LABORATORY AUTOMATION SYSTEM FOR HANDLING TEST TUBES

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a laboratory automation system for handling test tubes containing samples of biological material along one or more guiding lanes. The laboratory automation system includes a framework defining a base wall of the guiding lanes and at least two guiding profiles defining opposite side walls of the guiding lanes. The framework is provided with two or more coupling slots of respective guiding profiles to the framework obtained along the base wall.

Claims

1. A laboratory automation system for handling test tubes containing samples of biological material along one or more guiding lanes, said laboratory automation system comprises: a framework defining a base wall of said guiding lanes and at least two guiding profiles defining opposite side walls of said guiding lanes, said framework is provided with two or more coupling slots of respective guiding profiles to said framework obtained along said base wall, each guiding profile comprises a coupling portion shaped to be inserted and elastically deformed inside a coupling slot of the two or more coupling slots, each guiding profile is configured to be coupled by interference to the coupling slot, said coupling portion maintains said elastic deformation when coupled and fully inserted inside the coupling slot, each guiding profile comprises an abutment portion, shaped to be arranged in contact with said base wall when said coupling portion is fully inserted inside the coupling slot, said coupling portion comprises a central portion and an end portion, wherein: each guiding profile comprises a centering portion, arranged between said abutment portion and said central portion of the coupling portion, a width of a cross section of each guiding profile at said central portion is smaller than a width of a cross section of the centering portion.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling slot comprises a bottom portion and an inlet portion, said inlet portion being arranged between said base wall and said bottom portion.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said bottom portion has a cross-section width smaller than said inlet portion.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said inlet portion is configured to be coupled with the centering portion.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the width of the cross section of each guiding profile at said central portion is smaller than a width of a cross section of the end portion.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the width of the cross section of each guiding profile at said centering portion is greater than a cross-section width of said bottom portion.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein a maximum width of the cross section of each guiding profile at said coupling portion is greater than a width of said bottom portion and such as to ensure a coupling by interference.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the centering portion is orthogonal to the abutment portion and is oriented in a coupling direction.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein characterized in that said coupling portion comprises a slit, which defines and separates two opposite walls arranged on the sides of each guiding profile.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said coupling portion comprises an element made of plastic material arranged inside said slit and configured to reinforce said opposite walls.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein a length of said centering portion is greater than a length of said coupling portion.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said slit extends over a length greater than a length of said coupling portion and smaller than a sum of lengths of said coupling portion and said centering portion.

Description

[0034] These and further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a laboratory automation system according to the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the laboratory automation system of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the framework and the guiding profiles of the laboratory automation system in a first embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of the guiding profile of the laboratory automation system in the first embodiment of FIG. 3;

[0039] FIG. 4B is a front view of the guiding profile of the laboratory automation system in the first embodiment of FIG. 3;

[0040] FIG. 4C is a top perspective view of the coupling slot obtained on the framework of the laboratory automation system in the first embodiment of FIG. 3;

[0041] FIG. 4D is a top perspective view of the coupling between the guiding profile and the coupling slot of FIGS. 4A and 4C;

[0042] FIG. 5A is a top perspective view of the guiding profile of the laboratory automation system in a second embodiment;

[0043] FIG. 5B is a top perspective view of the coupling between the guiding profile and the coupling slot of FIGS. 5A and 4C.

[0044] A laboratory automation system 1 according to the present invention for handling test tubes 10 containing samples of biological material, along one or more guiding lanes, is shown with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A portion of the system 1 is shown by way of example, without some components unnecessary for the understanding of the invention, including the means for handling the test tubes 10 and electrical/electronic devices. The system 1 is provided with two main guiding lanes 11, arranged in a parallel and opposite position, and two secondary guiding lanes 21, each arranged alongside one of the main guiding lanes 11 shown. The function of the main guiding lanes 11 is to handle the test tubes 10 containing samples of biological material arranged inside appropriate carriers 110, or to handle the empty carriers 110 themselves along the laboratory automation system 1. The function of the secondary guiding lanes 21 is to handle the test tubes 10 containing samples of biological material, directing them towards the devices (not shown) connected to the laboratory automation system 1, such as pre-analysis, analysis and post-analysis modules or stations, and vice versa. In the embodiment shown herein, each pair of main guiding lanes 11 and secondary guiding lanes 21 allows the handling of the aforesaid test tubes 10, or the corresponding empty carriers 110, along a same direction while the pair of guiding lanes in an opposite position performs the same handling along the opposite direction. The aforesaid lanes can be connected at the corresponding ends by appropriate connecting lanes (not shown) or they can be coupled to further portions able to modify the rectilinear path depicted.

[0045] The automation system 1 according to the present invention can have a different number or arrangements of lanes, i.e. it can be provided with further secondary guiding lanes with respect to what is depicted.

[0046] The handling of the test tubes 10, or the carriers 110, along the aforesaid guiding lanes 11, 21 preferably takes place by motorized conveyor belts (not shown) housed inside each of the aforesaid guiding lanes 11, 21.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the system 1 of FIG. 1, which allows a better appreciation of the construction of the system 1 itself and of the main 11 and secondary 21 guiding lanes. The laboratory automation system 1 comprises a framework 2, which defines the base wall of the guiding lanes and at least two guiding profiles defining the opposite side walls of the guiding lanes 11, 21. In particular, in the embodiment shown herein, the system 1 comprises two frameworks 2, or beams, which allow to support the weight of the test tubes 10 and the carriers 110 handled within the guiding lanes 11, 21. Such frameworks 2 are preferably made of metal material, especially aluminum alloy, to obtain a reduced weight according to the maximization of the sustainable load.

[0048] As shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, the upper surface of each framework 2 defines the base walls of the corresponding main 11 and secondary 21 guiding lanes. In particular, in the embodiment shown, the upper surface comprises four planes 12, 22, 32, 42 placed side-by-side, which define, in pairs, the base walls of the respective main 11 and secondary 21 guiding lanes. Two or more coupling slots of the guiding profiles to said frameworks 2 are obtained at the aforesaid base walls, and along the whole extension of the framework 2. In the embodiment shown herein, three coupling slots 30, 40, 50 are obtained in each framework 2, which allow the coupling to a maximum of three corresponding guiding profiles able to divide the guiding lanes, i.e. to separate the main lanes from the secondary lanes, as described in detail below. Therefore, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has for each framework 2 a coupling with three guiding profiles 3, 4, 5 which contribute to delimit the main 11 and secondary 21 guiding lanes, defining the side walls thereof. In particular, the two guiding profiles 3, 5 arranged on the sides of the framework 2, inside the corresponding coupling slots 30, 50, have the same shape, while a third guiding profile 4 has a different shape, and is arranged between the two guiding profiles 3 and 5, inside the corresponding coupling slot 40. Therefore, the guiding profile 4 centrally arranged allows the effective separation between the main 11 and secondary 21 guiding lanes, while defining one of the two side walls of each lane.

[0049] The shape of the guiding profiles can undergo modifications, which do not alter the inventive efficacy of the present invention. In particular, the aforesaid guiding profiles could all have the same shape or totally different shapes. In particular, the guiding profiles can be replaced by appropriate bulkheads (not shown), e.g. U-shaped bulkheads, which allow to prevent the access to one or more guiding lanes. Similarly the number of the guiding profiles, and of the corresponding coupling slots, can be modified depending on the number of lanes to be defined for the system.

[0050] FIGS. 4A-4D show in detail the first embodiment according to the present invention. In particular, FIGS. 4A-4B show the central guiding profile 4 (perspective and front plan views), FIG. 4C shows the portion of the framework 2 provided with the corresponding coupling slot 40, and FIG. 4D shows a coupling detail between the guiding profile 4 and the respective framework 2. The guiding profile 4 is provided with a coupling portion 14 comprising a slit 400, which defines and separates two opposite walls 114′, 114″ arranged on the sides of the guiding profile 4. The slit 400 is thus U-shaped with the connecting portion arranged in an opposite position with respect to the end of the guiding profile 4, i.e. in an opposite position with respect to the end of the aforesaid opposite walls 114′, 114″. According to the present invention, the aforesaid slit 400 is arranged at the end of the guiding profile 4, obtaining an opening which extends from the same end to the U-shaped connecting portion. The side walls thus define two opposite wings 114′, 114″ arranged on the sides of the guiding profile 4 and separated by the same slit 400 which defines them.

[0051] In a further embodiment (not shown), the aforesaid opposite walls can be connected to each other at the end of the guiding profile, obtaining an opening between the walls themselves, connected in a U in one of the two end portions and perpendicularly tapered in the opposite end portion. In a further embodiment (not shown), the end portions of the slit can both be connected, e.g. in a U, or both perpendicularly tapered.

[0052] Discussing the embodiment of the guiding profile 4 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each of the two opposite wings 114′, 114″ is provided with an end portion 315, arranged at the end of the guiding profile 4, and with a central portion 214, adjacent to said end portion 315. The previously described coupling portion 14 thus comprises such central 214 and end 315 portions. Furthermore, the aforesaid central 214 and end 315 portions preferably have different thicknesses, in particular the end portion 315 has a greater width than the adjacent central portion 214. In a further embodiment (not shown), the coupling portion may consist of a single element not divided into various portions, in particular having a width equal to that of the previously described end portion.

[0053] The coupling slot inside which the guiding profile 4 must be engaged can be obtained by an opening obtained on the framework 2 starting from the base walls thereof. The shape of the aforesaid opening can be obtained according to multiple configurations, e.g. by simply milling the framework with a tapered or joined end. Anyway, regardless of the shape of the coupling slot, the coupling portion 14 of the guiding profile 4 is shaped so as to be inserted and elastically deformed inside the coupling slot.

[0054] The coupling slot 40 inside which the guiding profile 4 must be engaged, in the preferred embodiment, is shown by way of example in FIG. 4C. The framework 2 has a coupling slot 40 comprising a first bottom portion 41 and an inlet portion 43, the latter arranged between the base wall, represented by the planes 22, 32 placed side-by-side, and the bottom portion 41 itself. Such a structure of the coupling slot 40 can be replicated on each coupling slot (not shown) with which the framework 2 can be provided. Therefore, the coupling slot 40 shown in the aforesaid embodiment has an opening defining the two bottom 41 and inlet 43 portions with different dimensions. In particular, the bottom portion 41 has a smaller width than the inlet portion 43. In a further embodiment (not shown), the coupling slot can consist of a single element, not divided into various portions, in particular having a width equal to that of the previously described bottom portion.

[0055] The particular shape of the coupling slot 40 thus requires a corresponding particular shape of the coupling portion 14 of the guiding profile 4. In fact, the latter comprises an abutment portion 314 and a centering portion 414, wherein the abutment portion 314 is shaped to be arranged in contact with the base wall, i.e. with the planes 22, 32, when the coupling portion 14 is fully inserted inside the coupling slot 40, thus defining a mechanical stop, or abutment, when coupling the two elements.

[0056] The centering portion 414 is preferably orthogonal to the abutment portion 314, and oriented in the coupling direction.

[0057] The inlet portion 43 is able to be coupled with the centering portion 414.

[0058] The centering portion 414 is arranged between the abutment portion 314 and the coupling portion 14, playing an important role upstream of the coupling itself, i.e. the correct alignment of the elements to be coupled before interference is created therebetween. The coupling between the coupling slot 40 and the guiding profiles 4 can thus be obtained so as to ensure orthogonality between the parts, without the need for further checks.

[0059] In order to allow an effective use of the described shapes both for the coupling slot 40 and for the related coupling portion 14, the dimensions of the different portions in place have such differences as to ensure technical efficacy when performing the required functions. In particular, according to the present invention, the width of the cross section 100 of the guiding profile 4 at the centering portion 414 is greater than the width of the bottom portion 41 and of the cross section 102 of the central portion 214.

[0060] The width of the cross section 101 of the guiding profile 4 at the coupling portion 14 is greater than the width of the bottom portion 41 (FIG. 4B) and such as to ensure a coupling by interference. The described sizing allows the features of elastic deformation of the coupling portion to be improved, while keeping the orthogonality features among the coupled parts unaltered.

[0061] Preferably, the width of the section 101 corresponds to the width of the end portion 315, and it is preferably greater than the width of the section 102 of the central portion 214.

[0062] Furthermore, although not essential for the purposes of correct centering, the length of the centering portion 414 is greater than the length of the coupling portion 14. The orthogonality features of the coupling are thus improved, while minimizing the stresses on the load at the coupling portion 14.

[0063] To complete the geometrical shapes, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the slit 400 which defines the coupling portion 14 extends over a length greater than the length 14′ of the coupling portion 14 and smaller than the sum of the lengths 14′, 414′ of the coupling portion 14 and the centering portion 414, respectively (FIG. 4B).

[0064] Therefore, the guiding profile 4 is able to be coupled by interference to the coupling slot 40 by inserting the coupling portion 14 inside the coupling slot 40, as shown in FIG. 4D. The preferred sizing for the coupling is of the friction lap joint-type. This allows to ensure a normal force to the surfaces, by choosing appropriate dimensional tolerances, which ensure an interference by exploiting the friction coefficient. Furthermore, a tangential force is developed on the framework 2, such as to ensure the coupling of the guiding profile 4 avoiding plastic deformations, both on the aforesaid guiding profile 4 and on the framework 2.

[0065] The coupling of the guiding profile 4 to the framework 2 is substantially obtained in two steps. The guiding profile 4 is moved close to and inserted inside the coupling slot 40, starting from the coupling portion 14. During such a step, the centering portion 414, arranged between the abutment portion 314 and the coupling portion 14, has the function of alignment between the guiding profile 4 itself and the coupling slot 40, without any interference being created at the coupling portion 14. The function of alignment is allowed and facilitated by the shape of the coupling slot 40, in particular by the inlet portion 43 and by the adjacent bottom portion 41, the latter having a dimension which prevents the insertion of the centering portion 414.

[0066] After defining the first contact between the centering portion 414 and the inlet portion 43, the second coupling step begins, wherein, while the centering portion 414 maintains the alignment, the coupling portion 14 is forcibly inserted inside the bottom portion 41 of the coupling slot. In fact, the bottom portion 41 has a smaller width than the inlet portion 43, such as to prevent the insertion of the centering portion 414 but to allow the insertion of the coupling portion 14 by friction lap joint, i.e. maintaining the interference. In particular, according to the present invention the width of the cross section 100 of the guiding profile 4 at the centering portion 414 is greater than the width of the bottom portion 41, and the width of the cross section 101 of the guiding profile 4 at the coupling portion 14 is greater than the width of the bottom portion 41 but smaller, at least at the end portion 315 thereof, than the width of the cross section 100 of the guiding profile 4 at the centering portion 414. In particular, in the embodiment disclosed herein, it is the maximum width of the cross section 101 of the guiding profile 4 at the coupling portion 14 which is greater than the width of the bottom portion 41, and such a maximum width of the cross section 101 corresponds to the same width at the end portion 315.

[0067] By way of mere example, a sizing of the guiding profile 4 can be assumed, which comprises a width of the cross section 100 of the profile at the centering section equal to 6 mm, with an asymmetrical tolerance of 0.10 mm rounding down and 0.05 mm rounding up. The width of the cross section 101 of the guiding profile 4 at the coupling portion 14, in particular the maximum width of the aforesaid section at the end portion 315, is of 5.9 mm, with an identical asymmetrical tolerance of 0.10 mm rounding down and 0.05 mm rounding up. Similarly, a length of the centering portion 414 can be assumed to be equal to 6.5 mm and a length of the coupling portion 14 equal to 5.5 mm, the latter obtained as the sum of the lengths of the central 214 and end 315 portions.

[0068] Instead, as regards the sizing of the coupling slot 40, a width of the inlet portion 43 can correspondingly be assumed to be equal to 6.1 mm, with asymmetrical tolerance equal to 0.00 mm rounding down and 0.15 mm rounding up. The same applies to the width of the bottom portion 41, equal to 5.6 mm with identical asymmetrical tolerance equal to 0.00 mm rounding down and 0.15 mm rounding up. The length of the coupling slot 40 can be defined by the length dimension of the inlet portion 43 equal to 7.3 mm and the length dimension of the bottom portion 41 equal to 7.7 mm, 2.8 mm of which forming the connection of the U-shaped end portion of the coupling slot 40.

[0069] The coupling portion 14 of the guiding profile 4 is thus shaped to be inserted and elastically deformed inside the coupling slot 40, thus maintaining the elastic deformation of the coupling portion 14 when this is coupled and fully inserted inside the coupling slot 40. The same considerations also apply to the guiding profiles 3, 5 according to the present invention, when coupled and fully inserted inside the respective coupling slots 30, 50, as shown in FIG. 3. Reference will be made below, by way of example, only to the guiding profile 4 and the respective coupling slot 40, though all of the set-forth considerations also have the same value for the aforesaid guiding profiles 3, 5 and the related coupling slots 30, 50.

[0070] The coupling of the guiding profile 4 inside the respective coupling slot 40 is obtained by deformation in the elastic range of the opposite wings 114′, 114″, or opposite walls, placed at the ends of the guiding profile 4 itself. This allows a solid joint to be obtained, which cannot be uncoupled manually, while avoiding the use of filling materials which tend to force the coupling.

[0071] The joint coupling with deformation in the elastic range of the opposite wings 114′, 114″ also allows the parts to be uncoupled relatively easily and the operations of engagement and disengagement to be repeated several times without observing any deformation in the plastic range, i.e. without creating any permanent deformation in the coupling portion 14 or in the coupling slot 40. Therefore, the deformations in the elastic range allow to solve the problem outlined in the prior art, i.e. the deformation of the coupling slot and the subsequent need to use increasingly more filling material to restore a sufficient joint situation, bridging the distances between the two elements to be coupled.

[0072] In the embodiment described herein, the maximum width dimension of the opposite wings 114′, 114″, considering the whole coupling portion 14, is thus equal to 5.95 mm at maximum tolerance and 5.8 mm at its minimum. In contrast, the value of the coupling slot 40 at the bottom portion 41 is a width value equal to 5.6 mm at minimum tolerance and 5.75 mm at maximum tolerance. It can easily be inferred that the design dimensions thus create an average interference of about 0.2 mm, which can be considered an average assembly tolerance, varying from a minimum interference of 0.05 mm to a maximum interference of 0.35 mm. The sizing of the width value of the aforesaid wings can thus allow a reduction in value of no less than 5.75 mm, thus allowing an interference of about 0.05 mm in total, which can be considered a minimum assembly tolerance. Such a minimum sizing can be necessary to avoid a deformation on the tip of the wings in contact with the bottom of the coupling slot 40, in consideration of the connection radius of the U-shaped end portion of the slot 40 itself.

[0073] The definition of the lengths related to the described portions also allows the desired technical effects to be implemented. In particular, the length of the bottom portion 41 is designed to facilitate the stress of the opposite wings 114′, 114″ thus obtaining the desired elastic deformation during friction lap joint operations inside the coupling slot 40. In this respect, the total length of the bottom portion 41, equal to 7.7 mm, is greater than the total length of the coupling portion 14, thus allowing the correct and complete insertion of the coupling portion 14 inside the bottom portion 41. However, the total length has a first rectilinear part equal to 4.9 mm and a second joined part equal to 2.8 mm. As described above, the length of the coupling portion 14 is equal to 5.5 mm, therefore 0.6 mm of the coupling portion 14 are further forced by the connection arranged at the bottom of the coupling slot 40, thus increasing the elastic deformation applied at the end portion 315 of the opposite wings 114′, 114″.

[0074] Once the joint between the coupling portion 14 and the coupling slot 40 has been defined, the end portions 315, having a width greater than the central portions 214 of the opposite wings 114′, 114″ themselves, ensure greater supporting stability, also in this case reducing the risk of deformations on the aforesaid opposite wings 114′, 114″. In fact, the presence of the end portions 315 allows the maximum sizing in tolerance to be used without encountering problems related to the plastic deformation of the opposite wings 114′, 114″.

[0075] In a second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the coupling portion 15 comprises an element 115 made of plastic material arranged inside the slit 500 and able to reinforce the opposite walls, which in this case define the opposite wings of the coupling portion 15 itself, according to what already described for the first embodiment.

[0076] In the embodiment shown, the plastic element 115 consists of a belt with a circular section made of polymeric material, in particular of polyurethane. Such a belt offers high simplicity during the operations of installation and maintenance, while ensuring resistance to wear and abrasion, and therefore a high working life. The element 115 made of plastic material has the function of deformable thickness, to facilitate the coupling of the guiding profile 4, especially in cases with minimum interference. The use of such a material, characterized by high flexibility and elasticity, as well as high resistance to wear and abrasion, thus allows the guiding profile 4 to be correctly fixed to the coupling slot 40, significantly increasing the resistance to extraction once the profile 4 is planted.

[0077] The deformations in the elastic range thus allow the problem set forth in the prior art to be solved, i.e. the deformation of the coupling slot and the subsequent need to use increasingly more filling material to restore a situation of sufficient joint, bridging the distances between the two elements to be coupled. In fact, the elastic deformation of the coupling portion ensures the sealing between the framework and the guiding profiles, while minimizing the management of the orthogonality therebetween and eliminating the problems of plastic deformation of the framework due to the coupling. This allows a quick and easy assembly to be obtained, capable of absorbing the planarity and orthogonality defects between the parts.