MIXING APPARATUS, MIXING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MIXING SUBSTANCES IN CLOSED CONTAINERS

Abstract

A mixing apparatus containing a drive unit having a drive and a shaft that is pivotable about a pivot axis and is operatively connected to the drive. A pivotable receptacle is arranged on the shaft, where the pivot axis is oriented essentially horizontally, and the pivotable receptacle has a base plate and at least one retainer spaced therefrom, and the pivotable receptacle is configured in such a way that holders for containers can be inserted between the base plate and the at least one retainer in the direction of the pivot axis.

Claims

1. A mixing apparatus (100), comprising: a drive unit (1) having a drive (10) and a shaft (11) which is pivotable about an essentially horizontally aligned pivot axis (A) and is operatively connected to the drive (10), a pivotable receptacle (2), which is arranged on the shaft (11), wherein the pivotable receptacle (2) comprises a base plate (20) and at least one retainer (4,400) spaced therefrom, wherein the pivotable receptacle (2) is configured in such a way that holders (3) for containers (7,70) can be inserted between the base plate (20) and the at least one retainer (4,400) in the direction of the pivot axis (A), wherein the at least one retainer (4;400) comprises at least one plate (41;401,42) having at least one through-hole (40;402), wherein the through-holes (40;402) are arranged such that, when the holders (3) are inserted, they are aligned with the container receptacles (32) formed in the holders (3); wherein the at least one retainer (4) comprises a first plate (41) and a second plate (42), wherein the distance between the base plate (20) and the first plate (41) is bigger than the distance between the base plate (20) and the second plate (42).

2. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, comprising a control unit (12) with which the pivoting angle, the pivoting speed and the pivoting direction can be adjusted, wherein the pivotable receptacle (2) can be pivoted through any angle in both directions about the pivot axis (A).

3. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein on the side of the base plate (2) facing the at least one retainer (4,400), receptacles (200) are provided which are aligned in the direction of the pivot axis (A) and into which the holders (3) for containers (7) can be inserted.

4. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the base plate (20) is connected to the at least one retainer (4,400) by the drive plate (21).

5. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 4, wherein the base plate (20) is connected to the at least one retainer (4,400) by the support element (22), wherein the support element (22) comprises a plate which is aligned essentially perpendicularly to the base plate (20) and the pivot axis (A) and wherein the support element (22) comprises a central opening (221) and wherein the base plate (20) projects at least partially through the central opening (221).

6. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 5, wherein at least one connector (23) is provided which connects the drive plate (21) to the support element (22).

7. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 4, wherein the drive plate (21) comprises at least one groove (210) for accommodating the at least one retainer (4,400).

8. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 5, wherein the support element (22) comprises at least one fixation (222) for fixing the at least one retainer (4,400).

9. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the inner dimensions of the through-holes (40;402) are smaller than the inner dimensions of the container receptacles (32) of the insertable holders (3).

10. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one tab (43;404) is jointly formed integrally and essentially flush with the at least one plate (41;401,42).

11. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one rib (44;403) is jointly formed integrally with the at least one plate (41;401,42), which extends along the pivot axis (A) over at least a portion of the at least one plate (41;401,42).

12. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 11, wherein at least one tab (405) is jointly formed integrally with the at least one rib (403) and spaced parallel to the at least one plate (401).

13. The mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, comprising at least one holder (3) for containers (7,70), which is inserted between the base plate (20) and the at least one retainer (4,400).

14. A mixing plant comprising: a machine stand (8) on which a mixing apparatus (100) is arranged according to claim 1, comprising a pipetting unit (81) with which fluids can be added to or removed from containers (7,70) located in the mixing apparatus (100), wherein the pipetting unit (81) comprises a transport unit (810), on which pipette tips (811) are arranged, and with which the pipette tips (811) are movable in the horizontal and/or in the vertical in a region above the machine stand (8) or above the working surface (80).

15. The mixing plant according to claim 14, comprising a reading unit (82) which is arranged on the machine stand (8) or on the connecting plate (6) of the mixing apparatus (100) and with which markings of the containers (7,70) to be accommodated in the mixing apparatus (100) and/or markings of the holders (3) to be accommodated in the mixing apparatus (100) can be read.

16. A method for operating a mixing apparatus (100) or mixing plant, comprising the steps of providing a mixing apparatus (100) according to claim 1; inserting a holder (3) with containers (7, 70) arranged therein between the base plate (20) and the at least one retainer (4,400) in the direction of the pivot axis (A); and pivoting the pivotable receptacle (2) about the pivot axis (A) with the drive unit (1).

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising the step of reading in markings of a holder (3) and/or the containers (7,70) arranged in a holder (3) by means of the reading unit (82) before or during the insertion of the holder (3).

18. The method according to claim 16, comprising at least one of the following steps of removing fluids from the containers (7,70) located in the mixing apparatus (100) after pivoting the pivotable receptacle (2) by means of the pipetting unit (81); feeding fluids into the containers (7,70) located in the mixing apparatus (100) before pivoting the pivotable receptacle (2) by means of the pipetting unit (81).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0064] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below using the figures. These serve only for explanation and are not to be interpreted restrictively, wherein:

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mixing apparatus according to the invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 shows the mixing apparatus of FIG. 1 without drive, without retainer and without reading unit;

[0067] FIG. 3A shows the retainer of FIG. 1;

[0068] FIG. 3B shows an alternative embodiment of the retainer in FIG. 1;

[0069] FIG. 3C shows a sectional view of the mixing apparatus of FIG. 1 across the axis, through a high and a low container;

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a pivotable receptacle having an alternative retainer;

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a perspective bottom view of the retainer of FIG. 4;

[0072] FIG. 6 shows a holder with containers inserted therein as in FIG. 2; and

[0073] FIG. 7 shows a mixing plant according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0074] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mixing apparatus 100 according to the invention. The mixing apparatus 100 comprises a drive unit 1 having a drive 10, a control unit 12 and a shaft 11 which can be pivoted about an essentially horizontal pivot axis A and is operatively connected to the drive 10. Furthermore, the mixing apparatus 100 comprises a pivotable receptacle 2, which is arranged on the shaft 11. The pivotable receptacle 2 comprises a base plate 20 and a retainer 4 spaced apart therefrom, wherein the pivotable receptacle 2 is designed in such a way that holders 3 for containers can be inserted between the base plate 20 and the retainer 4 in the direction of the pivot axis A. A circular disk-shaped drive plate 21 connects the shaft 11 to the base plate 20. The drive plate 21 is essentially perpendicular to the pivot axis A and essentially perpendicular to the base plate 20. At the end of the pivotable receptacle 2 opposite the drive plate 21, a circular disk-shaped support plate 22 is provided, which is aligned parallel and flush with the drive plate 21. The outside diameters of the two circular disks are essentially identical. The retainer 4, in this embodiment a retainer plate with holes, is detachably arranged between the drive plate 21 and the support plate 22. In the case of the drive plate 21, the retainer 4 can be fixed with a pivoting fixation 211 and in the case of the support plate 22 with a pivoting fixation 222. On the base plate 20, on the side facing the retainer 4, elevations 200 in the form of sliding blocks are provided. On the side of the support plate 22 opposite the drive side, a reading unit 82 having a limiter 83 is provided. With the reading unit 82, markings on the holder 3 and/or on the containers arranged in the holder 3 can be read in. The support plate 22 is supported and rotatably mounted on two rollers 50 of a bearing unit 5. The drive unit 1, the bearing unit 5, the reading unit 82, and the limiter 83 are arranged on a common connecting plate 6.

[0075] FIG. 2 shows the mixing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 without the housing and the drive 10 of drive unit 1, without the retainer 4, without the reading unit 82 and without the limiter 83. The drive plate 21 and the support plate 22 are connected by two rod-shaped connectors 23. The connectors 23 are designed and arranged in such a way that the retainer 4 can rest evenly on both connectors 23 when installed. A pattern of T-sliding blocks 200 is arranged on the base plate 20 of the pivotable receptacle 2. A double row of sliding blocks is arranged in both end areas of the base plate 20 and a single row in a central area of the base plate 20. Containers 7 are arranged in the inserted holder 3; shown are sample tubes with a pierceable lid, i.e. with a lid with a pierceable septum.

[0076] FIG. 3A shows the retainer 4 of FIG. 1. The retainer 4 comprises a bent plate with holes 40, with two first plates 41, or with two edge plates 41 and with a second plate 42, or with a central plate 42. The two edge plates 41 are flush with each other and the central plate 42 is parallel to the two edge plates 41. Continuous tabs 43 are provided at the two free ends of the retainer 4, which are formed flush with the corresponding plates. The ribs 44 extend essentially along the entire length of the retainer at the lateral outer boundary of the respective edge plate 41. Due to the integral design of the retainer 4, the offset of the first plate 41 to the second plate 42 forms a rib 44 in the respective transition area.

[0077] FIG. 3B shows an alternative embodiment of the retainer 4 of FIG. 1 with only a first plate 41 and a second plate 42. In contrast to the retainer of FIG. 3A, mutually separated tabs 43 are provided, which are only located at one of the two free ends of the retainer. In this embodiment, only one rib 44 is formed in the transition area between the two plates 41, 42.

[0078] FIG. 3C shows a sectional view of the mixing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 transversely to axis A, through a high container 7 and through a low container 70. The high container 7 is inserted between the base plate 20 and the first plate 41 of the retainer 4 and the low container 70 is inserted between the base plate 20 and the second plate 42 of the retainer 4.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a pivotable receptacle 2 having an alternative retainer 400.

[0080] The drive plate 21 is provided with grooves 210 into which the retainers 400 can be inserted. The support plate 22 is provided with a fixation 222 with which the retainers 400 can be detachably attached. The connectors 23 are designed as laterally arranged round rods. A central opening 221 is provided in the support plate 22, through which the base plate 20 projects and through which the holders for containers can be inserted. In the illustrated variant of the pivotable receptacle 2, holders with high containers can be inserted into the retainers 400. If deeper containers are to be inserted, the retainers 400 must be rotated by 180 degrees in such a way that the outwardly directed surface of the plate 401 faces the base plate 20 and that the open end of the retainer 400 faces the drive plate 21.

[0081] FIG. 5 shows a perspective bottom view of the retainer 400 of FIG. 4. The retainer 400 comprises a plate 401 having a slot 402, which extends essentially over the entire length of the plate. The width of the slot 402 is smaller than the outer dimensions of the container closures and is larger than the piercing area of the container closures. In the two lateral edge areas of the retainer 400, ribs 403 extend over essentially the entire length of the retainer 400. A first free end of the retainer 400 is formed in an open manner and a second free end opposite the first free end is formed in a closed manner at the sides. At the open end of the retainer 400, a first tab 404 is provided which is designed parallel and slightly offset to the plate 401 in the area of the plate 401 and protrudes beyond the first free end of the retainer 400. At the closed end of the retainer 400, a second tab 405 is provided, which is designed parallel and slightly offset to the ribs 403 in the area of the ribs and protrudes beyond the second free end of the retainer 400.

[0082] FIG. 6 shows a holder with containers inserted therein as in FIG. 2. The holder 3 extends along the longitudinal axis L, has container receptacles 32, which comprise two lateral slots 320, and has clamping tabs 322, which are formed integrally with the rest of the holder 3 and which project into the interior of the container receptacles 32. In addition, the holder 3 has a groove 33, which is located on the underside of the holder 3, i.e. on the side of the holder 3 opposite the container receptacles 32. A T-slot is shown. Alternatively, a dovetail groove or another retention groove can be provided. The groove 33 extends along the longitudinal axis L, at least over the area of the holder 3, which includes the container receptacles 32. The groove 33 is open at the first end 30 of the holder 3 so that the elevations 200 of the pivotable receptacle 2 can be easily moved into the groove 33. On the second side 31 of the holder 3, there is a handle 34 with which the holder 3 can be easily gripped by hand. A recess 340 is provided in the handle 34, which allows the reading unit 82 to recognize that the holder 3 is completely inserted into the pivotable receptacle 2.

[0083] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a mixing plant having a mixing apparatus 100 according to the invention which is oriented in a pivoted manner and a non-pivoted mixing apparatus 100. Both apparatuses are arranged on the working surface 80 with receptacle elements 800, which are arranged on the machine stand 8. The mixing unit further comprises the pipetting unit 81 with the transport unit 810 and the pipette tips 811. The transport unit 810 can move the pipette tips 811 above the working surface 80 in a first horizontal direction X, in a second horizontal direction Y and in a vertical direction Z. In contrast to the embodiment of the mixing apparatus 100 in FIG. 1, the reading unit 82 and the limiter 83 are arranged next to the mixing apparatuses 100 on the working surface 80. The reading unit 82 is also aligned and fastened to the receptacle elements 800 on working surface 80. In front of the reading unit 82, holders can be pushed over the receptacle elements 800 in order to recognize the markings on the holders 3 and/or on the containers arranged in the holders 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0084] 1 Drive unit [0085] 10 Drive [0086] 11 Shaft [0087] 12 Control unit [0088] 100 Mixing apparatus [0089] 2 Pivotable receptacle [0090] 20 Base plate [0091] 200 Elevation [0092] 21 Drive plate [0093] 210 Groove [0094] 211 Fixation [0095] 22 Support plate [0096] 220 Jacket surface [0097] 221 Opening [0098] 222 Fixation [0099] 23 Connector [0100] 3 Holder [0101] 30 First end [0102] 31 Second end [0103] 32 Container receptacle [0104] 320 Slot [0105] 322 Clamping tab [0106] 33 Groove [0107] 34 Handle [0108] 340 Recess [0109] 4 Retainer [0110] 40 Hole [0111] 41 First plate [0112] 42 Second plate [0113] 43 Tab [0114] 44 Rib [0115] 400 Retainer [0116] 401 Plate [0117] 402 Slot [0118] 403 Rib [0119] 404 First tab [0120] 405 Second tab [0121] 5 Bearing unit [0122] 50 Roller [0123] 6 Connecting plate [0124] 7 Container [0125] 70 Container [0126] 8 Machine stand [0127] 80 Working surface [0128] 800 Receptacle element [0129] 81 Pipetting unit [0130] 810 Transport unit [0131] 811 Pipette tip [0132] 82 Reading unit [0133] 83 Limiter [0134] A Pivot axis [0135] L Longitudinal axis