Carrier for holding a plurality of pipette tips

Abstract

A support for holding a plurality of pipette tips comprising: • a plate-shaped base body with a plurality of first holes extending perpendicular to the plane of the plate for inserting pipette tips, the first holes being arranged in parallel rows and in parallel slits extending perpendicular to the rows of holes, • at least one longitudinal rib projecting from the underside of the base body between two adjacent rows of holes and extending along the length of the base body, • at least one transverse rib projecting from the underside of the base body between two adjacent slits, extending across the width of the base body and intersecting the longitudinal rib, • first support elements on the transverse sides of the base body, each of which is connected to an end of the longitudinal rib and has a smaller transverse dimension than the base body, and • second support elements on the longitudinal sides of the base body.each of which is connected to one end of a transverse rib and has a smaller longitudinal extent than the base body.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a carrier (tray) for holding a plurality of pipette tips.

[0002] Pipette tips are used primarily in biological, chemical, biochemical, medical, or forensic laboratories to dispense small quantities of liquid using pipetting devices. These devices include pipettes, automated dispensing stations, or laboratory workstations. Pipetting devices have one or more channels to accommodate a single pipette tip or multiple pipette tips arranged in a row or matrix. For this purpose, the devices have prongs or blind holes onto or into which the pipette tips can be clamped. The spacing of the channels is typically matched to the well spacing of standardized microplates according to ANSI SLAS 1-4 - 2004 (R2012); American National Standard, American National Standards Institute.To prevent contamination between different samples, disposable plastic pipette tips are used. These must be provided for large-scale testing.

[0003] Pipette tips are held in place on plate-shaped, essentially rectangular plastic trays with numerous holes arranged in a matrix. These trays are also known as "pipette tip holders," "plates," "receiving plates," "trays," or "wafers." Trays with 96 holes in eight rows and twelve columns are particularly common. The pipette tips are inserted into the holes from above, and their upward-widening diameter, or a support element around their outer circumference, prevents them from falling through.

[0004] The holder is placed on the rim of the top opening of an open frame (also called a "rack") or a closed tray (also called a "box") so that the pipette tips engage in the top opening. With the frame or box placed upside down on a horizontal surface, one or more pipette tips can be removed from the holder by pressing them onto the prongs or into the blind holes of the pipetting device. After use, the pipette tips are ejected from the pipetting device into a container for disposal.

[0005] EP 2 210 668 A2 describes a device for dispensing pipette tips, comprising a frame with four side walls, a plate with a plurality of holes for inserting pipette tips, and means for detachably connecting the frame and the plate. The means for detachable connection have a circumferential flat contact surface at the upper edge of the frame and another circumferential flat contact surface on the underside of the plate, which touch each other when the plate is placed on the frame. Furthermore, the means on the frame and plate have guide elements directed transversely to the contact surfaces, which interlock with lateral play when the plate is placed on the frame. The guide elements are designed as columns projecting upwards from the corners of the frame and as bores at the corners of the plate into which the columns can be inserted with lateral play.

[0006] The plate comprises a substantially plate-shaped base body with 96 holes extending from the underside to the top of the base body. The holes are arranged regularly in rows and columns of a matrix. The plate has two short, straight edges and two long, straight edges. Each of the long edges has a plate-shaped gripping rim that projects above the top surface.

[0007] The additional flat contact surface is formed on the underside of the edges. At the corners of the plate-shaped base body, it has extensions in which through holes are arranged.

[0008] The plate-shaped base is designed as a quiver plate. In this design, the holes are formed in quiver- or sleeve-shaped structures, which are connected laterally by ribs and at the top edge by a plate, and are framed by the edges. The quiver plate design is material-efficient and stable, and provides lateral support for pipette tips inserted into the holes. The plate is preferably injection-molded from plastic in one piece.

[0009] WO 2019 / 190864 A1 describes a device for dispensing pipette tips, comprising a base and a receiving plate for pipette tips arranged on the base. The base has four walls and a plurality of axial base ribs on the inner surface of the walls. The receiving plate comprises a proximal (upper) surface, a distal (lower) surface, and a matrix of bores extending from the proximal surface to the distal surface of the receiving plate. A plurality of plate ribs is arranged on the distal surface of the receiving plate. Each rib has a distal edge and two opposing lateral edges. The receiving plate has longitudinally and transversely oriented plate ribs. Longitudinally oriented plate ribs intersect a group of transversely oriented plate ribs in a plurality of plate rib connections.Furthermore, the mounting plate has two opposing long edges and two opposing short edges, as well as a flange running along both the long and short edges. The mounting plate is placed on the top of the base, and at least a portion of the base ribs contact a portion of the distal edge of the plate ribs with their proximal ends. The mounting plate exhibits high stability due to the ribs. Moreover, the ribs enable material-efficient manufacturing of the mounting plates from plastic.

[0010] The invention is based on the objective of reducing the material used in the manufacture of the carrier without impairing the ability to accept pipette tips by pressing in or pressing on a pipetting device.

[0011] The problem is solved by a support according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the support are specified in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0012] The carrier according to the invention for holding a plurality of pipette tips comprises a plate-shaped base body with a plurality of first holes extending perpendicular to the plane of the plate for inserting pipette tips, wherein the first holes are arranged in parallel rows and in parallel slits extending perpendicular to the rows of holes, at least one longitudinal rib projecting from the underside of the base body between two adjacent rows of holes and extending over the length of the plate, at least one transverse rib projecting from the underside of the base body between two adjacent slits, extending over the width of the base body and intersecting the longitudinal rib, first support elements on the transverse sides of the base body, each of which is connected to an end of the longitudinal rib and has a smaller transverse dimension than the base body, and second support elements on the longitudinal sides of the base body.each of which is connected to one end of a transverse rib and has a smaller longitudinal extent than the base body.

[0013] In the support according to the invention, the at least one longitudinal rib and the at least one transverse rib, as well as the intersections between the longitudinal and transverse ribs, contribute to the fact that the support can be manufactured with reduced material usage while still possessing the necessary stiffness to withstand the loads when connecting the pipette tips to the pipette. When the support is loaded, the forces are laterally transferred from the ends of the longitudinal ribs and the ends of the transverse ribs by means of the first and second support elements. For this purpose, the support can be supported on the upper edge of a frame or box by means of the first and second support elements. It is sufficient for the first support elements to have a smaller transverse dimension and the second support elements to have a smaller longitudinal dimension than the base body.The increased stiffness provided by the longitudinal and transverse ribs allows for a thinner wall thickness in the base body, thus saving material. Because the first support elements in the transverse direction and the second support elements in the longitudinal direction of the base body each have a smaller dimension than the base body itself, material savings are achieved compared to conventional supports that have fully circumferential edges on their longitudinal and transverse sides, resting on the upper edge of a frame or box. The longitudinal and transverse ribs, as well as the first and second support elements, thus provide sufficient stiffness and transfer of forces into the frame or box, enabling the support to withstand the stresses when connecting the pipette tips to the pipette. At the same time, significant material savings are achieved.The design according to the invention improves the utilization of the material used and results in a more sustainable support than previous designs. The support can be used in particular for automated and manual sample processing using pipettes.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, a longitudinal rib is arranged on the longitudinal center axis of the base body and / or two longitudinal ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the base body. This stiffens the beam and saves material. According to another embodiment, the beam has only one longitudinal rib, wherein the longitudinal rib is arranged on the longitudinal center axis of the base body, or the beam has only two longitudinal ribs, wherein the longitudinal ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the base body, or the beam has only three longitudinal ribs, wherein one longitudinal rib is arranged on the longitudinal center axis of the base body and two further longitudinal ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the base body.

[0015] According to another embodiment, a transverse rib is arranged on the transverse center axis of the base body and / or at least two transverse ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse center axis of the base body. This results in further stiffening of the beam and material savings.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the beam has only one transverse rib, which is arranged on the transverse center axis of the base body. According to another embodiment, the beam has only two or only four transverse ribs, wherein the transverse ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse center axis of the base body. According to another embodiment, the beam has only two or only four transverse ribs, wherein two transverse ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse center axis of the base body. According to another embodiment, the beam has only four transverse ribs, wherein two transverse ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse center axis of the base body.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the beam has only one longitudinal rib on its longitudinal center axis and / or has only two or four transverse ribs arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse center axis of the base body. These arrangements are particularly advantageous with regard to achieving high stiffness with minimal material usage.

[0018] According to another embodiment, two transverse ribs are each arranged at a distance of 1.5 rows of holes from the transverse center axis of the base body. According to another embodiment, two further transverse ribs are each arranged at a distance of 4.5 rows of holes from the transverse center axis of the base body.

[0019] In another embodiment, the first support elements are strip-shaped and their main direction of extension runs parallel to the transverse sides of the base body, and / or the second support elements are strip-shaped and their main direction of extension runs parallel to the longitudinal sides of the base body. This achieves good lateral force distribution when the beam is loaded, while using minimal material.

[0020] According to another embodiment, the first support elements are connected at their two outer ends to the transverse sides of the base body via first webs, and / or at least part of the second support elements is connected at their two outer ends to the longitudinal sides of the base body via second webs. This further improves the lateral transfer of forces when the beam is loaded and saves material in its manufacture.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the distance between the first webs extending from the two outer ends of the same first support element towards the transverse sides of the base body increases, and / or the distance between the second webs extending from the two outer ends of the same second support element towards the longitudinal sides of the base body increases. This further improves the lateral transfer of forces when the beam is loaded and saves material in its manufacture.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the base body has second holes extending perpendicular to the plane of the plate in essentially rhombus-shaped areas between four adjacent first holes on the underside and / or the top side. These second holes further reduce material usage. According to another embodiment, the second holes are blind holes and / or through holes. According to yet another embodiment, the second holes are configured as blind holes or through holes depending on their distance from the longitudinal center axis and / or the transverse center axis.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the longitudinal rib has a convex downward-curving lower edge between its intersections with the transverse ribs closest to the transverse central axis and the transverse sides of the base body, and / or the longitudinal rib has a concave upward-curving second lower edge between its intersections with the transverse ribs closest to the transverse central axis. The curved lower edges achieve sufficient stiffness of the beam while reducing the amount of material used in its manufacture.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the transverse ribs closest to the transverse central axis have a convexly downward-curving third lower edge, the lowest point of which lies at the intersection of the respective transverse rib with the longitudinal rib, and / or the transverse ribs further away from the transverse central axis have a convexly downward-curving fourth lower edge on both sides of the longitudinal rib. This achieves the required stiffness with a further reduction in material usage.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the transverse ribs located further from the transverse central axis than those closest to it each have a convexly downward-curving fourth lower edge on both sides of the longitudinal rib. According to yet another embodiment, the fourth lower edge on both sides of the longitudinal rib extends towards the longitudinal rib and / or towards the longitudinal side, terminating on the underside of the base body.

[0026] According to another embodiment, the longitudinal rib and / or the transverse rib adjacent to the first holes on both outer sides has vertical, groove-shaped recesses for receiving sections of the sheath of pipette tips inserted into the first holes. This achieves the required stiffness with a further reduction in material usage.

[0027] According to another embodiment, the trough-shaped recesses are partial cylindrical surfaces flush with the wall of the adjacent first holes. This achieves the required stiffness with a further reduction in material usage.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the plate is connected at the corners via third webs to vertical sleeves for guiding it on vertical pins of a box, frame, or other support device. This embodiment is particularly suitable in conjunction with a frame or box having columns projecting from the upper edge at the corners, as described in EP 2 210 668 A2. With regard to the frame or box, reference is made to EP 2 210 668 A2, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into the present application.

[0029] According to another embodiment, the third webs are aligned with the angle bisectors between the longitudinal and transverse sides at the respective adjacent corner of the base body. This achieves the required stiffness while further reducing the amount of material used.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the base body has recessed areas on its longitudinal and transverse sides, next to the support elements, extending inwards (into the base body). This saves material at the outer edges of the base body. In these recessed areas, the outer edges of the base body are set further inwards relative to the support elements.

[0031] According to another embodiment, the recessed areas are arranged between adjacent support elements. According to another embodiment, the recessed areas are arranged between adjacent support elements and third webs. According to yet another embodiment, the recessed areas extend over the entire spacing between adjacent support elements and / or adjacent support elements and third webs.

[0032] According to another embodiment, the transverse and longitudinal sides of the base body between adjacent support elements and / or adjacent support elements and third webs are formed by ring-segment-shaped boundaries of the first holes. This achieves further material savings.

[0033] According to another embodiment, the carrier includes at least one of the following features: The support is formed in one piece, the support is made of plastic, the support is injection molded from plastic or manufactured using an additive manufacturing process, the support is made entirely or partially of polypropylene and / or another thermoplastic.

[0034] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a frame for mounting a support in a perspective view obliquely from above and from the side; Fig. 2 a conventional support in a perspective view obliquely from above and from the side; Fig. 3 the conventional support in a perspective view obliquely from below and from the side; Fig. 4 the conventional support mounted on the frame in a perspective view obliquely from above and from the side; Fig. 5 a support according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from above; Fig. 6 the support according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from below; Fig. 7 the support according to the invention mounted on the frame in a perspective view obliquely from above and from the side.

[0035] In the present application, the terms "top" and "bottom" as well as "vertical" and "horizontal" refer to arrangements of the carrier in which the carrier is horizontally aligned with the top of its plate-shaped base body and the pipette tips inserted into holes of the carrier are vertically aligned.

[0036] In the various embodiments, components or structural elements with the same designations are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0037] According to Fig. 1 A frame 1 has four side walls 2, 3, 4, 5. Two opposing side walls 2, 4 are longer than two other opposing side walls 3, 5. The side walls 2 to 5 rise from a base 6. The base 6 is approximately rectangular in shape. It projects slightly beyond the sides 2 to 5 on the outside. Its length and width correspond to the dimensions of the base according to the ANSI SLAS standard.

[0038] The frame 1 has a flat, strip-shaped contact surface 8 at its upper edge 7, which runs parallel to the base 6 or horizontally along the side walls 2 to 5. At the corners between the side walls 2 to 5, the contact surface 8 has a quarter-circle widening 10. At each corner, a column 9 projects perpendicularly from the contact surface 8, having a cylindrical column section 11 and a conical end section 12.

[0039] Furthermore, the frame has a circumferential overhang 13 at the top and an upper edging 14 extending upwards from the outer edge of the overhang 13. The upper edging 14 has the contact surface 8 at its upper edge. On the outside, the upper edging 14 is bounded by a circumferential, vertically oriented edge surface 15.

[0040] The overhang 13 and the projecting base 6 define a circumferential waist 16 of the frame 1. On the inner sides, the side walls 2 to 5 have ribs 17. At the corners, there are additional ribs 18 that project inwards along the angle bisector. The ribs 17, 18 extend from the base 6 to the upper edge 7. On the outer sides, the upper edging 14 has circular recesses 19, e.g., for the insertion of a gripping tool.

[0041] The floor 6 is a hollow floor with a downwardly projecting, circumferential lower edging 20, the underside of which is flat and forms a standing surface.

[0042] The frame is preferably injection-molded in one piece from one or more plastics. Suitable materials include, in particular, polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers (ABS), polystyrene (PS), or another thermoplastic or a metal (e.g., aluminum). Polypropylene is preferred.

[0043] According to Fig. 2 and 3 A conventional support 21 has an essentially plate-shaped base body 22 with a plurality of first holes 23 extending from the bottom 24 to the top 25 of the base body 22.

[0044] The first 23 holes are arranged regularly in rows and columns of a matrix. In this example, there are 96.

[0045] The carrier 21 has two short edges or transverse sides 26, 27 and two long edges or longitudinal sides 28, 29. On the long edges 28, 29 it each has a plate-shaped gripping edge 30, 31 that protrudes above the top surface 25.

[0046] The plate-shaped base body 22 has a further flat contact surface 32 on its underside 24, which extends around the edge. This additional contact surface 32 is located slightly above the lower openings of the first holes 23. The plate-shaped base body 22 has extensions at its corners, in which through-holes 33 are arranged.

[0047] Every second hole 33 has a conical section 34 at its bottom and an adjacent cylindrical section 35. The dimensions of the second holes 33 are chosen such that the columns 9 can be inserted with clearance. The conical sections 34 form insertion ramps that facilitate the insertion of the columns 9 into the second holes 33. Furthermore, the conical end sections 12 of the columns 9 facilitate insertion into the second holes 18.

[0048] The plate-shaped base body 22 is designed as a quiver plate. In this, the first holes 23 are formed in quiver- or sleeve-shaped structures, which are connected laterally by ribs and at the upper edge by a plate and are surrounded by a circumferential rim.

[0049] The support 21 is injection-molded in one piece from one or more plastics. Suitable plastics include, in particular, polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers (ABS), polystyrene (PS), or other thermoplastics. Preferably, the support 21 is made of polypropylene.

[0050] According to Fig. 4 The support 21 is placed on the upper edge 7 of the frame 1. The further contact surface 32 rests on the contact surface 8, and the columns 9 engage in the second holes 33. For illustration, see in Fig. 4A pipette tip 36 is inserted from above into a first hole 23 of the carrier 21. The pipette tip 36 has axial support ribs 37 at its top, which prevent it from falling through the first hole 23.

[0051] The support 21 is subjected to a force of, for example, 300 N when the tips of a pipette are pressed into the upper openings of 8 pipette tips. Even in polypropylene versions, the support 21 withstands this load without adverse deflection due to its structure, its material thickness, and its support via contact surfaces 32 on the contact surface 8.

[0052] A support 21 according to the invention is in the Figs. 5 to 7 This is shown. It has a plate-shaped base body 22 with a plurality of first holes 23 extending perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The first holes 23 are arranged in a matrix arrangement in parallel rows and parallel slots. The slots extend perpendicular to the rows of holes.

[0053] Between two adjacent rows of holes, a longitudinal rib 38 protrudes from the underside of the base body 22 and extends over the entire length on the longitudinal central axis 39 of the base body 22.

[0054] Four parallel transverse ribs 40, 41, each projecting from the underside of the base body 22 between two adjacent hole slots, extend across the entire width of the base body and intersect the longitudinal ribs 38. Two transverse ribs 40, 41 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse central axis 42 of the base body 22. Two transverse ribs 40 are arranged at a distance of 1.5 hole rows from the transverse central axis 42, and two further transverse ribs 41 are arranged at a distance of 4.5 hole rows from the transverse central axis 42.

[0055] First support elements 43 are connected to one end of the longitudinal rib 38 on the transverse sides 26, 27 of the base body 22. The first support elements 43 are strip-shaped and have a smaller transverse dimension than the base body 22. In the exemplary embodiment, the first support elements 43 extend approximately over the width of two rows of holes, i.e., about one quarter of the transverse dimension of the base body 22.

[0056] The first support elements 43 are connected at their two outer ends to the transverse sides 26, 27 of the base body 22 via first webs 44. The distance between the first webs 44 extending from the outer ends of the same first support element 43 increases towards the transverse sides 26, 27 of the base body 22.

[0057] The two transverse ribs 40, located only 1.5 hole slots from the transverse central axis 42, are each connected to a second support element 45 on the same longitudinal side 28, 29 of the base body 22. The second support elements 45 are strip-shaped, and their main direction of extension runs parallel to the longitudinal sides 28, 29 of the base body 22. The second support elements 45 have a smaller longitudinal extension than the base body 22. In this example, they extend approximately over the width of four hole slots, i.e., about one-third of the longitudinal extension of the base body 22. The second support elements 45 are connected at their outer ends to the longitudinal sides of the base body 22 by second webs 46. The distance between the second webs 46 extending from the two outer ends of the same second support element 45 increases towards the longitudinal sides 28, 29 of the base body 22.

[0058] The two transverse ribs, each arranged at a distance of 4.5 hole slots from the transverse central axis 42, are connected at their two ends to further second support elements 47, which are designed as short strips with their main direction of extension perpendicular to the base body 22. On each longitudinal side, the outer surfaces of the second support elements 45, 47 arranged there are aligned with each other.

[0059] The lower edges of all first and second support elements 43, 45, 47 are arranged at the same level. They are each contact surfaces 32 that can be placed on a contact surface 8 of a frame 1.

[0060] The longitudinal rib 38 has a first lower edge 48 that is convexly curved downwards between the points of intersection with the two transverse ribs 40, which are closest to the transverse central axis 42, and the adjacent transverse sides 26, 27 of the base body 22. The longitudinal rib 38 has a second lower edge 49 that is concavely curved upwards between the points of intersection with the two aforementioned transverse ribs 42. The concave curve transitions smoothly into the convex curve on both sides.

[0061] The two transverse ribs 40 closest to the transverse central axis 42 each have a convexly downward-curving third lower edge 50, which has its lowest point at the intersection of the respective transverse rib 40 with the longitudinal rib 38. At the points of intersection, the longitudinal rib 38 and the transverse ribs 40 have the same height.

[0062] The two transverse ribs 41, which are located further away from the transverse central axis 42, each have a slightly convexly downward-curving fourth lower edge 51 on both sides of the longitudinal rib 38. The lower edge 51 of the transverse ribs 41 extends towards the adjacent longitudinal side 28, 29 and towards the adjacent longitudinal rib 38 on the underside 24 of the base body 22. Each of the two transverse ribs 41 thus has a convexly downward-curving half on both sides of the longitudinal rib 38.

[0063] The longitudinal rib 38 and the transverse ribs 40, 41 have vertical, groove-shaped depressions 52, 53, 54 adjacent to the first holes 23 on both outer sides. The groove-shaped depressions 52, 53, 54 are partial cylindrical surfaces flush with the wall of the adjacent first holes 23.

[0064] At the four corners, the base body 22 is connected via third webs 55 to vertical sleeves 56 with second holes 33 for guiding it on the columns 9 of the frame 1. The third webs 55 are aligned with the angle bisectors between the longitudinal sides 28, 29 and the transverse sides 26, 27 at the respective adjacent corner of the base body 22.

[0065] The base body 22 has third holes 57 extending perpendicularly to the plane of the plate in essentially rhombus-shaped areas on its underside, between each group of four adjacent first holes 23. Some of the third holes 57 are blind holes and others are through holes.

[0066] Between the adjacent support elements 45 and 47, and between the adjacent support elements 47 and third webs 55, the longitudinal sides 28, 29 have inwardly recessed areas 58, 59. Between the adjacent support elements 43 and third webs 55, the transverse sides 26, 27 of the base body 21 have inwardly recessed areas 50. In the recessed areas 58, 59, 60, the transverse sides 26, 27 and the longitudinal sides 28, 29 are each formed by outer ring-segment-shaped boundaries 61 of the first holes 23. The recessed areas 58, 59, 60 save material.

[0067] The support 21 is preferably manufactured in one piece from one or more plastics. It is preferably manufactured by injection molding or by means of another additive manufacturing process. In particular, the plastics polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers (ABS), polystyrene (PS), or others can be used. According to a preferred embodiment, the support 1 consists entirely or partially of polypropylene.

[0068] The support 21 is attached to the columns 9 of the frame 1 from above by means of the sleeves 56 according to Fig. 1 slideable until the first and second support elements 43, 45, 47 with their contact surfaces 32 at the lower edges sit on the contact surface 8 of the frame 1.

[0069] Pattern of the conventional carrier according to Figs. 1 to 4 and of the carrier according to the invention Figs. 5 to 7Both were manufactured from the same material using 3D printing. The conventional carrier and the carrier according to the invention were fitted with pipette tips, placed on a frame, and set on a scale. Load tests were performed using a pipette by picking up the pipette tips held on the respective carrier and pressing the pipette down on the pipette tips with a force such that the scale indicated a weight of over 30 kg.

[0070] No deformation or damage occurred to either the conventional or the inventive beam. It was found that the stiffness of the inventive beam essentially corresponds to the stiffness of the conventional beam.

[0071] Weight measurements have shown a weight of 48 g for the conventional carrier and a weight of 25 g for the carrier according to the invention, i.e. a saving of over 40%. Reference symbol list

[0072] 1 Frame 2 to 5 Side wall 6 Base 7 Upper edge 8 Contact surface 9 Column 10 Widening 11 Column section 12 Conical end section 13 Cantilever 14 Upper edging 15 Edge surface 16 Waist 17 Rib 18 Rib 19 Recess 20 Lower edging 21 Beam 22 Plate-shaped base body 23 First hole 24 Underside 25 Top side 26, 27 Transverse side 28, 29 Longitudinal side 30, 31 Plate-shaped gripping edge 32 Flat contact surface 33 Second hole 34 Conical section 35 Cylindrical section 36 Pipette tip 37 Axial support rib 38 Longitudinal rib 39 Longitudinal center axis 40, 41 Transverse rib 42 Transverse center axis 43 First support element 44 First web 45, 47 second support element 46 second web 48 first lower edge 49 second lower edge 50 third lower edge 51 fourth lower edge 52 first groove-shaped recess 53 second groove-shaped recess 54 third groove-shaped recess 55 third web 56 sleeve 57 third hole 58, 59, 60 recessed area 61 ring-segment-shaped boundary

Claims

1. Carrier for holding a plurality of pipette tips comprising: • a plate-shaped base body (22) with a plurality of first holes (23) extending perpendicular to the plane of the plate for inserting pipette tips (36), the first holes (23) being arranged in parallel rows and in parallel slits extending perpendicular to the rows of holes, • at least one longitudinal rib (38) projecting from the underside of the base body (22) between two adjacent rows of holes and extending over the length of the base body, • at least one transverse rib (40, 41) projecting from the underside of the base body (22) between two adjacent slits, extending over the width of the base body and intersecting the longitudinal rib (38), • first support elements (43) on the transverse sides (26, 27) of the base body (22),each of which is connected to an end of the longitudinal rib (38) and has a smaller transverse dimension than the base body, and • second support elements (45, 47) on the longitudinal sides of the base body (22), each of which is connected to an end of a transverse rib (40, 41) and has a smaller longitudinal dimension than the base body.

2. Carrier according to claim 1, in which a longitudinal rib (38) is arranged on the longitudinal center axis (39) of the base body (22) and / or at least two longitudinal ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the base body.

3. Carrier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a transverse rib (40, 41) is arranged on the transverse central axis (42) of the base body (22) and / or at least two transverse ribs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse central axis of the base body.

4. Carrier according to claim 2 or 3, which has only one longitudinal rib (38) on the longitudinal center axis (39) and / or which has only two or only four transverse ribs (40, 41), wherein two transverse ribs (40, 41) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse center axis (42) of the base body (22).

5. Carrier according to claim 4, in which two transverse ribs (40) are each arranged at a distance of 1.5 rows of holes from the transverse central axis (42) of the base body (22) and in which two further transverse ribs (41) are each arranged at a distance of 4.5 rows of holes from the transverse central axis (42) of the base body (22).

6. Support according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first support elements (43) are strip-shaped and their main direction of extension runs parallel to the transverse sides (26, 27) of the base body (22) and / or the second support elements (45, 47) are strip-shaped and their main direction of extension runs parallel to the longitudinal sides (28, 29) of the base body (22).

7. Carrier according to claim 6, wherein the first support elements (43) are connected at their two outer ends via first webs (44) to the transverse sides (26, 27) of the base body (22) and / or wherein at least a part of the second support elements (45) is connected at their two outer ends via second webs (46) to the longitudinal sides (28, 29) of the base body (22).

8. Carrier according to claim 7, wherein the distance between the first webs (44) extending from the two outer ends of the same first support element (43) increases towards the transverse sides (26, 27) of the base body (22) and / or wherein the distance between the second webs (46) extending from the two outer ends of the same second support element (45) increases towards the longitudinal sides (28, 29) of the base body (22).

9. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base body (22) has third holes (57) extending perpendicularly to the plane of the plate in substantially rhombus-shaped areas between four adjacent first holes (23) on the underside and / or the top side.

10. Carrier according to claim 9, wherein the third holes (57) are blind holes and / or through holes.

11. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the longitudinal rib (38) has a convex downwardly curved first lower edge (48) between the intersection points with the transverse ribs (40) that are closest to the transverse central axis (42) and the transverse sides (26, 27) of the base body (22) and / or wherein the longitudinal rib (38) has a concave upwardly curved second lower edge (49) between the intersection points with two transverse ribs (40) that are closest to the transverse central axis (42).

12. Beam according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the transverse ribs (40) closest to the transverse central axis (42) have a convexly downwardly curved third lower edge (50) having its lowest point at the intersection of the respective transverse rib (40) with the longitudinal rib (38) and / or wherein the transverse ribs (41) further away from the transverse central axis (42) have a convexly downwardly curved fourth lower edge (51) on both sides of the longitudinal rib (38).

13. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the longitudinal rib (38) and / or the transverse ribs (40, 41) adjacent to the first holes (23) on the two outer sides have vertical groove-shaped recesses (51, 52, 53, 54) for receiving sheath sections inserted into the first holes (23) of pipette tips (36).

14. Carrier according to claim 13, wherein the trough-shaped depressions (51, 52, 53, 54) are partial cylindrical surfaces aligned with the wall of the adjacent first holes (23).

15. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the base body (22) is connected at the corners via third webs (55) to vertical sleeves (56) with second holes (33) for guiding on vertical columns (9) of a box, a frame (1) or another support device.

16. Carrier according to claim 15, wherein the third webs are aligned on the angle bisectors between the longitudinal sides (28, 29) and the transverse sides (26, 27) at the respective adjacent corner of the base body (22).

17. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the base body (22) has recessed areas (58, 59, 60) on the longitudinal sides (28, 29) and the transverse sides (26, 27) next to the support elements (43, 45, 47).

18. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the transverse sides (26, 27) and the longitudinal sides (28, 29) of the base body (21) between adjacent support elements (45, 47) and / or adjacent support elements (43) and third webs (55) are formed by ring segment-shaped boundaries (61) of the first holes (23).

19. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 17 comprising at least one of the following features: • the carrier (21) is formed in one piece, • the carrier is made of plastic, • the carrier is injection molded from plastic or manufactured using an additive manufacturing process, • the carrier is made wholly or partly of polypropylene and / or of another thermoplastic.

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