Reaction vessel and apparatus and method for opening and closing a reaction vessel

Abstract

A method and apparatus for opening a reaction vessel having a body forming a volume for liquid, and a lid. In the method at least one reaction vessel is placed on a transport vehicle and the reaction vessel is positioned on the vehicle so that the vessel's rotation about its own axis is prevented. Then, the at least one reaction vessel is transferred on the vehicle and a guide rod, attached to the lid that is attached by a hinge to the reaction vessel, is pushed by the movement of the vehicle against a guide surface that forces the lid to turn on the hinge so that the lid is at least partially opened.

Claims

1. An apparatus for opening a reaction vessel that has a body forming a volume for liquid, and a lid attached to the reaction vessel and having a guide rod attached to the lid, the apparatus comprising: a base; an actuator mounted on the base for providing movement; a transport vehicle mounted on the base for movement relative to the base in response to the actuator; at least one seat associated with the transport vehicle for receiving a reaction vessel, the at least one seat having a guide slot for preventing rotation of the reaction vessel relative to the at least one seat; and at least one stationary guide surface comprising an immobilized guide piece is/are fixed relative to the base and arranged to engage with the guide rod attached to the lid, wherein when the reaction vessel is placed in the at least one seat and transferred by the transport vehicle along a path such that the guide rod engages with the guide surface, the lid is rotated around a hinge connecting the lid to the reaction vessel in response to the engagement of the guide rod with the guide surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the actuator is mounted on the base for providing rotary movement and has an axle, the transport vehicle comprises a rotor disk mounted on the axle for rotary movement, and the at least one guide surface is arranged to engage with the guide rod attached to the lid when the reaction vessel is placed in the at least one seat and rotated by the rotor disk along the path such that the guide rod engages with the guide surface so that the lid is rotated around the hinge connecting the lid to the reaction vessel.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first guide surface is positioned relative to a path of the reaction vessel to engage with the guide rod to open the lid and a second guide surface is positioned relative to the path of the reaction vessel to engage with a surface of the lid to close the lid, and wherein the first guide surface and the second guide surface form the guide piece.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide piece is made of a rod.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first or second guide surfaces comprises a groove.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide piece is made of one single piece.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotor disk comprises at least two seats for at least two reaction vessels, at least one of the two seats being moveable to a loading position for placing and removing a reaction vessel on the rotor disk with the lid in a closed position, and another of the at least two seats being moveable to a sampling position for taking liquid from the vessel with the lid in an at least partially open position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a reaction vessel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in an open position.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a reaction vessel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in a closed position.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a reaction vessel opening and closing device according to one embodiment of the present invention in a first position during operation.

(4) FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the device of FIG. 1 in a second position during operation.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side plan view of an alternative embodiment of the reaction vessel opening and closing device according to the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side plan view of reaction vessel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention in a closed position.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side plan view of a reaction vessel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) One embodiment of the reaction vessel of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The reaction vessel 9 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a tube-like vessel having an inner surface 12 defining the inner volume of the vessel 9. The diameter of the reaction vessel 9 can be constant from the opening 13 to the closed end 10. Alternatively, the internal and/or external diameter of the reaction vessel 9 can vary along the longitudinal axis of the reaction vessel 9. For example, the internal and/or external diameter can decrease gradually or at one or more fixed points along the longitudinal axis of the reaction vessel 9.

(9) The inner surface 12 of the reaction vessel 9 forms an opening 13 at one end of the vessel 9. The outer surface of the vessel 9 forms its outer contour and comprises a cylindrical body part 14 having a stopping collar 15 at the same end as the opening 13 of the vessel 9 and a gripping collar 16 at the same end and surrounding the opening 13 of the vessel 9. The diameter of the gripping collar 16 is preferably the same or smaller than the diameter of the lid 19 so that a gripper (not shown) can be pushed over the lid 19 and the collar 16 from above (from the side of the lid) to grip the edge of the gripping collar 16. One preferred cross section of the gripping collar 16 is circular and the lid 19 should have a complimentary form to the gripping collar 16 to ensure their compatibility. In this case, the jaws of a gripper used for handling the vessels 9 can be made as a sector of a circle having the same diameter.

(10) Further, the outer surface of the reaction vessel 9 can include a guide rail 17 extending along all or a part of the outer surface of the reaction vessel 9 and parallel to its longitudinal axis.

(11) The end of the reaction vessel 9 opposite to the opening is closed and, according to one embodiment, is herein formed of a conical taper 18 ending at a spherical closed end 10. The inner surface of the vessel 9 follows this form. The function of the spherical closed end 10 is to concentrate the last remaining liquid to the center of the vessel 9 wherein it can be collected by a needle of a pipette or other similar device.

(12) One important feature of the reaction vessel 9 is the lid 19. The main body of the lid 19 is a circular plate having a closing surface 21 that is adapted to set on top of the opening 13 of the vessel 9 and the gripping collar 16 when the lid 19 is in a closed position. The circumference of the body of the lid 19 corresponds with the outer circumference of the gripping collar 16. According to one embodiment, the inside of the lid 19 includes a guide ring 22 with guide pegs, one 23 of which is on the side of the hinge 20 and the other 24 of which is on the opposite side of the lid 19. The peg 24 farther from the lid 19 can be beveled.

(13) The lid 19 comprises a hinge 20 connecting it to the body of the reaction vessel 9. According to one embodiment, the hinge 20 connects the lid 19 to the gripping collar 16 on the body of the vessel 9. On the inner surface 12 of the reaction vessel 9 and opposite to the hinge 20 is a knob 25 that is arranged to contact and engage the beveled peg 24. These elements may be arranged to opposite parts, so that peg 24 includes the knob 25 and the inner surface includes a corresponding dent (not shown).

(14) The edge of the inner surface 12/opening 13 of the reaction vessel 9 is also beveled to lead the guide ring 22 inside the opening 13. When closed, the beveled peg 24 and knob 25 hold the lid 19 closed and the lid 19, guide ring 22 and the opening 13 can be dimensioned so that the required level of tightness is achieved between the components. The knob 25 may be replaced by a groove or left out if sufficient closure is otherwise achieved. The lid 19 can be liquid tight, gas tight or just provide a sufficient closure of the vessel 9 that prevents excessive evaporation.

(15) The outer surface of the main body of the lid 19 comprises a circular flat surface 32 and a guide rod 26 extending away therefrom. According to one embodiment, the guide rod 26 is arranged between the centre point of the lid 19 and the hinge 20 connecting it to the reaction vessel 9. The purpose of the guide rod 26 will be clarified below. The guide rod 26 extends preferably upwards from the flat surface 32 of the lid 19 and so that it does not reach over the circumferential edge of the lid 19. This requirement is simply reasoned by the fact that if the guide rod 26 extends horizontally further than the other dimensions of the vessel 9, the vessel 9 needs more space sideways.

(16) The reaction vessel 9 described herein is only one possible embodiment that can be used for implementation of the invention. For example, the guide rail 17 can be replaced by any form made on the outer surface of the vessel 9 that prevents rotation of the vessel 9. Examples of alternative forms made on the outer surface of the vessel 9 include two or more guide rails 17, a rectangular or other angular form on the outer surface of the vessel 9, or one or more grooves within the outer surface of the vessel 9. Further, the collars 15, 16 can be formed to perform the desired function. The collars have preferably a circular cross section and are formed as cylinders. However, rectangular, diamond shaped or other polygonal shape of cross section can also be used. The vessel 9 itself may have any desired inner or outer design; so long as it has a volume for liquid and an opening 13 that can be closed by a lid 19.

(17) The hinge 20 of the lid 19 can be made as a separate piece and/or using a separate material or simply be formed as a single piece of the same material as the vessel 9 and lid 20 themselves. Preferably, the lid 19 and the vessel 9 are made as a single piece, for example by injection molding.

(18) In this embodiment, the flat surface 32 of the lid 19 operates as one guide surface and the guide rod 26 as another guide surface. Alternatively, there may be separate guide surface on the flat surface 32 of the lid 19 and the guide rod 26 may have a different form. One example of this will be described below. The relative placement of the guide rod 26 in view of the lid 19 and the hinge 20 may vary.

(19) One especially preferred embodiment that illustrates some of the variable features mentioned above, is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

(20) In this embodiment the stopping collar 15 has two opposite flat faces 33, one on each side of the vessel, for preventing vessel rotation in a robot gripper. Instead of flat faces, at least one modified surface part such as a groove, toothing, rifling or a bulge can be used. These can be set pairwise or in other suitable formation around the stopping collar 15.

(21) The inside of the lid 19 includes a guide ring 22 with guide pegs, one 23 of which is on the side of the hinge 20 and the other 24 of which is on the opposite side of the lid 19. The peg 24 farther from the lid 19 can be beveled. Herein the guide ring 22 is extended to a sealing skirt in order to improve tightness and sealing ability. The sealing ability can be adjusted by adapting the tolerances between the surfaces and the length of the sealing skirt to the demands of the fluid or other substance handled in the vessels. It can even be contemplated that the guide ring or sealing skirt 22 is provided with a sealing element, for example an O-ring. The drawbacks of adding extra sealing element is increased complicity and costs.

(22) Further, the guide rail 17 extending along a part of the outer surface of the reaction vessel 9 and parallel to its longitudinal axis is herein shortened to fit it better in an intermediate storage. It is evident that the dimensions of the guide fin shall be adapted to dimensions of storage and handling positions.

(23) The purpose of closing the reaction vessel 9 is, firstly, to prevent evaporation and enrichment of a liquid therein. Secondly, closing of the vessel 9 prevents contamination of the contents and prevents spilling if the vessel 9 is dropped. Further, closing also prevents spilling during vortexing mixing and movements by robotics. The operation of the reaction vessel 9 and the opening and closing apparatus is described below to show how opening and closing of the reaction vessel 9 is achieved according to the invention.

(24) FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the reaction vessel opening and closing apparatus invention. This apparatus is built on a base plate 1 having an electric motor 2 mounted thereto. The motor 2 can be a step motor or any other actuator that can be driven between at least two angular positions. The axle 3 of the motor 2 extends through the base plate 1. A rotor disk 4 is mounted at the end of the axle 3 and has four seats 5, 6, 7, 8 for receiving reaction vessels 9. The seats 5, 6, 7, 8 are formed to accommodate the outer surface of the reaction vessels 9 and the center point of each reaction vessel 9 is placed in a position the same radius from the center of the rotor disk 4. Thus, when the rotor disk 4 is rotated, the seats 5, 6, 7, 8 and vessels 9 set in them travel the same circular path. From the base plate 1 extends, on the opposite side to the motor 2 and around the perimeter of the rotor disk 4, two brackets 33, which are mounted in a stationary position over the rotor disk 4. A stationary guide piece 11 is mounted between the brackets 33.

(25) The opening and closing operation of the device depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 is based on rotational movement of the rotor disk 4 in concert with the guiding action of the guide piece 11. The rotor 4 may rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, or alternate between both directions. According to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotor 4 rotates in a counterclockwise direction.

(26) In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotor disk 4 has four seats 5, 6, 7, 8 for accommodating up to four reaction vessels 9. Each of these seats are placed at regular angular intervals on the rotor disk 4 at the same radius from the center of the rotor disk 4. Each seat 5, 6, 7, 8 has a guide slot 29. When reaction vessels 9 are placed in the seats 5, 6, 6, 8, the guide rails 17 of the vessels sit in the guide slots 29 within the seats 5, 6, 7, 8, setting and locking the rotational position of the vessels 9, preventing the vessels 9 from rotating about their own axis.

(27) In the vertical direction, the stopping collar 15 of the reaction vessel 9 sets the vessel 9 to its correct height within the seat 5 relative to the surface of the rotor disk 4 and the guide piece 11. This height placement is important for the operation of the opening and closing features and, in an automated analyzer, for facilitating aspiration of liquid from the vessel 9. When the vessels 9 are placed within the seats 5, 6, 6, 8, the hinges 20 of the vessels 9 point to the center of the rotor disk 4. When the rotor disk 4 is rotated, each of the up to four vessels 9 moves along the same circular path.

(28) As depicted in FIG. 3, seat 5 is in a loading position and is able to accept a reaction vessel 9. In this position, the vessel 9 can be removed from or placed on the rotor 4. When the vessel 9 is placed in the loading position, the vessel 9 is closed. In order to access the contents of the vessel 9, the lid 19 of the vessel 9 must be opened. Simultaneously, the vessel 9 has to be moved to an accessing position where a needle or pipette (not shown) can be inserted into the vessel 9 to access the contents of the vessel 9 and aspirate or dispense the required amount of liquid from or into the vessel 9. With reference to FIG. 3, seat 7 is located in the accessing position.

(29) The guide piece 11 includes one continued curved surface which touches either or both the guide rod and top of the lid in a proper way. Surfaces 27 and 28 are not separate surfaces) but comprise two sections, a first guide surface 27 positioned on the vertical surface of the guide piece 11 closest to the center of the rotor 4, and a second guide surface 28 positioned on the vertical surface of the guide piece 11 farthest from the center of the rotor 4. Each of the first and second guide surfaces 27, 28 are designed to engage the lid 19 and the associated guide rod 26 to open and close the lid 19 as the vessel 9 travels across the guide piece 11.

(30) Opening of the lid 19 starts when the rotor disk 4 is rotated counterclockwise from the loading position (seat 5 in FIG. 3) and the vessel 9 arrives to the engagement point, the position where seat 6 is located in FIG. 13 When the vessel 9 continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction past this engagement point, the guide rod 26 of the lid 19 engages with the first guide surface 27 of the guide piece 11.

(31) The portion of the first guide surface 27 of the guide piece 11 located closest to the brackets 10 is curved to be so far away from the center of the rotor disk 4 that the upstream end of the surface of the first guide surface 27 may permit the guide rod 26 of the vessel 9 to pass by the guide piece 11 without engaging or moving the guide rod 26.

(32) In the direction of the rotation, counterclockwise according to the depicted embodiment, the first guide surface 27 gradually curves inwards away from the center of the rotor disk 4. Also, at the engagement point (seat 6 in FIG. 3) the first guide surface 27 is essentially vertical, corresponding to the form of the guide rod 26 of the vessel 9 when the lid 19 is in a closed position on the side of the guide rod surface that points outwards from the center point of the rotor blade 4 and the hinge 20 of the vessel 9. From the engagement point, the first guide surface 27 turns gradually inwards from a vertical position towards a horizontal position so that the first guide surface 27 is almost horizontal at the point where the vessel 9 reaches the accessing position, located at seat 7 in FIG. 1. Thus, the first guide surface 27 pushes the guide rod 26 and its associated vessel lid 19 open by pushing the guide rod 26 towards the center of the rotor disk 4 and downwards, from a vertical position to a horizontal position directed towards the center of the rotor disk 4.

(33) Simultaneously, the second guide surface 28 must provide sufficient space to allow the lid 19 of the vessel 9 to rise upwards as the guide rod 26 is being lowered. This is possible by simply forming the second guide surface 28 of the guide piece 11 so that there is enough space for the lid 19 to rise. If more constrained guidance is desired, the second guide surface 28 may start with a horizontal surface at the portion of the guide piece 11 located closest to the brackets 10 and gradually curve outwards away from the center of the rotor disk 4 to allow the lid 19 to rise. This form of the second guide surface 28 is depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(34) In order to close the lid 19, the second guide surface 28 of the guide piece 11 is curved outwards from the center of the rotor disk 4 and a vertical position towards a horizontal position so that the second guide surface 28 glides on the flat surface 32 of the lid 19 and presses the lid 19 downward and closed. The lid 19 can be pressed closed by the guide piece 11 or the guide piece 11 can include a structure that draws the lid 19 closed. According to various embodiments, the second guide surface 28 can include a flexible surface, an extended spring, or even a powered pusher to be certain the lid is closed. The force needed to close the lid 19 is dependent on how tight the lid 19 has to be, for example liquid or gas tight seals are inherently tighter than a lid 19 that just prevents some evaporation and access of solid contaminants. One advantage of a guide piece 11 wherein the guide surfaces 27, 28 have been formed on the outer surface of the guide piece 11 is that the guide piece 11 can be made completely smooth. Therefore it is easy to keep the guide surfaces 27, 28 clean and they are less likely to collect or distribute contaminants.

(35) FIG. 5 discloses an alternative embodiment of the opening and closing apparatus of the invention. Herein, the guide piece has been replaced by a round guide wire 11 that has been curved to form the guide. Also, the reaction vessels shown in FIG. 5 are somewhat different than the embodiments of the reaction vessels 9 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described above. The lids of the reaction vessels depicted in FIG. 5 include a push ridge 30 and the guide rod is formed as a hook 31. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the guide wire 11 operates in a same way as the guide piece 11 of the previous embodiment by engaging the hook 31, drawing the hook towards the center of the rotor and pushing downwards to open the lid, and, afterwards, closing the lid by pushing the lid on top of the push ridge downward and away from the center of the rotor. While this is a very simple embodiment, in practice a single guide piece formed of one part is easier to make and provides more possibilities to vary the guide surface(s).

(36) As can be readily deducted, the guide piece, guide wire or other guide element can take various different forms. Naturally, the guide rod 26 of the lid 19 must be designed to accommodate the design of the guide piece 11. First, the guide rod 26 does not have to extend upwards from the lid 19; the guide rod 26 can also extend from the side of the lid 19 within the scope of the invention, but then the vessels 9 would require more space sideways. Such an embodiment would not be desirable in most cases. The guide piece 11 can also be positioned on the outside perimeter of the rotor disk 4 so that the lid 19 is pushed towards the edge of the rotor 4 when opened. However, this may hinder accessibility of the opening 13 of the vessel 9 to the pipette.

(37) One embodiment for guiding the opening of the lid 19 of the vessel 9 might be a guide groove carved into the guide piece 11. This guide groove might be traced by a pin-like round guide rod 26.

(38) The rotor disk 4 may have any number of seats 5 for vessels 9 from one to several, and opening and closing may be done several times during one full rotation around the rotor 4. It can even be contemplated that the rotor disk 4 is rotated continuously, but then the processes of loading vessels, removing vessels and taking samples or other liquids from the vessels might be more difficult, at least at higher speeds.

(39) Instead of rotary movement, the reaction vessels 9 can be transferred along a linear or curved path. The path may be a track having a finite length or it can be an endless track. In this case, the reaction vessels 9 need a transport vehicle that transfers the vessels along the track to move the lids 19 of the vessels 9 between the open and closed positions. The guide surface must follow the path of the track and it may be divided into separate closing and opening surfaces. It can be further contemplated that there are several opening and closing positions along the track. The track herein is used to describe any means for providing guided transport of a vehicle.

(40) According to another embodiment, the reaction vessel 9 may include a spring hinge 20 or other means for automatically closing the lid. In this embodiment, the opening and closing apparatus may be used only for opening the lid 19 of the vessel 9.

(41) Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the method and device may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same results are within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of the elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale but they are merely conceptual in nature. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.