Loading device for a cleaning device, cleaning device, method and device for operating a loading device

Abstract

Loading device (100) for a cleaning device (105) with an interior for receiving the loading device (100), wherein the loading device (100) has the following features: a receiving device (130) for receiving pipettes (110), a hollow chamber (150), wherein the hollow chamber (150) is fluidly connected to the receiving device (130); a flow channel (140) having a constriction section (305) and configured to direct an air flow through the loading device (100); and a transverse bore (160) which fluidically connects the flow channel (140) with the hollow chamber (150).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a loading device for a cleaning device, a cleaning device, and a method and a device for operating a loading device.

[0002] Process media required for internal treatment can be introduced into load carriers from the respective device. The process media can be fed to the pipettes located in individual holders. Drying can be achieved using heated air, which can be pumped through the pipettes under pressure.

[0003] Examples from the prior art are known from the documents DE 10 2019 212 775 A1 or DE 10 2024 101 291 A1.

[0004] The approach presented here aims to provide an improved loading device for a cleaning device, an improved cleaning device, an improved method for producing a loading device, and an improved method and an improved device for operating a loading device.

[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a loading device for a cleaning device, a cleaning device, and a method and device for operating a loading device having the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the following subclaims.

[0006] The advantages achievable with the invention are that a loading device is created which can enable reliable cleaning and / or drying of washware.

[0007] A loading device is provided for a cleaning device with an interior space for accommodating the loading device. The loading device has a receiving device, a hollow chamber, a flow channel, and a transverse bore. The receiving device is designed to accommodate pipettes. The hollow chamber is fluidically connected to the receiving device. The flow channel has a constriction section and is designed to guide an air flow through the loading device. The transverse bore fluidically connects the flow channel to the hollow chamber.

[0008] The cleaning device can be a device for cleaning, disinfecting, and reprocessing washware. The washware can be pipettes. The loading device can be used for reprocessing pipettes and can be used in laboratory washer-disinfectors (WDs) and washer-disinfectors (RDGs) for short, and can be connected to them during the reprocessing process. The loading device can be inserted, for example, into the interior of the cleaning device. The flow channel and the transverse bore can together form a Venturi nozzle. When operational, an air stream can flow through the flow channel to the transverse bore. An initial negative pressure can then be generated at the transverse bore, allowing air to be sucked out of the hollow chamber. The hollow chamber can generally be understood as a cavity that is not necessarily closed or sealed on all sides.Additionally or alternatively, a second negative pressure can be generated at the receiving device, allowing water or liquid droplets to be sucked out of the pipettes. This allows the pipettes to be dried reliably. The approach presented here can therefore also be understood as pipette drying by negative pressure.

[0009] The approach presented here can enable reliable drying, especially for small-bore pipettes. Mixed loading can also be performed in the loading device, meaning pipettes with large and small volumes are processed simultaneously. This can result in a homogeneous distribution of the drying air among the individual pipettes.

[0010] Especially in small-bore pipettes, water plugs can often form in the tip, which can result in extremely high flow resistance. Pipettes with larger volumes may experience less plug formation and lower flow resistance due to their larger diameter. The approach presented here can enable a reliable supply of drying air to the pipettes from the same distribution cavity, allowing the introduced air volume flow to flow evenly into the pipettes. In this way, the pressure acting in the pipettes can be sufficient, for example, to push the water droplets upwards or to suck them out through the negative pressure, thus reducing the flow resistance so that complete drying can be achieved.

[0011] Using the approach presented here, the plug in small-bore pipettes can be released and removed in order to reduce the flow resistance of the pipette so that all residual moisture can be removed in the drying process.

[0012] The receiving device can have a plurality of receiving elements, each for receiving a pipette. The receiving elements can be conically shaped. This allows for reliable and secure reception of the pipettes, especially when the pipettes are placed in the conical part of the receiving elements.

[0013] The loading device can have a grid element that can be arranged circumferentially around the receiving device. The grid element can prevent the pipettes from falling out of the receiving device.

[0014] The loading device can have a device coupling element for coupling the loading device to the interior of the cleaning device and a wash chamber outlet. The flow channel can be arranged between the device coupling element and the wash chamber outlet to guide the air flow from the device coupling element to the wash chamber outlet. The device coupling element can be coupled to a rinsing and drying circuit of the cleaning device to reliably guide the air flow and / or wash liquor through the flow channel. The air flow and / or wash liquor can be safely guided out of the flow channel through the wash chamber outlet.

[0015] The loading device can have a flap that can be arranged on the flow channel between the flow channel and the rinsing chamber outlet. The flap can be designed to close or open the rinsing chamber outlet. When the flap is closed, the air flow can be directed through the flow channel to reliably dry the pipettes. When the flap is open, the rinsing solution can be directed through the flow channel to reliably clean the pipettes.

[0016] The flow channel can form a bottom of the loading device. This allows the negative pressure generated in the flow channel to reliably dry the pipettes, which may be located above the flow channel.

[0017] The cavity can be located centrally in the loading device. Negative pressure can advantageously be generated in the cavity to dry the pipettes.

[0018] A cleaning device comprises an embodiment of a loading device mentioned herein. The cleaning device has an interior space for accommodating the loading device. The cleaning device can be designed as a cleaning and disinfection device for cleaning, disinfecting, and reprocessing washware, such as pipettes.

[0019] A method for manufacturing an embodiment of a loading device mentioned herein comprises a step of providing the receiving device, the hollow chamber, the flow channel, and the transverse bore. In a connecting step, the hollow chamber is connected to the receiving device. In a further connecting step, the flow channel is connected to the hollow chamber by means of the transverse bore.

[0020] A method for operating an embodiment of a loading device mentioned herein and / or a method for operating a cleaning device having an interior space for accommodating an embodiment of a loading device mentioned herein comprises a step of passing an air flow through the flow channel.

[0021] The approach presented here further provides a control unit configured to perform, control, or implement the steps of a variant of a method presented here in corresponding devices. This embodiment of the invention in the form of a device also allows the problem underlying the invention to be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0022] The control unit can be designed to read in input signals and to determine and provide output signals using the input signals. An input signal can, for example, represent a sensor signal that can be read in via an input interface of the control unit. An output signal can represent a control signal or a data signal that can be provided at an output interface of the control unit. The control unit can be designed to determine the output signals using a processing rule implemented in hardware or software. For example, the control unit can comprise a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or a software module and can, for example, be implemented as a discrete component or be comprised of a discrete component.

[0023] Also advantageous is a computer program product or computer program with program code that can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory, or an optical memory. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or a control unit, the program product or program can be used to carry out, implement, and / or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described here.

[0024] Although the approach described is based on a cleaning device, the approach described here can be used accordingly in connection with a commercial or professional device, for example a medical device, such as a washer-disinfector, a small-scale sterilizer or a large-scale disinfector.

[0025] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Fig. 1 is a representation of an embodiment of a loading device placed in a cleaning device; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a loading device; Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a loading device; Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a loading device; Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a loading device; Fig. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a loading device; Fig. 7 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for operating a loading device; and Fig. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit for operating a loading device.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows an illustration of an embodiment of a loading device 100. The loading device 100 is arranged in a cleaning device 105. More precisely, the loading device 100 is arranged in an interior space 115 of the cleaning device 105. In other words, Fig. 1 a device for pipette drying with negative pressure.

[0027] The loading device 100 is designed to accommodate wash items, such as pipettes 110. The cleaning device 105, in turn, is designed to clean, disinfect, and / or dry the pipettes 110. For this purpose, the loading device 100 has, for example, a device coupling element 120, via which the loading device 100 is connected to the cleaning device 105 or to the rinsing circuit and drying circuit of the cleaning device 105.

[0028] The loading device 100 also has a receiving device 130 designed to receive the pipettes 110. For this purpose, the receiving device 130 has, for example, a plurality of receiving elements 135. According to one embodiment, each receiving element 135 receives a pipette 110. The receiving elements 135 are, for example, conically shaped to reliably receive the pipettes 110.

[0029] The loading device 100 also has a flow channel 140, which is arranged adjacent to the receiving device 130. The flow channel 140 is designed to guide an air flow through the loading device 100. For this purpose, the flow channel 140 has a constriction section, which is illustrated in the following figures. The air flow is guided through the flow channel 140, for example, starting from the device coupling element 120.

[0030] The loading device 100 also has a hollow chamber 150, which is fluidically connected to the receiving device 130. A transverse bore 160 fluidically connects the flow channel 140 to the hollow chamber 150. The flow channel 140 and the transverse bore 160 form, for example, a Venturi nozzle. In an operational state, an air stream flows through the flow channel 140 to the transverse bore 160. A first negative pressure is then generated at the transverse bore 160, whereby air is sucked out of the hollow chamber 150. Additionally or alternatively, a second negative pressure is generated at the receiving device 130, whereby water droplets are sucked out of the pipettes 110. In this way, the pipettes 110 are reliably dried.

[0031] According to one embodiment, a grid element 170 is arranged, for example, circumferentially around the receiving device 130 in order to reliably hold the pipettes 110 and to prevent the pipettes 110 from tipping and / or falling out of the receiving device 130.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the flow channel 140 is arranged between the appliance coupling element 120 and a washing chamber outlet 180, so that the air flow is guided from the appliance coupling element 120 through the flow channel 140 to the washing chamber outlet 180.

[0033] In summary, when reprocessing pipettes 110, individual pipettes 110 still contain residual moisture even after the drying process has been completed. This occurs primarily with small-bore pipettes 110 that are reprocessed in a mixed load, i.e., together with pipettes 110 with significantly larger volumes. The residual moisture is usually present in the area of the pipette tip in the form of a water plug that completely seals the pipette 110 at the bottom. With pipettes 110, this residual moisture can lead to inaccurate measurement results or falsified experiments, especially in laboratory applications.

[0034] The loading device 100 presented here enables the cleaning, drying, and in some cases also the disinfection of the pipettes 110. For this purpose, the loading device 100 has the device coupling element 120, which can also be referred to as a device coupling, to the rinsing and drying air circuit of the respective cleaning device 105. The connections are made when the loading device 100 or the baskets in which a loading device 100 is inserted are inserted into the interior of the cleaning device 105, which can also be referred to as the rinsing chamber. Water and rinsing liquor as well as drying air are supplied to the loading device 100 via the device coupling element 120 during processing and guided into the hollow chamber 150. This is where the process media are distributed to a plurality of receiving elements 135, which can also be referred to as pipette receptacles, which are connected to the hollow chamber 150.Each receiving element 135 can accommodate a vertically aligned pipette 110 and enables internal cleaning and drying.

[0035] The conical shape of the receiving elements 135 allows pipettes 110 of different diameters to be processed. A grid element 170 positioned above the receiving elements 135, which can also be referred to as a grid, prevents the pipettes 110 from falling over.

[0036] The approach presented here does not force the plugs out of the pipettes using overpressure, but rather sucks them out of the pipettes 110 using negative pressure. This method has a significantly lower pressure difference compared to ambient pressure than if the water plug is forced out upwards over the entire length of the pipette using overpressure.

[0037] The structural implementation of this functionality is described below. To convert the volume flow supplied to the loading device 100 at overpressure into a volume flow applied to the receiving elements 135 at underpressure, a flow channel 140 is provided, the flow through which results in the Bernoulli effect. The geometry of this flow channel 140 is designed according to the principle of a Venturi nozzle and directs the entire air flow arriving at the device coupling element 120 through the constriction section, which can also be referred to as a constricting cross-section, to the wash cabinet outlet 180. Perpendicular to the flow direction, the transverse bore 160 is provided, which connects the flow channel 140 to the hollow chamber 150 of the loading device 100, to which the individual receiving elements 135 are in turn connected.Due to the comparatively rapid flow of the drying air past the transverse bore 160, a negative pressure is generated there, thus sucking the adjacent air out of the hollow chamber 150. As a result, a negative pressure is created at the receiving elements 135, which results in the suction of the water plugs located in the pipettes 110. In order to be able to achieve the required cleaning of the pipettes 110 despite the newly introduced channel geometry, a flap, which can also be referred to as a water flap, is placed in front of the rinsing chamber outlet 180, see . Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. As soon as water pressure is applied to this flap that is significantly higher than the air pressure, it is pushed upwards and closes the wash chamber outlet 180, while simultaneously opening access to the hollow chamber 150 of the loading device 100. As a result, the pipettes 110 can be supplied with water or wash solution in the usual way. During the drying process, however, the flap returns to its original position and opens the wash chamber outlet 180.

[0038] The approach presented here has the advantage that the water plug that often forms in small-bore pipettes 110 is removed in the pipette tip, thus achieving complete drying at the end of the drying process with greater certainty.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a loading device 100. The loading device 100 is similar or corresponds to the loading device from Fig. 1. In other words, an isometric view of the loading device 100, which may also be referred to as a pipette loading carrier, is shown.

[0040] The receiving device 130 is surrounded by the grid element 170. The flow channel 140 forms, for example, a bottom of the loading device 100, with the receiving elements 135 being arranged above the flow channel 140.

[0041] The device coupling element 120 is arranged on the receiving device 130 such that it opens into the flow channel 140. The flow channel 140 is arranged between the device coupling element 120 and the wash cabinet outlet 180.

[0042] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a loading device 100. The loading device 100 is similar to or corresponds to the loading device from one of the figures described above. In other words, a side view of the loading device 100 during the drying process is shown.

[0043] The flow channel 140 is arranged between the appliance coupling element 120 and the wash chamber outlet 180. The hollow chamber 150 is arranged, for example, centrally in the loading device 100. The flow channel 140 is shaped such that a narrowing cross-section 305 forms in the region of the hollow chamber 150.

[0044] The transverse bore 160 is arranged, for example, between the flow channel 140 and the hollow chamber 150.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the loading device 100 has a flap 300. The flap 300 is arranged on the flow channel 140 between the flow channel 140 and the wash cabinet outlet 180. The flap 300 is designed, for example, to close or open the wash cabinet outlet 180. An access 310 to the hollow chamber 150 is arranged below the flap 300.

[0046] The flap 300, for example, is shown in a closed state, thus indicating that the pipettes are being dried. The drying air flowing past the transverse bore 160 creates a vacuum and sucks the adjacent air out of the hollow chamber 150. As a result, a vacuum is created at the receiving elements 135, resulting in the suction of the water plugs in the pipettes 110.

[0047] Fig. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a loading device 100. The loading device 100 is similar or corresponds to the loading device from Fig. 3, except that the flap 300 is shown in an open state. In other words, a side view of the loading device 100 during the cleaning process is shown. During the cleaning process, the flap 300 is in an open state, allowing rinsing solution to be directed through the flow channel 140 via the access 310 to the pipettes.

[0048] Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of an exemplary embodiment of a loading device 100. The loading device 100 is similar to or corresponds to the loading device from one of the figures described above. In other words, a sectional top view of the loading device 100 is shown.

[0049] The transverse bore 160 is arranged, for example, centrally in the flow channel 140.

[0050] Fig. 6 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method 600 for manufacturing a loading device. The loading device is similar to or corresponds to the loading device from one of the figures described above. The method 600 comprises a step 605 of providing the receiving device, the hollow chamber, the flow channel, and the transverse bore. In a step 610, the hollow chamber is connected to the receiving device, and in a further connecting step 615, the flow channel is connected to the hollow chamber by means of the transverse bore.

[0051] Fig. Figure 7 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 700 for operating a loading device. The loading device is similar to or corresponds to the loading device from one of the figures described above. The method 700 includes a step 705 of passing an air stream through the flow channel.

[0052] Fig. Figure 8 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit 800 for operating a loading device. The control unit 800 is designed to implement the method of Fig. 7 or a similar procedure.

[0053] For this purpose, the control unit 800 has a unit 805 for passing an air flow through the flow channel.

Claims

[1] Loading device (100) for a cleaning device (105) with an interior for receiving the loading device (100), wherein the loading device (100) has the following features: a receiving device (130) for receiving pipettes (110), a hollow chamber (150), wherein the hollow chamber (150) is fluidly connected to the receiving device (130); a flow channel (140) having a constriction section (305) and configured to direct an air flow through the loading device (100); and a transverse bore (160) which fluidically connects the flow channel (140) with the hollow chamber (150). [2] Loading device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving device (130) has a plurality of receiving elements (135) for receiving a pipette (110) each, in particular wherein the receiving elements (135) are conically shaped. [3] Loading device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with a grid element (170) which is arranged circumferentially around the receiving device (130). [4] Loading device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with a device coupling element (120) for coupling the loading device (100) to the interior of the cleaning device (105) and with a washing chamber outlet (180), wherein the flow channel (140) is arranged between the device coupling element (120) and the washing chamber outlet (180) in order to guide the air flow from the device coupling element (120) to the washing chamber outlet (180). [5] Loading device (100) according to claim 4, comprising a flap (300) arranged on the flow channel (140) between the flow channel (140) and the washing chamber outlet (180), in particular, wherein the flap (300) is designed to close or release the washing chamber outlet (180). [6] Loading device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow channel (140) forms a bottom of the loading device (100). [7] Loading device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow chamber (150) is arranged centrally in the loading device (100). [8] Cleaning device (105) with a loading device (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein the cleaning device (105) has an interior space for receiving the loading device (100). [9] Method (700) for operating a loading device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method (700) comprises a step (705) of passing an air flow through the flow channel (140). [10] Control unit (800) which is designed to carry out and / or control the step (705) of the method (700) according to claim 9 in a corresponding unit (805).

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