WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

Abstract

A waste disposal system for the disposal of consumables through a waste chute into a waste container includes a waste chute having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is situated outside the waste container and the second opening opens toward the waste container. The first opening and the second opening are arranged at a first distance from one another, wherein the waste chute includes a plurality of self-resetting lamellae for the partial or complete closure of the openings. The lamellae form at least two lamella annuli arranged at a second distance above one another, wherein at least one first lamella annulus closes the first opening and at least one second lamella annulus closes the second opening, and the second distance between the lamella annuli is at least one third, preferably at least half and particularly preferably at least three quarters of the first distance.

Claims

1. A waste disposal system for the disposal of consumables through a waste chute into a waste container, the waste disposal system comprising a waste chute having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is situated outside the waste container and the second opening opens toward the waste container, wherein the first opening and the second opening are arranged at a first distance from one another, wherein the waste chute comprises a plurality of self-resetting lamellae for the partial or complete closure of the first and second openings, wherein the lamellae form at least one first lamella annulus and one second lamella annulus, wherein the first lamella annulus and the second lamella annulus are arranged at a second distance above one another, wherein at least the first lamella annulus closes the first opening and wherein at least the second lamella annulus closes the second opening, wherein the second distance between the first lamella annulus and the second lamella annulus is at least one third of the first distance.

2. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein no lamellae and/or lamella annuli are arranged between the first lamella annulus and the second lamella annulus.

3. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waste chute has a first inner diameter in a region of the first and second lamella annuli and wherein the waste chute has a second inner diameter in e a region between the first lamella annulus and the second lamella annulus, wherein the second inner diameter is smaller than the first inner diameter.

4. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ramp for the diversion of consumables, wherein the ramp is arranged below the second opening such that consumables falling through the second opening into the waste container fall onto the ramp and are diverted thereby.

5. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ramp comprises sidewalls and is rectangular in its cross section with rounded corners and sloping sidewalls.

6. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the consumables are cuvettes or pipette tips.

7. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamellae consist of an elastic material or are connected elastically to the waste chute.

8. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamellae consist of plastic, rubber or metal.

9. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamellae are separably connected to the waste chute.

10. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamellae form a lamella insert.

11. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an opening mechanism for a cuvette gripper is attached to the waste chute, wherein the opening mechanism comprises a structure which is similar in shape to a prism having a triangle as base and top surface.

12. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waste disposal system comprises a tube having a first and a second end instead of the second lamella annulus, wherein the first end of the tube is attached to the waste chute in a region of the second opening and wherein the second end is situated within the waste container.

13. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tube is a mesh tube, an elastic grommet or a star tube.

14. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waste disposal system comprises a self-closing flap instead of the second lamella annulus, wherein the flap comprises a living hinge, and wherein the flap is attached to the waste chute in a region of the second opening and closes the second opening.

15. An automatic analytical instrument comprising a waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic analytical instrument further comprises a cuvette gripper.

16. A method for disposing of cuvettes into a waste container in an automatic analytical instrument, the method comprising: placing a first cuvette using a cuvette gripper into a first opening of the waste chute such that the first cuvette remains inserted in a first lamella annulus arranged about the first opening; and placing a second cuvette using the cuvette gripper into the first opening such that the second cuvette remains inserted in the first lamella annulus and pushes the first cuvette through the first lamella annulus into a second lamella annulus arranged about a second opening of the waste chute, the first cuvette remaining inserted in the second lamella annulus.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: placing sequentially one or more additional cuvettes using the cuvette gripper into the first opening such that: the second cuvette is pushed through the first lamella annulus and contacts the first cuvette, the first cuvette remains inserted in the second lamella annulus; the waste chute is filled with cuvettes from the second opening to the first opening, and a last cuvette of the one or more additional cuvettes remains inserted in the first lamella annulus.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising: placing a further cuvette using the cuvette gripper into the first opening such that: the further cuvette pushes the last cuvette through the first lamella annulus, the first cuvette is pushed through the second lamella annulus and exits the second opening into the waste container, and the second cuvette is pushed into and remains inserted in the second lamella annulus.

19. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second distance between the first lamella annulus and the second lamella annulus is at least half of the first distance.

20. The waste disposal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second distance between the first lamella annulus and the second lamella annulus is at least three quarters of the first distance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] The invention will be more particularly elucidated exemplarily on the basis of drawings, where:

[0088] FIG. 1 shows schematically the structure of a waste disposal system (1) comprising a waste chute having a first and a second lamella annulus,

[0089] FIG. 2 shows schematically the structure of a waste disposal system (1) comprising a waste chute having a first lamella annulus and a mesh tube as a brake for consumables,

[0090] FIG. 3 shows schematically the structure of a waste disposal system (1) comprising a waste chute having a first lamella annulus and an elastic grommet as a brake for consumables,

[0091] FIG. 4 shows schematically the structure of a waste disposal system (1) comprising a waste chute having a first lamella annulus and a star tube as a brake for consumables,

[0092] FIGS. 5 and 6 show schematically the structure of a waste disposal system (1) comprising a waste chute having a first lamella annulus and a self-closing flap as a brake for consumables.

[0093] FIGS. 7 to 9 show schematically the design of the ramp for the diversion of consumables in various views.

[0094] Identical parts are provided with the same reference signs in all the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0095] The waste disposal system (1) as per FIG. 1 is incorporated in an analytical instrument designed to execute a multiplicity of sample analyses, which analytical instrument is not depicted in detail. To this end, the automatic analytical instrument comprises a multiplicity of pipetting devices and transport devices, which are not shown, and also additionally a control unit for the automated evaluation of the analyses.

[0096] The waste disposal system (1) is designed to dispose of consumables, such as, for example, cuvettes (2), through a waste chute (3) into a waste container and comprises a waste chute (3) having a first opening (4) and a second opening (5), wherein the first opening (4) is situated outside the waste container and wherein the second opening (5) opens toward the waste container, wherein the first opening (4) and the second opening (5) are arranged at a first distance (6) from one another, wherein the waste chute (3) comprises a plurality of self-resetting lamellae (7) for the partial or complete closure of the openings (4, 5), wherein the lamellae (7) form at least two lamella annuli (8, 8) arranged at a second distance (9) above one another, wherein at least one first lamella annulus (8) closes the first opening (4) and wherein at least one second lamella annulus (8) closes the second opening (5), wherein the second distance (9) between the lamella annuli is at least one third, preferably at least half and particularly preferably at least three quarters of the first distance (6).

[0097] Advantageously, the first distance (6) is, in this connection, at least 90 mm and the second distance (9) at least 60 mm. Advantageously, a cuvette has, for example, dimensions of about 30 mm in height and 10 mm in outer diameter.

[0098] No lamella annuli are arranged between the first lamella annulus (8) and the second lamella annulus (8).

[0099] The waste chute (3) has a first inner diameter (10) in the region of the lamella annuli (8, 8) and a second inner diameter (11) in the region between the first lamella annulus (8) and the second lamella annulus (8), wherein the second inner diameter (11) is smaller than the first inner diameter (10).

[0100] The waste disposal system (1) further comprises a ramp (12) for the diversion of cuvettes (2), wherein the ramp (12) is arranged below the second opening (5), with the result that consumables (2) falling through the second opening (5) into the waste container fall onto the ramp (12) and are diverted thereby.

[0101] Advantageously, the ramp comprises sidewalls and is rectangular in its cross section with rounded corners and sloping sidewalls (not depicted).

[0102] In the interior of the waste chute (3), the cross section thereof is thus reduced to the extent that cuvettes (2) cannot tip and thus cannot become wedged in the waste chute (3). At the lower end of the waste chute (3), the second lamella annulus (8) acts as a cuvette brake which prevents cuvettes from falling out of the waste chute (3). The first cuvette (2) introduced above into the waste chute (3) initially remains inserted in the first lamella annulus (8). The following cuvette (2) shunts the first cuvette (2) through the first lamella annulus (8), with the result that it falls as far as the second lamella annulus (8), where it is braked. The narrowed cross section means that the cuvette is guided geometrically, with the result that wobbling and thus splashes due to wobbling are minimized. With each further cuvette (2) introduced above, the cuvettes (2) pile up in the waste chute (3) until it is filled with cuvettes (2). If, then, a further cuvette (2) is introduced above, the lowest cuvette (2) is pushed through the second lamella annulus (8) as a result and falls downward into the waste container or onto the ramp in the waste container. Without the second lamella annulus (8), each cuvette (2) would fall over the entire length of the waste chute (3) under the influence of the Earth's gravitational field. The frictional resistance of the second lamella annulus (8) is thus tailored such that the cuvettes (2) can be actively shunted through the lamella annulus (8), but provides sufficient resistance to prevent the cuvettes from falling through on their own. In contrast to a waste chute (3) having, for example, lamellae, lamella rings or a tube on the entire length of the waste chute (3), the localized braking and holding action at the lower end of the waste chute (3) makes it possible to minimize the resultant friction upon introduction of the cuvettes (2) at the upper end. This makes it possible to maximize the entire length of the waste chute (3) while simultaneously minimizing the force required for the introduction of the cuvettes (2).

[0103] FIG. 2 shows a modification of the waste disposal system (1) depicted in FIG. 1. Instead of the second lamella annulus (8), what is provided is a mesh tube (13) which closes the second opening (5). Apart from that, the waste disposal systems (1) as per FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are similar in design.

[0104] FIG. 3 shows a further modification of the waste disposal system (1) depicted in FIG. 1. Instead of the second lamella annulus (8), what is provided is an elastic grommet (14) which closes the second opening (5). The elastic grommet (14) can, in addition, vary in length in the direction of the waste chute. For example, a short ring, as depicted, can be concerned. Alternatively, the design can be similar to the mesh tube (13) depicted in FIG. 2 and be, for example, the length of a cuvette (2). Apart from that, the waste disposal systems (1) as per FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 are similar in design.

[0105] FIG. 4 shows a further modification of the waste disposal system (1) depicted in FIG. 1. Instead of the second lamella annulus (8), what is provided is a star tube (15) which closes the second opening (5). The cross section (16) of the star tube (15) is pentamerous. The star tube (15) can, in addition, vary in length in the direction of the waste chute. For example, a short ring, as depicted, can be concerned. Alternatively, the design can be similar to the mesh tube (13) depicted in FIG. 2 and be, for example, the length of a cuvette (2). Apart from that, the waste disposal systems (1) as per FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 are similar in design.

[0106] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a further modification of the waste disposal system (1) depicted in FIG. 1. Instead of the second lamella annulus (8), what is provided is a flap (17) which closes the second opening (5). The flap (17) comprises a living hinge and is designed as a self-closing flap (17). In FIG. 5, the flap (17) is open, and in FIG. 6, it is closed. The flap (17) makes it possible to influence the direction of falling of the cuvette (2) through the orientation of the flap (17), since the opened flap (17) (see FIG. 5) deflects the cuvette (2) laterally. Apart from that, the waste disposal systems (1) as per FIG. 1 and FIG. 5/FIG. 6 are similar in design.

[0107] FIGS. 7 to 9 show the design of the ramp (12) for the diversion of consumables in various views, wherein FIG. 7 shows the ramp (12) in section, FIG. 8 shows the ramp (12) from above and FIG. 9 shows the ramp (12) from diagonally above. Situated on the ramp (12) is a cuvette (2).

[0108] The shape of the ramp (12) can have an influence on the occurrence of splashes. For example, if the cross section of the ramp (12) is substantially rectangular with rounded corners, with the total inner width of the ramp cross section being greater than the length of the cuvette (2), a transverse positioning or rotation of the cuvette (2) on the ramp (12) is possible, and this can lead to the escape of liquid from the cuvette.

[0109] Therefore, according to the invention, the ramp cross section is presently designed such that the corners are rounded with a relatively large radius and that the total width is reduced by sloping sidewalls. What is achieved is that, firstly, the cuvettes (2) have sufficient movement clearance for reducing motion energy present after falling due to rolling and wobbling movements, but, secondly, the movement clearance is restricted to the extent that tipping or rotating movements of the cuvette (2), which can lead to liquid loss, are minimized. Furthermore, straight surfaces or surfaces with which the cuvette (2) can collide are avoided.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0110] 1 waste disposal system [0111] 2 cuvette [0112] 3 waste chute [0113] 4 first opening [0114] 5 second opening [0115] 6 first distance [0116] 7 lamellae [0117] 8, 8 lamella annulus [0118] 9 second distance [0119] 10 first inner diameter [0120] 11 second inner diameter [0121] 12 ramp [0122] 13 mesh tube [0123] 14 elastic grommet [0124] 15 star tube [0125] 16 cross section [0126] 17 flap