Pipette tip coupling devices

Abstract

A coupling device 1 consists of a coupling base body 2 with a distal end plate 20, a groove 21 for a sealing medium 3, a cylindrical section 23, and a shaft section. A stop plate 4 can be arranged on the shaft section. The coupling base body 2 also has an inlet and outlet opening 25 extending axially through the entire coupling base body for drawing in or dispensing liquids to or from a coupled pipette tip. Three retaining elements 51, 52, and 53 are provided. Each of the retaining elements 51, 52, and 53 is positively coupled to an actuating sleeve 6.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] This application relates to coupling devices for pipette tips, as shown, for example, in WO2024 / 170593A1. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In the prior art, a variety of pipette tip coupling devices are known, for example for use with pipetting robots.

[0003] Coupling devices are typically designed to grip pipette tips and / or to seal between the pipette tip and the coupling device. For this purpose, the coupling device may have a prong that engages from the top of the pipette tip into its interior. After engagement, part of the prong's gripping section (holding section) expands, thus potentially sealing the pipette tip against the prong. The expanding gripping section may rest against the inner wall or in a groove on the inner wall of the pipette tip.

[0004] To eject the pipette tip from the mandrel, the aforementioned retaining section of the mandrel is retracted to its initial state, allowing the mandrel to be withdrawn from the interior of the pipette tip or the pipette tip to be slid off the mandrel virtually frictionlessly. In the prior art WO2024 / 170593A1, for example, the retraction of the retaining section is achieved by elastic return elements. TASK OF INVENTION

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device for pipette tips that ensures reliable expansion and retraction of a holding section of an engagement section of the coupling device. TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0006] This problem is solved by a coupling device according to the claims and as described below.

[0007] A coupling device according to the invention comprises: a coupling base body; at least one retaining element that is radially movable relative to the coupling base body; at least one actuator element that is axially movable relative to the coupling base body; and a positive guidance between the retaining element and the actuator element.

[0008] The actuator element can, for example, be a sleeve that is arranged on the coupling base body and / or encloses part of the coupling base body.

[0009] Retaining elements are moved outwards to come into contact with the inner wall of a pipette tip or with a retaining surface formed on the inner wall of the pipette tip in a coupling state.

[0010] In this context, movement means a translation and / or a tilting of an element, which results in at least an axial or radial displacement of part of the element.

[0011] The coupling device may comprise at least one of the following components: a wiper sleeve that at least partially encloses the coupling base body, the retaining elements and the actuator element; a sealing element arranged on the coupling base body; a stop plate for limiting the axial movement of the actuator element; and / or a return element for exerting an axial force on the actuator element.

[0012] The term "stop plate" refers to all possible forms of stops that can limit the movement of the actuator element.

[0013] The coupling body can comprise at least one of the following components: a distal end plate; a groove for receiving a sealing element (e.g., O-ring); a cylindrical section; a shaft section; an aspiration and discharge opening extending axially through the coupling body; and / or a projection for the attachment of a return element.

[0014] The positive guidance can comprise at least: a first guide element arranged on the holding element or holding elements; and at least one second guide element arranged on the actuator element, which interacts with the first guide element in the form of positive guidance.

[0015] The guidance elements can each have a guidance advantage, a guidance groove, a guidance backdrop, etc.

[0016] In particular, axial movement of the actuator element forces a radial movement (linear translation and / or tilting with a radial component) of the retaining element(s). It is not necessary to use a return element in the form of an elastic component, such as a spring, rubber band, or similar, during extension or retraction of the retaining elements. This reduces the number of components required and thus the system's susceptibility to errors. Furthermore, it has been shown that the movement of the retaining elements can be replicated more accurately. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] The invention becomes clear from the drawings and the following description of the figures. These show, by way of example, Fig. 1 a perspective view of a coupling device according to the invention in a first state; Fig. 2a a perspective view of a coupling base body according to the invention; Fig. 2b a perspective view of the holding elements according to the invention; Fig. 3 a side view and a top view of the coupling device according to the invention Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 a side view and a sectional view of the coupling device according to the invention Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5 an axial or radial sectional view of the coupling device according to the invention Fig. 1 ; Fig. 6 a side view of the coupling device according to the invention Fig. 1 in a second state; Fig. 7 an axial sectional view of the coupling device according to the invention Fig. 6 ; Fig. 8 an enlarged section of the inventive forced guidance of the retaining elements relative to the sleeve. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A coupling device according to the invention comprises an ejection sleeve (not shown) and a coupling device. Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a coupling device according to the invention, which has the form of a mandrel that can be partially inserted into the interior of a pipette tip (not shown).

[0019] The coupling device 1 comprises a coupling base body 2. The coupling base body 2 has a distal end plate 20, a groove 21 for a sealing material 3 (e.g., an O-ring), a cylindrical section 23, and a shaft section 24. A stop plate 4 can be arranged on the shaft section 24. The coupling base body 2 also has an aspiration and dispensing opening 25 extending axially through the entire coupling base body for aspirating or dispensing fluids from or to a coupled pipette tip (not shown).

[0020] The Figuren 2a und 2b show components of the coupling device 1. In Fig. 2a The coupling basic body 2 is shown in Fig. 2b A group of three (3) retaining elements 51, 52, 53 is shown. Each of the retaining elements 51, 52, 53 has a step 510 (exemplarily designated only on the first retaining element 51).

[0021] The coupling device also includes an actuator sleeve 6, the function of which will be described in more detail below. The retaining elements 51-53 and the actuator sleeve 6 are arranged on a plate-like support 26 of the coupling base body 2, with the sleeve 6 being axially movable and the retaining elements 51-53 being radially movable or tiltable. The movement of the sleeve 6 and the retaining elements 51-53 is coupled, i.e., when the sleeve 6 moves axially upwards (towards the proximal end) or downwards (towards the distal end), the retaining elements 51-53 extend inwards or outwards, respectively. The movements are coupled by means of a positive guidance system. Therefore, no elastic element (spring or compressible element) is required for the retaining elements 51-53 to enable or assist outwards extension and / or inwards retraction.

[0022] The positive guidance can be achieved, for example, by corresponding guide elements formed in the sleeve 6 and in the retaining elements 51-53, which interact in a positive guidance manner, e.g., corresponding guide projections and grooves / tracks. In the present example, the retaining elements 51-53 have lateral guide projections (e.g., 512, 532).

[0023] The Fig. 3-5 Figure 1 shows side views and cross-sections of the same coupling device 1 in a first state with the retaining elements 51-53 extended, i.e., the state of coupling with a pipette tip. The sleeve 6 is in a first axial position. The retaining elements 51-53 are in a first radial position. A slight projection d (corresponding to the inner gap d) beyond the edge of the carrier 26 is visible. A compression spring 7 between a projection 27 of the coupling base body 2 and an inner projection 60 of the sleeve 6 is in a compressed state.

[0024] The Fig. 6 und 7 Figure 1 shows a side or sectional view of the same coupling device 1 in a second state with the retaining elements 51-53 retracted, i.e., the state of decoupling with a pipette tip. The sleeve 6 is in a second axial position. The retaining elements 51-53 are in a second radial position. No projection beyond the edge of the carrier 26 is visible; rather, the lower edges (e.g., 511) of the retaining elements 51-53 are flush with the edge of the carrier 26. A compression spring 7 between the projection 27 of the coupling base body 2 and the inner projection 60 of the sleeve 6 is in a decompressed state. The upper surface 61 of the sleeve 6 contacts the stop plate 4, which limits the movement of the sleeve 6 towards its proximal end.

[0025] A positive guidance 530, e.g. a cam guide, ensures that the retaining elements 51-52 perform a radial movement corresponding to the axial movement of the sleeve 6.

[0026] The Fig. 8 is an enlargement of the radial section from the Fig. 5 To illustrate the positive guidance of the retaining elements 51-53 by means of the projections 512, 522, 532, which engage in a groove (carriage) 63 of the actuator sleeve 6. Depending on the radial position of the groove 63, which depends on the axial position of the sleeve 6, the radial position of the retaining elements 51-53 changes.

Claims

1. Coupling device (1) comprising: a coupling base body (2); at least one retaining element (51-53) which is radially movable relative to the coupling base body (2); at least one actuator element (6) which is axially movable relative to the coupling base body (2); and a positive guidance between the retaining element (51-53) and the actuator element (6).

2. Coupling device (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following components: a wiper sleeve that at least partially encloses the coupling base body (2), the retaining elements (51-53) and the actuator element (6); a sealing element (3) arranged on the coupling base body (2); a stop plate (4) for limiting the axial movement of the actuator element (6); and / or a return element (7) for exerting an axial force on the actuator element (6).

3. Coupling device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling base body (2) comprises at least one of the following components: a distal end plate (20); a groove (21) for receiving a sealing element (3, e.g., O-ring); a cylindrical section (23); a shaft section (24); an aspiration and discharge opening (25) extending axially through the coupling base body (2); and / or a projection (27) for the attachment of a return element (7).

4. Coupling device (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the positive guidance comprises: at least one first guide element arranged on the holding element or holding elements; and at least one second guide element arranged on the actuator element (6), which interacts with the first guide element in the form of positive guidance.

5. Coupling device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the guide elements each have a guide projection, a guide groove, a guide track, or the like.

6. Coupling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an axial movement of the actuator element (6) is positively guided to generate a radial movement (linear translation and / or tilting with radial component) of the holding element(s) (51-53).

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