EP2135046A1

EP2135046A1 - Container unit for storing and protecting laboratory substances

Info

Publication number: EP2135046A1
Application number: EP08718332A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias Gietenbruch; Paul Lüchinger
Original assignee: Mettler Toledo AG
Current assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH Germany
Priority date: 2007-04-10
Filing date: 2008-03-28
Publication date: 2009-12-23
Also published as: US8648719B2; CN101652640B; US20100012678A1; WO2008122529A1; CN101652642B; CN101652640A; JP2010523420A; CN101652642A; US20100007493A1; EP2140236A1; JP2010527849A; WO2008122528A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container unit for storing and protecting laboratory substances, comprising a protective housing and at least one metering unit. To establish the operational readiness of the metering unit(s), the protective housing can be removed. The aim of the invention is to achieve the simplest and safest possible handling and to provide the required protection for the laboratory substance contained within. To achieve this, at least one chamber filled with a treatment agent is provided in the protective housing. The chamber or chambers has or have a passage that is oriented towards the interior and said passage can be sealed in a gas-tight manner by means of a chamber seal. Preferably the chamber is already filled with the treatment agent and sealed in a gas-tight manner by means of the chamber seal during the production process for the protective housing.

Description

CONTAINER UNIT FOR STORAGE AND PROTECTION OF LABORATORY SUBSTANCES

The present invention relates to a container unit for the storage and protection of powdered and pasty substances in amounts which are typical for laboratory applications.

In regionally or globally operating companies, where new substances are developed and intermediates as well as samples from production processes are analyzed, a large amount of time is spent over the entire work process for the necessary logistics processes to distribute these substances in different places in the laboratory or in different laboratories distributed worldwide

Dispensing dispensing containers in receptacles. Especially with dangerous substances, such as toxic or carcinogenic substances, the necessary safety precautions are very time consuming and expensive. The cost of a large dosing system with automatic substance replenishment can not be justified in this type of application, because such systems are very expensive.

To make the workflow more efficient, therefore, there is a need for low-cost dispensers, so that several of these devices can be placed in different locations. Such dosing devices are particularly advantageous if they are designed as retrofittable units, which can be used in high-precision analytical balances. In FR 2 846 632 A1, a

Dosing unit discloses which can be inserted into an actuator and removed from it. The dosing unit essentially consists of a storage container, which is connected to a dosing head. The dosing head has an outlet opening, which can be opened and closed by means of a slide valve. For the purpose of storing the dosing unit with substance contained therein, the entire dosing head, or its openings with an attachable protective cap against the environment can be completed. The disclosed dosing unit is suitable for use in so-called compound libraries, which are often huge substance storage systems with defined and controlled climatic conditions. However, if the dosing units are to be shipped worldwide, special attention must be paid to the protection of the dosing unit and the substance contained therein, for example with measures against the ingress of moisture or contamination and to avoid personal accidents, which, for example, inadvertent leakage of toxic substances could be caused.

In an effort to protect the integrity of the substance and avoid the risk of personal injury, the present invention therefore seeks to provide a laboratory substance container unit.

- which is safe and easy to use,

- which protects the substance contained in it from external influences, for example moisture and impurities,

the personal injuries which could be caused, for example, by substance escaping from the dosing unit and which prevents the unauthorized removal of laboratory substances, and

if appropriate, has means for acquiring information regarding the nature and condition of the substance contained in the dosing unit.

The stated aim is fulfilled by a laboratory substance container unit for the storage and protection of laboratory substances according to the independent device claim.

A laboratory substance container unit for storing and protecting laboratory substances comprises a protective housing and a dosing unit. The dosing unit has a storage container and a dosing head, wherein the protective housing is detachably connected to the dosing unit. For transport and storage purposes, the protective housing encloses at least all gas-permeable areas of the dosing head, whereby between the dosing unit and the protective housing a tightly sealed against the environment interior is present. To create the operational readiness of the dosing unit, the protective housing of the Dosing unit removable. Preferably, the protective housing is connected by means of a threaded connection of low pitch, by means of a bayonet lock with locking element or by means of sealable clamp closures with the metering unit. The protective housing has primarily the function that it forms a shield between the environment and the laboratory substance in the dosing unit, so that in particular leakage passages are blocked in the dosing. This lock is necessary because it is almost impossible to make the dosing permanently airtight. The possible leakage passages, which lead via the dosing into the reservoir, in particular comprise the outlet opening and optionally bores in the dosing head for the clutch

Outflow control device and the connection between the dosing and the reservoir. The protective housing furthermore has the function of a barrier wall surrounding the dosing head, so that substance particles which could adhere to the outside of the dosing head in the region of the outflow opening remain in the interior of the protective housing under secure closure and pose no danger to persons and the environment.

In order to achieve a simple and safe handling and to develop the required protective effect for the laboratory substance contained therein, at least one chamber is formed in the protective housing, which is filled with a treatment agent. The at least one chamber has a directed against the interior passage opening, wherein the passage opening can be closed gas-tight with a chamber closure. The existing in the chamber treatment agent may preferably be filled during the production process of the protective housing in the chamber and sealed gas-tight with the chamber closure.

The chamber may be formed in the protective housing such that the treatment agent can be filled from the outside into the chamber. The protective housing can also be designed in several parts, for example, also include on the outside of the protective housing, connected by means of openings with the interior chambers connected to the protective housing. - A -

Although in everyday use completely gas-tight sealable laboratory containers are known in which, for example, bags are included with moisture treatment agents directly with the substance. In comparison with this usual way of storage, the arrangement according to the invention has enormous advantages in comparison.

The treatment agent is always spatially separated from the laboratory substance, there are no problems with the treatment agent in the removal of laboratory substance and in the handling of the laboratory substance container unit. Furthermore, the treatment agent is already present and in an impeccable, for example, unsaturated state, when the chamber closure of the protective housing is opened immediately before the connection of the dosing unit with the protective housing and thus the effect of the treatment agent is activated. An already opened chamber closure of a protective housing clearly indicates that the protective housing was already in use, the treatment agent may be saturated and therefore ineffective and the inside of the protective housing may be contaminated. It may therefore be advantageous if the

The chamber lock can not be closed again. Optionally, a tear-off tab formed on the protective housing or a tear-off adhesive seal can be used as a chamber closure.

Depending on the laboratory substance to be stored, different treatment agents can be used. Known possible treatment agents are, for example, binders such as silicate gel, molecular sieve, activated carbon and activated clay (potash-provided concrete). However, the treatment agent does not necessarily have to be a binder. There are also treatment agents in the chamber can be filled, which bind or displace, for example, the oxygen in the air. Of course, in the case of displacing treatment agents, an outlet must be present between the interior space and the environment, for example a pressure relief valve. The treatment agent is preferably present in solid form, but of course it can also be filled in liquid or gaseous form in the chamber, wherein the chamber closure or the passage opening must be designed according to the state of aggregation of the treatment agent. For special solutions even reaction components could be filled into the chambers, which during the storage time deliberately a change in the Laboratory substance in the reservoir should effect. Such special solutions could be used, for example, in aging tests by filling in place of the treatment agent, for example, water or even an oxygen carrier such as potassium nitrate.

The passage opening can of course be designed very different. Preferably, it is designed so that no treatment agent can penetrate through the passage opening into the interior, the passage opening, however, is gas-permeable. When using coarse-grained silicate gel, for example, a sieve insert is sufficient, while with fine powders, preferably a gas-permeable membrane or a tissue is arranged in the passage opening.

If the same protective housing is to be used several times, this may include more than one chamber, each chamber having its own chamber closure. In one possible embodiment, each of these chambers can be filled with another treatment agent, so that the treatment agent suitable for the laboratory substance can be activated by opening the corresponding chamber closure. Each chamber closure can of course be provided with appropriate instructions. Of course, multiple treatment agents can be activated simultaneously by removing multiple chamber closures.

So that the laboratory substance container unit or its storage container can be filled with a laboratory substance in a simple manner, the storage container can have a substance receiving space and a filling opening. This filling opening is tightly closable with a lid, whereby the substance receiving space can be sealed against the environment. Preferably, the connection point between the lid and the filling opening is designed such that the lid can not be opened after the single closure.

Thus, the laboratory substance can be easily filled, the lid is advantageously not included in the protective housing, so that the lid and the protective housing are independently connected to the metering unit. Also, the lid may have at least one lidded chamber. This has a closed reservoir to the substance-receiving space directed towards the lid chamber passage opening. The cover chamber passage opening can also be closed gas-tight with a chamber closure. The statements in the description of one or more chambers and their chamber closures apply mutatis mutandis to the lid chambers.

Especially with large substance storage systems, it is invaluable if the stored substances can be individually monitored. In order to make it possible to check the condition of the treatment agent or of the laboratory substance, at least one indicator and / or one sensor can be arranged in the at least one chamber and / or in the interior and / or, if present, in the lid chamber. The sensor may be a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a gas sensor or an optical sensor.

Advantageously, the at least one sensor is connected wirelessly or via connecting lines to a monitoring unit arranged in the laboratory substance container unit and / or connected to an externally arranged monitoring unit. The external monitoring unit may be connected to the substance storage management system. As soon as irregularities occur in a laboratory substance container unit, for example, the robot connected to the substance storage management system could automatically pick up the corresponding laboratory substance container unit and place it in a dispensing or disposal station.

If the chamber and, if present, the lid chamber is provided with a viewing window and an indicator, the condition of the treating agent or the indoor conditions prevailing in the laboratory substance container unit can also be detected optically. Such an indicator may be a treating agent such as silicate gel itself, which undergoes a color change from blue to red once it has a certain moisture saturation. The monitoring unit described above can then monitor the condition of the treatment agent by means of an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor does not even have to be arranged in the interior of the laboratory substance container unit, but instead Color change through the viewing window can capture. The optical sensor can then be permanently installed in the parking space of a laboratory substance container unit.

Of course, the reservoir and / or at least one housing part of the dosing head and / or the protective housing can be made of transparent material. This can easily be checked how much substance is still in the

Laboratory substance container unit is present. Furthermore, it can also be checked whether the dosing head is still sealed or whether laboratory substance is already in the interior of the protective housing and thus there is a risk of contamination when removing the protective housing.

In order to protect the laboratory substance filled in the laboratory substance container unit from damaging radiation from the environment, the transparent material may have filter properties for specific light wavelengths or be coated with a material having these filter properties.

If the coated material having filter properties is arranged in the interior, this may also have indicator properties. For example, if too high a relative humidity is present in the interior, the coating material may, for example, become discolored or even opaque due to moisture. The coating material itself can also absorb some of the moisture and thereby serve as a treatment agent.

In an advantageous embodiment, the reservoir further comprises a

Scale marking on, so that the amount of substance in the reservoir can be determined by means of simple visual inspection.

In order to facilitate handling, the protective housing preferably has a flat underside which forms a stable base for the laboratory substance container unit. Due to the stable base, the reservoir can be safely and easily filled with a laboratory substance.

The storage container and the dosing head of the dosing unit need not necessarily be detachably connected to each other. Provided a lid and a filling opening are present, the reservoir and the dosing may also be integrally connected to each other.

In addition to the chambers, the protective housing can have at least one gas inlet and / or a vacuum connection, which contains a check valve and can be connected to a gas supply or a vacuum pump. The connection of the protective housing with the gas supply or the vacuum pump can be maintained permanently during a storage period or exist only briefly for filling or evacuation. By the gas supply or vacuum pump in the interior of the protective housing either a gas or vacuum atmosphere can be generated, which propagates through the dosing through and into the reservoir and replaces the air in the dosing unit. As a result, for example, the duration of action of the treatment agent filled in the at least one chamber can be influenced. A negative pressure present in the protective housing and in the dosing unit, or a partial vacuum, can act as an additional safety measure, since in the event of a leak, air penetrates into the laboratory substance container unit, but thereby no substance can escape from the laboratory substance container unit into the environment. A hermetic seal is required to maintain the gaseous or partial vacuum inside the container unit. The container unit and the reservoir must of course be carried out sufficiently stable pressure.

In addition to or instead of the gas connection, the protective housing may further comprise at least one externally operable gas cartridge for flooding the interior with a gas. An external actuation means that the dosing unit is first provided with the protective housing and the valve of the gas cartridge can be operated, for example, by means of a pressure or rotary knob accessible from the environment. Depending on the design, the valve of the gas cartridge can be irreversibly opened or closed again. If the valve of the gas cartridge can be closed again, with repeated removal of the protective housing in each case after assembly of the laboratory substance container unit whose interior can be flooded again. Advantageously, there should be an opening with a check valve, so that through the gas of the gas cartridge displaced air can escape from the interior into the environment. Such an opening may also be the connection point between the protective housing and the dosing unit when the housing expands under the effect of pressure in the interior so that a short-term leak forms via the connection point and an excessively high pressure in the interior can be reduced by this leak.

In a further embodiment, a marking means can furthermore be arranged on the storage container and / or on the dosing head and / or on the protective housing. This identification means is preferably an RFID tag, a bar code or matrix code tag or a printed or handwritten adhesive label.

Another security element may be the sealing of the laboratory substance container unit with a tamper-proof protective label or a so-called "tamper-proof seal", which protective label for removal of the dosing unit from the protective housing in a visible manner breakable.

By means of a cup-shaped design of the protective housing, the dosing material optionally adhering to the outside of the dosing head accumulates in particular in the interior. Optionally, an insert can be arranged in the interior of the protective housing, which binds the laboratory substance particles to itself. Such inserts could be, for example, a felt insert or a microfibre fabric insert which electrostatically attracts the laboratory substance particles. Of course, other deposits such as a wet sponge, a suction device, rotating cleaning brushes and the like can be used.

Of course, the handling of the laboratory substance container unit described above can be automated by means of a laboratory robot. The laboratory robot could use the methods described below.

In a method for filling, transporting and storing a laboratory substance container unit The storage container of the dosing unit, with which the protective housing is connected as a base and whose filling opening is exposed at the top, filled with a laboratory substance,

If present, the chamber closure of the cover chamber passage opening is removed or opened and the filling opening is closed with the cover,

• the laboratory substance container unit is suitably marked, if necessary sealed and stored or shipped to its destination.

In a method for dispensing substance from a filled laboratory substance container unit

The protective housing is removed from the dosing unit while the top opening remains closed with the lid,

The dosing unit is connected to an actuating device and placed in position over a receptacle,

• the dosing process started,

• After dosing the predetermined amount of substance (s) into one or more receptacles, the dosing removed from the actuator, the chamber closure of at least one chamber removed or opened and the dosing unit again connected to the protective housing and

• The laboratory substance container unit is again stored or disposed of.

As described above, a monitoring unit for monitoring one or more laboratory substance container units may be present. A method for monitoring a filled and stored laboratory substance container unit may comprise the following method steps: • there is a measuring signal connection between the sensor permanently or intermittently or by means of a user input initialized with the monitoring unit,

• the monitoring unit continuously and periodically or once receives and records measurement signals emitted by the sensor,

At least one measurement signal received by the monitoring unit or a measured value obtained from the measurement signal is compared with at least one threshold value stored in the monitoring unit,

• when a threshold value is exceeded, a warning signal is sent to the

Monitoring unit associated output unit or transmitted to the indicator.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the indicator is not necessarily a substance which indicates a change, for example by means of a color change. An indicator may also be an electronic component which has a monitoring unit and an output unit and optionally a sensor. The threshold value represents a value whose exceeding may have negative effects on the laboratory substance located in the laboratory substance container unit. Thus, for example, for a particular powdered laboratory substance, a relative humidity in the interior of 0% to 15% still have no influence on their flowability, as soon as the value of 15% is exceeded, the individual powder particles stick together. The threshold in this example would thus be 15%.

Furthermore, it would also be possible to define a limit value, for example a maximum permissible temperature, above which the total destruction of the laboratory substance must be assumed. A repeated exceeding of a threshold value, in the second example a lower temperature than the limit value, at which the decomposition process of the laboratory substance begins, could in connection with the Overflow duration of the threshold value are summed up and thus allow a lifetime calculation of the laboratory substance.

Details of the laboratory substance container unit according to the invention can be seen from the description of the exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings. It shows:

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a laboratory substance container unit, wherein the dosing unit is partially pulled out of the protective housing.

FIG. 2 shows an empty laboratory substance container unit in section and in the assembled state with a closed chamber filled with treatment agent; FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a filled laboratory substance container unit in section in assembled state ready for storage or for transport, wherein the lid has a lid chamber; FIG.

4 shows a filled laboratory substance container unit in section, which essentially corresponds to the laboratory substance container unit in FIG. 3, but has an automatic chamber closure;

Fig. 5 is a filled laboratory substance container unit in section, which in

Substantially corresponds to the laboratory substance container unit in Figure 3, but has a first embodiment of a rotatable chamber closure;

Fig. 6 is a filled laboratory substance container unit in section, which in

Substantially corresponds to the laboratory substance container unit in Figure 3, but has a second embodiment of a rotatable chamber closure.

FIG. 1 shows a laboratory substance container unit 1 according to a first embodiment. A dosing unit 2 with a storage container 3 and a dosing head 5 is shown in a partially pulled out of a protective housing 15 position. The reservoir 3, which looks like a small bulk silo and a cylindrical upper portion 8 and a funnel-shaped lower portion 9, is preferably made of a transparent material and has division marks 50, so that the amount of laboratory substance in the reservoir 3 can be easily estimated.

In connection with the spatial orientation of the laboratory substance container unit

I or one of its components, terms such as "upper range", "lower range", "above", "below", etc. always refer to the orientation of the dosing unit in its ready state for dosing a substance, wherein the reservoir is at the top and the dosing head is at the bottom.

A lid 1 1 on top of the reservoir 3 closes a wide

Filling opening 10. In the illustrated example, the lid 11 has an internal thread, which engages in a first external thread 4 on the reservoir 3. The lid

I 1 may also include a sealing ring, not shown, or other suitable means for hermetically sealing the reservoir 3 to the environment. The reservoir 3 is at its lower end by a second

External thread 12, which engages in an internal thread in the dosing 5, connected to the dosing 5. Of course, the dosing head 5 and the reservoir 3 may also be integrally connected to each other. The reservoir 3 has a projecting shoulder 13 and a third external thread 14 at the transition from the cylindrical upper portion 8 to the funnel-shaped lower portion 9. The protective housing 15 can be tightly pressed with a matching internal thread 16 against the shoulder 13, screwed. To form a hermetically sealed conclusion between the metering unit 2 and the protective housing 15, a sealing ring, shown in Figures 2 and 3, between the shoulder 13 and the edge of the cup-shaped protective housing 15 could be inserted. The protective housing 15 could also be equipped with a gas or vacuum port 51, which can be connected via a valve, not shown gas supply or a vacuum pump to provide in the protective housing 15, either a gas or vacuum atmosphere, which extends through the gas permeable sites in the dosing head 5 spreads into the reservoir 3. The gas-permeable points in the dosing head 5 are given in particular by the closure element 6 movably mounted in the housing of the dosing head 5, by means of which the outlet cross-section of an outlet opening can be varied.

In order to make the dosing unit 2 uniquely identifiable, it may be provided with a marking means 19, for example a bar code label, or an RFID label. Preferably, however, all demountable parts such as the dosing head 5, the reservoir 3, the lid 1 1 and the protective housing 15 on a labeling means 19, so that they are clearly associated with each other identifiable and not due to confusion dangerous contaminants (cross-contamination) are generated ,

The protective housing 15 further includes a chamber 17 shown by broken lines. The chamber 17 can be viewed from the outside, since the protective housing 15 has a viewing window 18 in the region of the chamber 17.

In FIG. 2, an empty laboratory substance container unit 21 is shown in section and in the assembled state. The laboratory substance container unit 21 represents a second embodiment of the invention, which is almost identical to the laboratory substance container unit of Figure 1, but with the important exception that the reservoir 23 is closed at the top. This has the advantage that a filling opening and a cover omitted and thereby the risk of atmospheric leakage on the lid or accidental opening of the lid is avoided. On the other hand, however, the method for filling the laboratory substance in the reservoir 23 is more cumbersome than with the container unit in Figure 1. To fill the dosing unit 22 must be separated from the protective housing 35 and turned upside down, the dosing head 5 must be removed, and the laboratory substance must be filled through the smaller and less practical opening at the bottom.

In FIG. 2, the leaks or annular gaps between the housing of the dosing head 5 and the closure element 6 can be seen even better than in FIG. 1.

The protective housing 35 has the chamber 17 already described in FIG. Between the interior 28 of the protective housing 35 and the chamber 17 is a Passage opening 29 is arranged, which is closed gas-tight by a chamber closure 30. The chamber closure 30 shown in FIG. 2 is an adhesive film which covers and closes all bores of the passage opening 29 designed in the manner of a sieve. In the chamber 17, a treatment agent 52, for example, the desiccant silicate gel filled. By simply tearing away the

Chamber closure 30, the passage opening 29 is released, whereby the treatment agent 52 can extend its effect in the interior 28 and the Dosierkopf- leaks in the metering unit 22. The tearing or opening of the chamber closure 30 does not necessarily have to be carried out manually, it can also be made during the assembly of the

Protective housing 35 with the metering unit 22 automatically done. For example, the tear-away of an adhesive film or the unfolding of a closure lid could take place by means of a hook, not shown, formed on the dosing head 5. Through the viewing window 18 can be controlled whether the exemplified desiccant silicate gel has undergone a color change, that is, whether it is saturated with moisture or not. Of course, depending on the treatment agent 52, special indicators not shown in FIG. 2 may also be filled together with the treatment agent. For laboratory substances which release acidic vapors, for example, the treatment agent 52 could be a lime-containing substance, while the indicator is, for example, a litmus paper strip.

Of course, alternatively or additionally to the viewing window 18, at least one sensor 55 and at least one monitoring unit 56 connected to the sensor 55 may be present. It does not matter where the sensor 55 and the monitoring unit 56 are arranged. The only condition is that the sensor 55 can detect the desired state prevailing in the interior of the laboratory substance container unit 21 or its parameters, such as, for example, the relative humidity. The sensor 55 may, for example, be arranged inside the storage container 23 or inside the protective container 35 and be connected to the externally arranged monitoring unit 56 via a galvanic connection 57 or a radio connection 57. Furthermore, the sensor 55 may also be arranged externally, for example in the region of the viewing window 18, and for example detect the level of the filled in the chamber 17 treatment agent 52 or a color change of the indicator. Of course, both the sensor 55 and the monitoring unit 56 may be integrated in the protective housing 35.

Advantageously, the underside 27 of the protective housing 35 is formed flat, thereby forming a stable base or stand for the laboratory substance container unit 21. Of course, the protective housing 35 may not have mechanical and electrical coupling elements, for example, plug sockets or connecting cams. By means of these coupling elements, the laboratory substance container unit 23 can be conveniently and safely connected to other laboratory devices such as a multiple receptacle for the laboratory substance container units 21 or to a handling system, for example a laboratory robot.

FIG. 3 shows a laboratory substance container unit 101 in section in assembled state ready for storage or for transport. In the storage container 123 of the dosing unit 102, a laboratory substance 150 is filled. The reservoir 123 has, as in Figure 1, a filling opening, which is closed by a lid 11 1. In the lid 11 1, a lid chamber 131 is formed. Between the lid chamber 131 and the inside of the lid 1 1 1, a lid chamber passage opening 134 is formed, which is sealed gas-tight by means of a chamber closure 135. In the lid chamber 131, a filled with treatment agent, gas-permeable bag 133 and an indicator 132 is arranged. Due to the fact that the cover 1 11 is made of transparent plastic, the indicator 132 can be best observed from the outside.

In the protective housing 1 15 two chambers 1 17, 118 are formed, which each have a passage opening 129. A chamber 1 18 is still using a

Closure chamber 130 closed gas-tight, the other chamber 1 17 is open against the interior 128 of the protective housing 1 15 out. Thus, the chambers 1 17, 1 18 can be filled in a simple manner, also has each chamber 1 17, 1 18 a filling opening, which is closed by a sealing plug 1 19 gas-tight. This closure plug 1 19 may also be glued or welded to the protective housing 1 15 so that it can not be opened. Optionally, the protective housing 1 15 inside a liner 155 have, which binds the laboratory substance particles in itself. Such an insert 155 could, for example, be a felt insert or a microfibre fabric insert which electrostatically attracts the laboratory substance particles.

Figure 4 shows a filled laboratory substance container unit 201 in section, whose

Dosing unit 102 is identical to the dosing unit shown in Figure 3, which is why a detailed description thereof is omitted here. The protective housing 215 shown in FIG. 4 has an automatic chamber closure with a valve body 242. In the bottom region of the protective housing 215, an annular chamber 218 is formed and filled with a treatment agent 252. A plurality of passages 229 extend radially from the chamber 218 toward the center of the protective housing 215. In the middle of the annular chamber 218, the valve body 242 is arranged, which is linearly displaceable due to stops formed on the valve body 242 in a limited stroke. The valve body 242 is by a spring 241 against the mounting direction of the dosing unit 102 with the

Protective housing 215 pressed. The valve body 242 has a plurality of apertures 243, 244, which are configured and tuned to the passage openings 229, that the gaseous medium of the inner space 228 between the chamber 218 and the inner space 228 can freely circulate as soon as the metering unit 102 with the protective housing 215 firmly connected is. This is possible because the valve body 242 can be moved by a portion of the dosing unit 102, for example, the dosing head against the spring force of the spring 241. As soon as the protective housing 215 is removed from the dosing unit 102, the spring 241 pushes the valve body 242 into a closed position, the passage openings 229 of the chamber 218 being covered by wall parts of the valve body 242. Of course, annular gap-shaped leaks between the chamber and the valve body by means of suitable sealing means, such as O-rings can be sealed gas-tight.

Preferably, a first indicator 245 is disposed in the chamber 218 and indicates the condition of the treatment agent 252. By means of a second indicator 246, the interior 228 can be monitored. If the two indicators 245, 246 of a mounted laboratory substance container unit 201 indicate different states after a longer storage period, it can be assumed that the Function of the valve body 242 is impaired and the treatment agent can not exert its effect.

FIG. 5 shows a section of a filled laboratory substance container unit 301 whose dosing unit 102 is identical to the dosing unit shown in FIG. The protective housing 315 shown in FIG. 5 has a first embodiment of a manually manually operable and rotatable chamber closure. In the protective housing 315, a chamber 318 is formed, which has a cylindrical shape. Between the chamber 318 and the interior 328 of the protective housing 315 passages 329 are arranged. The chamber 318 is accessible from an outside of the protective housing 315, that is, the cylindrical shape of the chamber 318 extends to the outside of the protective housing 315. In the cylindrical chamber 318, a cup-shaped sleeve 340 is rotated between a closed position and an open position - or arranged pivotally. The sleeve 340 has a plurality of apertures 343, which are designed and tuned to the passage openings 329, that the gaseous medium of the inner space 328 between the chamber 318 and the inner space 328 can freely circulate as soon as the sleeve 340 by means of a handle 341 in the open position is pivoted. In the sleeve 340, a treatment agent 352 is filled.

The first advantage of an externally actuable chamber closure is that the effect of the treatment agent 352 can be activated only after the assembly of the laboratory substance container unit 301 at the user's discretion. The second advantage of this first embodiment is the possible interchangeability of the treatment agent 352, without the dosing unit 102 having to be separated from the protective housing 315. For this purpose, the sleeve 340 can be pulled out of the chamber 318, the treatment agent 352 exchanged and the sleeve 340 can be reinserted into the chamber 318. Of course, annular gap-shaped leaks between the chamber and the sleeve 340 can be sealed gas-tight by means of suitable sealing means, for example O-rings, and the sleeve 340 can be secured in the protective housing 315. FIG. 6 shows in section a filled-up laboratory substance container unit 401, whose dosing unit 102 is identical to the dosing unit shown in FIG. The protective housing 415 shown in FIG. 6 has a second embodiment of a manually manually operable and rotatable chamber closure. In the protective housing 415, more precisely in the region of the bottom, an annular chamber 418 is formed, which is open towards the bottom. In this annular chamber 418, an annular cassette 440 is recessed and rotatable between a closed position and an open position about its central longitudinal axis. The annular cassette 440 has a plurality of cavities 445 into which cavities 445 a treatment agent 452 is filled. The cassette 440 is held in the chamber 418 of the protective housing 415 by means of a spring 451 and a pivot bearing 455. Between the annular chamber 418 and the inner space 428 of the protective housing 415 passages 429 are arranged in at least one sector of the annular surface. The ring-shaped cassette 440 has a plurality of openings 443, which are configured and on the

Through openings 429 are tuned that the gaseous medium of the inner space 428 between the chamber 418 or between at least one of the cavities 445 and the inner space 428 can freely circulate as soon as the cartridge 440 is pivoted by means of a handle 441 in the open position.

Although the invention has been described by way of illustrating specific embodiments, it will be apparent that numerous other embodiments can be provided with the knowledge of the present invention, for example by combining the features of the individual embodiments and / or exchanging individual functional units of the embodiments. For example, the monitoring unit shown in FIG. 2 and the sensor connected thereto or possibly several sensors for detecting various parameters of the climate prevailing in the interior, such as relative humidity, temperature, pressure and the like, can also be used in all other laboratory substance container units. Furthermore, further embodiments of the dosing or other chamber closures are conceivable, as well as various positive connection possibilities between the dosing unit and the protective housing. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

401, 301, 201, 101, 21, 1 laboratory substance container unit

102.22.2 Dosing unit

123.23.3 Reservoir

4 first external thread

5 dosing head

6 closure element

8 cylindrical area

9 funnel-shaped area 10 filling opening

111, 11 cover

12 second external thread

13 shoulder

14 third external threads 415, 315, 215, 115, 35, 15 protective housing

16 internal thread

418, 318, 218, 118, 117, 17 chamber

18 viewing window

19 marking means 27 flat underside

428,328,228, 128,28 interior

429, 329, 229, 129, 29 passage opening

135, 130, 30 chamber closure

50 scale division mark

51 Gas or vacuum connection 452, 352, 252, 52 Treatment agent

55 sensor

56 monitoring unit

57 galvanic connection, radio connection 119 sealing plug

131 lidded chamber

246,245, 132 indicator 133 gas-permeable bag

134 Cover chamber passage opening 150 Laboratory substance

155 deposit

451, 241 spring

242 valve body 244, 243 breakthrough

340 sleeve

441, 341 handle

440 cassette

445 cavity

455 pivot bearings

Claims

claims

A laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) for storing and protecting laboratory substances (150), comprising a protective housing (15, 35, 115, 215, 315, 415) and a metering unit (2 , 22, 102), which dosing unit (2, 22, 102) a storage container (3, 23, 123) and a dosing head (5), wherein the protective housing (15, 35, 1 15, 215, 315, 415) with the metering unit (2, 22, 102) is detachably connected and for transport and storage purposes at least all gas-permeable points of the dosing head (5) by the protective housing (15, 35, 1 15, 215, 315, 415) are enclosed, whereby between the Dosing (2, 22, 102) and the protective housing (15, 35, 115, 215, 315, 415) against the

Surrounding sealed interior (28, 128, 228, 328, 428) is present and to establish the operational readiness of the dosing unit (2, 22, 102), the protective housing (15, 35, 115, 215, 315, 415) is removable, characterized characterized in that further in the protective housing (15, 35, 15, 215, 315, 415) at least one chamber (17, 17, 18, 218, 318, 418) is formed, that the at least one chamber with a treatment agent ( 52, 252, 352, 452) can be filled, that the chamber (17, 17, 18, 218, 318, 418) has a passage (29, 129, 32) directed against the interior (28, 128, 228, 328, 428) , 229, 329, 429) and that the passage opening (29, 129, 229, 329, 429) with a chamber closure (30, 130, 135) is gas-tight closable.

2. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage container (3, 23, 123) has a substance receiving space and a filling opening (10), which filling opening ( 10) with a lid (1 1, 11 1) tightly closed and thus the substance receiving space is sealed against the environment.

3. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover (1 1, 1 1 1) and the protective housing (15, 35, 1 15, 215, 315 , 415) are independently connectable to the dosing unit (2, 22, 102).

4. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the lid (1 1, 11 1) at least one lid chamber (131), wherein the at least one Cover chamber (131) has a closed reservoir (3, 23, 123) directed to the substance receiving space cover chamber passage opening (134) and that the cover chamber passage opening (134) with a chamber closure (135) is gas-tight closable.

5. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the at least one chamber (17, 1 17, 1 18, 218, 318, 418) and / or in the interior (28, 128, 228,

328, 428) and / or, if present, in the lid chamber (131) an indicator (132, 245, 246) and / or at least one sensor (55) is arranged.

6. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one sensor (55) via a galvanic connection (57) or via a radio link (57) with an in of the

Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) arranged and / or connected to an externally arranged monitoring unit (56).

7. laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the chamber (17, 1 17, 1 18, 218, 318, 418) and, if present , the lidded chamber (131) with a

Viewing window (18) is provided.

8. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the storage container (3, 23, 123) and / or at least one housing part of the dosing head (5) and / or the protective housing (15, 35, 115, 215, 315, 415) is made of transparent material.

9. laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 8, characterized in that the transparent material filter properties for has certain light wavelengths or coated with a material having these filter properties.

10. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 9, characterized in that coated material having filter properties is arranged in the interior and indicator properties and / or

Having treatment agent properties.

1 1. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the storage container (3, 23, 123) has a scale mark (50), so that the Quantity of substance in the reservoir (3, 23, 123) can be determined.

12. laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the protective housing (15, 35, 1 15, 215, 315, 415) has a flat bottom (27), which forms a stable base for the laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401).

13. laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the storage container (3, 23, 123) and the dosing head (35) are integrally connected to each other.

14. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the protective housing (15, 35,

1 15, 215, 315, 415) has at least one gas inlet (51) and / or a vacuum connection (51), which contains a check valve and can be connected to a gas supply or a vacuum pump, through which gas supply or vacuum pump in the interior (28, 128 ) of the protective housing (15, 35, 15) either a gas or a negative pressure atmosphere can be generated.

15. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a marking means (19) on the storage container (3, 23, 123) and / or on the dosing head (5) and / or on the protective housing (15, 35, 115) is arranged, said identification means preferably an RFID label, a bar code or matrix code Label, or printed or handwritten adhesive.

16. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) with a tamper-proof Protective label is sealed, which protective label for removal of the dosing unit (2, 22, 102) from the protective housing (15, 35, 1 15, 215, 315, 415) is visibly breakable.

17. Laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of

Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that in the interior (28, 128, 228, 328, 428) is arranged an insert (155) for binding laboratory substance particles.

18. A method for filling, transporting and storing a laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that

• The reservoir (3, 23, 123) of the dosing unit (2, 22, 102), with which the protective housing (15, 35, 1 15, 215, 315, 415) is connected as a base and its filling opening (10) on the Top is exposed, filled with a laboratory substance (150),

• if present, the chamber closure (135) of the cover chamber passage opening (134) is removed or opened and the filling opening (10) is closed with the cover (11, 11 1), • the laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101 , 201, 301, 401) is suitably marked, optionally sealed and stored or shipped to its destination.

19. A method for dispensing laboratory substance (150) from a filled laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that

• the protective housing (15, 35, 115, 215, 315, 415) is removed from the dosing unit (2, 22, 102), while the opening (10) remains closed at the top with the lid (1, 1 1 1) .

• the dosing unit (2, 22, 102) is connected to an actuating device and positioned above a receiving container,

The metering operation is started, the meter closure (30, 130, 135) of at least one chamber (after removal of the predetermined amount of substance (s) into one or more receptacles, the metering unit (2, 22, 102) being removed from the actuator 17, 117, 1 18, 218, 318, 418) is removed or opened and the dosing unit (2, 22, 102) is again connected to the protective housing (15, 35, 15, 215, 315, 415) and

• the laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) is stored again or disposed of.

20. A method for monitoring a filled and stored laboratory substance container unit (1, 21, 101, 201, 301, 401) according to claim 6, characterized in that

• between the sensor (55) permanently or periodically or by means of a user input initialized a measuring signal connection with the monitoring unit (56),

• the monitoring unit (56) continuously and periodically or once received and recorded measurement signals from the sensor (55),

At least one measurement signal received by the monitoring unit (56) or a measured value obtained from the measurement signal is compared with at least one threshold value and / or limit value stored in the monitoring unit (56), when a threshold value and / or a limit value is exceeded, a warning signal is transmitted to an output unit belonging to the monitoring unit (56) or to the indicator (132).