DEVICE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING STRIPS

Abstract

A device for storing and dispensing strips, including at least one cartridge which includes a recess including a first portion with a base shaped to receive at least one strip, the storage device further including at least one dispensing member including a projection with a contact surface shaped to cover at least a first end of each strip, wherein the dispensing member is at least partially housed in a second portion of the cartridge recess, the first portion of the recess and the second portion of the recess are connected by an angled intermediate portion and the dispensing member is configured to be rotatable between a rest position in which the projection extends away from the angled intermediate portion and an operating position in which the projection converges with the angled intermediate portion so as to at least press the first end of each strip against the angled intermediate portion.

Claims

1. A device for storing and dispensing strips, comprising at least one cartridge comprising a cavity with a bottom, at least a first portion of the cavity being shaped in order to receive at least one strip, wherein the storage device furthermore comprises at least one dispensing member configured in order to cooperate with the cartridge, the dispensing member being at least partially accommodated in a second portion of the cavity of the cartridge, the first portion of the cavity and the second portion of the cavity being connected by an inclined intermediate portion, the second portion of the cavity being deeper than the first portion with respect to an axis D-D substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the cavity, and in that the dispensing member comprises a protruding part having a contact surface shaped in order to cover at least a first end of each strip, the contact surface facing toward the bottom of the cavity of the cartridge and overhanging the inclined intermediate portion, the dispensing member being configured at least to be mobile in rotation between: a resting position, in which the protruding part extends at a distance from the inclined intermediate portion, an operating position, in which the protruding part converges toward the inclined intermediate portion so as at least to press the first end of each strip against the inclined intermediate portion.

2. The storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing member is a desiccating member.

3. The storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inclined intermediate portion has a slope of between 25° and 35°.

4. The storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one retaining tab positioned at one end of the cavity of the cartridge.

5. The storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing member comprises a second part, which is widened with respect to the protruding part, the protruding part extending radially with respect to the second part.

6. The storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing member has a front-to-rear cross section of substantially triangular shape along the longitudinal axis B-B.

7. The storage device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a cover intended to cooperate with the cartridge.

8. The storage device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover comprises an internal face intended to face toward the cartridge, the internal face comprising at least one retaining rib extending longitudinally over the internal face and intended to be arranged at least partially in the cavity, when the cover cooperates with the cartridge.

9. An assembly comprising at least one analysis strip, and a storage device as claimed in claim 1, the at least one analysis strip being accommodated in the first part of the cavity of the device, positioned flat with respect to the bottom of the cavity, along the longitudinal axis of the device.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein in the resting position of the dispensing member, the first end of each strip rests under the contact surface of the protruding part of the dispensing member.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein in the operating position of the dispensing member, the first end of each strip is at least pressed against the inclined intermediate portion, and is pinched between the protruding part of the dispensing member and the inclined intermediate portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0041] The invention will be understood more clearly from the following description, which relates to an embodiment according to the present invention given by way of nonlimiting example and explained with reference to the appended schematic figures. The appended schematic figures are listed below:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hermetically closed assembly according to the invention,

[0043] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hermetically closed assembly without a cover,

[0044] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the open assembly,

[0045] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cover, viewed from below,

[0046] FIG. 5 is a view from above of the cartridge according to the invention,

[0047] FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section of the cartridge represented in FIG. 5, along the axis A-A,

[0048] FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above of the dispensing member,

[0049] FIG. 8 is a perspective view from below of the dispensing member,

[0050] FIG. 9 is a view in front-to-rear cross section along an axis B-B of the dispensing member represented in FIGS. 7 and 8,

[0051] FIG. 10 is a view in longitudinal section of the device according to the invention, the dispensing member being in the resting position,

[0052] FIG. 11 is a view in longitudinal section of the device according to the invention, the dispensing member being in the operating position,

[0053] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, the dispensing member being in the operating position,

[0054] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, a gripping instrument being put in place in order to grip a strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In the example illustrated in the figures, the storage device 1 according to the invention comprises a cartridge 10, which is covered with a cover 11, and a dispensing member 12. This storage device forms part of an assembly furthermore comprising a plurality of strips 13 intended to be accommodated in the cartridge 10 of the device 1.

[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates the closed storage device 1. In FIG. 2, the assembly 1 is open and the cover 11 has been removed. This figure therefore shows the cartridge 10 covered with a capsule 101 making it possible to maintain the leaktightness of the cartridge even though the cover 11 has been removed. The capsule 101 covers the entirety of the upper face of the cartridge 10.

[0057] Opening the capsule 101, as illustrated in FIG. 3, uncovers the cartridge 10 comprising a cavity 102, in which a plurality of analysis strips 13 are accommodated, and a dispensing member 12.

[0058] The cover 11 of the assembly 1 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 4. The cover has a circumferential edge 111 intended to cooperate with the cartridge 10 by shape complementarity and preferably by clipping. More particularly, the cover comprises a first tongue 112a at one end, intended to cooperate with a first engagement orifice 104a formed on the cartridge 10, and a second tongue 112b positioned at the opposite end and intended to cooperate with a second engagement orifice 104b formed on the cartridge 10.

[0059] Advantageously, the fact that the first engagement orifice 104a and the second engagement orifice 104b are not identical is referred to as a poka-yoke. Specifically, each has an opening with a different size, so that the cover 11 can be engaged on the cartridge 10 in only one direction respectively via the first tongue 112a and the second tongue 112b. For these purposes, the first tongue 112a of the cover 11 can cooperate only with the first engagement orifice 104a and the second tongue 112b of the cover 11 can engage only with the second engagement orifice 104b.

[0060] Furthermore, the cover 11 comprises a face 113 intended to face toward the cartridge 10, said internal face 113 comprising two ribs 112 extending longitudinally on said internal face 113. The two ribs 112 are arranged parallel to one another and preferably substantially in the middle of the internal face 113 of the cover 11. The two ribs 112 are positioned so as to be able to hold the strips 13 in the cavity 102 of the cartridge 10 when the cover 11 covers the cartridge 10. In a variant which is not represented, the internal face 113 has a single rib 112 arranged transversely and substantially in the middle of said internal face 113.

[0061] Moreover, the cover 11 comprises a joint 114 having a shape substantially complementary with a longitudinal cavity 102 which is formed in the cartridge 10 and is configured in order to accommodate the strips 13. Advantageously, the joint 114 is fitted on the internal face 113 of the cover 11, as may be seen in FIG. 4.

[0062] Furthermore, as may be seen particularly in FIG. 4, the cover 11 furthermore comprises at least one transverse holding rib 115 which is arranged on the internal face of the cover 11, facing toward the longitudinal cavity 12, and is configured in order to make it possible to hold the strips inside the cavity when the cover 11 is positioned on the cartridge 10.

[0063] The cartridge 10 according to the invention has a substantially rectangular shape. The cartridge 10 comprises a longitudinal cavity 102 which is preferably centered, as may be seen particularly in FIG. 5. The cavity 102 comprises a bottom 103. Furthermore, the cavity 102 comprises a first portion 102a shaped in order to receive at least one strip 13 and preferably a plurality of strips 13, and a second portion 102b shaped in order to at least partly accommodate the dispensing member 12, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0064] In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the first portion 102a of the cavity and the second portion 102b of the cavity 102 are connected by an inclined intermediate portion 102c, the second portion 102b of the cavity 102 being deeper than the first portion 102a with respect to an axis D-D substantially perpendicular to the bottom 103 of the cavity 102. In other words, the part of the bottom 103 of the cavity 102 at the level of the second portion 102b is offset downward, that is to say away from the upper face of the cartridge 10, along the axis D-D substantially perpendicular to the bottom 103.

[0065] Advantageously, the inclined intermediate portion has a slope of between 25° and 35°.

[0066] Moreover, as may be seen particularly in FIG. 5, the cartridge 10 comprises a first engagement orifice 104a formed on a first end of the cartridge and intended to cooperate with the first tongue 112a of the cover 11. The cartridge 10 also comprises a second engagement orifice 104b on a second end of the cartridge, opposite the first end, which is intended to cooperate with the second tongue 112b of the cover 11.

[0067] According to the invention, the cartridge 10 may comprise lateral indentations 106 which are formed symmetrically on either side of the cartridge and are configured in order to allow it to be held in position in the tool for picking up the strips.

[0068] Furthermore, the cartridge 10 comprises at least one retaining tab 105 positioned at one end of the cavity 102 of the cartridge 10. The retaining tab 105 is formed on the first portion 102a of the cavity 102. The retaining tab 105 is configured in order to prevent the strips from leaving the cavity 102. The retaining tab 105 also makes it possible to facilitate gripping at the middle of the strip by an instrument, as may be seen in FIG. 13. The retaining tab 105 holds the second end 132 of the strips 13.

[0069] The dispensing member 12 is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 7 to 9. The dispensing member is configured in order to cooperate with the cartridge 10, said dispensing member 12 being at least partially accommodated in a second portion 102b of the cavity 102 of the cartridge 10, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0070] As may be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the dispensing member 12 comprises a protruding part 121 having a contact surface 122 shaped in order to cover at least a first end 131 of each strip 13, the contact surface 122 facing toward the bottom 103 of the cavity 102 of the cartridge 10 and overhanging the inclined intermediate portion 102c.

[0071] Furthermore, the dispensing member 12 comprises a second part 123 which is widened with respect to the protruding part 121. More particularly, the protruding part 121 extends radially or laterally (depending on the shape of the second part) with respect to the second part 123.

[0072] Furthermore, the dispensing member has a front-to-rear cross section of substantially triangular shape along the longitudinal axis, as illustrated in FIG. 9. This shape makes it possible to promote tilting of the dispensing member 12 forward, that is to say toward the protruding part 121. Specifically, as may be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second part 123 of the dispensing member 12 has a bearing surface 125 followed by a shoulder, followed by a plane surface substantially parallel to the bearing surface 125. An inclined portion 124 connects the plane surface to the protruding part 121 of the dispensing member 12.

[0073] The object of the invention is, in particular, to facilitate individual gripping of the strips stored together in the same container. For this purpose, the dispensing member 12 is configured in order to be mobile in rotation between:

a resting position illustrated in FIG. 10, in which the protruding part 121 extends at a distance from the inclined intermediate portion 102c, and
an operating position illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, 13, in which the protruding part 121 converges toward the inclined intermediate portion 102c so that the first end 131 of each strip 13 is at least pressed against the inclined intermediate portion 102c, and is preferably pinched between the protruding part 121 and the inclined intermediate portion 102c.

[0074] As may be seen in FIG. 10, the strips 13 are covered on a first end 131 by the protruding part 121 of the dispensing member 12. During the tilting/rotation of the dispensing member 12, in the operating position, the protruding part 121 bears on the end 131 of the strips against the inclined intermediate portion 102c of the cartridge, thereby causing tilting of the strips as illustrated in FIG. 12. When the pressure exerted on the dispensing member is manually released, the retaining tab 105 is no longer capable of retaining the second end 132 of the strips 13, which thus allows individual manual gripping of said strips 13.

[0075] Moreover, when the pressure exerted on the dispensing member is less strong than a standard manual pressure, the retaining tab 105 retains the second end 132 of the strips 13, causing the strips 13 to curve as illustrated in FIG. 13, which allows gripping by an instrument 200 of the automatic type, for example by suction of the center of the strip 13. Furthermore, this curvature makes it possible to create a friction movement between the gripped strip and the strip located directly below, which could be adhesively bonded, and to separate them.

[0076] In both cases, the full tilting or curvature of the strips allows detachment of the strips from one another and makes it possible to grip a single strip at a time, irrespective of the instrument used. This furthermore makes it possible to ensure that the strip located below remains in place in the cartridge and does not turn over.

[0077] In FIG. 12, a manual instrument or the hand of an operator may be used, while in FIG. 13 an automatic instrument (suction cup or any other gripping system) may be used.

[0078] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented in the appended figures. Modifications remain possible, particularly in terms of the construction of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the protective scope of the invention.