holding element 4 and transport shaft 1. In the case of the free spaces 29 there is thus a passing area for the pipette tips 5a slotted into each other two or more times, which can fall downwards in this area in the intermediate space Z, where they are collected in a collecting area 28.
[0101] FIGS. 9a to 9c show the separating device 16 shown in FIGS. 8a to 8c a short time later, while the transport shaft has been rotated further about its longitudinal axis L by a certain angle. The pipette tips 5a that are slotted into each other are rotated along the arrow shown in the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 9b by the control device 9 formed as a stop element. In contrast, singled pipette tips 5 can pass underneath the control device 9a. The pipette tips 5a that are slotted into each other are raised out of the thread 2 and fall through in the passing area at the free spaces 29 into the collecting area 28. FIG. 9c again shows a front view.
[0102] In FIGS. 10a to 10c it is represented how the control device 9 formed as a stop element, which in this case acts as a height control, can also detect pipette tips 5b that are not properly caught and remove them from the singling procedure. As can be seen with reference to the top view of FIG. 10a, in this case the pipette tip 5b that is lying on two properly caught pipette tips 5 has not been caught by the thread 2 formed as a groove 14. However, the pipette tip 5b strikes the control device 9. Since the pipette tips 5 that are properly caught are moved further in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1, the pipette tip 5b can fall into the collecting area 28 at the passing area on the free spaces 29 in the acceleration area 7. FIG. 10c again shows a front view.
[0103] FIG. 11a shows a side view of a further embodiment of the transport shaft 1, in which the thread 2 formed as a groove 14 serves for moving the pipette tips 5 in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1, as in the earlier embodiments. The thread has a first thread pitch s1 in the transfer area 6. The second thread pitch s2 in the acceleration area 7 is much greater, in order to move the pipette tips 5 more quickly in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1. In the acceleration area 7, free spaces 29, which act as passing areas for pipette tips 5a, 5b that are not properly caught, are arranged in the areas between the thread 2. The dispensing area 8 is arranged after the acceleration area 7 in the axial direction. Here, the thread has a third thread pitch s3, which is smaller than the second thread pitch s2. It can be seen that the spacing d from the holding element 4 is smaller in the dispensing area 8 because the transport shaft 1 has a conically increasing diameter here. As a result, the pipette tips 5 are held more securely in the dispensing area 8 and can therefore be dispensed to the dispensing device 17 with greater precision. This can be seen well with reference to the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 11b along the section line A-A according to FIG. 11a.
[0104] In the top view of FIG. 12a, a further embodiment of the separating apparatus 23 is shown, wherein the dispensing area 8 of the transport shaft 1 is formed as an empty run 10. The acceleration area 7 and the transfer area 6 correspond to the embodiment according to FIGS. 5a to 5c. A situation is shown in which a pipette tip 5 has been moved as far as the dispensing area 8. The dispensing area 8 has a thread 2 formed as an empty run 10, which no longer has a pitch. Thus, the pipette tip 5 can no longer move further in the longitudinal direction of the transport shaft 1 despite rotation of the transport shaft 1.
[0105] In the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 12b, it can be seen that the dispensing device 17 has a push rod 18, which can be moved up and down in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and has a receiving element 35, which can be arranged in the collar 36 of the pipette tip 5 and is formed such that the pipette tip 5 can be held in a friction-locking manner. The push rod 18 thus serves for receiving the pipette tip 5.
[0106] The representations of FIGS. 13a and 13b correspond to FIGS. 12a and 12b except that the push rod 18 has carried out a lowering movement downwards and therefore the receiving element 35 is arranged in the collar 36 of the pipette tip 5. In the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 13b, it can be seen that the push rod 18 together with the pipette tip 5 is moved upwards in the case of a lifting movement of the push rod 18, represented by the arrow z. The pipette tip 5 has then been dispensed by the separating apparatus 21. Subsequently, the push rod 18 together with the pipette tip 5 can be moved in the longitudinal direction, represented by the arrow x, and in a direction arranged perpendicular to the paper plane, in order to position the pipette tip 5 in a pipette tip box 25.
[0107] FIG. 14a shows a top view of a further embodiment of the separating apparatus 21 according to the invention. The transport shaft 1 is formed as in FIGS. 8a to 8c, but no empty run 10 is arranged at the end of the dispensing area 8. The dispensing device 17 has a dispensing shaft 11 mounted rotatable independently of the rotation of the transport shaft 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the dispensing shaft 11 corresponds to the longitudinal axis L of the transport shaft 1. The dispensing shaft 11 has a thread 12 between the thread flanks 13, which is formed as a groove 14 and by means of which pipette tips 5 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the dispensing shaft. For this purpose, a holding means is provided, which, together with the dispensing shaft 11, holds pipette tips in a friction-locking and also positive-locking manner, wherein a movement in the longitudinal direction of the dispensing shaft 11 is possible in the case of a rotation of the dispensing shaft 11.
[0108] In this embodiment, the holding means corresponds to the holding element 4. The holding shaft thus extends over the area of the transport shaft 1 and the dispensing shaft 11. A detection device 19, which is formed as a light barrier in this embodiment example, detects the presence of pipette tips 5 in the dispensing area 8 of the transport shaft 1 and reports this to a control device. The control device sends a signal to a stepper motor, as a result of which the dispensing shaft 11 is set in rotation. As a result, the pipette tip 5 is dispensed from the dispensing area 8 and moved further in the longitudinal direction of the dispensing shaft 11. This can also be seen with reference to the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 14b along the section line A-A according to FIG. 14a.
[0109] As can further be seen in the top view of FIG. 14a, dropping devices 20 are provided on the holding element 4 in the area which lies opposite the dispensing area 8 and the adjacent start of the dispensing shaft 11. These can be indentations, which are distributed over the circumference of the holding element 4 formed as a holding shaft. These indentations can act as passing areas, through which pipette tips 5 that are not properly caught in the grooves 14 can be dropped, in order, for example, to fall into the collecting area 28. A rotation of the holding shaft can be provided for this purpose. A further dropping device 20 is arranged in the holding shaft 4 along the entire length of the transport shaft 1. The dropping devices 20 are milled recesses. By rotating the holding shaft 4, these milled recesses 20 can be arranged such that there is no longer a connection between the pipette tips 5 and the holding element 4. As a result, the pipette tips 5 can fall into the collecting area 28. The dropping device 20 arranged along the entire length of the transport shaft 1 can be used in the case of a more serious error, with the result that the entire separating procedure starts from scratch. This can also be seen particularly well in FIG. 14d, which represents a side view of the holding element 4 formed as a holding shaft. The holding element 4 is formed along the transport shaft 1 and the dispensing shaft 11, with the result that the holding means corresponds to the holding element 4.
[0110] A transfer device 30 is further arranged on the holding shaft. In this embodiment example it is one or more millings 30 distributed over the circumference of the holding shaft which is or are arranged opposite the thread 12. The holding shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis by an angle until the millings form a passing area for pipette tips 5 properly held in the dispensing shaft 11, which can then be positioned in the holes in the pipette tip box 25. If there are, for example, 6, 8, 12, 16 or 24 indentations in the thread 12 in the dispensing shaft 11 opposite the holding shaft, in which in each case one pipette tip 5 is held, then 6, 8, 12, 16 or 24 pipette tips can thereby be positioned in the pipette tip box 25 at the same time. FIG. 14c shows a cross-sectional representation of the separating apparatus 23 along the section line B-B represented in FIG. 14d.
[0111] FIGS. 15a to 15d likewise show the separating apparatus 23 according to FIGS. 14a to 14d. Again, the transfer device 30 in the form of a milling can be seen in the side view of the holding element 4 according to FIG. 15d. The dropping devices 20 formed as millings can be seen in the top view of FIG. 15a. One of these millings is arranged on the holding element along the entire extent of the transport shaft 1. This milling can be brought into position by rotating the holding element 4 formed as a holding shaft, as a result of which the entire area of the transport shaft 1 and all the pipette tips 5 arranged in this area are emptied into the collecting area 28, for example into the drum 34, at the same time. It can be seen with reference to FIGS. 14a to 14d and FIGS. 15a to 15d that the transfer device 30 and the dropping devices 20, which are formed in each case as millings, are arranged on different angle ranges along the circumference of the holding element 4 formed as a holding shaft. As a result it can be ensured that only one of the dropping devices 20 is arranged opposite the transport shaft 1 or that only the transfer device 30 is arranged opposite the dispensing shaft 11.
[0112] FIGS. 16a to 16d likewise show the separating apparatus 23 of FIGS. 14a to 14d and FIGS. 15a to 15d. FIGS. 16a to 16d represent how the dropping device 20, in the form of a milling arranged on the holding shaft, is brought into position in order to be able to remove pipette tips 5 arranged in the dispensing area 8 or in the adjacent area of the dispensing shaft 11 from the separating process and put them in the collecting area 28. The dropping device 20 arranged, as milling, centrally in the holding shaft in relation to the longitudinal extent, is brought into position by rotating the holding shaft. Since the milling provides more space, the connection between pipette tips 5 and holding element 4 as well as transport shaft 1 or dispensing shaft 11 is broken, since there can no longer be a positive locking or a friction locking. The pipette tips 5 which are arranged in this area fall into the collecting area 28, as is represented with reference to the arrow in FIG. 16c. This makes sense, for example, when the indentations on the dispensing shaft 11 are already fully occupied and the pipette tips 5 arranged here have not yet been able to be dispensed into a pipette tip box 25.
[0113] The normal direction of movement of the pipette tips 5 is indicated by the arrow in FIG. 16a. However, it can also prove to be necessary to return pipette tips 5 already arranged in the dispensing shaft 11. For this purpose, the direction of rotation of the dispensing shaft 11 can be altered. As a result, the pipette tips 5 are moved counter to the direction of the arrow represented. As soon as the pipette tips 5 have arrived in the area which lies opposite the dropping device 20, they can be returned to the collecting area 28 by a suitable rotation of the holding shaft, and thus subsequently into the separating apparatus 23. This makes sense e.g. when a system is restarted or when the type of pipette tips to be sorted is changed.
[0114] The separating apparatus 23 represented in FIGS. 17a to 17d also corresponds to the separating apparatus 23 represented in FIGS. 16a to 16d. In these figures it is now shown how the pipette tips 5 can be dispensed by the dispensing shaft 11 into a pipette tip box 25. In FIG. 17a it can be seen how, in an area of the dispensing shaft 11, in each indentation formed by the thread 12, a pipette tip 5 is arranged opposite the holding means. As soon as a pipette tip box 25 is arranged underneath the dispensing shaft 11, the holding means formed as a holding shaft can be rotated until the transfer device 30 in the form of a milling is arranged such that the connection between holding means and dispensing shaft 11 is broken. If the transfer device 30 is brought into position, there is no longer a friction locking or a positive locking. The pipette tips 5 can therefore be dispensed downwards corresponding to the direction of the arrow represented in FIG. 17b.
[0115] The dropping devices 20 formed as millings and the transfer device 30 likewise formed as a milling are represented in the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 17c along the section line B-B according to FIG. 17d. It can clearly be seen here that the pipette tip 5 can fall downwards during a corresponding rotation of the holding shaft.
[0116] FIG. 18 shows a partially cut open perspective view of a separating and loading device 21 according to the invention. For one thing, the dispensing device 17 can be seen, wherein in this embodiment the separating apparatus 23 is mounted inside the separating and loading device 21 movable in the x direction via a guiding device 31 and in the y direction via a guiding device 32. The removal device 24 has a guiding device 33, with which pipette tip boxes 25 to be loaded can be moved in the z direction, and thus vertically in the operating state.
[0117] For positioning the pipette tips 5 in the pipette tip boxes 25, an empty pipette tip box 25 is moved vertically upwards. The separating apparatus 1 is moved in the x direction until the dispensing shaft 11 is positioned above a row of recesses in the pipette tip box 25. As soon as a number of pipette tips 5 corresponding to the number of recesses in a row of the pipette tip box 25 has accumulated in the dispensing shaft 11, the holding shaft acting as holding means is rotated about its longitudinal axis until the transfer device 30, formed as a milling, represents a passing area for the pipette tips 5 and, as a result, the pipette tips 5 could be positioned in the recesses of the pipette tip box 25. If the pipette tips 5 arranged in the dispensing shaft 11 are not sufficient to occupy all recesses in a row of the pipette tip box 25, a further forward movement of the separating apparatus 23 can be effected in the x direction. The separating apparatus is subsequently moved in the y direction in order to load the recesses of the next row of the pipette tip box 25.
[0118] If the pipette tip box 25 is fully loaded, it is moved downwards via the guiding device 33 and positioned in a storage area 26, which has a turntable. The turntable is rotated until the loaded pipette tip box 25 can be removed via an opening. A plurality of pipette tip boxes 25 can be stored in the storage area 26. The filling device 22 has a drum 34, which is arranged around the separating apparatus 21. In this embodiment example, the drum 34 is mounted non-rotatable. The inner jacket of the drum 34 acts here as a collecting area 28 for pipette tips 5a, 5b that have fallen out of the separating apparatus 21. An area of the drum 34 is provided with an inclined surface which forms the return device 27, as a result of which the removed pipette tips 5a, 5b can slide downwards due to gravity. There, these pipette tips 5a, 5b are transferred to the feed device 15.
[0119] FIG. 19 shows a partially cut open side view of the separating and loading device 21 formed as a compact table-top unit. For the sake of better clarity, not all components are represented. It can be seen that the storage area represents a magazine for pipette tip boxes 25. Pipette tips 5 to be separated can be filled, for example as loose products, into the drum 34 via an opening, not shown here. There, they are transferred via a device, not shown here, to the feed device 15, from where they are fed to the separating device 16. In the situation represented here, the dispensing shaft 11 is not yet fully occupied with pipette tips 5. It can be seen that two pipette tips 5 are dropped into the collecting area 28 via the emergency dropping devices 20.
[0120] In the embodiment of the separating and loading device 21 represented in FIGS. 18 and 19, the drum 34 is mounted non-rotatable. However, an inclined surface, which acts as a collecting area 28 and as a return device 27, is arranged in the drum. Via this inclined surface, pipette tips 5 which are already outside the drum 24 in the longitudinal direction can slide back into it. The pipette tip 5 represented furthest to the right in this figure is the last pipette tip which can be picked up by the dispensing device 17. Alternatively, this pipette tip 5 can be transferred to the return device 27 via the inclined surface.
[0121] In the embodiment example represented here, the dispensing device 17 has a push rod 18 with a plurality of receiving elements 35, via which the pipette tips 5 are transferred into a pipette tip box 25. If there are too many pipette tips 5, the push rod 18 can be positioned above the drum 34 by means of the guiding devices 31 and 32. Here, the pipette tips 5 can be dispensed and returned via the return device 27.
[0122] FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of parts of a further embodiment of the separating and loading device 21, wherein in this case the drum 34 is pushed into and out of the frame 37 of the separating and loading device 21 over guide rails using a drive 38. In order to pour the pipette tips 5 to be sorted into the device 21, the drum 34 is removed and the pipette tips 5 present as loose products are poured into the drum 34 via an opening. Then, the drum 34 is placed on the drive 38 and pushed into the frame 37. The separating device 16 having a transport shaft 1 and the return device 27 designed as a chute can further be seen in this figure. For reasons of clarity, the representation of further components of the separating and loading device 21 has been omitted here. The storage area 26, in which a plurality of pipette tip boxes 25 to be loaded is stored, can still be seen.
[0123] The perspective view of FIG. 21 shows how the drum 34, in which pipette tips 5 to be sorted are arranged, is introduced into the separating and loading device 21. For this, the drive 38 arranged on a movably mounted drawer is driven into the frame 37. This can be seen with reference to the arrow represented. The drive 38 has rotatably mounted drive shafts, which rotate the drum 34 using frictional contact. In this embodiment, triangular guide elements, which act as feed device 15, are arranged inside the drum 34. The pipette tips 5 are fed to the separating device 16, via these guide elements, by rotating the drum 34, because the pipette tips 5 roll down over the guide elements due to the rotation of the drum 34 and fall onto the transfer area 6 of the transport shaft 1.
[0124] This feed procedure can be seen clearly with reference to FIG. 22. This figure shows, in a perspective view, part of the separating and loading device 21, namely the separating device 16 as well as the rotatably mounted drum 34 with the feed device 15 in the form of guide elements. As soon as pipette tips 5 come to rest on one of the guide elements they are moved upwards with the rotation of the drum 34. From a certain angle range, the pipette tips 5 then fall onto the transfer area 6 of the transport shaft 1 due to gravity. The guide elements thus form scoops or blades, which throw the pipette tips 5 onto the separating device 16 from above.
[0125] The removal device 24 can be seen in FIG. 23. In this embodiment of the separating and loading device 21, the removal device 24 has a drawer that can be moved in and out over guide rails. Arranged on this drawer is a turntable on which pipette tip boxes 25 to be loaded and those that are already loaded are stored. The guiding device 33, with which the pipette tip box 25 to be loaded can be moved vertically upwards and then the loaded pipette tip box 25 can be moved vertically downwards, can be seen in the rear area.
[0126] FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of this embodiment of the separating and loading device 21, wherein all essential components are now represented in this representation. The dispensing area 8 with the dispensing device 17 cannot be seen since this is located inside the drum 34.
[0127] FIG. 25 shows a perspective detail view of a further embodiment of the separating and loading device 21, in which the feed device 15 is again arranged inside a rotatably mounted drum 34. In this case, the feed device 15 is formed in the shape of scoops, which are arranged along the inner circumference of the drum 34. Again, the pipette tips 5 were put in the drum 34 during the pouring in. The drum 34 is rotated by the drive 38. As a result, the pipette tips 5 are taken along by the feed device 15 formed in the shape of scoops and thrown onto the transfer area 6 of the transport shaft 1 from above.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0128] 1 transport shaft [0129] 2 thread of the transport shaft [0130] 3 thread flanks of the transport shaft [0131] 4 holding element [0132] 5 pipette tip [0133] 5a pipette tips that have not been separated [0134] 5b pipette tip located outside the thread flank [0135] 6 transfer area [0136] 7 acceleration area [0137] 8 dispensing area [0138] 9 control device [0139] 10 empty run [0140] 11 dispensing shaft [0141] 12 thread of the dispensing shaft [0142] 13 thread flanks of the dispensing shaft [0143] 14 groove formed by the thread [0144] 15 feed device [0145] 16 separating device [0146] 17 dispensing device [0147] 18 push rod [0148] 19 detection device [0149] 20 dropping devices [0150] 21 separating and loading device [0151] 22 filling device [0152] 23 separating apparatus [0153] 24 removal device [0154] 25 pipette tip box [0155] 26 storage area [0156] 27 return device [0157] 28 collecting area [0158] 29 free spaces [0159] 30 transfer device [0160] 31 guiding device for movement in the x direction [0161] 32 guiding device for movement in the y direction [0162] 33 guiding device for movement in the z direction [0163] 34 drum [0164] 35 receiving element of the push rod [0165] 36 collar of the pipette tip [0166] 37 frame of the separating and loading device [0167] 38 drum drive [0168] L longitudinal axis of the transport shaft [0169] S center of gravity of the pipette tip [0170] A axis of rotation for pipette tips [0171] Z intermediate space between transport shaft and holding element [0172] s1 first thread pitch [0173] s2 second thread pitch [0174] s3 third thread pitch [0175] d, d′ spacing between transport shaft and holding element
