Pipetting device for receiving and / or delivering pipetting head

Abstract

To provide a pipetting device for receiving and / or delivering a pipetting head.SOLUTION: A pipetting device 11 illustrated has a platform with a storage surface 13, a support device 21, and a body unit 25 disposed on the support device. The storage surface 13 is intended to receive an experimental container. The body unit 25 is disposed above the storage surface 13 and has an opening having a receiving device 31 for receiving a pipetting head 20 at a bottom thereof. In the pipetting head 11, the receiving device 31 is movable relative to the storage surface 13 along three coordinate axis directions (X, Y, Z).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pipetting device for the automatic receiving and / or transferring of a pipetting head, a pipetting head configured for such a pipetting device, a set comprising a pipetting device according to the invention and a pipetting head according to the invention, and a method for receiving a pipetting head by a pipetting device according to the invention. [Background technology]

[0002] A pipetting device is intended to accept a pipetting head in order to use the pipetting head to pipette a microtiter plate placed on the pipetting device. The pipetting head must move in two directions, height and width (Z and X axes), to draw liquid from a reservoir and fill the microtiter plate reservoirs with this liquid. If a lab technician wants to fill a microtiter plate reservoir that is offset in the Y direction, the microtiter plate must be moved in the Y direction.

[0003] In pipetting devices used up to now, laboratory technicians must manually insert the pipetting head they wish to use. For this purpose, a door is arranged on the side of the pipetting device, through which the pipetting head can be inserted after opening the door. At the same time, the door ensures that the pipetting head is fixed in the pipetting device after closing. This procedure has a negative impact on laboratory work. The door is usually removable to make the insertion of the pipetting head as easy as possible and to occupy as little space as possible. During this process, the door is placed on the work surface, again ensuring that it is not contaminated. Manual insertion of the pipetting head also carries the risk of the pipetting head being inserted incorrectly into the pipetting device or being damaged by the laboratory technician during the process. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a pipetting device that can automatically accept and hand over a pipetting head while facilitating the complete pipetting of a microtiter plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The problem is solved according to the features of claim 1 with a pipetting device for automatic receiving and / or handing over of a pipetting head.

[0006] The pipetting device comprises a platform having a storage surface, a support device, and a body unit arranged on the support device. The storage surface is intended to receive laboratory vessels. The body unit is arranged above the storage surface and has an opening at its bottom with a receiving device for receiving a pipetting head. The pipetting device is configured to be received by inserting the pipetting head into the opening of the body unit. For this purpose, the receiving device is movable in three coordinate axes (X, Y, and Z) relative to the storage surface.

[0007] The receiving device is relatively movable in all three axes, allowing it to independently pick up pipetting heads from storage surfaces. The pipetting heads do not need to be inserted into the receiving device by the user; this allows the receiving device to automatically pick up the pipetting heads. An opening at the bottom of the receiving unit makes it easy to set up the receiving device to automatically accept pipetting heads.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the body unit protrudes from the support device in the Y direction, and the body unit is movable in the Z and Y directions for receiving and / or transferring the pipetting head. The Y direction defines the depth of the pipetting device. The support device and the body unit are preferably arranged side by side in the Y direction. The body unit is arranged above the storage surface, so that the support device can be placed next to the storage surface. The body unit is intended to move in the Z and Y directions for receiving and / or transferring the pipetting head. Moving the body unit in at least two directions improves the reliability and reproducibility of receiving or transferring the pipetting head.

[0009] Preferably, the receiving device forms a form-lock with the pipetting head. The receiving device is movable, allowing the form-lock connection to be formed with the pipetting head, allowing the pipetting head to be moved to any position. The advantage of a form-lock connection is, among other things, that it does not require additional tools and can therefore be quickly created and subsequently quickly released.

[0010] The receiving device preferably comprises hook elements for forming a form-fit connection, which form a structurally simple structure that allows the formation of a form-fit connection, and for this purpose it is therefore sufficient for the hook elements to move in only two of the three spatial axes.

[0011] In one embodiment, the receiving device comprises a horizontally extending coupling element configured to engage with a similarly horizontally extending coupling element counterpart of the pipetting head in a horizontal engagement direction (which allows the receiving device to vertically lift the pipetting head) and / or to be separable from these coupling element counterparts in the opposite direction. The receiving device is configured to perform movement in or against the horizontal engagement direction to accept or release the pipetting head from the storage surface, whereby the coupling element moves together with the receiving device. The receiving device, for example, moves together with movement of the body unit. Alternatively or in combination with such coordinated movement of the receiving device and the body unit, it is also contemplated that the receiving device may be movable relative to the body unit.

[0012] For example, each of the connecting elements may be part of a hook element of the receiving device, each of the hook elements having a leg extending vertically toward the storage surface, with the connecting element extending away from the leg in a horizontal engagement direction.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the body unit comprises a locking element configured to define a locked position and an open position. In the locked position, a portion of the locking element is located closer or further away in the area of ​​the space occupied by the pipetting head when the pipetting head is received, as opposed to the open position. For example, this portion of the locking element is intended to contact the pipetting head or to block the range of movement of the pipetting head in the direction of the locking element. More generally, the locking element is intended to block the range of movement of the pipetting head in at least one horizontal spatial direction, so that, for example, movement of the pipetting head in the engagement direction after the coupling element engages with the coupling element counterpart is prevented, or first reversed and then blocked (so that the interaction of the coupling element, the coupling element counterpart, and the locking element, for example, provides a secure, locked reception of the pipetting head in the receiving device).

[0014] For example, a portion of the locking element (which is closer or further from the spatial region of the pipetting head in the locked position than in the open position) is further from the support device in the locked position than in the open position, and the horizontal engagement direction is towards the support device, so that the coupling element for receiving the pipetting head moves towards the support device, whereby movement of the pipetting head towards the support device is prevented by the locking element.

[0015] Alternatively, a portion of the locking element may be closer or further from the region of the pipetting head in a fixed position in the horizontal direction across the support device, with the horizontal engagement direction being towards or away from the support device, such that when the pipetting head is received in the body unit, the locking element engages the pipetting head like a claw from the left or right side to prevent movement of the pipetting head towards or away from the support device, and the coupling element for receiving the pipetting head is moved towards the support device.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the locking element is pretensioned in a fixed position, and the body unit has a release part that is vertically adjustable relative to the receiving device. The body unit is further configured to transition the locking element from the fixed position to the open position by adjusting the release part vertically upward relative to the receiving device. The release part is positioned so that it can be blocked by a blocking counter-part that is fixed relative to the storage surface during vertical movement of the body unit toward the storage surface.

[0017] Thus, the pipetting device may be configured to receive a pipetting head, the main unit is first moved in the direction of the storage surface by vertically upwardly adjusting the release part relative to the receiving device until the locking element is transferred from the fixed position to the open position; The receiving device is then moved in a horizontal engagement direction; Thereafter, the body unit performs an upward movement, and the body unit is moved upward in a direction away from the storage surface until the locking element, which is pretensioned in the fixed position, returns to the fixed position.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the receiving device comprises additional connecting elements extending horizontally above the connecting elements, which are configured to engage with and / or disengage from additional connecting element counterparts of the pipetting head, also extending horizontally, in a horizontal engagement direction. The additional connecting elements are vertically movable relative to connecting elements arranged below the additional connecting elements. For example, this movement is performed using the same drive provided in the pipetting device for providing pipetting movement. Above the locking elements, the body unit also comprises additional locking elements configured to assume a locked position and an open position, some of which are closer or farther from the region of the pipetting head in the fixed position than in the open position. The additional locking elements are pretensioned in the fixed position, and the additional connecting elements are moved from the fixed position to the open position by moving them toward connecting elements arranged below the additional connecting elements. Thus, the additional connecting element can move vertically away from the connecting element arranged below the additional connecting element independently of (e.g., before) the upward movement of the body unit, until the additional locking element pretensioned to the fixed position returns to the fixed position.

[0019] For example, separately raising the top of the pipetting head is intended for pipetting movements such that the pipette tip of the pipetting head is filled with liquid by lowering the pipette tip into the liquid to pipette, thereby raising the top of the pipette tip, creating negative pressure and drawing the liquid into the pipette tip.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment, the support device protrudes upwardly perpendicular to the storage surface. Orienting the support device perpendicular to the storage surface helps to stabilize the support device and minimize material waste.

[0021] Preferably, the support device is disposed laterally of the storage surface. By disposing the support device near the storage surface, the main unit is disposed above the storage surface, thereby simplifying the structures of the support device and the main unit.

[0022] Pipetting devices are advantageously designed as benchtop devices. Benchtop devices are devices used in laboratories and can be placed and operated on a workstation. Benchtop devices can be carried from one place to another by one person, allowing for great flexibility when working in the laboratory.

[0023] For example, the maximum mass of a pipetting device is 30 kg. Limiting the mass to 30 kg forms the limit below which the pipetting device can be carried by one person.

[0024] For example, the pipetting device has a maximum width of 1000 mm. The upper width limit of the pipetting device allows the pipetting device to be operated on a limited work surface.

[0025] For example, a pipetting device may have a maximum depth of 400 mm. The depth of a pipetting device is defined by the dimension perpendicular to its width and height. Therefore, the depth of a pipetting device determines how far the pipetting device protrudes from a wall.

[0026] For example, the pipetting device has a maximum height of 600 mm. The height of the pipetting device is primarily determined by the support device. The height is limited to, for example, a maximum of 600 mm. This is to achieve a compact design of the pipetting device while leaving sufficient space for the pipetting head.

[0027] For example, the receiving device has a maximum deflection of 30 mm in the Y direction. The deflection in the Y direction is used to manipulate the entire width of a microtiter plate placed in the pipetting device. A movement of 30 mm in the Y direction of the receiving device is sufficient to manipulate the entire microtiter plate.

[0028] Advantageously, the main unit comprises a control element for controlling the movement of the main unit. The control element can be actively manipulated by a user. The user's movements on the control element are transferred to the main unit, which then executes the corresponding movements. The user can also determine the movements of the main unit by inputting to the control element.

[0029] In a further preferred embodiment, adapters for receiving laboratory vessels are arranged on the storage surface. The adapters can be clamped to the storage surface. The adapters offer the possibility to accommodate any type of vessel with the same pipetting device by changing the adapter. Thus, it is not necessary to exchange the entire storage surface to accommodate different vessels; it is sufficient to simply exchange the adapter.

[0030] For example, the storage surface and the adapter are configured such that the adapter is fixed to the storage surface in the X and Y directions and receives and fixes the pipetting head in the X and Y directions. In particular, the adapter has a blocking counter-portion for blocking the unlocking component when the main body unit is moved toward the storage surface.

[0031] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a pipetting head configured to be received in a pipetting device as described above, the pipetting head having a top and a bottom, a front and a rear, and a right and a left side, wherein the front and rear sides of the pipetting device, the top side facing upward, the bottom side facing downward, and the left and right sides each face laterally relative to the pipetting device in order to receive the pipetting head in the pipetting device.

[0032] According to this aspect, the pipetting head has horizontally extending coupling element counterparts on its left and right sides or front and rear, respectively, which are configured to engage with matching horizontally extending coupling elements of the pipetting device and / or to disengage from the coupling elements of the pipetting device when the coupling elements are moved in a direction opposite to the horizontal engagement direction.

[0033] For example, the coupling element counterparts are provided by hook-shaped receiving elements arranged on the left and right sides, or on the front and rear sides, respectively, each of the hook-shaped receiving elements being formed by a leg opening that opens upward and extends vertically towards the bottom, and an insertion opening that extends horizontally away from the leg opening and is closed at the top. To receive the pipetting head into the pipetting device, the coupling element can be retracted into the insertion opening by a first downward movement followed by a horizontal movement in the engagement direction to raise the pipetting head.

[0034] In a further embodiment, the pipetting head has a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion configured to be movable vertically upward relative to the bottom portion. The connecting element counterparts are disposed on the bottom portion, and the top portion includes additional connecting element counterparts on its left and right sides, or front and rear sides. Similar to the connecting element counterparts disposed on the bottom portion, the additional connecting element counterparts disposed on the top portion are configured to engage with additional connecting elements of a pipetting device that are aligned and moved in the horizontal engagement direction, or to disengage from the additional connecting elements of a pipetting device when the additional connecting elements are moved opposite the horizontal engagement direction.

[0035] For example, each additional connecting element counterpart may also be provided by a leg opening that is open at the top and extends vertically towards the bottom, and an insertion opening that extends horizontally away from the leg opening and is closed at the top.

[0036] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a set of a pipetting device according to the invention and a pipetting head as described above.

[0037] In particular, the pipetting device and the pipetting head are adjusted to one another such that when the coupling element engages with the coupling element counterpart and the locking element is simultaneously positioned in a fixed position, the pipetting device and the pipetting head form a secure connection, thereby allowing the pipetting head to be received by the pipetting device (and thus the pipetting head to be raised and moved by the pipetting device).

[0038] Preferably, the receiving device of the pipetting device comprises a hook element and the pipetting head comprises a holding element, which together can form a form-fit connection, the connection between the holding element and the hook element being generated quickly, thereby increasing efficiency when working with the pipetting device according to the invention.

[0039] Preferably, the holding elements are mounted laterally relative to the pipetting head. A laterally positioned holding element on the pipetting head ensures unhindered access to the pipetting head from above and below. At the same time, the holding elements are maximally spaced apart, which improves stability when transporting the pipetting head.

[0040] The receiving and handing over of the pipetting head is advantageously performed by movement in the Z direction and in one of the other two axial directions. To perform the movement for hooking the hook element to the holding element, the body unit must be moved in the Z direction. In addition, a movement in another direction perpendicular thereto is sufficient.

[0041] In a further aspect, the present invention also relates to a method for receiving a pipetting head by a pipetting device according to the invention, wherein the receiving device receives the pipetting head by movement in two directions perpendicular to each other.

[0042] Preferably, one of these two directions is the Z direction, oriented perpendicular to the storage surface of the pipetting device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0043] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the following schematic drawings. The preferred features mentioned can be realized in any combination, unless they are mutually exclusive. This document illustrates schematic drawings that are not to scale. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a pipetting device. [Figure 2a] FIG. 2a is a side view of the pipetting device with partial transparency in the area of ​​the receiving device of the pipetting head, with the pipetting head received in the body unit. [Figure 2b] FIG. 2b is a side view of the pipetting device with partial transparency in the area of ​​the pipetting head receiving device in the unreceived state. [Figure 3a] FIG. 3a is a side view of the pipetting device shown in FIG. 2a illustrating different temporal states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the body unit. [Figure 3b] FIG. 3b is a side view of the pipetting device shown in FIG. 2a illustrating different temporal states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the body unit. [Figure 3c] FIG. 3c is a side view of the pipetting device shown in FIG. 2a illustrating different temporal states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the body unit. [Figure 3d] FIG. 3d is a side view of the pipetting device shown in FIG. 2a illustrating different temporal states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the body unit. [Figure 4a] Figure 4a is a further side view of the pipetting device shown in Figure 2a, illustrating various time states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the main unit, to illustrate further details of the receiving process of receiving the pipetting head. [Figure 4b] Figure 4b is a further side view of the pipetting device shown in Figure 2a, illustrating various time states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the main unit, to illustrate further details of the receiving process of receiving the pipetting head. [Figure 4c] Figure 4c is a further side view of the pipetting device shown in Figure 2a, illustrating various time states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the main unit, to illustrate further details of the receiving process of receiving the pipetting head. [Figure 4d]Figure 4d is a further side view of the pipetting device shown in Figure 2a, illustrating various time states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the main unit, to illustrate further details of the receiving process of receiving the pipetting head. [Figure 4e] Figure 4e is a further side view of the pipetting device shown in Figure 2a, illustrating various time states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the main unit, to illustrate further details of the receiving process of receiving the pipetting head. [Figure 4f] Figure 4f is a further side view of the pipetting device shown in Figure 2a, illustrating various time states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the main unit, to illustrate further details of the receiving process of receiving the pipetting head. [Figure 4g] Figure 4g is a further side view of the pipetting device shown in Figure 2a, illustrating various time states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the main unit, to illustrate further details of the receiving process of receiving the pipetting head. [Figure 4h] Figure 4h is a further side view of the pipetting device shown in Figure 2a, illustrating various time states during the process of receiving the pipetting head into the main unit to illustrate further details of the receiving process of receiving the pipetting head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] In the following, the same reference symbols represent the same or functionally identical elements (in different figures). Additional apostrophes may be used to distinguish between similar or functionally equivalent or functionally similar elements in further embodiments.

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates a pipetting device 11 comprising a storage device 12 having a storage surface 13. The storage device 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure with its vertical sides parallel to the floor. The largest surface of the storage device 12 is formed by the storage surface 13 and its opposite surface. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the storage surface 13 comprises three clamping devices 15 arranged adjacent to each other along the vertical direction. The clamping devices 15 have a rectangular base surface, and three of their four sides are surrounded by edges 17. The edges 17 separate the clamping devices 15 from each other and provide stability to a vessel or microtiter plate placed on the edges 17.

[0047] A support device 21, protruding vertically upward like a tower, is arranged on the side of the storage device 12. A body unit 25 is arranged on top of the support device 21. The body unit 25 is provided to receive a pipetting head. The pipetting head can receive pipette tips that can be inserted alternately into containers and microtiter plates to pipette liquids. For this purpose, the body unit 25 can move up and down along the support device 21. The movement of the body unit 25 is triggered by a laboratory technician using a control element 27. The control element 27 is in the form of an elongated, vertically downward-facing control unit 27 located at the front of the body unit 25. The body unit 25 can be operated manually via the control element 27 or automatically via software or code stored in the body unit 25. The body unit 25 can also be moved in the vertical direction of the storage surface 13. For this purpose, the support device 21 is designed to move together with the body unit 25 along the vertical direction of the storage surface 13. The main unit 25 is disposed on the front side of the support device 21 and positioned above the storage surface 13. The main unit can move in the vertical direction of the storage surface to operate the clamping devices of the storage surfaces that are arranged adjacent to each other and the containers held therein.

[0048] The body unit 25 is guided along the lateral surface of the support device 21. Thus, the front of the support device is closed by a smooth surface, which at the same time serves as a clamping protection for the front of the support device. Figure 2a shows a side view of the pipetting device 11 of Figure 1. Part of the side wall of the body unit 25 is designed to be transparent, allowing the interior of the body unit 25 to be seen. The transparent part of the body unit 25 comprises a receiving device 31 for the pipetting head 20, which is shown as being received by the receiving device 31 of the body unit. The body unit 25 is located at the highest position on the support device 21 and is therefore at the greatest possible distance from the storage surface 13. The upward movement of the body unit 25 is mechanically limited by guides on the lateral surfaces of the support device 21.

[0049] The receiving device 31 of the main unit comprises two hook elements 33, 33' arranged one on top of the other. Each hook element 33 has a curved hook that is bent in the Y direction, so that the opening of the hook faces in the Y direction, i.e., toward the support device 21. It is important that the openings of the two hooks arranged one on top of the other face in the same direction. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the hooks are arranged one on top of the other so that they are at approximately the same distance from the support device 21. The receiving device 31 of the main unit of the pipetting device according to the present invention is movable in the Y direction. The movement of the receiving device 31 can be controlled via the control element 27 of the main unit or can be automatically performed by a program pre-stored in the main unit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the movement of the receiving device 31 is caused by the relative movement of the receiving device 31 with respect to the main unit 25. Alternatively, the main unit 25 can be moved in the Y direction, thereby moving the receiving device 31 in the main unit 25 in the Y direction.

[0050] Movement in the Y direction, in combination with hook elements 33 on the receiving device 31, allows the pipetting head 20 to be received in the body unit 25. The received pipetting head 20 comprises laterally arranged holding elements 35, each capable of forming a releasable connection with a hook element 33 of the receiving device. Ideally, a snap-in closure occurs, which is generated by the weight of the pipetting head 20.

[0051] 2b shows the pipetting device 11 with an empty body unit 25. The pipetting head 20 to be received by the body unit is placed on a support surface. The body unit 25 can receive the pipetting head 20 by a movement sequence as illustrated by the three arrows in the figure.

[0052] The process for receiving and handing over the pipetting heads 20 by the body unit 25 can be carried out automatically. Based on the information contained in the body unit 25, the body unit 25 determines how much deflection in the Y direction is required to receive each pipetting head 20.

[0053] In FIG. 3, the process for receiving the pipetting head 20 is explained step by step as follows: In the initial position, the pipetting head 20 is placed in the clamping device 15 on the storage surface 13 of the storage device 12. The body unit 25 of the pipetting device 11 is positioned above the pipetting head 20. At the very least, the body unit 25 has to move along the vertical side of the storage surface 13 so that the body unit 25 is positioned directly above the pipetting head 20 that is to be received. - To accommodate the pipetting head 20, the body unit 25 needs to be moved downwards and back and forth in the Y direction, see Figure 3a. The forward movement in the Y direction, i.e. away from the support device 21, can be performed before or simultaneously with the downward movement. It is important that the forward movement in the Y direction is completed before the body unit 25 reaches the pipetting head 20. - In the lowest position of the body unit 25, the pipetting head 20 is already inserted. As shown in Figure 3b, by moving the body unit 25 towards the support device 21, the hook elements 33 of the receiving device 31 engage with the holding elements 35 of the pipetting head 20. As shown in Figure 3c, by moving the body unit 25 upwards, a form lock is established between the hook elements 33 and the holding elements 35, so that the pipetting head 20 is connected to the body unit 25 and moves together with it. - the main unit 25 of Fig. 3d can start the pipetting process with the pipetting head 20 inserted. For this purpose, the pipetting head 20 can be moved in all three axes, so that the pipetting head 20 is always above the storage surface 13. - To hand over the pipetting head 20, the body unit 25 is positioned above the clamping device 15 on the storage surface 13, and after the body unit 25 has moved downwards, the pipetting head 20 comes to rest on the storage surface 13 and in the clamping device 15. After the pipetting head 20 has come to rest on the storage surface 13, the receiving device 31 can be moved forward in the Y direction, which causes the hook elements 33 of the receiving device 31 to detach from the holding elements 35 of the pipetting head 20, simultaneously releasing the connection between the two parts. The receiving device 31 is then ready to receive another pipetting head 20.

[0054] 4a to 4h again show in more detail the above-described embodiments of the pipetting device 11 and the pipetting head 20, as well as possible embodiments of the coupling elements 40, 41, coupling element counterparts 42, 43, locking elements 44, 45 and release part 46.

[0055] 4a illustrates a side view of the aforementioned pipetting device 11, with the pipetting head 20 positioned on the storage device 12 for insertion into the pipetting device 11. The pipetting head 20 is positioned within an adapter 47 configured to interact with the storage device 12, thereby preventing movement of the adapter 47 in the Y direction. The adapter 47 prevents movement of the pipetting head 20 housed within the adapter 47 in the Y direction.

[0056] As shown, the adapter 47 can be combined with a cover 48, such that when the cover 48 is placed on the adapter 47, the pipetting head 20 is completely covered by the adapter 47 and the cover 48. The detached pipetting head 20 can therefore be safely stored and transported. For example, the cover 48 and / or the adapter 47 can be configured such that multiple such adapter-cover-pipetting head combinations can be stacked on top of each other for storage or transport. In particular, the adapter 47 and the cover 48 are shaped and aligned with each other such that when stacked on top of each other they form a secure connection and prevent at least relative movement in the X and Y directions.

[0057] 4b, the cover 48 is first removed in order to accommodate the pipetting head 20 in the pipetting device 11. In the figure, part of the side wall of the main unit 25 is designed to be transparent, allowing the interior of the main unit 25 to be seen.

[0058] The pipetting head 20 has a lower portion 49 and an upper portion 50, and is configured so that the upper portion 50 can be moved upward relative to the lower portion 49 to pipette pipette tips of the pipetting head 20. Both the upper and lower portions have connecting element counterparts 42, 43 on the left and right sides, hereinafter referred to as the lower connecting element counterpart 42 and the upper connecting element counterpart 43 (previously also referred to as the connecting element counterpart and an additional connecting element counterpart located above the connecting element counterpart). In the illustrated embodiment, the lower connecting element counterpart 42 and the upper connecting element counterpart 43 are each provided with a hook-shaped receptacle, each formed by a leg opening that opens upward and extends vertically downward, and an insertion opening that extends horizontally away from the leg opening and is closed at the top.

[0059] The main unit 25 includes the receiving device described above. It includes a lower connecting element 40 and an upper connecting element 41 (previously also referred to as a connecting element and a connecting element disposed above the connecting element) that fit into the lower connecting element counterpart 42 and the upper connecting element counterpart 43. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower connecting element 40 and / or the upper connecting element 41 are each part of a hook element of the receiving device, each of the hook elements having a leg that extends vertically toward the storage surface, and the lower connecting element 40 and / or the upper connecting element 41 extending away from the leg in a horizontal engagement direction (here, toward the support device 21).

[0060] To accept the pipetting head 20 into the pipetting device 11, the connecting elements 40, 41 first move downwards and then move horizontally in the direction of the insertion opening (here towards the support device 21), thereby raising the pipetting head 20 so that it can be retracted into the insertion opening.

[0061] The figure also shows a release element 46 protruding from the bottom of the main unit 25, which is arranged to be blocked by a blocking counterpart 51 provided by the adapter 47 in the illustrated embodiment when the main unit 25 is lowered.

[0062] Additionally, the lower locking element 44 and the upper locking element 45 (also referred to above as the locking element and the additional locking element disposed above the locking element) of the receiving device are shown, respectively, disposed on the main unit 25. The figure shows both locking elements 44, 45 disposed in a fixed position, where each of the locking elements 44, 45 is provided, for example, by a pin mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the X direction, and the pin is pretensioned in a fixed position by a spring element 52. In the fixed position, the longitudinal axis of the pin is oriented horizontally as shown. In the open position, the longitudinal axis of the pin is aligned vertically as shown in FIG. 4d.

[0063] 4c, the body unit 25 is lowered via the pipetting head 20 towards the storage device 12, and further lowering of the release part 46 is prevented by contact with the blocking counterpart 51 of the adapter 47, causing the release part 46 to move upward relative to the receiving device. This movement of the release part 46 has caused the lower locking element 44 to transition from the locked position to the open position. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved by the release part 46 acting on the rear of the pin of the lower locking element 44 and rotating the pin about its axis of rotation to its vertical orientation.

[0064] 4d illustrates as an additional step the lowering of the upper connecting element 41, for example by a drive provided for the pipetting movement. An additional unlocking part, moving in tandem with the vertical movement of the upper connecting element 41, acts on the front part of the pin of the upper locking element 45, causing the pin to rotate about its axis of rotation to its vertical orientation.

[0065] FIG. 4e illustrates, as an additional step, the horizontal movement of the receiving device towards the support device 21, whereby the lower and upper connecting elements 40, 41 engage with the lower and upper connecting element counterparts 42, 43.

[0066] Figure 4f first illustrates, as an additional step, the lifting of the upper part of the pipetting head, whereby an additional release part releases the pin of the upper locking element 45, which returns to its pre-tensioned fixed position.

[0067] Figure 4g illustrates the situation after the main unit 25 has been raised and the release part 46 of the lower locking element 44 has disengaged from the blocking counterpart 51 of the adapter 47, and the lower locking element 44 has also returned to its pre-tensioned fixed position.

[0068] By engaging the coupling elements 40, 41 with the coupling element counterparts 42, 43 and with the locking elements 44, 45 which are simultaneously placed in a fixed position, the pipetting head is securely received in the body unit 25 and can be moved back and forth by the body unit 25 for pipetting in the X and Z directions. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 4h, the adapter 47 is removed from the storage device 12 to allow the containers containing liquids and the microtiter plate to be placed on a storage surface (not shown).

[0069] Although specific embodiments have been described above, it will be apparent that different combinations of the illustrated embodiments may be used, provided the embodiments are not mutually exclusive. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 11 Pipetting Devices 12 Storage Devices 13 Storage 15 Clamping Device 17 Edge of clamping device 20 pipetting heads 21 Supporting Devices 25 Main unit 27 Operation Unit 31 Receiving Devices 33 Hook Elements 35 Retention element 40 Lower connecting element 41 Upper connecting element 42 Lower connecting element counterpart 43 Upper connecting element counterpart 44 Lower Locking Element 45 Upper Locking Element 46 Release Parts 47 Adapter Cover for 48 adapter 49 Lower part of pipetting head 50 Top of pipetting head 51 Interdiction Response Department 52 Spring Elements

Claims

1. A pipetting device (11) for automatically receiving and / or transferring a pipetting head (20), comprising: The pipetting device (11) comprises a platform having a storage surface (13), a support device (21), and a body unit (25) disposed on the support device (21); The storage surface (13) is provided for receiving laboratory vessels, and the main unit (25) is disposed above the storage surface (13); The pipetting device (11) is characterized in that the main unit (25) has an opening on its underside having a receiving device (31) for receiving the pipetting head (20), the pipetting device (11) is configured so that the pipetting head (20) is received by insertion through the opening in the main unit (25), and the receiving device (31) is movable relative to the storage surface (13) in three coordinate axis directions (X, Y, Z).

2. 2. The pipetting device (11) of claim 1, wherein the main body unit (25) protrudes in the Y direction from the support device (21), and the main body unit (25) is movable in the Z direction and the Y direction to receive and / or transfer the pipetting head (20).

3. said receiving device (31) is designed to provide for the reception of said pipetting head (20) by means of a form lock; Pipetting device (11) according to claim 1 or claim 2, in particular, wherein the receiving device (31) comprises a hook element (33) for forming the form lock.

4. 4. The pipetting device (11) of claim 1, wherein the receiving device (31) comprises a horizontally extending connecting element (40) that is configured to be engageable with a similarly horizontally extending connecting element counterpart (42) of the pipetting head (20) in a horizontal engagement direction or to be disengaged from the connecting element counterpart (42) in the opposite direction, the receiving device (31) being configured to perform movement in the horizontal engagement direction or in a direction opposite to the horizontal engagement direction to receive or release the pipetting head (20) from the storage surface (13), and the connecting element (40) moves together with the receiving device (31).

5. 5. The pipetting device (11) of claim 1, wherein the main unit (25) comprises a locking element (44) configured to assume a locked position and an open position, and a portion of the locking element (44) in a fixed position relative to the open position is closer to or farther from the spatial pipetting head area occupied by the pipetting head (20) when the pipetting head is received.

6. 6. The pipetting device (11) of claim 5, wherein the locking element (44) is pretensioned in the fixed position, the main unit (25) comprises a release part (46) that is vertically adjustable relative to the receiving device (31), the main unit (25) is configured such that vertical upward adjustment of the release part (46) relative to the receiving device (31) moves the locking element (44) from the fixed position to the open position, and the release part (46) is arranged to be blocked by a blocking counterpart (51) that is fixedly arranged relative to the storage surface (13) during vertical movement of the main unit (25) toward the storage surface (13).

7. The pipetting device (11) is configured to receive the pipetting head (20), the body unit (25) is first moved in the direction of the storage surface (13) by vertically upward adjustment of the release part (46) relative to the receiving device (31) until the locking element (44) is moved from the fixed position to the open position; Then, the receiving device (31) is moved in the horizontal engagement direction, The pipetting device (11) of claims 4 and 6, wherein the main body unit (25) then performs an upward movement in which it moves upward in a direction away from the storage surface (13) until the locking element (44), which has been pretensioned to the fixed position, returns to the fixed position.

8. the receiving device (31) comprises an additional connecting element (41) extending horizontally above the connecting element (40), the connecting element (41) being configured to be able to engage with an additional connecting element counterpart (43) of the pipetting head (20) which also extends horizontally in the horizontal engagement direction, or to be able to separate from these additional connecting element counterparts (43) in the opposite direction, the additional connecting element (41) being vertically movable relative to the connecting element (40) arranged below the additional connecting element (41); an additional locking element (45) is arranged above the locking element (44) configured to consider a locked position and an open position, a portion of the additional locking element (45) being closer or further from the area of ​​the pipetting head in the fixed position compared to the open position, the additional locking element (45) being pretensioned in the fixed position, and the additional connecting element (41) being moved from the fixed position to the open position by movement towards the connecting element (40) arranged below the additional connecting element (41), 8. The pipetting device (11) of claim 7, wherein the main unit (25) is configured to move the additional connecting element (41) vertically away from the connecting element (40) arranged below the additional connecting element (41) independently of the upward movement of the main unit (25), in particular before the upward movement, until the additional locking element (45), which has been pretensioned to the fixed position, returns to the fixed position.

9. 9. A pipetting device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an adapter (47) for receiving laboratory vessels is arranged on the storage surface (13).

10. 10. The pipetting device (11) of claim 9, wherein the storage surface (13) and the adapter (47) are configured such that the adapter is fixedly positioned on the storage surface (13) in the X and Y directions and is configured to receive and fix the pipetting head (20) in the X and Y directions.

11. A pipetting device (11) according to claim 6 and claim 10, wherein the adapter (47) is provided with the blocking counterpart (51).

12. 12. A pipetting head (20) configured to be received in a pipetting device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the pipetting head (20) having a top and a bottom, a front and a rear, a right side and a left side, the front side facing towards the pipetting device (11) and the rear side facing away from the pipetting device (11) for reception in the pipetting device (11), the top facing upward, the bottom facing downward, the left side and the right side facing laterally relative to the pipetting device (11), The pipetting head (20) has horizontally extending connecting element counterparts (42) on its left and right sides, or on its front and rear sides, and the connecting element counterparts (42) are configured to engage with a horizontally extending connecting element (40) of a pipetting device that is compatible with the connecting element counterparts (42) and move in a horizontal engagement direction, or to disengage again from the connecting element (40) of the pipetting device (11) when the connecting element (40) moves in the opposite horizontal engagement direction.

13. the pipetting head (20) comprises an upper portion and a lower portion (49, 50), the upper portion (50) being configured to be movable vertically upward relative to the lower portion (49); 13. The pipetting head (20) of claim 12, wherein the coupling element counterpart (42) is arranged on the lower part (49), and the upper part (50) has additional coupling element counterparts (43) on the left and right sides or on the front and rear sides, the additional coupling element counterparts (43) being configured to engage with a horizontally extending additional coupling element (41) of the pipetting device (11) that is fitted to the coupling element counterpart (43) and move in the horizontal engagement direction, or the additional coupling element (41) being configured to disengage again from the additional coupling element (41) of the pipetting device (11) when moved in the opposite horizontal engagement direction.

14. A set comprising a pipetting device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and a pipetting head (20) according to claim 12 or claim 13.

15. 12. A method for receiving a pipetting head (20) by a pipetting device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the receiving device (31) receives the pipetting head (20) by movement in two mutually perpendicular directions.

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