WO2016062815A1

WO2016062815A1 - Laboratory shaker

Info

Publication number: WO2016062815A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/074508
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Lohmann
Original assignee: Hans Heidolph Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2014-10-23
Filing date: 2015-10-22
Publication date: 2016-04-28
Also published as: DE102014115474A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a laboratory apparatus, namely a shaking device, comprising a sample carrier (10), a planetary gear set (14) having a plurality of components such as a sun wheel (22), at least one planet gear (24), a ring gear (28) and, in particular, a planetary gear carrier (26), as well as at least one connecting device (20) extending from the planetary gear set (14) in the direction of the sample carrier (10), which connects the planetary gear set (14) to the sample carrier (10) in such a way that a movement of the components of the planetary gear set (14) relative to each other is converted into a shaking movement of the sample carrier (10).

Description

LABORATORY SHAKERS

The invention relates to a laboratory apparatus, namely a shaker, with a sample carrier. The sample carrier may be, for example, a platform or a platform-like receptacle for e.g. Microtiter plates, Erlenmeyer flasks, Petri dishes, test tube or the like, or a test tube holder, i. the shaking device can be designed, for example, as a platform shaker or as a test tube shaker. Conventional shakers are designed to perform a single specific movement or movement. This may be a circularly vibrating motion, a rotary motion, a rocking motion, a reciprocal motion, or a tumbling motion. For the realization of these movements complex drives and / or guidance systems are necessary. For example, it is known to provide a mechanism for generating a shaking motion which is driven by a belt.

It is an object of the invention to provide a laboratory device in which samples can be shaken in a simple and preferably in many ways.

The solution of this object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the shaker comprises a planetary gear having a plurality of components, which comprise a sun gear, at least one planet gear, a ring gear and optionally a planet carrier. The shaker has one or more in particular each of the planetary gear in the direction of Sample carrier extending connecting device or connecting devices, which connects or connect the planetary gear with the sample carrier such that a movement of the components of the planetary gear relative to each other is converted into a shaking movement of the sample carrier. The shaking movement in particular causes the samples to be shaken and / or mixed.

To generate the shaking motion according to the invention no complex drives, gear and / or guides are necessary. In particular, no drive belts are required. The fact that no drive belt is required, no belt tension must be adjusted so that the associated costs can be eliminated. The planetary gear provides the at least one connecting device a position or a sequence of movements, so that adjustment work becomes unnecessary. Thus, according to the invention, the shaking motion can be derived in a simple manner directly from a movement of the planetary gear or at least one component thereof.

The planetary gear can be a planetary gear in which the ring gear is stationary and the sun gear rotates about its axis of rotation. The sun gear can drive at least one, preferably three planet gears. The planet gear is or the planetary gears are arranged between the sun gear and the ring gear. Several planet gears can be connected to each other via a planet carrier, which is in particular annular. Alternatively, the claimed planetary gear includes, for example, a planetary gear in which the sun gear is stationary while the ring gear is moving and driving the planetary gear (s). The term "rotation axis of the sun gear" is therefore also applicable to those cases in which the sun gear is stationary, ie, does not rotate during operation of the planetary gear. Since the individual components of the planetary gear perform different movements, and the sample carrier can in principle be moved in many ways. In particular, the at least one connecting device is arranged offset radially to a rotational axis of the sun gear. During operation of the planetary gear, the respective connecting device can travel through a predetermined path, which is converted into a corresponding movement path of the sample carrier. Preferably, the sample carrier is secured against rotation about the axis of rotation of the sun gear or an axis parallel thereto. The sample carrier can be supported by a holding device, for example by a support on which the sample carrier rests at least partially in the edge region, and / or by the one or more connecting devices. A plurality of connecting devices are preferably arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the sun gear.

Further developments of the invention are to be taken from the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings. According to one embodiment, the at least one connecting device is connected to the sun wheel, the or one of the planet gears, the planet carrier or the ring gear. Since these components can each perform a rotational or circular movement, a shaking movement of the sample carrier can be derived in a simple manner via the at least one connecting device. A coupling device attached to the planetary gear may be centrally, i. be arranged in the region of the axis of rotation of the planetary gear, or radially offset from the axis of rotation of the planetary gear on the planetary gear.

According to one embodiment, the shaking movement comprises a circular movement which revolves around the axis of rotation of the sun gear, in particular Main movement, of the slide. The term "main movement" is chosen only as a delimitation to a possible further movement, which then called secondary movement and can be superimposed on the main movement, as will be explained in more detail below. However, this term is by no means to be understood as meaning that further movement is absolutely necessary. Thus, the sample carrier can also perform only a circular main movement. Accordingly, a secondary movement does not necessarily require a major movement. The sun gear can be rotatable or stationary. In particular, the circular movement is not rotation of the sample carrier about an axis. Rather, the entire sample carrier, without changing its orientation in space, performs a circular movement, wherein the circular movement in principle further movements are superimposed, which then in particular may also result in a change in the orientation of the sample carrier in the room.

In order to obtain a circular movement, which circulates about the axis of rotation of the sun gear, in particular without secondary movement, the or at least one of the connecting devices can be arranged centrally on the or one of the planet gears.

According to a further embodiment, the shaking movement comprises a circular movement, in particular secondary motion, of the sample carrier, which revolves around the axis of rotation of the planetary gear or one of the planetary gears. In particular, the movement circulating around the axis of rotation of the planetary gear or wheels has a smaller radius of movement than a movement revolving around the axis of rotation of the sun gear, in particular the aforementioned main movement, and / or superimposes itself with this to a cyclic curve movement. Figuratively speaking, the secondary movement thus has a higher frequency as the main movement up. The resulting curve motion is comparable to a spirograph curve, ie a circular array of loops.

In order to obtain a circular movement that revolves around the axis of rotation of the planetary gear or one of the planetary gears, the or at least one of the connecting devices can be arranged radially offset on the planetary gear to a rotational axis of the planetary gear. In particular, can be realized by this eccentric arrangement in a simple manner, the aforementioned cyclic curve movement. The path of the curve movement is dependent on the diameters of the sun gear and of the planetary gear as well as on the radial distance of the connecting device to the axis of rotation of the planetary gear.

In principle, it is possible to exchange individual components of the planetary gear. Alternatively or additionally, the connecting device may be arranged at different positions on the planetary gear or may be provided on the planetary gear different fastening means for the connecting device, which positions or fastening devices may have different radial distances from the axis of rotation. Thus, the shaking movement or the path of the curve movement of the sample carrier can be varied in a simple manner.

According to a further embodiment, the shaking movement comprises a tumbling movement of the sample carrier. During the tumbling movement, the sample carrier can tilt sideways, the tilting direction revolving around the axis of rotation of the sun gear. The angle of inclination may in particular be between 2 ° and 20 °, preferably between 5 ° and 10 °. In particular, the sample carrier may only perform a wobbling motion or a combination of a circular main motion with a tumbling motion, a combination of a circular sub-motion with a tumbling motion, or a combination of a circular main motion and a circular motion Secondary movement with a tumbling motion. According to the invention, various motion modes or types of the sample carrier and combinations thereof can be realized in a simple manner by a planetary gear. According to a further embodiment, at least two, preferably three, connecting devices are provided which have different lengths. Not every connecting device has to have its own length. For example, in the case of three connecting devices, two connecting devices may have a common first length and a third connecting device may have a second length deviating therefrom. Due to the different lengths a desired wobbling motion can be realized in a secure manner. The tendency of the tumbling motion can be varied by adjusting the lengths of the connecting devices accordingly. In principle, however, a single connecting device is also sufficient for a tumbling movement, for example when the connecting device, following its trajectory, presses the sample carrier locally upwards along the trajectory corresponding to worn trajectories.

According to a further embodiment, a rotatably mounted compensating device is provided on a side facing the planetary gear, in particular underside, of the sample carrier, which prevents transmission of a movement running around the axis of rotation of the sun gear onto the sample carrier. The compensation device may preferably be disc-shaped and serve as a point of application for the connecting device. In particular, a circular secondary movement of the sample carrier can be realized by the compensation device, without a circular main movement is performed. Also, a combination of circular secondary movement and wobbling or only a tumbling motion is possible with the compensation device. According to a further embodiment, the at most one or exactly one of the connecting devices is rotatably mounted at a fixed position of the sample carrier. This is preferably a connecting device, which is arranged centrally on the or one of the planetary gears, in particular to realize a circular, about the axis of rotation of the sun gear rotating motion, or to a connecting device which is radially offset to a rotational axis of the planetary gear on the Planet wheel is arranged, in particular to realize at least one circular, about the axis of rotation of the planetary gear rotating movement. A storage of several connecting devices each at a fixed position of the sample carrier would result in a rotation of the sample carrier about an axis of rotation. The provision of a single fixed pivot point, however, allows the movement of a respective component of the planetary gear is converted into at least one circular secondary movement.

According to a further embodiment, the or at least one of the connecting means is rotatably mounted at a fixed position of the aforementioned compensation device. Here also a rotatable mounting is possible at a fixed position for several or all connecting devices, since a rotation of the sample carrier due to the fact that the compensation device is rotatably mounted on the sample carrier, can be prevented anyway.

In particular, the connecting device rotatably mounted on a fixed position of the sample carrier or the aforementioned compensation device engages in an abutment of the sample carrier or the compensating device, which is preferably designed in the manner of a joint socket. The connecting device is thus not rotatably connected to the sample carrier or the compensation device, but rotatably mounted relative to this or this. This prevents the sample holder from rotating about an axis of rotation. A connecting device which is not rotatably mounted at a fixed position of the sample carrier or the compensating device is freely movable over a surface of the sample carrier or the compensating device or engages in a guide, in particular an annular path, of the sample carrier or of the compensating device. The surface is preferably flat. The connecting device preferably runs freely over this plane, so that the movement of the connecting device is consequently limited only by the planetary gear. Alternatively, the freedom of movement can be limited by a guide. An annular path can be formed, for example, as an annular recess.

For example, the following can be provided for superimposing a circular main movement, a circular secondary movement and a tumbling movement: Two connecting devices are each arranged centrally on a separate planetary gear and each move freely on the surface of the sample carrier. A third, shorter connecting device is radially offset from the axis of rotation of another planetary gear arranged on this and rotatably mounted at a fixed position of the sample carrier. As a result, a cyclic movement curves can be achieved with simultaneous tumbling motion.

According to a further embodiment, the respective connecting device comprises a rod-shaped machine element, in particular with a resilient pressure piece at its end facing the sample carrier. The rod-shaped machine element may in particular be an axle, a shaft or a bolt. The resilient pressure piece may, for example, ball and spring. The ball can in this case in particular engage in a joint socket on the sample carrier or on the compensating device or move freely over a corresponding surface or in a guide. According to a further embodiment, a holding device for the sample carrier is provided, which comprises an anti-rotation device in order to secure the sample carrier against rotation about the axis of rotation of the sun gear. For example, in a non-rotationally symmetrical trained sample carrier a substantially counter-shaped to the sample carrier trained limiting frame may be provided, or it may for example be mounted radially outwardly projecting rod on the sample carrier whose rotational position is fixed by a corresponding receptacle in a housing of the shaker. Basically, various designs are conceivable here. Alternatively or additionally, the holding device may comprise a, in particular elastically restoring, device which pulls or pushes the sample carrier in the direction of the planetary gear. The device may in particular comprise at least one spring tension and / or elastic. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, which show simplified schematic representations and are neither true to scale nor perspective. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a shaker device according to the invention, in which a sample carrier can perform a shaking motion that corresponds to a combination of a circular main movement with a circular secondary movement,

2 is a sectional view of a portion of the shaker of FIG. 1,

3 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a shaker according to the invention, in which a sample carrier can perform a wobbling motion, 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of a shaker device according to the invention, in which a sample carrier can perform a shaking motion which corresponds to a combination of a circular main movement with a circular secondary movement and with FIG corresponds to a puffing movement, and

Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a shaker according to the invention, in which a sample carrier can perform a shaking movement, which corresponds to a combination of a circular secondary movement with a wobbling motion.

First, it will be noted that the illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary in nature. In particular, the number of illustrated planetary gears, connecting devices and elastic connections can vary. The features of an embodiment can, as far as appropriate, also be arbitrarily combined with features of another embodiment.

In Fig. 1, a laboratory shaker with a sample carrier 10 is shown. A microtiter plate 12 is shown by way of example on the sample carrier 10. The shaker further includes a planetary gear 14 which is disposed in a base 16 of the shaker. For connection to the base 16, elastic elastics 18 or the like are provided at the four corner regions of the sample carrier 10, which together form at least part of a holding device for the prosthesis. Benträger 10 form. The elastics 18 are both firmly connected to the base 16 and fixed to the sample carrier 10.

Furthermore, a connecting device designed as a bolt 20 is provided, which bolt 20 extends from the planetary gear 14 in the direction of the sample carrier 10 and connects the planetary gear 14 with the sample carrier 10. The planetary gear 14 includes a driven sun gear 22, three planetary gears 24, which are interconnected via a planet carrier 26, and a fixed ring gear 28. The teeth between the individual components of the planetary gear 14 are not shown for simplicity, while the respective directions of rotation by arrows are indicated.

The bolt 20 is disposed on one of the planetary gears 24, namely radially offset from the axis of rotation R of the planetary gear 24. The bolt 20 during operation of the planetary gear therefore describes a cyclic Kurven motion, which consists of a superposition of a circular movement about the axis of rotation of the sun gear 22nd , hereinafter referred to as the main movement, and a circular movement about the rotation axis R of the planetary gear 24, hereinafter referred to as secondary movement, consists. The diameter of the circular movement about the axis of rotation R of the planetary gear 24 can be adjusted by variation of the radial

Distance of the bolt 20 are changed from the axis of rotation R, as indicated in Fig. 1 by corresponding distances indicating circular rings. Basically, such a variation is always possible with a bolt 20 offset from the axis of rotation R on a planetary gear 24, i. in particular also in the two embodiments explained below according to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In addition, the bolt 20 is rotatably mounted at a fixed position on the underside of the sample carrier 10. As can be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the bolt 20 has a pressure piece with a ball 30 and a spring on, which engages in a trained as a socket 32 abutment of the sample carrier 10. Since the bolt 20 thus engages at a fixed position on the sample carrier 10, the cyclic curves is moved movement of the bolt 20 in a corresponding cyclic curve movement of the sample carrier 10 implemented.

If bolt 20 were central, i. in the region of the rotation axis R, arranged on the planet gear 24, the bolt 20 and thus the sample carrier 10 would only perform the aforementioned main movement. The sample carrier 10 is supported by a holding device, not shown, for example, a frame consisting of L-shaped carriers on which the sample carrier 10 rests at least partially with its edge regions, supported and secured against rotation about the axis of rotation of the sun gear 22. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, three bolts 20 arranged at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the sun gear 22 are provided, which can also serve to support the sample carrier 10 and are each connected centrally to one of the planet gears 24. The bolts 20 have different lengths, so that during a rotational movement of the planetary gear 14, a tumbling movement of the sample carrier 10 is produced, as illustrated in FIG. 3 by means of the illustrated double arrows. As can be seen in the sectional view according to FIG. 4, the bolts 20 can move freely on the underside of the sample carrier 10. Alternatively, for example, an annular groove may be provided, in which engage the ball 30 of the pressure piece of the bolt 20.

FIG. 5 shows an overlay of the cyclical curve movement according to FIG. 1 with the tumbling movement according to FIG. 3, wherein the double arrows illustrating the wobbling movement from FIG. 3 in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 6 explained below for the sake of simplicity were omitted. To achieve this, three bolts 20 are provided, of which a first pin 20 is mounted eccentrically on a planetary gear 24. This bolt 20 engages - analogous to FIG. 2 - at a fixed position in the sample carrier 10 a. In this way, the cyclic curves is moved according to FIG. 1 realized. The two further bolts 20, which have a greater length in comparison to the first bolt 20, are each arranged centrally on their respective associated planet gear 24, move freely with their respective sample carrier 10 end facing the underside of the sample carrier and provide for Tumbling movement according to FIG. 3.

In principle, the two further bolts 20 may also be eccentric, i. radially offset, be arranged on the respective planetary gear 24.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, a compensation device designed as a disk 34 is provided, which is mounted rotatably on the sample carrier 10 about an axis of rotation D. The bolts 20 are arranged analogously to the embodiment according to FIG. 5, with the exception that their ends facing the sample carrier 10 do not bear on the sample carrier 10, but on the disk 34. Only one of the bolts 20, two bolts 20 or all three bolts 20 are rotatably mounted at a fixed position of the disc 34. The rotatable disc 34 prevents transmission of the aforementioned circular main motion on the sample carrier 10. Thus, there remain only a circular secondary movement and a wobbling motion.

According to the invention can thus be realized in a simple manner mixing or shaking of samples. The planetary gearbox also makes it easy to combine different types of movement, with only a single drive having to be provided. In addition, the shaking device according to the invention can also be converted relatively easily from one type of movement to another type of movement. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 sample carriers

12 microtiter plate

14 planetary gear

16 base

18 elastic connection, holding device

20 bolts, connecting device

22 sun wheel

24 planetary gear

26 planet carrier

28 ring gear

30 ball, pressure piece

32 socket, abutment

34 disc, compensation device

R rotation axis

D rotation axis

Claims

claims

Laboratory apparatus, namely shaking apparatus, with

a sample carrier (10),

a planetary gear (14) having a plurality of components comprising a sun gear (22), at least one planet gear (24), a ring gear (28) and in particular a planet carrier (26), and

at least one connecting device (20) extending from the planetary gear (14) in the direction of the sample carrier (10), which connects the tarpaulin gear (14) to the sample carrier (10) such that movement of the components of the planetary gear (14) relative to one another in a shaking movement of the sample carrier (10) is implemented.

Laboratory apparatus according to claim 1,

By doing so, that is

the at least one connecting device (20) is connected to the sun gear (22), the or one of the planet gears (24), the planet carrier (26) or the ring gear (28).

Laboratory apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

By doing so, that is

the shaking movement comprises a circular movement, in particular a main movement, of the sample carrier (10), which revolves around the axis of rotation of the sun wheel (22).

Laboratory apparatus according to claim 3,

By doing so, that is

the or at least one of the connecting means (20) is arranged centrally on the or one of the planet gears (24).

Laboratory apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,

By doing so, that is

the shaking movement comprises a circular movement, in particular secondary movement, of the sample carrier (10) surrounding the axis of rotation of the or one of the planetary gears, which in particular has a smaller radius of movement than a movement revolving around the axis of rotation of the sun gear (22) and / or superimposed with this to a cyclic curve movement.

Laboratory apparatus according to claim 5,

By doing so, that is

the or at least one of the connecting means (20) to a rotational axis (R) of the planetary gear (24) radially offset on the planet gear (24) is arranged.

Laboratory apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,

By doing so, that is

the shaking motion comprises a tumbling movement of the sample carrier (10).

Laboratory apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,

By doing so, that is

at least two, preferably three, connecting means (20) are provided which have different lengths.

9. Laboratory apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,

By doing so, that is

a rotatably mounted compensation device (34), in particular a disc, is provided on a side facing the planetary gear (14), in particular underside, of the sample carrier (10), which transmits a movement about the axis of rotation of the sun wheel (22) to the sample carrier (10) prevented.

10. Laboratory apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,

By doing so, that is

at least one or one of the connecting devices (20) is rotatably mounted on a fixed position of the sample carrier (10) and / or the or at least one of the connecting devices (20) is rotatably mounted on a fixed position of a compensating device (34).

11. Laboratory apparatus according to claim 10,

By doing so, that is

a connecting device (20) rotatably mounted on a fixed position of the sample carrier (10) or the compensating device (34) engages in an abutment (32) of the sample carrier (10) or the compensating device (34), which is preferably designed in the manner of a joint socket and / or a connecting device (20) which is not rotatably mounted at a fixed position of the sample carrier (10) or the compensating device (34) is freely movable over a surface of the sample carrier (10) or the compensating device (34) or into a guide, in particular one Ring path, the sample carrier (10) or the compensation device (34) engages.

12. Laboratory apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the respective connecting device (20) comprises a rod-shaped machine element, in particular with a resilient pressure piece (30) at its end facing the sample carrier.

13. Laboratory apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,

By doing so, that is

a holding device (18) is provided for the sample carrier (10) which provides an anti-twist device for securing the sample carrier (10) against rotation about the rotation axis of the sun gear (22) and / or a device, in particular elastically restoring device (18) which pulls or pushes the sample carrier (10) in the direction of the planetary gear (14).