One-piece device for the provision of laboratory disposables

Abstract

Device for dispensing disposable laboratory items, comprising: • a rectangular perforated plate with a plurality of holes for receiving disposable laboratory items; • a box comprising: o a bottom wall; o first side walls extending upwards from the bottom wall, the upper edges of which define a first opening for inserting the perforated plate; o at least one support structure inside the box for holding the perforated plate at a distance from the bottom wall; • a lid comprising: o a top wall; o second side walls extending downwards from the top wall, the lower edges of which define a second opening; • wherein: o the perforated plate and the box are connected by a first hinge, about which the perforated plate can be folded from a position to the side of the box against the support structure; o the lid and the box are connected by a second hinge, about which the lid can be folded from a position to the side of the box into a position covering the box; o the perforated plateThe box, lid, and hinges are manufactured as a single, one-piece component.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for providing disposable laboratory supplies.

[0002] Disposable laboratory items are typically small items used in biological or chemical laboratories to conduct analyses. Pipette tips, for example, are disposable laboratory items. They are designed to receive and dispense liquid. They are attached to a pipette or similar laboratory instrument. These disposable laboratory items are generally not reused after use but are discarded. Following the procedure, the items are either manually detached or ejected using a tip ejector connected to the laboratory instrument.

[0003] For easy handling and storage, disposable laboratory supplies are typically kept in special containers. These containers, usually made of plastic, are often box-shaped and consist of a lid, a base, and a tray. The tray can be attached to the base and has holes or similar openings for holding and dispensing the disposable laboratory supplies. To remove supplies, the lid is opened, and the required number of disposable laboratory supplies is dispensed using laboratory equipment. After removal, the lid can be closed until the next use to protect the disposable laboratory supplies. The tray for dispensing the disposable laboratory supplies is often called a "tray" or "wafer," and the box is called a "rack."

[0004] These devices for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies are designed to ensure the most convenient and safe removal of the items. To this end, the devices are generally shaped to allow use with a laboratory instrument capable of holding multiple disposable items, such as a multi-channel pipette. The perforated plate must be easily accessible from various positions. Furthermore, the box must be sufficiently stable to withstand the forces generated during removal and to accommodate items located at the edges. Particularly during such edge removal, the device must not deform unintentionally or tip over. For this reason, many of these boxes incorporate both stiffening and support features. Stiffening is typically achieved by incorporating ribs on the inside and by using protruding or reinforced edges.The box should be indented. A sufficiently thick wall also contributes significantly to its rigidity. For secure support, the box is often equipped with a collar or rim on its underside, which increases the contact area. When selecting dimensions, most relevant norms and standards are taken into account to ensure compatibility with other laboratory equipment.

[0005] To meet these requirements, devices for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies are constructed from three separately manufactured components: the box, the lid, and the perforated plate. Following the production of these three, or possibly more, components, they are assembled and joined together. The components are usually elastically deformed during assembly to create snap connections and hinges. Components joined during assembly can generally also be disassembled. The separate production of the different components allows them to be manufactured from different materials or at least to be equipped with different additives.

[0006] From EP 2 789 389 A1, a device for dispensing pipette tips is known. This device has a rectangular holder for pipette tips, which is inserted into a base. The base has side walls that rise from a base and a rectangular receptacle for the holder. The holder is held in a horizontal orientation in the base by means of supports on the inside of the side walls. The base also has projecting bearing pins to which a cover is pivotally attached.

[0007] Based on this, the invention aims to provide a device for supplying disposable laboratory items, which enables both material savings and a reduction in manufacturing and packaging costs.

[0008] The problem is solved by a device for providing disposable laboratory articles with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the device are described in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0009] The device according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory items has A rectangular perforated plate with a plurality of holes for holding laboratory articles, a box comprising: a bottom wall, first side walls extending upwards from the base wall, the upper edges of which define a first opening for inserting the perforated plate, at least one support structure inside the box for holding the perforated plate at a distance from the bottom wall, a lid comprising: a top wall, second side walls extending downwards from the top wall, the lower edges of which define a second opening, characterized in that: the perforated plate and the box are connected by a first hinge, about which the perforated plate can be folded from a position to the side of the box against the support structure, the lid and the box are connected by a second hinge, about which the lid can be folded from a position to the side of the box into a position covering the box, the perforated plate, the box,The lid and hinges are a single, manufactured component.

[0010] In principle, the device according to the invention for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies has the usual features of such devices. This means that the perforated plate serves to dispense the disposable laboratory supplies and allows for their easy removal. For this purpose, the perforated plate is inserted into the box, which allows for easy access and secure retention. To protect the disposable laboratory supplies, they can be covered by the lid. The position of the perforated plate relative to the bottom and side walls of the box is defined by a support structure within the box. One or more support structures can be provided. The number depends on the design of the support structure(s) and the requirements placed on them with regard to the positioning of the perforated plate. The distance between the perforated plate and the bottom wall of the box ensures the safe transport of the disposable laboratory supplies.The defined position allows for easy and ergonomic removal of the disposable laboratory items, as well as safe transport of these items.

[0011] In addition to the conventional features of a device for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies, this device is particularly characterized by being a single, one-piece (one-piece) component. This means that the perforated plate, the box, the lid, and the hinges are all made from a single part. Assembly simply requires folding the perforated plate into the box and then closing the lid. This eliminates the need for assembly, i.e., providing matching individual parts before joining, which in turn offers cost and logistical advantages. Furthermore, the perforated plate, box, and lid do not need to be manufactured separately using different machines, resulting in further cost savings.

[0012] It is particularly noteworthy that the hinges connecting the perforated plate to the box and the lid to the box are also manufactured in one piece. Conventionally, hinges are manufactured in multiple parts, with the hinge components being integral parts of the separately manufactured remaining components (box, perforated plate, lid). In such cases, the hinge components are often joined together by elastic deformation. For example, the hinges of the box must be compressed slightly so that the corresponding hinge parts of the lid can engage. According to the invention, however, the hinges are manufactured in one piece, so that such elastic deformation is not necessary to join the components, as they are already connected.One possible solution is film hinges, which are formed by thin, flexible films (sheets), or hinges that are manufactured in one piece, but whose individual components are only broken apart during the assembly of the box and then fulfill their function as a hinge.

[0013] The support structure for holding the perforated plate can be designed as a stiffening rib. Such a stiffening rib not only allows for precise positioning of the perforated plate but also stiffens the box. It is advantageous to provide several stiffening ribs because this allows for particularly precise positioning of the perforated plate and significantly increases the rigidity of the box.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lid also has support structures, preferably designed as stiffening ribs. These increase the rigidity of the lid. Furthermore, they enable the lid, with these support structures, to rest on the perforated plate and / or the first side walls of the box when the lid is folded into the position covering the box. This defines the positioning of the lid and ensures a uniform force transmission from the lid to the box under pressure.

[0015] According to one embodiment, at least a second side wall of the lid overlaps at least partially with at least a first side wall of the box when the lid is folded into the position covering the box. This further aligns the lid with the box. Furthermore, in the closed position, the interior of the device is better protected from environmental contamination.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the hinges are film hinges, wherein the first hinge extends along one side of the perforated plate and along an upper edge of a first side wall, and wherein the second hinge extends along a first side wall and along a lower edge of a second side wall. Film hinges are particularly easy to manufacture using injection molding, thus enabling simple and rapid production of the one-piece embodiment as described above. According to one embodiment, film hinges are thin strips, primarily made of plastic, which are attached longitudinally to two components, extend from one component to the other, and allow relative movement of the two components around the longitudinal direction of the hinge, with the hinge material being elastically deformed only during the movement.An elongated connection of the film hinges provides additional stiffening of the components along the hinge attachment. As emphasized in the introduction, this stiffening is particularly advantageous for the device used to dispense disposable laboratory supplies. Positioning the film hinges on the sides of the perforated plate and the lid, or on the edge of the box, allows for easy folding of the perforated plate into the box and closing of the lid after manufacturing. Furthermore, the film hinge locations are easily accessible during manufacturing, enabling cost-effective production using suitable injection molds or other manufacturing techniques.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies is a one-piece injection-molded component. For the previously described design, in which the box, lid, perforated plate, and hinges are manufactured in one piece, it is advantageous to use the (plastic) injection molding process. This readily allows all components to be joined together, so that the device for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies is a single-piece component. For example, three injection points are selected, so that the commonly used materials can still be employed. The device can be injection-molded from just a single plastic component, with or without additives. The plastic component is, for example, polypropylene (PP). Two- or multi-component injection molding with different plastic components is also possible in order to achieve locally varying material properties.The various plastic components can be made of different plastics or the same plastics with different additives. Preferably, the hinges are designed as film hinges, as this is particularly suitable for injection molding, as described previously. Since only one injection-molded part is produced, costs can be saved because there is no need for multiple injection molds and injection molding machines. Furthermore, all components that subsequently only need to be folded together are manufactured together, thus significantly reducing the effort required for assembly after the actual production. To optimize injection molding, the individual components are manufactured in such a way that they are initially unfolded, i.e.,The perforated plate, the box, and the lid are not folded against each other, but rather the perforated plate and the lid are positioned to the side of the box. Preferably, after injection molding, the perforated plate and the lid are arranged on opposite sides of the box. The perforated plate and box, as well as the lid and box, are each connected via film hinges. After injection molding, the box is then folded together by rotating it around the hinges. This allows for quick and easy assembly.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the device for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies is a folding box made of cardboard and / or paperboard, in particular corrugated board. The cardboard and / or paperboard may consist entirely or partially of virgin fibers and / or recycled fibers. The cardboard and / or paperboard may be uncoated or coated on one or both sides with a layer of plastic. The device for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies may be formed from a single blank or from several blanks of cardboard and / or paperboard. The blank or blanks are produced by die-cutting, creasing, and / or scoring from a sheet or web of cardboard or paperboard. The hinges and other folding lines for forming the folding box may be formed by creasing lines and / or scoring lines that are incorporated into the respective blank.

[0019] The device for dispensing laboratory supplies can be formed from one or more sheets of foldable flat material by folding, interlocking, gluing, and / or (hot)sealing. Interlocking, gluing, and / or sealing sections of the sheet(s) fixes the folded box erected from the sheet(s) in an upright position. (Hot)sealing, in particular, allows plastic-coated sections of one or more sheets to be joined together.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the box has a locking projection extending from the inside of a first side wall, the lower end of which is spaced from the support structure for holding the perforated plate, so that the perforated plate snaps into place between the support structure and the lower end of the locking projection. Although the device is a single-piece construction, the individual components—i.e., the perforated plate, the box, the lid, and the hinges—are nevertheless separate parts that must be folded together to form the finished device for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies. The locking projection secures the perforated plate in place, thus enabling the secure holding of the disposable laboratory supplies. Locking projections are common design features that can be easily manufactured using standard production methods.During assembly, the side wall of the box is pushed apart as soon as the perforated plate is inserted from above and snaps back together after the plate has been pushed sufficiently far down past the locking lug. This prevents the perforated plate from disengaging from its locked position between the locking lug and the support structure. The distance to the support structure ensures correct positioning of the perforated plate and allows for the necessary clearance within that position. Correct positioning of the perforated plate, using the support structure and the locking lug, subsequently guarantees the proper positioning of the disposable laboratory items.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the perforated plate has a locking recess extending from the edge, which forms a counterpart to the locking projection. The recess reduces the thickness of the perforated plate in the area of ​​the locking projection. This makes it easier to press the perforated plate past the wall during elastic deformation during assembly.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the opening bounded by the first side walls is larger than the perforated plate, the first side wall opposite the first hinge has at least one inwardly projecting retaining element and / or two opposing side walls each have at least one inwardly projecting retaining element, the perforated plate has a receptacle for the retaining element or receptacles for the retaining elements and one retaining element is engaged with the receptacle or the retaining elements are engaged with the receptacles, wherein the distance between the at least one retaining element and the first hinge or between the retaining elements is designed such that the perforated plate, the first hinge and / or at least one of the first side walls are elastically deformed and each retaining element is held without play in a receptacle.Preferably, at least one recess is formed by an edge protruding from the underside of the perforated plate. Because the opening defined by the side walls is larger than the perforated plate, it is easy to fold the plate into the box. Once folded, the perforated plate is held in place by the retaining element(s) that engage behind the edge. The recess and retaining elements are designed to allow for elastic deformation, creating tension between the first side walls and the perforated plate. This transfers forces exerted on the box to the perforated plate, resulting in high box strength. This also makes it possible to save material, particularly on the first side walls, which is advantageous from an environmental perspective.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the box has a locking element projecting from the outside of a first side wall, and the lid has a locking tab on the outside of the adjacent second side wall. This locking tab is connected to the second side wall and projects downwards. The locking tab has a locking lug that engages with the first locking element and can be unlocked by elastic deformation of the locking tab. The locking tab and locking lug allow the lid and box to be locked together. This protects the disposable laboratory supplies inside during transport and storage. The box can be opened and closed at any time thanks to its elastic construction. Furthermore, the locking tab and locking lug can be easily manufactured using standard manufacturing processes, and a one-piece design is readily achievable.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the perforated plate has rib-shaped stiffening elements on its underside. Ribs are a common design feature for plastic components, used to save material without compromising stiffness. This makes the components, in this case the perforated plate, lighter and, due to the material savings, also less expensive. Nevertheless, they are considered equivalent to solid components in terms of bending and shear stiffness. Ribbed structures are particularly easy to produce using injection molding.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the box has a vertically extending inward indentation on one of the first side walls. An inward indentation on the outer walls stiffens the box overall, requiring less material in other areas. The inclusion of such indentations thus enables further material savings without compromising stiffness.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, the holes of the perforated plate have a matrix arrangement corresponding to a standardized microplate. In the present application, a "standardized microplate" refers to microplates (microtiter plates) that are standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in accordance with the recommendations of the Society for Biomolecular Screening (SBS) (ANSI SLAS, 1 to 4 - 2004 and ANSI SLAS, 6 - 2012). A box (also referred to as a "tray") with a base area corresponding to a standardized microplate has the particular advantage that it can be positioned on the workstations of laboratory automation systems that are adapted to the base area of ​​standardized microplates. The arrangement of holes corresponds to the arrangement of wells (also called "wells" or: "Wells The use of a standardized microplate (referred to as a "standardized microplate") has the particular advantage of facilitating the handling of disposable laboratory items using laboratory equipment adapted to a standardized microplate. For example, pipette tips can be picked up and dispensed from an arrangement of holes corresponding to the arrangement of wells in a standardized microplate using a multichannel pipette where the spacing of the channels is adapted to the wells of the standardized microplate.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises at least one of the following features: the hinge for connecting the perforated plate and the box is arranged on a long side of the first opening, and the hinge for connecting the lid and the box is arranged on the opposite first side wall of the box; the box has two locking projections on the first side walls arranged on the short sides and two locking projections on the first side wall having the hinge between the lid and the box; the perforated plate has corresponding locking recesses; the box has four retaining elements on the first side wall opposite the first hinge, and the box has two indentations on each first side wall, each arranged on the vertical edges of the first side walls.so that indentations located on each pair of adjacent first side walls overlap and, viewed from above, form an L-shaped protrusion on a vertical edge of the first side wall. Positioning the hinges on the long sides is particularly advantageous for the overall rigidity of the device for dispensing disposable laboratory items and is also easy to manufacture. The provision of multiple locking lugs allows for secure attachment of the perforated plate. Providing several retaining elements, which enable the clamping of the box and perforated plate, ensures a uniform force distribution, so that the individual forces transmitted via each retaining element can be smaller while still achieving a more uniform effect.which results in an increase in overall stiffness. The overlapping of several indentations amplifies the stiffening effect of a single indentation. This effect is due to the fact that even more material is located further from the center, thus further increasing the area moment of inertia.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the distance between the support structure for holding the perforated plate and the first opening is designed such that the perforated plate and the base wall are aligned parallel. A parallel alignment of the perforated plate is particularly advantageous with regard to the ergonomic removal of the disposable laboratory items. However, it is also possible to enable other positioning of the perforated plate for specific requirements.

[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the device features a stand. The stand has a recess for the box into which the box is inserted, the stand is locked to the box, and the cross-section of the stand is larger than that of the box. Providing a stand separate from the rest of the device allows the device itself to be made particularly lightweight, while still providing a stable base in conjunction with the stand. To further reduce weight, the stand is provided with a recess that allows the device for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies to be inserted. Because the components are separate, the stand can be used only when needed. Furthermore, the stand can be used with different boxes and reused as required.This allows for further resource savings, as the stand is only used with the box currently in use, instead of all boxes having to be equipped with an integrated stand as a precaution. The locking mechanism ensures a secure stand for the device for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies, even though the two components are separate.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, the stand features a pluggable module containing a labeling field with information. This labeling field makes it easy to identify which disposable laboratory items are stored in the device. Thanks to the pluggable design, the labeling field can be easily replaced when new disposable laboratory items are used.

[0031] In one embodiment of the invention, the perforated plate is loaded with disposable laboratory supplies, and the plate has a label indicating the pipetting volume and / or other information along its long edge where the hinge connecting the box and the perforated plate is located. When assembled, all spaces formed by the holes in the perforated plate are filled with disposable laboratory supplies. These are then securely stored within the device until it is opened, at which point the supplies can be ergonomically removed. To ensure that the correct supplies are dispensed, the device is labeled. This label can, for example, indicate the volume of pipette tips held in the device. Positioning the label on the side of the hinge between the perforated plate and the box, i.e., opposite the lid, promotes easy readability.

[0032] The invention will be further explained below with reference to drawings. These show Fig. 1 a perspective view of the device according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory items in an unfolded state; Fig. 2 a side view of the device according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory items in an unfolded state; Fig. 3a-c perspective views of the device according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory items in various stages during a folding process; Fig. 4 a perspective detail view of the connection of a film hinge to the box and to the perforated plate; Fig. 5 a top view of the perforated plate folded into the box; Fig. 6 a perspective detail view of locking projections and a locking recess; Fig. 7 a perspective view of the device according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory items and a stand before the box is inserted into the stand; Fig.8A perspective view of the device according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory items and the stand after the box has been inserted into the stand.

[0033] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device 1 according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory items in an unfolded state. The device comprises a perforated plate 2, a box 3, and a lid 4, which are shown unfolded in this view. These components of the device are as they appear in this view after being removed from an injection molding machine following manufacturing. Furthermore, the film hinge 5 is located between the perforated plate 2 and the box 3, and the film hinge 6 is located between the box 3 and the lid 4. Together, the perforated plate 2, box 3, lid 4, and film hinges 5 and 6 form a single-piece component.

[0034] The perforated plate 2 has 7 holes. In the view in Fig. 1 In the figure, which shows the perforated plate from below, it can also be seen that the perforated plate has rib-shaped stiffening elements 8 and hollow cylindrical structures 9 below the holes 7 on its underside. The holes 7 and the hollow cylindrical structures 9 of the perforated plate 2 are designed to receive and guide disposable laboratory items. Furthermore, the perforated plate 2 has a circumferential rim 10 projecting from its underside at its outer edge.

[0035] Box 3 comprises a base wall 11 and first side walls 12, 13, 14, 15 extending upwards from the base wall. The upper edges of these side walls define the first opening 16. Support structures 17 extend vertically along the inside of box 3. These support structures 17 are designed as stiffening ribs and contribute to the rigidity of box 3. They can also serve as a support for the perforated plate 2, and the support structures 17 can absorb compressive forces acting on the perforated plate 2 when disposable laboratory items are removed. Box 3 also has retaining elements 16. These hook-shaped retaining elements engage with the circumferential edge 10 of the perforated plate when the perforated plate 2 is folded into the box. The hook-shaped retaining elements 16 have an inner edge that is inclined upwards away from the first side wall from which they project.This ensures that when the edges are inserted into the retaining elements 16, the first side walls 12, 14 are held together and clamped to the perforated plate 2. This allows the perforated plate 2 to absorb forces acting on the box 3. As a result, the box 3 becomes stiffer, thus saving weight. Consequently, the device can be manufactured cost-effectively and with minimal resource consumption.

[0036] The lid 4 has a top wall 19 and second side walls 20, 21, 22, 23. As with the box 3, the side walls 20, 21, 22, 23 of the lid extend perpendicularly from the top wall 19. Additional support structures are arranged on the second side walls 21, 23, one of which is designated by reference numeral 24 and is designed as stiffening ribs extending from the top wall 19. These ribs stiffen the lid 4, which simplifies handling, particularly when stacking the device 1 for dispensing disposable laboratory items 1 and when removing a device 1 from a stack. Furthermore, the support structures 24 allow the lid to rest on the first opening 16 when closed, which further stiffens the device 1.

[0037] The locking tab 25 also extends from the second side wall 22. This allows the device 1 for providing disposable laboratory items 1 to be closed, so that the disposable laboratory items in the device 1 are protected from environmental influences and other external influences during transport or storage.

[0038] Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows a side view of the device 1 according to the invention for dispensing disposable laboratory items 1 in an unfolded state. This view shows that the perforated plate 2, the box 3, the lid 4, and the film hinges 5 and 6 are connected to one another and thus constitute a single-piece component. Because it is a single-piece component, manufacturing and, above all, assembly following the actual production process are particularly simple. This is because the individual components no longer need to be brought to a location and assembled there. Instead, all the individual parts, which are already connected to one another, come out of the injection molding machine together. Consequently, only one injection molding machine is required, thus saving on manufacturing costs, also because additional injection molds can be dispensed with.The device 1 according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory articles 1 thus results in both cost and logistical advantages.

[0039] Fig. 3 a bis c The figures show perspective views of the device 1 according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory articles 1 in various stages during an interlocking process. After the actual manufacturing process in the injection molding machine, the perforated plate 2 must be inserted into the opening 16 bounded by the side walls of the box 3. This is done as shown in Fig. 3 a can be seen by rotating the perforated plate 2 around the film hinge 5 and folding it into the box. Also - as in Fig. 3 b As shown, the lid 4 can be closed if (not shown) disposable laboratory items are in the device 1 and these are to be protected for transport or storage. Fig. 3 c Figure 1 shows how the lid 4 is opened onto the box 3 to close the device 1 according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory supplies 1. In the folded state, the locking tab 25 is engaged with the locking lug 26 to prevent the lid 4 from unintentionally opening from the box 3. The lid 4 can be repeatedly opened and closed by means of elastic deformation of the locking tab 25 and the locking lug 26.

[0040] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows a perspective detail view of the connection of a film hinge 5 to the box 3 and to the perforated plate 2. The perforated plate 2 is elastically connected to the box 3 via the film hinge 5. As shown in Figure 2 Fig. 3 a bis c As shown, the perforated plate 2 can be rotated around the hinge axis of the film hinge 5, so that the perforated plate 2 can be inserted into the box without having to separate the connection between these two components of the device 1 according to the invention (in the form of the film hinge 5). In addition to enabling one-piece manufacturing, the film hinge thus also allows for a simple assembly process.

[0041] In the view of Fig. 4 It can be seen that the film hinge 5 has a triangular cross-sectional shape, which contributes to the film hinge 5, 6 being particularly stiff in the direction of the hinge axis and thus contributes to increasing the overall stiffness of the device 1 for providing disposable laboratory items 1. Furthermore, this triangular shape allows the properties during rotation of the film hinge 5, 6 to be adjusted as desired, for example, so that a higher or lower torque is required to fold the perforated plate 2 into the box 3. In addition, a suitable shape can facilitate the manufacturing of the film hinge 5, 6 and ensure that the film hinge 5, 6 is not damaged when removed from the injection molding machine after manufacturing and subsequent packaging.

[0042] Fig. 5 Figure 1 shows a top view of the perforated plate 2 folded into box 3. This view clearly shows that the perforated plate 2, and consequently also box 3 and lid 2, have a rectangular shape that conforms to the ANSI standard. Furthermore, the perforated plate 2 has a total of 116 holes, designed to hold (not shown) disposable laboratory items.

[0043] In the view of Fig. 5 The figure shows that the perforated plate 2 has already been folded into the box 3. It can also be seen that the perforated plate 2 maintains a parallel distance to the bottom wall 6 of the box 3. This distance is achieved by the support structures 17, which are not visible in this view. Furthermore, the perforated plate 2 is held in the desired position by the locking projections 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. During the folding process, the perforated plate 2 is pressed downwards over the locking projections 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. As this happens, the side walls 12, 13, 14, 15 of the box 3 widen until the perforated plate has slid past the locking projections. The figure shows the state after the perforated plate has been pressed past the locking projections.Because the perforated plate is located between the locking projections 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and the support structures 17, its positioning relative to the side walls 12, 13, 14, 15 of the box 3 and relative to the bottom wall 12 of the box 3 is defined. This ensures that disposable laboratory items can be removed ergonomically after the lid 2 of the box 3 is opened. It also ensures that the disposable laboratory items are not damaged during transport.

[0044] In order to ensure that the correct disposable laboratory items are present in the device 1 when using it for providing disposable laboratory items 1, the perforated plate has a labeling field 33.

[0045] Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a perspective detail view of locking projections 30, 31 and locking recesses 34, 35. The locking recesses 34, 35 allow the perforated plate 2 to be pressed past the locking projections 30, 31 without excessive force when folded into the box 3. The locking recesses 34, 35 mirror the shape of the locking projections 30, 31. Ultimately, the locking recesses reduce the wall thickness of the perforated plate and thus enable a reduction in the pressing forces.

[0046] Fig. 7 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device 1 according to the invention for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies 1 and a stand 36, before the device 1 is inserted into the stand 36. The stand 36 has a recess 37 and a pluggable module 38 with a labeling field in the form of a plate-shaped plaque. The labeling field contains information about the disposable laboratory supplies stored inside the device 1. The pluggable module 38 can be inserted into a slot 39 of the stand 36, so that the pluggable module 38 is held in place on the stand 36. When changing the contents of the device 1, the pluggable module 38 with the labeling field can also be easily replaced.

[0047] The recess 37 in the stand 36 makes it easy to insert the device 1 for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies 1 into the stand 36, since the recess precisely replicates the shape of the device 1 for dispensing disposable laboratory supplies 1. Furthermore, the recess 37 saves material from the stand 36, making it lighter and cheaper to manufacture.

[0048] Fig. 8 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device 1 according to the invention for providing disposable laboratory items 1 and the stand 36, after the device 1 has been inserted into the stand 36. Due to the specific shape of the stand 36, the device 1 locks into the stand 36 in such a way that unintentional removal during a work process is not easily possible. It is also evident that the attachable plug-in module 38 with the labeling field is inserted into the slot 39 of the stand 36 and is now securely held in place by it.

[0049] The stand 36 enables the device 1 for dispensing disposable laboratory items 1 to stand securely without requiring a permanently attached collar or similar feature. Such a stand 36 is particularly advantageous when disposable laboratory items located at the edge of the perforated plate 2 are to be removed. During such edge removal, for example during pipetting, a force can be exerted near the side walls of the box, causing the device 1 to tip over. The stand 36 minimizes this risk. Furthermore, it also increases the rigidity of the device 1, as the stand 36 absorbs some of the forces acting on it, especially during edge removal. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0050] 1 Device for dispensing disposable laboratory items 2 Perforated plate 3 Box 4 Lid 5 Film hinge 6 Film hinge 7 Holes 8 Rib-shaped stiffening element 9 Wooden cylindrical structure 10 Circumferential rim 11 Bottom wall 12 First side wall 13 First side wall 14 First side wall 15 First side wall 16 Opening 17 Support structure 18 Retaining element 19 Top wall 20 Second side wall 21 Second side wall 22 Second side wall 23 Second side wall 24 Support structures 25 Locking tab 26 Latch 27 Latch projection 28 Latch projection 29 Latch projection 30 Latch projection 31 Latch projection 32 Latch projection 33 Labeling field 34 Latch recess 35 Latch recess 36 Stand 37 Recess 38 Plug-in module 39 Slot

Claims

1. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles, comprising: • a rectangular perforated plate (2) with a plurality of holes (7) for receiving disposable laboratory articles, • a box (3) comprising: o a bottom wall (11), o first side walls (12, 13, 14, 15) extending upwards from the bottom wall, the upper edges of which define a first opening (16) for inserting the perforated plate (2), o at least one support structure (17) inside the box for holding the perforated plate (2) at a distance from the bottom wall (11), • a lid (4) comprising: o a top wall (19), o second side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) extending downwards from the top wall (19), the lower edges of which define a second opening, • characterized by the fact thato the perforated plate (2) and the box (3) are connected via a first hinge (5) by which the perforated plate (2) can be folded from a position to the side of the box (3) against the support structure (17), o the lid (4) and the box (3) are connected via a second hinge (6) by which the lid (4) can be folded from a position to the side of the box (3) into a position covering the box, o the perforated plate (2), the box (3), the lid (4) and the hinges (5, 6) are a single-piece manufactured component.

2. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to claim 1, wherein the hinges (5, 6) are film hinges, the first hinge (5) extending along a side of the perforated plate (2) and along an upper edge of a first side wall (12, 13, 14, 15) and the second hinge (6) extending along a first side wall (12, 13, 14, 15) and along a lower edge of a second side wall (20, 21, 22, 23).

3. Device for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the perforated plate (2), the box (3), the lid (4) and the hinges (5, 6) are a one-piece injection-molded part.

4. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the box (3) has a locking projection (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32) extending from the inside of a first side wall (12, 13, 14, 15), wherein the lower end of the locking projection (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32) has a distance to the support structure (17) for holding the perforated plate, so that the perforated plate (2) locks between the support structure (17) and the lower end of the locking projection (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32).

5. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to claim 4, wherein the perforated plate (2) has a locking recess (34, 35) extending from the edge, which forms a counterpart to the locking projection (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32).

6. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein: • the opening (16) bounded by the first side walls (12, 13, 14, 15) is larger than the perforated plate (2); • the first side wall opposite the first hinge (5) has at least one inwardly projecting retaining element (18) or two opposing side walls (12, 13, 14, 15) each have at least one inwardly projecting retaining element (18); • the perforated plate (2) has a receptacle for a retaining element (18) or receptacles for the retaining elements (18); • the at least one retaining element (18) engages with the at least one receptacle or the retaining elements (18) engage with the receptacles, wherein the distance between the at least one retaining element (18) and the first hinge (5) or between the retaining elements (18) is configured such that the perforated plate (2) and / or at least one receptacle having a retaining element (18) first side wall (12, 13, 14,15) are elastically deformed and clamped together.

7. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1-6, wherein the box (3) has a locking element (26) projecting from the outside of a first side wall (12, 13, 14, 15) and the lid (4) has on an outside of the adjacent second side wall (20, 21, 22, 23) a locking tab (25) connected to the second side wall (20, 21, 22, 23) and projecting downwards, which has a locking lug that is hooked to the locking element (26) and can be unlocked by elastic deformation of the locking tab.

8. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1 - 7, wherein the perforated plate (2) has rib-shaped stiffening elements (8) on the underside.

9. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1 - 8, wherein the box (3) has a vertically extending inward indentation on the outside of one of the first side walls (12, 13, 14, 15).

10. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1 - 9, wherein the lid (4) has support structures (24) which are preferably designed as stiffening ribs.

11. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising at least one of the following features: • the hinge (5) for connecting the perforated plate (2) and the box (3) is arranged on a long side of the first opening (16), and the hinge (6) for connecting the lid (4) and the box (3) is arranged on the opposite first side wall (14) of the box (3), • the box (3) has two locking projections (37, 28, 31, 32) on the first side walls (13, 15) arranged on the short sides, and two locking projections (29, 30) on the first side wall (14) having the hinge (6) between the lid (4) and the box (3), • the perforated plate (2) has corresponding locking recesses (34, 35), • the box (3) has four retaining elements (18) on the side wall (14) opposite the first hinge (5). on and • the box (3) has two indentations on each first side wall (12, 13, 14, 15),which are arranged at the vertical edges of the first side walls (12, 13, 14, 15) such that indentations located on any two adjacent first side walls (12, 13, 14, 15) overlap and, viewed from above, form an L-shaped bulge at a vertical edge of the first side wall (12, 13, 14, 15).

12. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1 - 11, wherein at least a second side wall (20, 21, 22, 23) of the lid (4) overlaps at least a first side wall (12, 13, 14, 15) of the box (3) at least partially when the lid (4) is folded into the position covering the box (3).

13. Device for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1 - 12, comprising a stand (36), wherein the stand (36) has a recess (37) for the box (3) into which the box (3) is inserted, the stand (37) is locked to the box (3) and the cross-section of the stand (37) is larger than that of the box (3).

14. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to claims 1-13, the stand (37) of which has a pluggable pluggable module (38) which contains a labeling field with information.

15. Device (1) for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1 - 14, wherein • the perforated plate (2) is equipped with disposable laboratory articles and • the perforated plate (2) has a marking (33) indicating the pipetting volume and / or other information on the long edge on which the hinge (5) for connecting between box (3) and perforated plate (2) is arranged.

16. Device for providing disposable laboratory articles according to one of claims 1 - 15, which is injection molded from one or more plastics or formed from one or more blanks of cardboard and / or paperboard.

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