Shaking platform having an adjustable holding device for container fastening, holding device and laboratory shaking device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shaking platform for a laboratory shaking device having an adjustable holding device for fastening at least one container, the shaking platform having a length and a width, and the holding device comprising: a base plate having a fastening device for fastening the holding device on the shaking platform, at least two supports that protrude from the base plate and that form a container-receiving space arranged between the supports, and at least two holding rods carried by the supports and running substantially parallel to the shaking platform, which holding rods delimit the container-receiving space and whose distance from one another can be adjusted via an adjusting rail, the length and the width being greater than a length of the holding rods. The present invention also relates to an adjustable holding device and a laboratory shaking device.

Claims

1. A shaking platform for a laboratory shaking device having an adjustable holding device for fastening at least one container, the shaking platform having a length and a width, and the adjustable holding device comprising: a base plate having a fastening device for fastening the adjustable holding device on the shaking platform; at least two support walls that each extend from the base plate and that define a container-receiving space arranged between the at least two support walls, each support wall extending in a direction and comprising an adjusting rail that projects from the support wall and that extends parallel to the support wall, the adjusting rail having a slot formed therein, the slot extending parallel to the support wall; and at least two holding rods carried by the at least two support walls and running substantially parallel to the shaking platform, the at least two holding rods delimiting the container-receiving space wherein a distance from one of the at least two holding rods to another of the at least two holding rods is adjustable via the adjusting rails, wherein the length and the width of the shaking platform are greater than a length of the at least two holding rods; and at least two locking devices, wherein each of the at least two locking devices extending through the slot of an adjusting rail associated with that respective locking device, wherein each of the at least two locking devices comprises a clamping device with which a respective one of the at least two holding rods is clampable to a respective one of the at least two adjusting rails via a respective clamping knob, and wherein each clamping knob protrudes vertically upwards from a respective one of the at least two adjusting rails and is accessible to an operator from above.

2. The shaking platform according to claim 1, wherein the length and/or the width of the shaking platform is substantially a multiple of the length of the at least two holding rods.

3. The shaking platform according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable holding device defines a plurality of container-receiving spaces, each of which plurality of container-receiving spaces is delimited by adjacent holding rods.

4. The shaking platform according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of container-receiving spaces are placed along in a direction of the length and/or the width of the shaking platform.

5. The shaking platform according to claim 1, wherein the shaking platform has exactly two holding rods per container-receiving space, the container-receiving space being a single emplacement and designed to receive only a single container, and in that the two holding rods are designed to hold only the one container standing on the single emplacement in the container-receiving space.

6. The shaking platform according to claim 1, wherein the at least two adjusting rails are arranged at respective ends of the at least two support walls facing away from the base plate and are aligned parallel to the base plate.

7. The shaking platform according to claim 1, wherein the shaking platform includes a feature selected from the group consisting of: (1) each of the at least two adjusting rails has a slot in which a respective one of the at least two locking devices of the respective one of the at least two holding rods engages and along which the respective one of the at least two holding rods is adjustably mounted; (2) each of the at least two adjusting rails has two slots that are formed separately from each other and are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of a respective one of the at least two adjusting rails; a locking device of a first adjusting rail engaging in a first of the two slots and a locking device of a second adjusting rail engaging in a second of the two slots, a respective holding rod being adjustably mounted along the respective adjusting rail's respective slot; or (3) each of the clamping devices comprises a threaded bolt in a threaded hole, which is designed to adjust the distance between the respective clamping knob and the respective holding rod when the clamping knob is rotated.

8. The shaking platform according to claim 1, wherein the at least two support walls each comprise a respective adjusting rail of the at least two adjusting rails and the at least two holding rods are mounted at respective ends of a respective adjusting rail.

9. The shaking platform according to claim 1, wherein the shaking platform includes a feature selected from the group consisting of: (1) each of the at least two adjusting rails is associated with a respective support wall and protrudes inward from the respective support wall, towards the container-receiving space; (2) each of the at least two adjusting rails protrudes is associated with a respective support wall and protrudes outward from the respective support wall, away from the container-receiving space; (3) each of the at least two adjusting rails has a slot in which a respective one of the at least two locking devices of the respective one of the at least two holding rods engages and along which the respective one of the at least two holding rods is adjustably mounted, and an additional slot is arranged in the respective support wall, through which additional slot the respective holding rod protrudes onto a side of the support wall facing away from the container-receiving space, the respective adjusting rail and the respective locking device also being arranged on the side of the support wall facing away from the container-receiving space; or (4) each of the at least two adjusting rails has a slot in which a respective one of the at least two locking devices of the respective one of the at least two holding rods engages and along which the respective one of the at least two holding rods is adjustably mounted, and an additional slot arranged in such a way that the respective holding rod is clampable to edges of the additional slot via the respective locking device.

10. The shaking platform according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two holding rods has a holding part and a fastening part, the holding part having a shock-absorbing casing and being designed at least in part for contacting a container in the container-receiving space, while the fastening part is designed without a casing.

11. An adjustable holding device for use with a shaking platform for a laboratory shaking device, the adjustable holding device comprising: a base plate having a fastening device for fastening the adjustable holding device on the shaking platform; at least two support walls that protrude from the base plate and that form a container-receiving space arranged between the at least two support walls; and at least two holding rods carried by the at least two support walls and running substantially parallel to the shaking platform, the at least two holding rods delimiting the container-receiving space wherein a distance from one another is adjustable via at least two adjusting rails, wherein the container-receiving space is a single emplacement and designed to receive only a single container, wherein the at least two holding rods are designed to hold only the single container located on the single emplacement in the container-receiving space, wherein at least two locking devices each comprising a clamping device with which the at least two holding rods are clampable to the at least two adjusting rails via a respective clamping knob, and further wherein each clamping knob protrudes vertically upwards from a respective one of the at least two adjusting rails and is accessible to an operator from above.

12. A laboratory shaking device having a shaking platform or a holding device according to claim 1.

13. The laboratory shaking device according to claim 12, wherein the laboratory shaking device comprises a laboratory shaker or shaking incubator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures, without the present invention being restricted to these embodiments. Schematically, in the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a laboratory shaker with a shaking platform;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a shaking incubator with a shaking platform;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a holding device according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of an adjusting rail and a locking device;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of an adjusting rail and a locking device; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a shaking platform fully loaded with holding devices.

(8) Identical or identically-acting components are numbered with the same reference signs in the figures. Repeated components are not identified separately in each figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a laboratory shaker 1 having a housing part 11 and a shaking platform 12. In the housing part 11, for example, control electronics and a drive motor are accommodated, which are used to set the shaking platform 12 in shaking movements when the laboratory shaker 1 is in operation. In this way, for example, liquids that are in containers that are placed on the shaking platform 12 are mixed and kept in movement. For fastening a holding device according to the present invention, the shaking platform 12 has fastening points 121, for example bores, through which screws can be inserted.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a shaking incubator 5 that differs from the laboratory shaker 1 according to FIG. 1 substantially by a housing 50 that surrounds an interior space 52 that can be closed by a door 51, in which interior space a shaking platform 53 is arranged. Fastening points for holding devices or similar structures are also provided on the shaking platform 53 (not shown separately in this case). With the holding devices, which are not shown separately here for the sake of clarity, containers 3, such as square or round bottles, Erlenmeyer flasks or other vessels, can be fixed in place on the shaking platform 53. The shaking platform 53 is moved by means of a drive apparatus 54 arranged in this case in the floor region of the incubator. In the interior space 52, a desired temperature and/or a desired composition of the interior atmosphere, such as, for example, a predetermined air humidity, can be set in a manner known per se. To set up the sample vessels, instead of one, there can also be a plurality of shaking platforms 53 in the interior space, which shaking platforms are also set in motion by means of the drive apparatus 54.

(11) The two shaking platforms 12, 53 each have a rectangular basic shape and a length L and a width B (see, FIG. 1). In principle, the shaking platforms 12, 53 could also be square, which would mean that the length L and the width B would be the same. However, this does not have to be the case. The present embodiments also apply in an analogous manner to round shaking platforms 12, 53, in which the length L and the width B are to be replaced by the diameter of the corresponding shaking platforms 12, 53.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a holding device 2. The holding device 2 has a base plate 20 from which two supports 21 designed as sidewalls in the embodiment shown protrude substantially vertically upward. The base plate 20 also has fastening devices 23, for example bores through which screws can be inserted, with which the holding device 2 can be fastened on a shaking platform 12, 53, in particular, in cooperation with the fastening points 121 on the shaking platform 12, 53.

(13) An adjusting rail 22 is arranged on each of the supports 21. Each of the two adjusting rails 22 has two slots 220 that extend along the longitudinal extension direction of the adjusting rails 22. The slots 220 each span somewhat less than half of the adjusting rail 22 and run from a central region of the adjusting rail 22 to just before its outer ends. The adjusting rail 22 having the slots 220 is aligned substantially horizontally or parallel with respect to the base plate 20. One end of a holding rod 26 is mounted in each of the slots 220 via a locking device 24 in such a way that the holding rod 26 or the locking device 24 can be moved along the slots 220 and thus along the adjusting rail 22. In particular, the distance between the two holding rods 26 can be changed in or against the direction of adjustment V.

(14) The holding device 2 forms a container-receiving space 25 on the base plate 20 and between the supports 21 or between the adjusting rails 22 and the holding rods 26. The container-receiving space 25 is designed to receive a container 3. In particular, the container-receiving space 25 is designed to receive only a single container 3. The size of the container-receiving space 25 or the holding device 2 is therefore adapted to the size of the containers 3 usually used, such that precisely one of these containers 3 can be received in the container-receiving space 25. A container 3 stored in the container-receiving space 25 can be fixed in place in the holding device 2 in that the two holding rods 26 are moved towards one another along their adjustable mounting on the adjusting rail 22 until they rest against the container 3 and clamp it between them. The two holding rods 26 are therefore also designed for the sole purpose of fastening a single container 3 in the container-receiving space 25. Overall, the container-receiving space 25 is thus designed as a single emplacement. In addition, the holding rods 26 have a length S that is smaller than the length L and the width B of the shaking platform 12, 53. This is described in more detail below. The length S substantially corresponds to the distance between the two supports 21.

(15) FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the adjusting rail 22 and the locking device 24. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the adjusting rail 22 at the upper end of the support 21 is in the form of a tab that is bent inward, i.e., in the direction of the container-receiving space 25. The adjusting rail 22 runs substantially parallel to the base plate 20 and is substantially perpendicular to the support 21. The end of the holding rod 26 shown in FIG. 4 is mounted in the slot 220 of the adjusting rail 22 via the locking device 24. The locking device 24 comprises, in particular, a clamping knob 241 and a clamping device 240. The clamping device 240 in turn comprises a threaded bolt, which is arranged on the clamping knob 241 in the embodiment shown, and a threaded hole in the end of the holding rod 26. The threaded bolt of the clamping knob 241 is pushed through the slot 220 and connects the clamping knob 241 to the holding rod 26 in such a way that the clamping knob 241 is arranged on the vertically upper side of the adjusting rail 22 and the end of the holding rod 26 is arranged on the vertically lower side of the adjusting rail 22. In other words, the end of the holding rod 26 is arranged on the opposite side of the clamping knob 241 with respect to the adjusting rail 22. The threaded bolt is screwed into the threaded hole of the holding rod 26 and is connected to the clamping knob 241 in a rotationally fixed manner. If an operator turns the clamping knob 241, the threaded bolt is either screwed into or out of the threaded hole, depending on the direction of rotation. This changes the distance between the clamping knob 241 and the holding rod 26. If the distance between the clamping knob 241 and the holding rod 26 is reduced substantially down to the thickness of the adjusting rail 22, a frictional connection is created between the clamping knob 241, the adjusting rail 22 and the holding rod 26. This frictional connection can be adjusted to a greater or lesser extent by tightening the clamping knob 241 to a greater or lesser extent and prevents further adjustment of the holding rod 26 along the adjusting rail 22. The container 3 is fixed in place in the container-receiving space 25 by a corresponding fastening of the holding rods 26 while said holding rods rest on opposite sides of a container 3.

(16) A second embodiment of the adjusting rail 22 of the locking device 24 is shown in FIG. 5. A substantial difference from the previous embodiment is that the adjusting rail 22 protrudes away from the container-receiving space 25 at the vertically upper end of the support 21 and thus on the outside of the holding device 2. The container-receiving space 25 is therefore not delimited by the adjusting rail 22 but by the support 21. The support 21 also has a further slot 210 that extends parallel to the adjusting rail 22. The end of the holding rod 26 extends through the slot 210 and through the support 21 to the side of the support 21 facing away from the container-receiving space 25. The holding rod 26 therefore ends vertically under the slot 220 of the adjusting rail 22, as in the previous embodiment, but this time on the outside of the support 21. The locking device 24 is therefore also on this side of the support 21. Said locking device again includes a clamping device 240 and a clamping knob 241, as already described above. Again, by rotating the clamping knob 241, an operator can change the distance between the clamping knob 241 and the holding rod 26. In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, however, the slot 210 and the locking device 24 are designed in such a way that the holding rod 26 comes to rest on the vertical upper edge of the slot 210 before the adjusting rail 22 can be clamped between the clamping knob 241 and the holding rod 26. If the distance between the clamping knob 241 and the holding rod 26 is reduced sufficiently by rotating the clamping knob 241, a frictional connection is created between the holding rod 26, the vertical upper edge of the slot 210 of the support 21 and at the same time also between the clamping knob 241 and the adjusting rail 22. If the clamping knob 241 is also designed with an additional stop for the adjusting rail 22, which stop prevents the clamping knob 241 from being lifted vertically upwards off the adjusting rail 22, increasing the distance between the clamping knob 241 and the holding rod 26 can also establish a frictional connection between the holding rod 26 and the vertically lower edge of the slot 210. This embodiment, in which the adjusting rail 22 protrudes outward from the holding device 2, is particularly preferred, for example, when particularly large containers 3 are to be fastened in the holding device 2.

(17) It can also be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the holding rods 26 have a holding part 260 and a fastening part 261. The holding part 260 is designed to bring the holding rod 26 into contact with a container 3 mounted in the container-receiving space 25. For this purpose, the holding part 260 is provided with a soft or elastic casing, for example a casing made of rubber or caoutchouc. In this way, damage to the containers 3 through contact with the holding rods 26 is reliably prevented. The casing extends over the entire holding rod 26, except for the end regions thereof, the fastening parts 261. The fastening parts 261 are, in particular, those regions of the holding rod 26 that are designed to establish a frictional connection with the support 21 or the adjusting rail 22. In order to make the frictional connection as reliable as possible, the holding rod 26 is designed without a casing in the fastening part 261.

(18) In FIG. 6, the reference sign 4 designates a shaking platform 12, 53 that is fully equipped with holding devices 2 over its entire surface, which each fasten containers 3 of different shapes and sizes on the shaking platform 12, 53. In the embodiment shown, the length S of the holding rods 26 is substantially half the width B of the shaking platform 12, 53. In addition, the dimension of the holding device 2 perpendicular to the holding rods 26 corresponds substantially to half the length L of the shaking platform 12, 53, such that the shaking platform 12, 53 is completely filled by the four holding devices 2 shown and the space available on the shaking platform 12, 53 is used optimally. FIG. 6 illustrates that completely different containers 3 can be securely fastened on the shaking platform 12, 53 using the holding devices 2 according to the present invention. Each individual container 3 has its own single emplacement in one of the holding devices 2 and is fixed in place by two holding rods 26 that are provided exclusively for this one container 3. Each of the containers 3 therefore has its own holding device 2 and is reliably and securely fastened. Another advantage of the present invention lies in its optional modularity. Instead of the four holding devices 2 shown, only one, two or three holding devices 2 could be arranged on the shaking platform 12, 53. Because the holding rods 26 do not extend over the entire length L and width B of the shaking platform 12, 53, the remaining space on the shaking platform 12, 53 could be used by other equipment such as special holders for other laboratory utensils.

(19) Overall, it is therefore possible with the present invention to provide particularly flexible and secure fastening of containers 3 on a shaking platform 12, 53. Independently of their respective size, the containers 3 can be fixed in place individually in a holding device 2 provided solely for them. In addition, the handling of the holding devices 2 according to the present invention is particularly simple because an operator can reach the clamping knobs 241, which protrude vertically upward, particularly easily and conveniently.