Device for positioning a strainer basket and system comprising a support rail

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for positioning a strainer basket in a container (10), which device has a mechanical interface (2) to the container (10), which mechanical interface is designed to restrict movement of the strainer basket (9) relative to the container (10), wherein the device (1) comprises two holding devices, each of which has: - a mechanical interface (7) for connection to the strainer basket (9), - a receptacle (20) for fastening a support rail (22) which extends from the first holding device (1) to the second holding device (1), wherein the support rail (22) is designed in such a way that - a further strainer basket (131) can be suspended in the support rail (22), and / or - a ring (134) of an instrument (133) can be suspended on the support rail (22).

Description

[0001] Applicant:

[0002] Aesculap AG

[0003] At Aesculap-Platz 78532 Tuttlingen

[0004] 03920025WC

[0005] Title: Device for positioning a sieve basket and

[0006] System with a mounting rail

[0007] Description

[0008] The invention relates to a device for positioning a sieve basket in a container.

[0009] In DE 10 2020 131104 Al a sterilizing sieve with a locking handle is designed and intended for insertion into and removal from a container tray.

[0010] DE 10 2018 104 942 Al and DE 10 2020 103 131 Al disclose further sterilizing sieves. DE 10 2023 109 767 Al discloses a device for positioning a sieve basket in a container.

[0011] The device for positioning a sieve basket in a container according to independent claim 1 provides that the device has a mechanical interface to the container which is designed to restrict movement of the sieve basket relative to the container, wherein the device comprises two holding devices, each of which has:

[0012] - a mechanical interface for connection to the sieve basket,

[0013] - a receptacle for fastening at least one support rail extending from the first holding device to the second holding device, wherein the support rail is designed in such a way as to

[0014] - that another sieve basket can be hung in the support rail, and / or

[0015] - that a ring of an instrument can be hung on the support rail.

[0016] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device has two support rails that extend parallel to each other at a distance, allowing the additional sieve basket to be suspended in both support rails simultaneously. This ensures that the additional sieve basket is securely held. Advantageously, the additional sieve basket can be slid along the support rails. In another advantageous embodiment, the mounting has holes, particularly elongated holes, into which the support rail is inserted. The support rail can have two ends, angled at 90°, each of which is inserted into the holes of the two holding devices. Areas of the support rail adjacent to the angled ends can be supported by lateral support walls of the holding devices. This secures the support rail against falling out while still allowing for easy removal.This design even makes it possible for only one of the two ends of the support rail to be swung out of the holding device.

[0017] A round bar for the support rail can be particularly advantageous. Round bars are beneficial for cleaning because they do not leave water stains. Furthermore, a round bar can be easily bent or manufactured and hooked into the holding devices.

[0018] Instead, the mounting rail can also have a different profile, such as an L-profile, an I-profile, a U-profile, a Z-profile, a T-profile or a double-T-profile.

[0019] A machine-readable interface can be provided for recognizing the sieve basket and / or its position and / or orientation, enabling improved gripping and positioning by a robot. In one embodiment, the holding device has a mechanical interface for connection to the sieve basket, in particular a lug and / or a locking mechanism for a force-fit and / or form-fit connection to the sieve basket, and / or a joining point for gluing and / or screwing to the sieve basket. This holding device 1 thus represents a sieve basket positioning element that can be arranged on a conventional sieve basket without such a sieve basket positioning element. The sieve baskets themselves do not need to be modified.

[0020] In one embodiment, the holding device, particularly in the area of ​​the nose and / or the locking mechanism, has at least one rinsing channel passing through the device. This makes the holding device particularly suitable for automated cleaning and for use in a sterilization container.

[0021] In one embodiment, the sieve basket and the holding device are formed as a single piece. This means that the sieve basket itself incorporates the function of the sieve basket positioning element.

[0022] Preferably, the interface to the gripper comprises the machine-readable interface for detecting the sieve basket and / or the machine-readable interface for detecting the position and / or orientation of the sieve basket. This arrangement is particularly compact.

[0023] Preferably, the mechanical interface to the

[0024] The container has a section to reduce play between the sieve basket and the container. This prevents wear and tear on the

[0025] sieve basket and container reduced.

[0026] Preferably, the device has a surface which includes the machine-readable interface for detecting the sieve basket and / or the machine-readable interface for detecting the position of the sieve basket.

[0027] In one embodiment, the machine-readable interface for detecting the sieve basket and / or the machine-readable interface for detecting the position and / or orientation of the sieve basket is embossed into the surface, printed onto the surface, or produced by machining or subtraction. The latter can be done, in particular, using a laser. This device is especially easy to mass-produce.

[0028] In one version, the surface is designed for stacking another sieve basket. This allows several sieve baskets to be arranged on top of each other.

[0029] In one implementation, the mechanical interface to the gripper encompasses the surface. This enables better gripping with the robot.

[0030] Preferably, the machine-readable interface for recognizing the sieve basket comprises an optically readable marker, in particular a barcode, a Data Matrix code, alphanumeric data, or a QR code, which machine-readably encodes a type identifier of the sieve basket. In one embodiment, the machine-readable interface for recognizing the position and / or orientation comprises a symbol with a unique indication of the symbol's orientation. This enables an unambiguous indication of the orientation and position, i.e., in six degrees of freedom.

[0031] It may be provided that the holding device includes a transmitter configured to send an electromagnetic signal, in particular a Bluetooth Low Energy signal or a Radio Frequency Identification signal, for detecting the sieve basket, wherein the machine-readable interface for detecting the sieve basket includes the transmitter and / or that the holding device includes a transmitter configured to send an electromagnetic signal, in particular a Bluetooth Low Energy signal or a Radio Frequency Identification signal, for detecting the position and / or orientation of the sieve basket, wherein the machine-readable interface for detecting the position and / or orientation includes the transmitter.

[0032] It may be provided that the transmitter is glued to the device and / or fixed by force or form locking, or that the device is at least partially made of plastic, with the transmitter being surrounded by the plastic.

[0033] The system comprises the device and a container. The container may include a basin for receiving the sieve basket. The sieve basket can be inserted into the basin of the container using the holding device and adapted such that the mechanical interface for restricting the movement of the sieve basket within the container rests against an inner wall of the basin. Further advantageous embodiments are described below.

[0034] The description can be found in the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0035] Figure 1A shows a first example of a

[0036] Holding device in a perspective view

[0037] Illustration, wherein the holding device has support rails ,

[0038] Figure 1B shows a top view of the holding device,

[0039] Figure IC shows a section of the view,

[0040] Figure 2A shows a top view of a sieve basket with two

[0041] Holding devices in a sterile goods container,

[0042] Figure 2B shows a section from the top view.

[0043] Figure 3 is a perspective view of two stacked sieve baskets, each with two

[0044] Holding facilities,

[0045] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a sieve basket with two holding devices inserted into a

[0046] Sterile containers,

[0047] Figure 5a for a second embodiment in a

[0048] A holding device is shown analogously to Fig. 1B.

[0049] Figure 5b two views of a section of the

[0050] Holding device in which one end of the support rail is received,

[0051] Figure 6 in a first perspective view a

[0052] Sieve basket with two holding devices according to Figures 1 to 4, with two support rails and with a further

[0053] sieve basket, and

[0054] Figure 7 shows a medical instrument located on one of the

[0055] The support rails from Fig. 6 are suspended. Figure 1A shows one of two holding devices 1. The sieve basket positioning element is an example of a device for positioning a sieve basket in a container. In this example, the container is a sterile goods container.

[0056] Where the terms "top", "bottom", "top", "bottom", etc. are used below, they refer to the installation position of the sieve basket within the sterile container.

[0057] The holding devices 1 can be arranged on the sieve basket. In the example, the holding devices 1 can be arranged on an upper edge of the sieve basket.

[0058] It may be provided that the holding devices 1 are instead made in one piece with the sieve basket .

[0059] The holding devices 1 can be made of plastic or metal. It is possible for the holding devices 1 to be made partly of plastic and / or partly of metal.

[0060] Each of the retaining elements 1 comprises a first mechanical interface 2, which is designed to restrict movement of the sieve basket within the sterile container. The first mechanical interface 2 is an interface to the sterile container. In this example, the first mechanical interface 2 comprises sections for reducing play between the sieve basket and the sterile container. These sections are arranged on at least one outer edge section of the retaining elements 1. Three sections are provided in this example. It is possible for the first mechanical interface 2 to comprise one, two, or more than three sections.

[0061] The holding device 1 comprises a second mechanical interface 3, which is designed for gripping the holding device 1. The second mechanical interface 3 is a gripping interface. In this example, the second mechanical interface 3 comprises two surfaces. It is possible for the second mechanical interface 3 to comprise one or more than two surfaces.

[0062] The holding device 1 in the example has two corner pieces 24 and a web 23 that connects the two corner pieces 24. In the example, the corner pieces 24 are designed as lateral stops for a gripper to grasp the holding devices 1. In the example, each corner piece 24 encompasses one of the two gripping surfaces.

[0063] The mechanical interfaces 3 each have a receptacle 20 for attaching a support rail 22. The receptacle 20 is designed as a recess with an elongated hole 21, as shown in Fig. 1B. The two support rails 22 have ends angled at 90°, which are inserted into the elongated holes 21 and protrude downwards from the elongated holes 21. Due to the elongated shape of the elongated holes 21, the support rails 22 have play in the direction of their longitudinal extension relative to at least one of the retaining devices 1. In one embodiment, the retaining device 1 has at least one flushing channel 4. In the example, four spaced-apart flushing channels are provided for each corner piece 24. In the example, the flushing channels are partly elongated and partly arcuate. The flushing channels can also have a different shape. More or fewer than four flushing channels can also be provided.

[0064] In one embodiment, the holding device 1 comprises a first machine-readable interface 5 for detecting the position and / or orientation of the sieve basket. The first interface 5 specifies the position and / or orientation of the sieve basket. A coordinate system for navigation or position determination is, for example, fixed with respect to the sterile container. Based on the detected position of the first machine-readable interface 5, the position of the sieve basket is known. Based on the detected orientation of the first machine-readable interface 5, the orientation of the sieve basket is known.

[0065] In the example, the first machine-readable interface 5 is printed on one of the surfaces for the robotic gripper. It is also possible for the first machine-readable interface 5 to be embossed into this surface.

[0066] It may be provided that the side of the surface facing away from the first machine-readable interface 5 includes one or more undercuts. This enables a secure gripping or holding of the second, attached sieve basket during accelerations caused by changes in direction of movement.

[0067] The first machine-readable interface 5 comprises, in one implementation form, a symbol with a unique indication of the symbol's position and orientation. In the example, the symbol comprises an arrow running parallel to one of the side edges or at a defined angle to the side edges. Alternatively, the symbol can also be a circle with diagonals intersecting at right angles, each running parallel to two of the side edges of the sieve basket. A compass needle can be depicted at a defined angle to the diagonals. Based on the recognized orientation of the second machine-readable interface 5, the orientation of the sieve basket is known.

[0068] By determining the position, the position and / or orientation of the sieve basket relative to the sterile container can be determined. It may be intended that the height of the sieve basket relative to the sterile container is not specified.

[0069] The first machine-readable interface 5 comprises, in one implementation form, a first transmitter. The first transmitter is configured to send a first electromagnetic signal for detecting the position and / or orientation of the sieve basket. The first electromagnetic signal is, for example, a Bluetooth Low Energy signal or a Radio Frequency Identification signal.

[0070] It may be provided that the first machine-readable interface 5 includes the symbol and the first sender. In one embodiment, the holding device 1 includes a second machine-readable interface 6 for detecting the sieve basket.

[0071] In the example, the second machine-readable interface 6 is printed on the other of the surfaces for the gripper. It is also possible that the second machine-readable interface 6 is embossed into this surface.

[0072] It may be provided that the side of the surface facing away from the second machine-readable interface 6 includes one or more undercuts. This enables a secure gripping or holding of the sieve basket during accelerations caused by changes in direction of movement.

[0073] The second machine-readable interface 6 includes, in one implementation form, an optically readable marker that machine-readably encodes a type identifier of the sieve basket. The optically readable marker is, for example, a barcode, a Data Matrix code, or a QR code. In one implementation form, the optically readable marker contains alphanumeric data.

[0074] The second machine-readable interface 6 includes, in one embodiment, a second transmitter. The second transmitter is configured to send a second electromagnetic signal for detecting the sieve basket. This second electromagnetic signal is, for example, a Bluetooth Low Energy signal or a Radio Frequency Identification signal. It is possible for the first machine-readable interface 5 and the second machine-readable interface 6 to be arranged on a common surface.

[0075] It may be provided that instead of the first transmitter and the second transmitter, a common transmitter is provided that sends the first and the second electromagnetic signal.

[0076] The common transmitter, or the first transmitter, or the second transmitter can be glued or fixed to the device 1 by force-fit and / or form-fit. It may be provided that the device 1 is at least partially made of plastic and that the common transmitter, or the first transmitter, or the second transmitter is surrounded by the plastic.

[0077] Figure 1B shows a top view of the holding device 1. The holding device 1 has a third mechanical interface 7, which is designed to connect the holding device 1 to the sieve basket. The third mechanical interface 7 is an interface to the sieve basket. The third mechanical interface 7 is omitted if the sieve basket and the holding device 1 are formed in one piece.

[0078] Figure IC shows a section A from the view. Section A includes one of the two corner pieces 24. In the example, the two corner pieces 24 are identical.

[0079] In this example, the third mechanical interface 7 of each corner piece 24 comprises six lugs 8 for a force-fit and / or form-fit connection with the sieve basket. More or fewer than four lugs may be provided. The corner piece 24 has, for example, two legs with a groove. On one leg, two lugs are arranged at the edge of the groove, projecting into the groove. On the other leg, two lugs are arranged at the edge of the groove, projecting into the groove, with a lug on the opposite side of the groove projecting into the groove between the two lugs. The groove is designed to receive the upper edge of the sieve basket.

[0080] In the area of ​​the noses, in the example, a rinsing channel 4 is arranged in each case, passing through the device 1.

[0081] The third mechanical interface 7 may also or instead have a locking mechanism for force-fit and / or form-fit connection with the sieve basket.

[0082] The third mechanical interface 7 may also or instead have a joining point for bonding.

[0083] The third mechanical interface 7 may also or instead have a joint for screwing to the sieve basket.

[0084] Figure 2A shows a top view of an exemplary sieve basket 9 with two holding devices 1 in a sterile container 10. In this example, two identical holding devices 1 are provided. The holding devices 1 are arranged on opposite sides of the sterile container 10.

[0085] In this example, a holding device 1 is arranged on each short side of the sieve basket 9. The corner pieces 24 are each arranged at a corner of the sieve basket 9. In this example, the first machine-readable interface 5 and the second machine-readable interface 6 are arranged in a top view of the sterile container 10 from outside the sterile container 10.

[0086] Figure 2B shows a section B from the top view, which includes one of the two holding devices 1.

[0087] In this example, the first mechanical interface 2 touches an inner wall 11 of a tub of the sterile container 10. In this example, the surfaces for reducing the play between the sieve basket 9 are located against the inner wall 11 of the sterile container 10.

[0088] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of two stacked sieve baskets 9, each with two holding devices 1. In this example, the sieve baskets 9 are of different heights. The upper sieve basket 9 rests on the stacking surface provided on the lower sieve basket 9.

[0089] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the sieve basket 9 with two holding devices 1. The sieve basket is inserted into the sterile container 10.

[0090] In this system, the holding device 1 can be inserted into the tub of the container 10. The holding device 1 is adapted such that the first mechanical interface 2, which restricts the movement of the sieve basket 9 in the container, rests against an inner wall 11 of the tub and significantly limits the movement of the sieve basket 9. Figures 5a and 5b show a second embodiment of the holding device 101 for the system. The following discussion focuses primarily on the differences compared to the previous embodiment. Identical areas of the holding device 101 are not explained in detail. Reference numbers for similar components are increased by one hundred compared to the previous embodiment.

[0091] Figure 5a shows, in a representation analogous to Figure 1b, one of the two holding devices 101. The interface to the grip is minimized compared to the previous embodiment, so that the interface is not machine-readable and also has no surface with an optically readable marker. Instead, a concave reinforcing rib 130 is formed on each of the corner pieces 124j, which reinforces the holding device 101 on the inside at this otherwise breakage-prone point. The reinforcing rib 130 follows a contour of the edge, i.e., the upper edge of the sieve basket 9 (Fig. 6).

[0092] Figure 5a also shows that the upper edge of the sieve basket 9 is arcuate in the area of ​​the corner pieces 124 of the holding device 101, so that the respective associated mechanical interface 107 also has a radius 125. In relation to these radii 125 of the mechanical interfaces 107, the inner radii 127 of the reinforcing ribs 130 are offset in the direction of extension of a web 123 of the holding device 101, specifically in the direction facing each other.

[0093] The holding device 101 has two receptacles 120 for attaching two support rails (not shown in Fig. 5a). The two support rails extend from the first holding device 101 to the second holding device 101. The two support rails extend parallel to each other and spaced apart.

[0094] The support rails have two ends angled at 90°, each inserted into elongated holes 121 of the two retaining devices 101. Instead of elongated holes 121, round holes with a larger diameter than the diameter of the support rail, which is designed as a round bar preferably made of corrosion-resistant steel, could also be provided. This difference in diameter allows for the compensation of manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion. However, the elongated holes 121 have the advantage that the support rails 22 are already secured against displacement in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the support rails 22 by the elongated holes 121.

[0095] The right-hand portion of Figure 5b shows a view of part of the holding device in the direction of the support rail. The left-hand portion of Figure 5b shows a cutaway view in the direction of line AA. Figure 5b provides a more detailed view of one of the recesses for the support rail. In particular, the depth profile of the recess 120 is visible. This depth profile has an inclined insertion surface that secures the support rail against rotation.

[0096] The angled ends of each support rail are adjacent to sections of the support rail which are supported on lateral support walls 128, 129 of the holding devices 101. For this purpose, the respective receptacle 120 is designed as a groove-like recess which has an inner wall and is open at the top and in the direction of the other holding device 101. At one end 141 of the groove-like recess, where its inner wall is closed, the elongated hole 121 is arranged in the groove base 140.

[0097] Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of a system with interfaces 103 with surfaces for stacking. The holding devices 101 are otherwise designed analogously to the two preceding embodiments.

[0098] The angled ends 126 of the support rails 22 can be inserted into the elongated holes 21 (Fig. 1B). These ends 126 protrude partially beyond the underside of the corner pieces 124, so that the support rails 22 remain securely in their recesses 120 even during jerky transport.

[0099] The sieve basket 9, to whose upper edge the retaining devices 101 are attached, is hereinafter also referred to as the outer sieve basket 9 to distinguish it conceptually from another sieve basket 131. The outer sieve basket 9 is cuboid with sides of unequal length, so that the outer sieve basket 9 is not cube-shaped and does not have a square base. The support rails 22 extend parallel to the long sides. In contrast, the retaining devices 101 are attached to the short sides.

[0100] The additional sieve basket 131 is suspended in the support rails 22 and can therefore also be removed from the outer sieve basket 9. This additional sieve basket 131 is smaller than the outer sieve basket 9 in all three of its dimensions.

[0101] The additional sieve basket 131 is thus completely enclosed within the outer sieve basket 9. Alternatively, it would be possible for the additional sieve basket 131 to protrude slightly above the upper edge of the outer sieve basket 9. In any case, both sieve baskets 131 and 9 are open at their tops, so that instruments can be placed inside for sterilization and subsequently removed. A lid can optionally be provided for the additional sieve basket 131. With such a lid, for example in the form of a hinged flap attached to the additional sieve basket 131, small parts can be enclosed within the additional sieve basket 131. In any case, the additional sieve basket 131 creates another level for instrument storage. To facilitate access to the instruments in the outer sieve basket 9, the additional sieve basket 131 can be slidable on the support rails 22.The additional sieve basket 131 has guide plates 132 which are slidably mounted on the support rails 22 with their inner surfaces. Two guide plates 132 are provided for each support rail 22. These four guide plates 132 are distributed across the four corners of the additional sieve basket 131. Alternatively, a single, continuous guide plate could also be provided.

[0102] Figure 7 shows that additional instruments 133 with rings 134 can be suspended from the support rail 22. If the instrument 133—here, for example, scissors—has a closed ring 134, the closed ring 134 can be threaded onto the support rail 22, similar to a loop. In this method of threading the instruments, the support rail 22 is pulled or pivoted upwards out of the holding device 101, at least on one side, and the ring 134 of the instrument 133 is slid over the support rail 22. The support rail 22 is then reinserted into the receptacle 120 of the holding device 101, and the instrument 133 is sterilized. Several instruments with rings can also be lined up on the support rail 22. The 90° bent ends 126 of the support rail 22 prevent the instruments 133 with ring from unintentionally slipping off.Provided the ring of the instrument is open, the support rail 22 does not need to be lifted out of the holding device 101 in order to hook the instrument in.

[0103] The retaining devices 101 can be attached to and removed from the sieve basket 9 without tools. The support rails 22 can also be attached to and removed from the retaining devices 101 without tools.

[0104] The systems of the exemplary embodiments can be combined with each other in any way. In particular, sieve baskets of the second exemplary embodiment (without a machine-readable interface or optically readable marker) can also be stacked on top of each other. A sieve basket with support rails can also be stacked with a sieve basket whose holding device does not have a mounting for support rails and / or has a machine-readable interface or an optically readable marker.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (1) for positioning a sieve basket in a container (10) which has a mechanical interface (2) to the container (10) which is designed to restrict movement of the sieve basket (9) relative to the container (10), wherein the device (1) comprises two holding devices, each having: - a mechanical interface (7) for connection with the sieve basket (9) , - a receptacle (20) for fastening at least one support rail (22) extending from the first holding device (1) to the second holding device (1), wherein the support rail (22) is designed such that - that another sieve basket (131) can be hung in the support rail (22), and / or - that a ring (134) of an instrument (133) can be suspended from the support rail (22).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has two support rails (22) which extend parallel and spaced apart from each other, so that the further sieve basket (131) can be suspended in both support rails (22) simultaneously.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the further sieve basket (9) is slidable on the support rails (22).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (120) has holes, in particular elongated holes (121), into which the support rail (22) can be inserted.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support rail (22) has two ends (126) angled, in particular at an angle of 90°, which are each inserted into the holes of the two holding devices (101) and that areas of the support rail (22) adjacent to the angled ends (126) can be supported on lateral support walls of the holding devices (101).

6. Device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the support rail (22) is a round bar.

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical interface (7) for connection with the sieve basket (9) has a lug (8) and / or a locking mechanism for force-fit and / or form-fit connection with the sieve basket (9).

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical interface (2) to the container (10) has a section for Reduction of play between sieve basket (9) and container (10) is included.

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 8, characterized in that the surface is designed for stacking a further sieve basket (9).

10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding devices (1) are made at least primarily of plastic and the support rail (22) is made at least primarily of metal, in particular steel, in particular corrosion-resistant steel.

11. System comprising the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and a container (10).

12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the container (10) comprises a trough for receiving the sieve basket (9), wherein the sieve basket (9) is connected to the Holding device (1) is inserted into the tub of the container (10).

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