EP2818245A1 - Nozzle, nozzle family and metering device - Google Patents

Abstract

Dosing device with a syringe (1), wherein the syringe (1) has the following features: - A syringe barrel (2) and a syringe plunger (3), - wherein the syringe barrel (2) has an outlet at the bottom, a centering collar (12) at the top on the outer circumference, which has a substantially circular disk-shaped contact section (13.1), a piston running region (5) connected to the outlet, in which the syringe piston (3) sealingly guides is, and has a coupling piece (21) at the upper end of the syringe plunger (3), and the dosing device having the following features: - comprising a housing (38) - A receptacle (39) for the centering collar (12) of the syringe barrel (2) having an axial opening (40) for axial insertion of the centering collar (12) in a fastening position, - A receiving body (42) having a piston receptacle (43) for axially inserting a coupling piece (21) in an attachment position, - Fastening means (47, 50) for releasably holding the centering collar (12) and coupling piece (21) in their mounting positions in the receptacle (39) and in the piston receptacle (43), - wherein the fastening means (47, 50) radially deliverable gripping means for gripping the Zentrierbundes (12) and the coupling piece (21) in the mounting positions, and - Piston adjusting devices for moving the receiving body (42) in the housing (38), characterized, - That the syringe (1) has a cylindrical centering region (11) of the syringe cylinder (2) further above than the piston running area (5) and - That the metering device in the receptacle (39) on the axial opening (40) aligned centering element (60) with axial passage for axial insertion into the cylindrical centering region (11) of the syringe barrel (2).

Description

The invention relates to a syringe and syringe family for use with a metering device and to a metering device for use with a syringe or syringe family.

Pipettes are dosing devices for measuring and transferring liquids. They are often designed as repeating or multipette, which are used together with a syringe to receive liquid into the syringe and gradually release from it. A repeating pipette is from the DE 29 26 691 C2 and the US 4,406,170 known, which in particular describes the repeating mechanism of Repetierpipette. It also describes the fixation of the syringe on the repeating pipette. For this, the syringe has a syringe flange, which can be inserted from the side into a laterally open, substantially U-shaped groove of the pipette. An axial pressure spring fixes the syringe flange used in the groove. To connect the syringe plunger with a piston adjusting device of the pipette, an insert element is provided, which receives an end portion of the syringe plunger between two jaws. The jaws can be pressed against the syringe plunger by means of a flap-shaped clamping member whose actuating lever projects out of the housing through an opening. This syringe fixation has the disadvantage that the syringe must be handled for insertion and coupling with the piston adjusting device or for decoupling and removal.

The DE 43 41 229 C2 and the US 5,620,660 propose a more suitable for the manual operation pipette system with a simple axially inserted into the pipette or removable from this syringe. This pipette system has a syringe having a mounting portion and a syringe plunger, and a pipette containing a receptacle for the mounting portion in a pipette housing and a receiving body having a piston receptacle for the syringe piston or a piston rod connected thereto. Furthermore, fastening devices for the reversible or releasable fixing of the fastening section and syringe piston in the receptacles and piston adjusting devices for displacing the receiving body in the pipette housing are provided. The attachment portion and the syringe plunger are axially slidable into their attachment positions by axial openings of their receptacles.

The fastening devices have radially deliverable gripping devices for fixing the fastening section and the syringe piston in the fastening positions. The gripping means have pivotally mounted in the pipette syringe gripping lever and pivotally mounted in the receiving body piston gripping lever. The syringe gripping levers and the plunger gripping levers are two-armed with a gripping arm and an actuating arm, wherein the syringe gripper levers on the inner sides of their actuating arms have contact points which are by pressing their actuating arms outwardly pivotable against the actuating arms of the piston gripping lever and actuate the piston gripping levers.

This ensures that the syringe and the pipette are connectable to each other by a purely axial relative movement and separable from each other by operating the actuating arms. According to one embodiment, the attachment portion is a syringe flange and according to another embodiment, the syringe piston has a piston collar for engaging behind by the gripping devices.

From the DE 10 2005 023 203 and the US 2006263261 A1 is an embodiment of the pipette according to DE 43 41 229 C2 in which the syringe can be detached from the pipette by actuating only a single trigger.

The commercial embodiments Multipette ^® (plus / stream / Xstream) of this dosing Eppendorf AG include syringes Combitips ^® (plus) having a cylinder with a piston movement area on the inside, and a syringe flange at the upper end of the cylinder. The syringes are offered with different filling volumes (0.1 ml, 0.2 ml, 0.5 ml, 1 ml, 2.5 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml). The inner diameter of the piston movement area is dimensioned such that the filling volume is recorded at a maximum of Kolbenstellweg Multipette ^® Eppendorf AG of 50 mm plus an overstroke of a few millimeters into the syringe and delivered from it. Accordingly, for the syringe having a nominal volume of 10 ml, the inner diameter of the piston barrel is 15.96 mm. In the smaller syringes, the inner diameter of the piston running range is correspondingly smaller. The cylinders of the smaller syringes have a cylindrical extension at the upper end of the piston running range, the inner diameter of which is in each case significantly smaller than 15.96 mm and which is the smaller, the smaller the filling volume of the syringe. One reason for the cylindrical extension is that it allows a depth stop of the piston in the cylinder can be realized, thereby preventing that the piston sealing lip is damaged by placing the sealing lip on the lower end face of the cylinder. Another reason is that in the small syringes the piston area is made thicker below the inserted into the dosing coupling piece, in particular designed as a wing piece, thereby achieving an increase in the buckling stiffness of the piston rod in storage condition.

The cylinders, starting from the flange on the circumference, have four outwardly projecting, axially extending ribs distributed evenly around the circumference. The ribs each have a shoulder at the bottom for support at the edge of holes in a tray or box. So that syringes with different filling volumes can be inserted into uniform holes of a carrier or a box, The paragraphs of syringes of different filling volumes have the same distances from the axis of the cylinder.

The known dosing system allows accurate dosages with low errors.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a syringe and a syringe family for use with a metering device and a metering device for use with a syringe or a syringe family, which allow even more accurate dosages.

The object is achieved by a syringe with the features of claim 1.

• einen Spritzenzylinder
• und einen Spritzenkolben, wobei
• der Spritzenzylinder unten einen Austritt,
• oben am Außenumfang einen Zentrierbund zum Einsetzen in die Aufnahme,
• einen mit dem Austritt verbundenen zylindrischen Kolbenlaufbereich mit einem ersten Innendurchmesser, in dem der Spritzenkolben abdichtend geführt ist, und
• zumindest in einem Abstand von mindestens 3 mm vom oberen Ende des Spritzenzylinders einen Zentrierbereich zum Einsetzen des Zentrierelementes aufweist, der einen zweiten Innendurchmesser hat, der den ersten Innendurchmesser überschreitet und zumindest 16,2 mm und höchstens 17,7 mm beträgt,
• und der Spritzenkolben am oberen Ende ein Kupplungsstück zum Einsetzen in die Kolbenaufnahme aufweist.

A syringe according to the invention for use with a metering device having a centering element with axial passage in a receptacle for a syringe barrel and an axially displaceable piston receptacle for a syringe plunger

• a syringe barrel
• and a syringe plunger, wherein
• the syringe barrel below an exit,
• at the top on the outer circumference a centering collar for insertion into the receptacle,
• a connected to the outlet cylindrical Kolbenlaufbereich having a first inner diameter, in which the syringe plunger is sealingly guided, and
• at least at a distance of at least 3 mm from the upper end of the syringe barrel has a centering for inserting the centering element, which has a second inner diameter, the first Internal diameter exceeds and is at least 16.2 mm and at most 17.7 mm,
• and the syringe plunger has at the upper end a coupling piece for insertion into the piston receptacle.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a syringe family with the features of claim 8.

• mehrere Spritzen mit verschiedenen Füllvolumina mit jeweils
• einem Spritzenzylinder
• und einem Spritzenkolben, wobei
• der Spritzenzylinder unten einen Austritt,
• oben am Außenumfang einen Zentrierbund zum Einsetzen in die Aufnahme,
• einen mit dem Austritt verbundenen zylindrischen Kolbenlaufbereich, in dem der Spritzenkolben abdichtend geführt ist, und
• zumindest in einem Abstand von mindestens 3 mm vom oberen Ende des Spritzenzylinders einen Zentrierbereich zum Einsetzen des Zentrierelementes aufweist,
• der Spritzenkolben am oberen Ende ein Kupplungsstück zum Einsetzen in die Kolbenaufnahme aufweist
• und die Zentrierbereiche von Spritzen mit verschiedenen Füllvolumina innen eine übereinstimmende Kontur aufweisen.

The syringe family according to the invention for use with a metering device with a centering element with axial passage in a receptacle for a syringe barrel and an axially displaceable piston receptacle for a syringe piston comprises

• several syringes with different filling volumes each
• a syringe barrel
• and a syringe plunger, wherein
• the syringe barrel below an exit,
• at the top on the outer circumference a centering collar for insertion into the receptacle,
• a connected to the outlet cylindrical Kolbenlaufbereich in which the syringe plunger is sealingly guided, and
• at least at a distance of at least 3 mm from the upper end of the syringe barrel has a centering for inserting the centering element,
• the syringe plunger has at the upper end a coupling piece for insertion into the piston receptacle
• and the centering areas of syringes having different filling volumes have a matching contour inside.

The plurality of syringes are preferably selected from the group of syringes with filling volumes of 10 ml, 5 ml, 2.5 ml, 1 ml 0.5 ml, 0.2 ml and 0.1 ml.

The centering areas of the syringes with different filling volumes have a matching contour. Under a matching contour in the centering same and / or different geometries are understood, which are tuned to the same predetermined Zentrierkontur. The syringes with matching contour are therefore suitable to cooperate with one and the same centering of the dosing, which has the centering contour.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a metering device with the features of claim 11.

• ein Gehäuse umfassend
• eine Aufnahme für den Zentrierbund des Spritzenzylinders mit einer Axialöffnung zum axialen Einsetzen des Zentrierbundes in eine Befestigungsposition,
• ein in der Aufnahme angeordnetes, auf die Axialöffnung ausgerichtetes, Zentrierelement mit axialem Durchgang zum axialen Einsetzen in den Zentrierbereich des Spritzenzylinders,
• einen Aufnahmekörper mit einer Kolbenaufnahme zum axialen Einsetzen des Kupplungsstückes in eine Befestigungsposition,
• Befestigungseinrichtungen zum lösbaren Halten von Zentrierbund und Kupplungsstück in ihren Befestigungspositionen in der Aufnahme und in der Kolbenaufnahme,
• wobei die Befestigungseinrichtungen radial zustellbare Greifeinrichtungen zum Greifen des Zentrierbundes und des Kupplungsstückes in den Befestigungspositionen aufweisen,
• und Kolbenstelleinrichtungen zum Verschieben des Aufnahmekörpers im Gehäuse.

The metering device according to the invention for use with a syringe with a syringe barrel and a syringe plunger, wherein the syringe barrel below an outlet, on top of the outer circumference a centering collar, connected to the outlet cylindrical Kolbenlaufbereich in which the syringe plunger is sealingly guided, and further above a centering and a coupler at the top of the syringe plunger or for use with a syringe family comprising a plurality of such syringes

• comprising a housing
• a receptacle for the centering collar of the syringe barrel with an axial opening for axial insertion of the centering collar in a mounting position,
• a centering element arranged in the receptacle and aligned with the axial opening, with axial passage for axial insertion into the centering region of the syringe barrel,
• a receiving body with a piston receptacle for axial insertion of the coupling piece in a fastening position,
• Fastening means for releasably retaining the centering collar and coupling in their mounting positions in the receptacle and in the piston receptacle,
• wherein the fastening devices have radially deliverable gripping means for gripping the centering collar and the coupling piece in the fastening positions,
• and piston adjusting means for displacing the receiving body in the housing.

Advantageous embodiments of the syringe, the syringe family and the metering device are specified in subclaims.

The indications "top" and "bottom" refer to the preferred orientation of the syringe during dosing, in which the syringe is held vertically with the outlet at the bottom and the centering collar at the top.

In particular, the metering device can be a manually and / or motor-driven, manageable and / or stationary metering device. In particular, it can be a pipette, repeating pipette, dispenser, dosing station or automatic dosing machine. Preferably, it is a dispenser.

The syringe according to the invention can be reversibly fixed in a reversible manner to a metering device according to the invention. For this purpose, the syringe is inserted in the axial direction in the metering device, wherein the Zentrierbund gripped by radially deliverable gripping means for gripping the Zentrierbundes in the recording of the metering and the syringe plunger on its coupling piece in the piston receptacle by radially undeliverable gripping means for gripping the Piston rod is gripped. The gripping of the centering collar and the coupling piece by the gripping means can be controlled by the axial insertion of the syringe into the receptacle of the metering device. For this purpose, the metering device can be configured as in the DE 43 41 229 C2 and the US 5,620,660 described. The relevant embodiments of the aforementioned patents are included in the present application.

When inserting the syringe into the metering device, the centering element penetrates axially into the centering area and engages radially against the inside of the centering area. The dimensions and geometries of the centering and the centering are coordinated so that the syringe barrel is centered by the inserted centering. As a result, the syringe barrel is guided with the centering exactly in the recording, so that it can be easily and safely gripped by the gripping devices.

By the concerns of the centering on the centering a deformation in the centering of the syringe barrel can be corrected. In particular, the centering element can correct a non-circular shape of the syringe barrel to an ideal circular shape. Since the centering area is either in the immediate vicinity of the piston running range, which is crucial for the exact dosage, or in the immediate vicinity of the transition region, which counteracts damage to the sealing lip of the piston, the correction in the centering area has a positive effect on the dosing accuracy. A non-circular cylinder has a cross-sectional area changed to the circular cylinder, which leads to metering errors. In particular, the tightness of the seal of the syringe piston in the cylinder and thus the precision of the dosage is improved by the circular shape. Due to the changed cross-sectional area, a non-circular syringe barrel also results in the fact that air flows past the syringe plunger, in particular at the end of the intake stroke and at the initial delivery strokes small volume of fluid is absorbed or released. This disadvantage is overcome by the invention.

Further, the guidance of the centering on the centering prevents misalignment of the syringe to the metering device and tilting of the syringe with respect to the metering device under load. Misalignment can occur with a conventional metering system when the syringe is gripped in tilted orientation by the gripping means of the metering system. A tipping under load can occur in a conventional dosing system, when dosing the syringe is placed in the vicinity of its exit with a pressing force on a wall. This delivery form is called wall delivery. In particular, it is used at small delivery volumes to avoid errors due to uneven drops from the syringe. As a result, the syringe barrel is pivoted relative to the syringe plunger, thereby displacing liquid and causing metering failure. In addition, a reduced tightness of the seal of the piston in the tilted syringe barrel can affect the accuracy of the dosage. These adverse properties of the known syringe and metering devices are overcome by the present invention.

For the centering of the syringe, it is important that the centering element rests at a distance from the upper end of the syringe barrel at the centering. Only when the centering engages correspondingly deep in the syringe plunger, it can invest all around to the centering and correct a non-circular shape of the syringe barrel, align it and support and prevent tilting. The stiffening of the syringe barrel by the centering collar at the upper end of the syringe is opposed to the correction of a non-circular cross section in the piston running area. Therefore, the second inner diameter of at least 16.2 mm of the centering of the syringe according to the invention or the Centering of the syringes of the syringe family according to the invention at least at a distance of at least 3 mm from the upper end of the syringe barrel available, ie in the immediate vicinity of the piston running range or to the transition region. The centering area is therefore also characterized by its immediate proximity to the piston running area.

The syringe plunger can be inserted with its coupling piece through the axial passage of the centering element, so that the syringe plunger can be pulled out of the syringe barrel. Optionally, the piston receptacle engages for coupling the coupling piece in the axial passage of the centering element.

The inner diameter in the centering area of at least 16.2 mm ensures that syringes with a filling volume of up to 10 ml with an inner diameter of the piston running range of up to 15.96 mm in a metering device with a maximum piston travel of 50 mm plus an overstroke of a few millimeters can be used. Thus, the invention covers spraying with all common filling volumes. Larger filling volumes (e.g., 25-50 ml) are possible if an adapter is used which reduces the larger diameter of the syringe barrel to the smaller diameter of the metering device receptacle. An adapter is also useful for small-volume syringes, as it facilitates the grip and handling of small syringes. Preferably, the adapter has the centering area. As a result, the adapter is also centered in the metering device, thus directing the syringe, supporting it and preventing the syringe from tilting, especially in the case of wall dispensing.

The invention relates to syringes in which the syringe barrel is in one piece. Furthermore, it includes syringes in which the syringe barrel is in several parts. In particular, it includes syringes in which the syringe barrel the Has piston running range and the exit at a lower part and the centering collar and the centering at an upper part, which is connectable to the lower part, for example by means of bayonet, screw or snap connection. The upper part may in particular be an adapter.

The inner diameter of the centering of the syringe according to the invention exceeds the inner diameter of the piston running range, so that the syringe barrel during injection molding filled more evenly with plastic and thus can be made dimensionally stable. The jump in the inner diameter between piston running area and centering area causes namely a flow brake, the below the centering injected hot plastic mass forces, preferably first fill the lower part of the syringe barrel and thus the piston barrel area uniformly and finally the centering and the centering collar. As a result, the dimensional accuracy of the syringe barrel is improved straight in the piston barrel area and thus the precision of the dosage.

In addition, a jump in the inner diameter between the piston running area and centering area allows the syringe plunger, which is completely inserted into the syringe barrel, to be guided at the top in the piston running area if the syringe is not connected to the metering device. For this purpose, the outer diameter of a guide portion of the syringe plunger arranged below the coupling piece can almost correspond to the inner diameter of the piston barrel portion. The outside diameter of the guide area should be less than the inside diameter of the piston running area by at least the sum of the tolerances of syringe plungers (eg 0.1 mm) and syringe barrels (eg 0.1 mm). Due to the larger inner diameter in the centering remains a gap between syringe plunger and centering, in which the centering can be used. Thus, by the extension of the inner diameter in the centering area relative to the inner diameter in the piston running area, a centering of the Syringe plunger ensured in the syringe when the syringe is connected to the metering device and engages the centering in the extended centering and filling it. The centering and guidance of the syringe plunger in the separate syringe from the metering device is given despite the extended centering because the guide portion of the fully inserted injection piston rests and is guided on the piston barrel region, or in spraying with small volumes (eg 1 ml and smaller) at the transition region ,

The centering of the syringe plunger through the guide area in the separate syringe from the syringe avoids tilting of the syringe plunger in the syringe barrel and thus deformations in the sealing region of the syringe plunger and / or the syringe barrel by partial irreversible expansion, thereby dosing errors are avoided.

The guidance of the syringe plunger at the top in the piston running region can be effected by outwardly projecting, axially extended wings of the syringe plunger and / or by a washer below the coupling piece of the syringe plunger. The disc can also cause a coverage of the piston running area, which prevents ingress of contaminants in the syringe barrel, which affect the sealing of the piston and / or can contaminate the liquid to be dispensed.

Furthermore, the jump in the inner diameter between the centering area and the piston running area allows a simple tolerance check by means of force measurement during the joining of syringe plungers and syringe barrels during production. If the diameter of the syringe plunger is too large, two force increases are measured during joining, namely when the syringe plunger with its sealing area penetrates into the centering area and then when the sealing area penetrates into the piston barrel area. If the diameter of the piston does not exceed the Tolerance limit, an increase in force is measured only when penetration of the sealing area in the piston running range. By simple and unambiguous measurement can thus be determined whether the diameter of the syringe plunger exceeds the tolerance upper limit and the syringe plunger must be discarded. Checking compliance with the upper tolerance limit is particularly important because roundness of the syringe plunger can be determined as an increase in the diameter. The use of syringe plungers, which cause dosing errors due to a non-circular sealing area, can thus be avoided. Since the tolerances of the syringe plunger and the syringe barrel are included in the test, when the tolerance upper limit is exceeded, preferably the entire syringe is discarded. The present invention thus also includes a method for tolerance testing.

According to the inventive method for tolerance testing of syringes with a cylindrical piston barrel region having a first inner diameter and a centering region having a second inner diameter exceeding the first inner diameter, the force for inserting the syringe plunger is measured in the syringe barrel during insertion of a syringe plunger into the syringe barrel and in the event that the force for inserting the syringe plunger into the centering area exceeds a tolerance upper limit, the syringe plunger and / or the syringe barrel are discarded.

The syringe can be easily released from the dosing system after use by operating the gripping means. The separation can also take place in an axial movement. By centering a tilting of the syringe barrel is avoided in the recording, so that the separation can be made easier. In particular, the syringe can fall out of the dosing system after releasing the gripping devices due to their own weight. This can optionally supported by a sprung stop on which the centering collar of the syringe barrel can be fixed.

The inner diameter in the centering region of the syringe according to the invention is at most 17.7 mm. The limitation of the inner diameter of the centering region to a maximum value of 17.7 mm is achieved that the injection of the Eppendorf AG can be gripped by a conventional dispenser type Multipette ^®, if they are held in a carrier. In these dosing systems, the gripping devices for releasably fixing the syringe flange have hook-shaped gripping ends, the inner edges of which, when pivoted together, have a distance of 20.8 mm from each other. The syringes may be provided in a carrier having support sleeves protruding from a plate. The syringes can be inserted into holes of the carrier sleeves, wherein the syringe cylinder is guided on the outer circumference of the centering in the carrier sleeves. So that the syringe gripper levers do not clamp on the carrier sleeves, the outer diameter of the carrier sleeves can be selected so that it falls below the distance between the zusammengeschwenkten gripper ends. Taking into account a minimum wall thickness of the carrier sleeves, a clearance for inserting the syringe barrels into the carrier sleeves and a minimum wall thickness for the syringe barrel in the centering area, the inner diameter in the centering area is at most 17.7 mm.

The syringe is preferably made of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic. Preferably, the thermoplastic is selected from the group of polyolefins. Preferred polyolefins are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and cyclic olefin (co) polymers, COC for short or COP. Syringe and piston can be made of the same plastic or different. In particular, due to the better friction pairing, the piston is made of PE and the cylinder is made of PP or vice versa.

The syringe according to the invention can be designed so that they can also be used in conventional dispensers of the type Multipette ^® Eppendorf AG, which have no centering.

The advantageous effects of the syringes according to the invention are basically also given in the syringes of the syringe family according to the invention. In the syringes with different filling volumes of the syringe family, the centering regions have contours which are matched to the same predetermined centering contour, so that they can be used with the same metering device whose centering element has the centering contour. The user can use a syringe with a suitable filling volume in each application and always the dosing accuracy is improved by the centering of the respective syringe in the metering device.

For this, the syringes with different filling volumes of the syringe family preferably have the same contours in the centering regions. But they can also have at least partially different contours, provided that they are tuned to one and the same Zentrierkontur. For example, cylindrical and polygonal contours can be matched to the same cylindrical centering, so that the provided with these different contours centering areas are centered by the same centering. The centering regions of the syringes with different filling volumes of a syringe family thus have a functionally matching contour, which is matched to the same predetermined centering contour. A matching contour in the centering area thus means the same and / or different contours or geometries, which interact with the same centering element of a metering device, which has the predetermined centering contour, ie are complementary thereto. In particular, this means in a syringe family having multiple syringes with different ones Filling volumes that between the individual members with different filling volumes (eg 10 ml, 5 ml, 2.5 ml, 1 ml, 0.5 ml, 0.2 ml and 0.1 ml) in the centering different contours or geometries may be present , but all of which are characterized in that it engages in the same centering of a dosing, applies and thus corrects any irregularities of the syringe barrel, as well as aligns and supports the syringe.

According to one embodiment of the invention within a syringe family for a single member of the family, the matching contour or geometry in the centering selected from the group of conical hollow body, the convex hollow body, the pyramidal hollow body, the columnar hollow body with ellipsoidal outer ground or cross-sectional area, the polygonal columnar, in particular achttecksäulenförmigen hollow body, the hollow body with circumferential or partially encircling ribs or webs, the hollow body with at least two flattened inner sides, or the hollow body, which are cut by at least two secants, the hollow body with projections, warts, webs and the elliptical hollow body, and a combination thereof. Preferred combinations are conical with circumferential bead, e.g. as a torus, a combination of conical and cylindrical as well as conical with bars or round elevations.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined centering contour of the centering element is also selected from the aforementioned groups.

According to a preferred embodiment, the syringes of the syringe family in the centering region have an inner diameter of at least 16.2 mm and at most 17.7 mm.

In principle, the syringe family can have a syringe with a filling volume of 10 ml, which has the same inner diameter of 15.96 mm in the piston running region and in a centering region. A second inner diameter of at least 16.2 mm is an advantageous embodiment of the syringes of the syringe family according to the invention, which ensures that even a syringe with a filling volume of 10 ml has the advantages of a centering region with a larger inner diameter than in the piston barrel region.

According to one embodiment, the syringe barrel has a greater wall thickness in the cylindrical piston running area than in the centering area. As a result, a particularly effective flow brake is achieved because, to increase the flow resistance due to the deflection of the flow of the hot plastic mass in the region of the diameter jump an increase in the disturbance resistance due to the reduced flow cross-section added.

According to a further embodiment, the syringe barrel has a conical lead-in area at the upper end of the centering area and / or a conical transition area between the centering area and the cylindrical piston running area. The conical lead-in area and / or the conical transition area guide the syringe plunger during insertion into the piston barrel area, so that the sealing area of the plunger is correctly inserted and not damaged. Preferably, the insertion region and / or the transition region have an angle of 15 to 30 ° to the axis of the syringe barrel. Particularly preferred is an angle of the insertion of about 15 ° and an angle of the transition region of about 25 °. For smaller syringes (eg with a filling volume of 5 ml maximum) can be dispensed with an insertion because the inner diameter in the centering is large enough for non-contact insertion of the syringe plunger and this is correctly inserted through the transition region in the Kolbenlaufbereich.

The centering area can be designed differently. It can be designed inside as a freeform surface or a ruled surface. A free-form surface is understood to mean a surface that can not be written exactly in mathematical terms, whereas a ruled surface can be described exactly mathematically. Preferably, it has inside the contour or geometry of a surface of revolution (eg cylinder, cone, hyperbola, parabolic surface). Preferably, the centering is slightly conical with a cone angle of 0.5 to 5 °, in particular about 2 ° to the longitudinal axis of the syringe. The contour or geometry of the centering can be smooth inside. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the centering on the inside of a contour with projections and / or depressions, wherein the imaginary in the contour largest registered circle has the second inner diameter. The imaginary largest inscribed circle corresponds to the outer diameter of the centering element. The contour or geometry of the centering leads, in cooperation with a complementary centering contour or geometry of the centering element to correct an optionally non-circular shape of the syringe barrel, to align and support the syringe plunger and thus prevents tilting of the piston in the syringe barrel. Furthermore, the interaction of the contour or geometry of the centering area with the complementary centering contour or geometry of the centering element enables the correct alignment of a syringe coding on a sensor for scanning the syringe coding and / or an anti-twist device. The anti-rotation device prevents twisting of the syringe in the dosing device, which can damage a sensor for sensing syringe coding. The contour may also serve to reduce friction between syringe barrel and centering member to facilitate insertion of a smooth centering member into the centering area.

The contour or geometry can affect the imaginary / projected largest inscribed circle only at two diametrically opposite points, whereby already a centering is achieved. Preferably, it affects the circle at more than two places. Preferably, the spots are evenly distributed over the circumference of the circle.

The centering element of a metering system, which cooperates with the syringes of the syringe family, has an outer diameter of 16.2 to 17.7 mm and / or a wall thickness of 0.4 to 2.5 mm and / or stands with respect to a stop for the top of Centering collar 2.2 to 6 mm in front.

According to one embodiment, the centering collar has an outer diameter of 21 to 24.2 mm and / or a height of 3.2 to 5.4 mm and / or the centering area is at least at a distance of a minimum of 3 mm and a maximum of 6 mm from the upper end the syringe barrel. This allows insertion of the syringe into the commercial dispensers of the Multipette® type from Eppendorf AG.

According to one embodiment, the syringe has a filling volume selected from the volumes 10 ml, 5 ml, 2.5 ml, 1 ml, 0.5 ml, 0.2 ml, 0.1 ml. Always ensures the centering exact centering on one Centering element of a dosing system.

According to one embodiment, the syringe piston below the coupling piece has a disc and / or axially extending wings and is present between the disc and / or the wings and the centering an annular gap with a gap width of 0.5 to 2.5 mm. The disc prevents contaminants from entering the syringe barrel and the disc and / or wings guide the syringe barrel at the top of the barrel. The annular gap with a gap width of 0.5 to 2.5 mm ensures that the centering element between the disc and / or wing and syringe barrel finds space and the disc and / or wings are inserted into the centering element.

The centering element may in particular be a torus or hollow cylinder of low height. Further, it may be formed as a hollow cylinder greater height, hollow cone or as another continuous rotating body, so that a line contact or surface contact with the centering is possible. Even a multi-point contact can be useful. In particular, the centering element may be pyramidal or polygonal, with the pyramid or polygonal column having any number of corners (e.g., 8). Preferably, the centering element is cylindrical, in particular circular cylindrical, or slightly conical, in particular with a cone angle of 0.1 to 2.5 °, in particular about 1 °. Furthermore, the centering element preferably has a conical insertion region at the lower end.

According to a further embodiment, the centering element on the outside of a contour with projections and / or depressions, wherein the smallest circle circumscribing the contour has the second inner diameter. This contour can mesh with a complementary contour of the syringe. In this way, a syringe coding can be aligned directly on a sensor of the metering device. Furthermore, this can be effected by a rotation, which prevents the syringe from twisting in the coding device. Furthermore, the contour can reduce the friction when inserting the centering element in the syringe by interacting with a smooth centering.

According to one embodiment, the centering element is arranged rigidly with respect to the receptacle or is sprung with respect to the receptacle in the axial direction. The rigid arrangement causes a stiffer guidance of the syringe with respect to the metering device compared to the sprung arrangement. The rigid one Arrangement has the advantage that a sprung stop on which the centering collar rests with its upper side, the release of the syringe supported by the metering device. The advantage of the rigid arrangement is that it can prevent tilting when the syringe is placed with a certain force on a substrate, for example a vessel edge, as is common, for example, in the already discussed pipetting technique of wall dispensing. A spring-loaded centering element can compensate for alignment errors when inserting the centering tube into the receptacle. According to a preferred embodiment, the centering element is spring-loaded with respect to the receptacle by being fixed to a spring-loaded stop for the centering collar.

According to one embodiment, the centering element in the contact region with the centering region has an outer diameter of 16.2 to 17.7 mm and / or a wall thickness of 0.4 to 2.5 mm and / or stands with respect to a stop for the upper side of the centering collar by 2 , 2 to 6 mm in front. This information relates to the state of the metering device in which the syringe is not used, and include both relatively spring-loaded and relative to each other rigid arrangements of centering and stop. If the stopper is designed as a sensor plate, they relate to the base of the sensor plate from which possibly contact elements protrude.

1. 1. Spritze für den Gebrauch mit einer Dosiervorrichtung mit einem Zentrierelement mit axialem Durchgang in einer Aufnahme für einen Spritzenzylinder und einer axial verlagerbaren Kolbenaufnahme für einen Spritzenkolben mit
   • einem Spritzenzylinder
   • und einem Spritzenkolben , wobei
   • der Spritzenzylinder unten einen Austritt,
   • oben am Außenumfang einen Zentrierbund zum Einsetzen in die Aufnahme ,
   • einen mit dem Austritt verbundenen zylindrischen Kolbenlaufbereich mit einem ersten Innendurchmesser, in dem der Spritzenkolben abdichtend geführt ist, und
   • zumindest in einem Abstand von mindestens 3 mm vom oberen Ende des Spritzenzylinders einen Zentrierbereich zum Einführen des Zentrierelementes aufweist, der einen zweiten Innendurchmesser hat, der den ersten Innendurchmesser überschreitet und zumindest 16,2 mm und höchstens 17,7 mm beträgt,
   • und der Spritzenkolben am oberen Ende ein Kupplungsstück zum Einsetzen in die Kolbenaufnahme aufweist.
2. 2. Spritze nach Ausführungsform 1, bei der die Wandstärke des Spritzenzylinders im zylindrischen Kolbenlaufbereich größer als im Zentrierbereich ist.
3. 3. Spritze nach Ausführungsform 1 oder 2 mit einem konischen Einführbereich am oberen Ende des Zentrierbereiches und/oder einem konischen Übergangsbereich zwischen dem Zentrierbereich und dem zylindrischen Kolbenlaufbereich des Spritzenzylinders.
4. 4. Spritze nach einer der Ausführungsformen 1 bis 3, bei der der Zentrierbund innen eine Kontur mit Vorsprüngen und/oder Vertiefungen aufweist, wobei die Kontur einen gedachten Zylinder mit dem zweiten Innendurchmesser außen tangiert.
5. 5. Spritze nach einer der Ausführungsformen 1 bis 4, bei der der Zentrierbund einen Außendurchmesser von ca. 21 bis 24mm und/oder eine Höhe ca. 3,2 bis 4,5 mm und/oder der Zentrierbereich einen Abstand von mindestens 3 bis 6mm vom oberen Ende des Spritzenzylinders aufweist.
6. 6. Spritze nach einer der Ausführungsformen 1 bis 5, bei der Spritzenkolben oben unterhalb eines Kupplungsstückes eine Scheibe und/oder axial erstreckte Flügel aufweist und zwischen der Scheibe und/oder den Flügeln und dem zylindrischen Zentrierbereich ein Ringspalt mit einer Spaltweite von 0,5 bis 2,5mm vorhanden ist.
7. 7. Spritze nach einer der Ausführungsformen 1 bis 6, die ein Füllvolumen ausgewählt aus den Volumina 10 ml, 5 ml, 2,5 ml, 1 ml, 0,5 ml, 0,2 ml, 0,1 ml aufweist.
8. 8. Spritzenfamilie für den Gebrauch mit einer Dosiervorrichtung mit einem Zentrierelement mit axialem Durchgang in einer Aufnahme für einen Spritzenzylinder und einer axial verlagerbaren Kolbenaufnahme für einen Spritzenkolben umfassend
   • mehrere Spritzen mit verschiedenen Füllvolumina mit jeweils
   • einem Spritzenzylinder
   • und einem Spritzenkolben, wobei
   • der Spritzenzylinder unten einen Austritt,
   • oben am Außenumfang einen Zentrierbund zum Einsetzen in die Aufnahme,
   • einen mit dem Austritt verbundenen zylindrischen Kolbenlaufbereich mit einem ersten Innendurchmesser, in dem der Spritzenkolben abdichtend geführt ist, und
   • zumindest in einem Abstand von mindestens 3 mm vom oberen Ende des Spritzenzylinders einen Zentrierbereich zum Einsetzen des Zentrierelementes aufweist,
   • der Spritzenkolben am oberen Ende ein Kupplungsstück zum Einsetzen in die Kolbenaufnahme aufweist
   • und die Zentrierbereiche von Spritzen mit verschiedenen Füllvolumina innen eine übereinstimmende Kontur aufweisen.
9. 9. Spritzenfamilie nach Ausführungsform 8, bei der die Außendurchmesser der Zentrierbunde und/oder die Höhen der Zentrierbunde und/oder die Höhen der Zentrierbereiche von Spritzen mit verschiedenen Füllvolumina übereinstimmen.
10. 10. Spritzenfamilie nach Ausführungsform 8 oder 9, bei dem die Spritzen gemäß einer der Ausführungsformen 1 bis 8 ausgestaltet sind.
11. 11. Dosiervorrichtung für den Gebrauch mit einer Spritze mit einem Spritzenzylinder und einem Spritzenkolben, wobei der Spritzenzylinder unten einen Austritt, oben am Außenumfang einen Zentrierbund, einen mit dem Austritt verbundenen Kolbenlaufbereich, in dem der Spritzenkolben abdichtend geführt ist, und weiter oben einen Zentrierbereich und ein Kupplungsstück am oberen Ende des Spritzenkolbens aufweist oder für den Gebrauch mit einer mehrere solcher Spritzen umfassenden Spritzenfamilie mit
    • einem Gehäuse umfassend
    • eine Aufnahme für den Zentrierbund des Spritzenzylinders mit einer Axialöffnung zum axialen Einsetzen des Zentrierbundes in eine Befestigungsposition,
    • ein in der Aufnahme angeordnetes, auf die Axialöffnung ausgerichtetes Zentrierelement mit axialem Durchgang zum axialen Einsetzen in den zylindrischen Zentrierbereich des Spritzenzylinders,
    • einen Aufnahmekörper mit einer Kolbenaufnahme zum axialen Einsetzen eines Kupplungsstückes in eine Befestigungsposition,
    • Befestigungseinrichtungen zum lösbaren Halten von Zentrierbund und Kupplungsstück in ihren Befestigungspositionen in der Aufnahme und in der Kolbenaufnahme,
    • wobei die Befestigungseinrichtungen radial zustellbare Greifeinrichtungen zum Greifen des Zentrierbundes und des Kupplungsstückes in den Befestigungspositionen aufweisen, und
    • Kolbenstelleinrichtungen zum Verschieben des Aufnahmekörpers im Gehäuse.
12. 12. Dosiervorrichtung nach Ausführungsform 11, bei der das Zentrierelement im Kontaktbereich mit der Zentrierfläche einen Außendurchmesser von 16,2 bis 17,7mm und/oder eine Wandstärke von 0,4 bis 2.5mm aufweist und/oder bezüglich eines Anschlages für die Oberseite des Zentrierbundes 2,2 bis 6 mm vorsteht.
13. 13. Dosiervorrichtung nach Ausführungsform 11 oder 12, bei der das Zentrierelement außen eine Kontur mit Vorsprüngen und/oder Vertiefungen aufweist, wobei die Kontur einen gedachten Zylinder mit dem zweiten Außendurchmesser außen tangiert.
14. 14. Dosiervorrichtung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 11 bis 13, bei der das Zentrierelement starr bezüglich der Aufnahme angeordnet oder bezüglich der Aufnahme in Axialrichtung verfedert ist.
15. 15. Dosiervorrichtung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 11 bis 14 umfassend eine Spritze gemäß Ausführungform 1 bis 9 oder mindestens eine Spritze der Spritzenfamilie gemäß einem der Ausführungsformen 9 bis 11.
16. 16. Verwendung einer Spritze gemäß einer der Ausführungsformen 1 bis 7 und/oder einer Spritze aus einer Spritzenfamilie gemäß einer der Ausführungsformen 8 bis 10 in einer Dosiervorichtung zur Aufnahme und Abgabe von Flüssigkeiten.
17. 17. Verwendung einer Dosiervorichtung gemäß einer der Ausführungsformen 11 bis 15 mit einer Spritze gemäß einer der Ausführungsformen 1 bis 10 zur Aufnahme und Abgabe von Flüssigkeiten.

Embodiments of the invention are listed below:

1. 1. syringe for use with a metering device with a centering element with axial passage in a receptacle for a syringe barrel and an axially displaceable piston receptacle for a syringe plunger with
   • a syringe barrel
   • and a syringe plunger, wherein
   • the syringe barrel below an exit,
   • at the top on the outer circumference a centering collar for insertion into the receptacle,
   • a connected to the outlet cylindrical Kolbenlaufbereich having a first inner diameter, in which the syringe plunger is sealingly guided, and
   • at least at a distance of at least 3 mm from the upper end of the syringe barrel, has a centering area for inserting the centering element, which has a second inner diameter that exceeds the first inner diameter and is at least 16.2 mm and at most 17.7 mm,
   • and the syringe plunger has at the upper end a coupling piece for insertion into the piston receptacle.
2. 2. syringe according to embodiment 1, wherein the wall thickness of the syringe barrel in the cylindrical piston running area is greater than in the centering.
3. 3. Syringe according to embodiment 1 or 2 with a conical insertion region at the upper end of the centering region and / or a conical transition region between the centering region and the cylindrical piston running region of the syringe barrel.
4. 4. Syringe according to one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the centering collar has a contour inside with projections and / or depressions, wherein the contour tangentially an imaginary cylinder with the second inner diameter.
5. 5. Syringe according to one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the centering collar has an outer diameter of about 21 to 24mm and / or a height of about 3.2 to 4.5 mm and / or the centering a distance of at least 3 to 6mm from the upper end of the syringe barrel.
6. 6. syringe according to one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the syringe plunger above a coupling piece has a disc and / or axially extending wings and between the disc and / or the wings and the cylindrical centering an annular gap with a gap width of 0.5 to 2.5mm is available.
7. 7. Syringe according to one of embodiments 1 to 6, which has a filling volume selected from the volumes of 10 ml, 5 ml, 2.5 ml, 1 ml, 0.5 ml, 0.2 ml, 0.1 ml.
8. 8. syringe family for use with a metering device comprising an axial passage centering in a receptacle for a syringe barrel and an axially displaceable piston receptacle for a syringe plunger comprising
   • several syringes with different filling volumes each
   • a syringe barrel
   • and a syringe plunger, wherein
   • the syringe barrel below an exit,
   • at the top on the outer circumference a centering collar for insertion into the receptacle,
   • a connected to the outlet cylindrical Kolbenlaufbereich having a first inner diameter, in which the syringe plunger is sealingly guided, and
   • at least at a distance of at least 3 mm from the upper end of the syringe barrel has a centering for inserting the centering element,
   • the syringe plunger has at the upper end a coupling piece for insertion into the piston receptacle
   • and the centering areas of syringes having different filling volumes have a matching contour inside.
9. 9. syringe family according to embodiment 8, wherein the outer diameter of the centering collars and / or the heights of the centering collars and / or the heights of the centering of syringes with different filling volumes match.
10. 10. syringe family according to embodiment 8 or 9, wherein the syringes according to one of the embodiments 1 to 8 are configured.
11. 11. Dosing device for use with a syringe with a syringe barrel and a syringe plunger, wherein the syringe barrel below an outlet, on top of the outer circumference a centering collar, connected to the outlet piston running area, in which the syringe plunger is sealingly guided, and above a centering and a coupling piece at the upper end of the syringe plunger or for use with a syringe family comprising a plurality of such syringes
    • comprising a housing
    • a receptacle for the centering collar of the syringe barrel with an axial opening for axial insertion of the centering collar in a mounting position,
    • a centering element arranged in the receptacle and aligned with the axial opening, with axial passage for axial insertion into the cylindrical centering region of the syringe barrel,
    • a receiving body with a piston receptacle for the axial insertion of a coupling piece in a fastening position,
    • Fastening means for releasably retaining the centering collar and coupling in their mounting positions in the receptacle and in the piston receptacle,
    • wherein the fastening means comprise radially deliverable gripping means for gripping the centering collar and the coupling piece in the fixing positions, and
    • Piston adjusting devices for moving the receiving body in the housing.
12. 12. Metering device according to embodiment 11, wherein the centering in the contact region with the centering surface has an outer diameter of 16.2 to 17.7 mm and / or a wall thickness of 0.4 to 2.5 mm and / or with respect to a stop for the top of the Zentrierbundes Protrudes 2.2 to 6 mm.
13. 13. Metering device according to embodiment 11 or 12, wherein the centering element has a contour with projections and / or recesses on the outside, wherein the contour tangentially engages an imaginary cylinder with the second outside diameter.
14. 14. Metering device according to one of embodiments 11 to 13, wherein the centering element is arranged rigidly with respect to the receptacle or is sprung with respect to the receptacle in the axial direction.
15. 15. Dosing device according to one of the embodiments 11 to 14 comprising a syringe according to embodiments 1 to 9 or at least one syringe of the syringe family according to one of the embodiments 9 to 11.
16. 16. Use of a syringe according to any of embodiments 1 to 7 and / or a syringe of a syringe family according to any of embodiments 8 to 10 in a dosing device for receiving and dispensing liquids.
17. 17. Use of a dosing device according to one of the embodiments 11 to 15 with a syringe according to one of the embodiments 1 to 10 for receiving and dispensing liquids.

Fig. 1a bis f

eine Spritze mit einem Füllvolumen von 10 ml in Seitenansicht (Fig. 1a), Ansicht von oben (Fig. 1b), Ansicht von unten (Fig. 1c), einem Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie A-A von Fig. 1a (Fig. 1d), einer vergrößerten Detailansicht A von Fig. 1d (Fig. 1e), zerlegt in Spritzenkolben und Spritzenzylinder in Seitenansicht (Fig. 1f) und Spritzenzylinder derselben Spritze in einem Vertikalschnitt (Fig. 1g) und derselbe Spritzenzylinder im Vertikalschnitt mit Varianten des Zentrierbereiches in vertikalen Teilschnitten und in vergrößerten halben Querschnitten (Fig. 1h);

Fig. 2a bis f

eine Spritze mit einem Füllvolumen von 0,1 ml in Seitenansicht (Fig. 2a), Ansicht von oben (Fig. 2b), Ansicht von unten (Fig. 2c), einem Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie A-A von Fig. 2a (Fig. 2d), vergrößerter Detailansicht A von Fig. 2d (Fig. 2e) und zerlegt in Spritzenkolben und Spritzenzylinder in Seitenansicht (Fig. 2f);

Fig. 3a und b

Spritzen einer Spritzenfamilie in Seitenansicht mit einem Ausbruch im Oberbereich (Fig. 3a) und vergrößerte Details A bis C von Fig. 3a (Fig. 3b);

Fig. 4a und b

Spritzgießwerkzeug zum Spritzgießen eines Spritzenzylinders einer Spritze mit einem Füllvolumen von 0,1 ml im geschlossenen Zustand beim Spritzgießen eines Spritzenzylinders (Fig. 4a) und im geöffneten Zustand beim Auswerfen des Spritzenzylinders (Fig. 4b);

Fig. 5

Spritze mit einem Füllvolumen von 10 ml mit Spritzenkolben in zwei verschiedenen Einschiebepositionen in einem vertikalen Vollschnitt;

Fig. 6

Kraft zum Einschieben zweier Spritzenkolben mit unterschiedlichen Abmessungen aufgrund Fertigungsschwankungen in den Spritzenzylinder einer Spritze von Fig. 5 in Abhängigkeit vom Weg des Einschiebens im Kraft/Weg-Diagramm;

Fig. 7

Spritze mit einem Zentrierbereich bestehend aus drei im Wesentlichen zylindrischen Zentrierabschnitten, die als Prüfdurchmessern genutzt werden und Spritzenkolben in vier verschiedenen Einschiebepositionen in einem vertikalen Vollschnitt;

Fig. 8

Kraft zum Einschieben von vier Spritzenkolben mit unterschiedlichen Abmessungen aufgrund Fertigungsschwankungen in den Spritzenzylinder einer Spritze von Fig. 7 in Abhängigkeit vom Weg des Einschiebens in einem Kraft/Weg-Diagramm;

Fig. 9

Dosiervorrichtung, insbesondere Dispenser für den Gebrauch von Spritzen gemäß Fig. 1 bis 8 in einer Perspektivansicht schräg von unten und von der Seite;

Fig. 10

verfederter oberer Anschlag mit Zentrierelement mit axialem Durchgang derselben Dosiervorrichtung in einem vergrößerten perspektivischen Sprengbild;

Fig. 11

derselbe verfederte obere Anschlag mit Zentrierelement mit axialem Durchgang zusammengesetzt mit anliegender Spritze in einer vergrößerten Perspektivansicht des Spritzenzylinders im vertikalen Vollschnitt;

Fig. 12

dieselbe Dosiervorrichtung mit eingesetzter Spritze in einer Perspektivansicht schräg von unten und von der Seite mit Spritzenzylinder im vertikalen Halbschnitt;

Fig. 13

verfederter oberer Anschlag einer alternativen Dosiervorrichtung mit starr bezüglich der Aufnahme angeordnetem Zentrierelement mit axialem Durchgang in einem perspektivischen Sprengbild;

Fig. 14a bis c

Spritze mit axial verlaufenden Vertiefungen im Zentrierbereich in Draufsicht (Fig. 14a) und im Vertikalschnitt (Fig. 14b) sowie Zentrierelement mit zu den Vertiefungen komplementären Erhebungen in einer Perspektivansicht schräg von unten und von der Seite;

Fig. 15

verschiedene Spritzen angeordnet auf einem Träger für Spritzen im Vertikalschnitt;

Fig. 16a bis c

eine Spritze umfassend einen Adapter in Seitenansicht (Fig. 16a), Seitenansicht von der gegenüberliegenden Seite (Fig. 16b), Draufsicht (Fig. 16c) und einem Vertikalschnitt (Fig. 16d);

Fig. 17a und b

Ausschnitt einer Dosiervorrichtung mit unverfedertem Zentrierring, der mit der Halteplatte verbunden ist (Fig. 17a) und einer Dosiervorrichtung mit verfedertem Zentrierring, der mit der Trägerplatte mitfedert (Fig. 17b);

Fig. 18a und b

eine Tabelle mit Messergebnissen aus Versuchen mit einem herkömmlichen Dispenser und solchen mit verfedertem bzw. nicht-verfedertem Zentrierelement (Fig. 18a) und eine grafische Darstellung der Ergebnisse (Fig. 18b).

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1a to f

a syringe with a filling volume of 10 ml in side view ( Fig. 1a ), View from above ( Fig. 1b ), Bottom view ( Fig. 1c ), a vertical section along the line AA of Fig. 1a (Fig. 1d ), an enlarged detail view A of Fig. 1d (Fig. 1e ), disassembled into syringe plungers and syringe barrels in side view ( Fig. 1f ) and syringe barrel of the same syringe in a vertical section ( Fig. 1g ) and the same syringe barrel in vertical section with variants of the centering in vertical sections and in enlarged half cross-sections ( Fig. 1h );

Fig. 2a to f

a syringe with a filling volume of 0.1 ml in side view ( Fig. 2a ), View from above ( Fig. 2b ), Bottom view ( Fig. 2c ), a vertical section along the line AA of Fig. 2a (Fig. 2d ), enlarged detail view A of Fig. 2d (Fig. 2e ) and disassembled into syringe plungers and syringe barrels in side view ( Fig. 2f );

Fig. 3a and b

Spraying a syringe family in side view with an outbreak in the upper area ( Fig. 3a ) and enlarged details A to C of Fig. 3a (Fig. 3b );

Fig. 4a and b

Injection mold for injection molding of a syringe barrel of a syringe with a filling volume of 0.1 ml in the closed state during injection molding of a syringe barrel ( Fig. 4a ) and in the opened state when ejecting the syringe barrel ( Fig. 4b );

Fig. 5

Syringe with a filling volume of 10 ml with syringe plunger in two different insertion positions in a vertical full section;

Fig. 6

Force to insert two syringe pistons with different dimensions due to manufacturing variations in the syringe barrel of a syringe of Fig. 5 depending on the way of insertion in the force / displacement diagram;

Fig. 7

Syringe with a centering area consisting of three substantially cylindrical centering sections, which are used as Prüfdurchmessern and syringe plungers in four different insertion positions in a vertical full section;

Fig. 8

Force to insert four syringe pistons of different dimensions due to manufacturing variations in the syringe barrel of a syringe of FIG. 7 depending on the way of insertion in a force / displacement diagram;

Fig. 9

Dosing device, in particular dispenser for the use of syringes according to Fig. 1 to 8 in a perspective view obliquely from below and from the side;

Fig. 10

Sprung upper stop with centering element with axial passage of the same metering device in an enlarged perspective exploded view;

Fig. 11

the same sprung top stop with centering element with axial passage composed with adjacent syringe in an enlarged perspective view of the syringe barrel in vertical full section;

Fig. 12

the same metering device with inserted syringe in a perspective view obliquely from below and from the side with syringe barrel in vertical half-section;

Fig. 13

Sprung upper stop of an alternative metering device with rigidly arranged with respect to the recording centering element with axial passage in a perspective exploded view;

Fig. 14a to c

Syringe with axially extending depressions in the centering area in plan view ( Fig. 14a ) and in vertical section ( Fig. 14b ) and centering with complementary to the wells Elevations in a perspective view obliquely from below and from the side;

Fig. 15

various syringes arranged on a carrier for syringes in vertical section;

Fig. 16a to c

a syringe comprising an adapter in side view ( Fig. 16a ), Side view from the opposite side ( Fig. 16b ), Top view ( Fig. 16c ) and a vertical section ( Fig. 16d );

Fig. 17a and b

Section of a dosing device with a spring-loaded centering ring which is connected to the holding plate ( Fig. 17a ) and a metering device with a spring-loaded centering ring, which cushions with the carrier plate ( Fig. 17b );

Fig. 18a and b

a table with measurement results from tests with a conventional dispenser and those with a spring-loaded or non-spring-loaded centering element ( Fig. 18a ) and a graphical representation of the results ( Fig. 18b ).

In the following explanation, mutually corresponding parts of various embodiments are provided with a plurality of reference numerals separated by a dot, with the digits before the dot coinciding and the digits standing behind the dot denoting the respective embodiments. In summary, corresponding parts of various embodiments are also referred to alone with the matching numbers.

According to Fig. 1 has a 10 ml syringe 1.1 a syringe barrel 2.1, in which a syringe plunger 3.1 is arranged. The syringe barrel 2.1 is not strictly cylindrical everywhere in geometric terms. The syringe barrel 2.1 has an outside cylindrical cylinder section 4.1, which has a cylindrical piston running area 5.1 inside.

The cylinder section 4.1 has a bottom bottom 6.1 with a central hole 7.1. The edge of the hole 7.1 is connected to an inside and outside conical tip section 8.1 with a low cone angle, which has an inside and outside more conical conical section 9.1 below. The syringe section 8.1 and the cone section 9.1 taper downwards.

The cylinder section 4.1 is connected at the top via a short inside and outside conical transition region 10.1 with an inside and outside cylindrical or slightly conical centering 11.1.

The centering region 11.1 is connected at the top to a centering collar 12.1, which has a substantially circular disk-shaped contact section 13.1 and a substantially cylindrical jacket section 14.1. The contact section 13.1 has a contact surface 15.1. This may have codings in the form of axially directed sensing surfaces arranged at one or more defined positions. The codings may be formed as in the EP 0 657 216 B1 and the US 5,620,661 described. The relevant explanations of the embodiments of the aforementioned patents are included in the present patent application.

Furthermore, the syringe cylinder 2.1 above the centering 11.1 on a conical insertion region 16.1, which widens upwards.

In the cylinder section 4.1, bottom 6.1, tip section 8.1 and transition region of the syringe barrel 2.1 has an approximately constant wall thickness.

The syringe barrel 2.1 is made in one piece from plastic. It is preferably produced by injection molding of a thermoplastic. The thermoplastic is, for example, polypropylene; Polyethylene or a cyclic olefinic (CO) polymer, polypropylene being preferred for its stability properties.

The syringe piston 3.1 has a flat cylindrical or circular piston-shaped piston portion 17.1, which has a circumferential sealing lip 18.1 on the circumference. Below, the piston portion 17.1 is connected to a piston tip portion 19.1, which is conically formed with the same or a similar small cone angle as the tip portion 8.1.

The syringe piston 3.1 is provided at the top with a piston rod 20.1. The piston rod 20.1 has a coupling piece 21.1 on top. The coupling piece 21.1 has a plurality of radially projecting, circumferential piston collars 22.1, between which circumferential grooves 23.1 are present.

Below the coupling piece 21.1 a disk 24.1 is arranged on the piston rod 20.1, which is formed circular disk-shaped.

Below the disc 24.1 sit on the piston rod 20.1 four radially projecting wings 25.1, which are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the piston rod 20.1. At the top, the wings 25.1 are connected to the disc 24.1 and at the bottom to the piston portion 17.1. The wings 25.1 have adjacent to the disc 24.1 outer edges 26.1 which are parallel to the piston rod 20.1. There are the wings 25.1 widest. This is followed by a first bevel 27.1, within which the width of the wings 25.1 decreases. This is again followed by an outer edge 28.1, which is parallel to the piston rod 20.1. At the bottom, the wings 25.1 have another bevel 29.1, within which the width of the wings 25.1 continues to decrease.

The syringe piston 3.1 is preferably made in one piece from plastic. Further preferably, it is injection molded from a thermoplastic. For example, it is made of polyethylene or polypropylene, with polyethylene being preferred, because the material pairing of polyethylene in the piston and polypropylene in the cylinder has a low frictional force. Polypropylene is preferred for the cylinder because of its high strength,

The cylindrical sections and areas of the syringe barrel 2.1 and the syringe plunger 3.1 are circular cylindrical.

When the piston 3.1 is fully inserted into the syringe barrel 2.1, the piston portion 17.1 sits on the bottom 6.1 and between the piston tip portion 19.1 and tip portion 8.1 remains a small annular gap. The outer edges 26.1 extend from the upper end of the piston running area 5.1 via the transition area 10.1 into the centering area 11.1. The disk 24.1 engages below in the centering 11.1. Between the outer edges 26.1 and the piston running area 5.1 remains a small annular gap, so that the outer edges 26.1 prevent the syringe plunger 3.1 from tilting in the syringe barrel. Between the disc 24.1 and the outer edges 26.1 and the centering 11.1 a slightly larger annular gap 290.1 is present. The coupling piece 21.1 is partially arranged in the centering area 11.1 and projects beyond the centering collar 12.1 upwards.

• Gemäß Fig. 2 weist eine 0,1 ml-Spritze 1.2 einen Spritzenzylinder 2.2 und einen Spritzenkolben 3.2 auf. Der Spritzenzylinder 2.2 ist nicht in geometrischer Hinsicht überall streng zylindrisch. Er hat unten einen innen und außen zylindrischen Zylinderabschnitt 4.2, der innen einen zylindrischen Kolbenlaufbereich 5.2 aufweist.

The above information applies in principle for syringes 1.2 to 1.7 with other filling volumes. Special features of the syringes 1.2 to 1.7 are shown in the following explanations:

• According to Fig. 2 For example, a 0.1 ml syringe 1.2 has a syringe barrel 2.2 and a syringe plunger 3.2. The syringe barrel 2.2 is not geometrically everywhere strictly cylindrical. It has at the bottom an inside and outside cylindrical cylinder section 4.2, which has a cylindrical piston running region 5.2 inside.

The lower end of the cylinder section 4.2 is connected to an inside and outside conical tip section 8.2, which is formed as a more conical cone section 9.2.

The upper end of the cylinder section 4.2 is connected to an inner and outer conical transition region 10.2. The upper end of the transition region 10.2 is connected to an inner and outer cylindrical centering 11.2.

The centering area 11.2 is in turn connected at the upper end with a centering collar 12.2. The centering collar 12.2 has a substantially circular disk-shaped contact section 13.2, which is connected at the inner edge with the centering 11.2. Further, the centering collar 12.2 has a substantially cylindrical shell portion 14.2, which is connected at the upper end to the outer edge of the abutment portion 13.2.

The contact section 13.2 has a contact surface 15.2 on top, which may have 15.1 codes according to the contact surface.

The syringe piston 3.2 has a long cylindrical piston portion 17.2, the bottom of the circumference has a circumferential sealing lip 18.2. The piston portion 17.2 is connected at the bottom with a piston tip portion 19.2 having a cylindrical portion at the top and a conical portion at the bottom.

The piston portion 17.2 is provided at the top with a piston rod 20.2, which has a coupling piece 21.2 above, which is formed according to the coupling piece 21.1.

Below the coupling piece 21.2 a disk 24.2 is arranged on the piston rod 20.2. Below the disc 24.2 project from the piston rod 20.2 radially four wings 25.2, which are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the piston rod 20.2. The wings 22.1 are connected at the top to the underside of the disk 24.2 and end at the bottom just above the piston section 17.2. They have at the top each to the piston rod portion 20.2 parallel outer edges 26.2 and below each have a chamfer 27.2.

When the piston 3.2 is fully inserted into the syringe barrel 2.2, the chamfers 27.2 sit inside on the transitional area 10.2. Between the piston tip section 19.2 and the cone section 9.2 of the syringe barrel 2.2 remains a small annular gap. The disk 24.2 is arranged below in the centering 11.2. Between centering 11.2 and disc 24.2 a small annular gap 290.2 is present. The coupling piece 21.2 is partially arranged in the centering area 11.2 and projects above the centering collar 12.2.

According to Fig. 1a and 2a have the syringes 1.1, 1.2 on the circumference of their Zentrierbunde 12.1, 12.2 radially outwardly projecting Ausrichtnasen 30.1, 30.2, which taper upwards. The alignment noses 30.1 and 30.2 have a parabolic contour at the top. In the example, in each case seven alignment noses 30.1, 30.2 are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the centering collars 12.1, 12.2.

According to Fig. 1e and 2e has the centering 11.1, 11.2 above an inner diameter of 16.2 to 17.7 mm and extends to a depth d of 6mm. Furthermore, the piston running range 5.1, 5.2 has an inner diameter b of 15.96 or 1.60 mm. The centering collar 12.1, 12.2 has a height e of 3.2 to 5.4 mm and an outer diameter b of 21 to 24.2 mm .. The coupling piece 22.1, 22.2 is opposite the Zentrierbund 12.1, 12.2 about 13.5mm before. Around Piston collars 22.1, 22.2, the coupling piece 21.1, 21.2 has a diameter g of 7 to 7.2 mm and in the region of the grooves 23.1, 23.2 has a diameter h of preferably less than 5 mm. This area is preferably designed as a crossed web construction for mass reduction.

In Fig. 1g are concrete dimensions of the centering 11.1 of the 10 ml syringe 1.1 indicated. Accordingly, the centering 11.1 has a minimum diameter of 16.2 mm and a maximum diameter of 17.7 mm. The centering region 11.1 begins at a distance of 3 mm from the top of the centering collar 12.1 and extends over an axial length of 3 mm. In Fig. 1g is the centering area 11.1 shown free of hatching, although the syringe barrel 2.1 is cut vertically in the centering 11.1.

Fig. 1h also shows the syringe barrel 2.1 in a vertical section, in which the centering area 11.1 is shown free of hatching, as this can basically assume different geometries. Preferred embodiments of this freeform surface or regular shaping surface are shown in partial sections to the right of the vertical section through the entire syringe barrel 2.1. In total, six geometries are indicated, of which three are shown in a vertical section and another three in a half section through the centering 11.1.

The uppermost vertical partial section shows a conically configured centering 11.11. The second vertical partial section shows an indicated convex centering area 11.12. The third vertical partial section shows a circumferential or partially encircling centering area 11.13 provided with (optionally rounded) ribs or webs. This last type of embodiment can also serve as a demolding aid.

The lowermost, vertical partial vertical section serves to illustrate the viewing direction from below through the syringe barrel 2.1 onto the centering region 11.1, which can be configured with different geometries. Different configurations are then shown on the far right in the half cross sections. Half cross sections are shown, since these are cross sections through the vertical section through the syringe barrel 2.1 shown on the left side.

The uppermost half cross-section represents a flattened centering area 11.14 cut by a plurality of secants. The central half cross section shows a centering area 11.15 provided with projections or warts or webs. The lowest half cross-section shows an elliptical cut centering 11.16.

In all these configurations of the centering region 11.1, the smallest diameter, which is at a distance of at least 3 and preferably not more than 6 mm below the top of the centering collar 12.1, is a maximum of 16.2 to 17.7 mm. The outer diameter of a - explained below - centering ring for centering the centering must also have these dimensions, otherwise the centering does not fit into the centering and can not fulfill its function. This is indicated on the centering area 11.14 by a radius is drawn there.

These design options and dimensions also apply to all further syringes 1.3 to 1.7 of the syringe family explained below.

According to Fig. 3 are the other syringes 1.3 to 1.7 of the syringe family with the filling volumes 5 ml, 2.5 ml, 1 ml, 0.5 ml and 0.2 ml constructed accordingly. The parts of the other syringes 1.3 to 1.7, which correspond to those of the syringes 1.1, 1.2 described above, are provided with corresponding reference numerals, wherein the before the number given in the point corresponds and the number following the point indicates the respective syringe.

In Fig. 3b are the flow brakes below the centering 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 illustrated. Accordingly, between the centering regions 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 and the transitional regions 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, there are corners in which the plastic compound is deflected during injection molding, so that they form a flow brake. In addition, the centering regions 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 have a smaller wall thickness than the adjacent transitional regions 10.1, 10.2, 10.3. In the case of the 10 ml syringe, the centering area 11.1 has a larger inner diameter than the piston running area 5.1. As a result, pressure losses are caused during injection molding, which have a uniform filling of the cylinder sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 with hot plastic mass result.

In Fig. 4 For example, an injection molding tool 31 includes a tool plate 32 having a hot runner nozzle 33, a tool cover plate 34, and a stripper plate 35. Further, it has a tool core 36. Between the aforementioned components, a cavity 37 is formed, which images the contour of a 0.1 ml syringe barrel 2.2.

The hot plastic mass is injected through the hot runner nozzle 33 into the cavity 37. Due to the flow brake between the transition region 10.2 and the centering 11.2 of the transition region 10.2 and the cylinder section 4.2 of the syringe barrel 2.2 are evenly filled, so that the syringe barrel 2.2 there has a very good dimensional stability. This is also contributed to that is injected into the transition region 10.2, in which the tool core 36 has a relatively large diameter, so that no adverse lateral deflection of the tool core 36 occurs, which leads to uneven wall thicknesses.

According to Fig. 4b the injection-molded syringe barrel 2.2 is ejected from the injection mold 31 by the stripper plate 35 is withdrawn from the tool plate 32 and the tool core 36 is pulled out of the stripper plate 35. The injection molding 2.2 then falls out of the tool 31.

The FIGS. 5 and 6 show how the jump of the inner diameter between the centering 11.1 and piston 5.1 range of the 10 ml syringe 1.1 can be used for the determination of not dimensionally accurate syringe plunger 3.1, in which the outer diameter of the piston portion 17.1 in the region of the sealing lip 18.1 exceeds the tolerance upper limit. The inner diameter of the centering region 11.1 is designed so that it corresponds to the tolerance upper limit of the outer diameter of the sealing lip 18.1. The inner diameter of the piston running range 5.1 is 15.96 mm. Hereinafter, corresponding parts of various syringe plungers 3.1 whose dimensions differ due to manufacturing tolerances are distinguished by reference numerals having a different numeral in the second position behind the dot.

The diameter of the in Fig. 5 in the left position shown sealing lip 18.11 is too large. According to Fig. 6 are determined when inserting this piston portion 17.11 of a built-in insertion mechanism force gauge (load cell) two Kraftanstiegsstufen. This clearly indicates that a too large syringe plunger 3.1 is present. The lack of dimensional stability can be based in particular on an ovality of the piston portion 17.11, which has an inflated outer diameter of the sealing lip 18.11 result, which can be determined by the test method described above. The in Fig. 5 shown in the right position piston portion 17.12 is with the sealing lip 18.12 within the tolerance or too small. According to Fig. 6 In this syringe plunger 3.1, only a single force increase stage is measured.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further embodiment with which it is also easy to determine whether the piston portion 17.1 falls below the tolerance lower limit. This embodiment has a centering area consisting of three centering sections 11.11, 11.12, 11.13, wherein the inner diameter of the centering 11.12 smaller than the inner diameter of the centering 11.11 and the inner diameter of the centering 11.13 smaller than the inner diameter of the centering 11.12. The centering section 11.13 is adjoined by a piston running region 5.1, the inner diameter of the piston running region 5.1 in turn being smaller than the inner diameter of the centering section 11.13.

The inner diameters are designed so that the inner diameter of the centering 11.11 corresponds to the tolerance upper limit of the outer diameter of the sealing lip 18.1 of the piston portion 17.1. The inner diameter of the centering section 11.12 corresponds to the lower limit of engagement of the outer diameter of the sealing lip 18.1 and the inner diameter of the Zentrierbabschnittes 11.13 of the lower tolerance limit for the sealing lip 18.1.

The in Fig. 7 The piston section 17.11 shown on the left has a large external diameter at the sealing lip 18.11. As a result, four Kraftanstiegsstufen be determined in the force / displacement diagram when inserting this piston portion 17.11.

The in Fig. 7 second piston portion 17.12 shown from the left has a sealing lip 18.12 with an outer diameter at the upper tolerance limit. When inserting this piston section 17.12 are according to Fig. 8 three power increase levels measurable. This syringe piston 3.1 is within the tolerance range.

The in Fig. 7 in the third position shown from the left piston section 17.13 has at the sealing lip 18.13 an outer diameter at the lower tolerance limit. According to Fig. 8 are on insertion of this piston section 17.13 two force increase stages visible. This syringe piston 3.1 is still in the tolerance range.

The in Fig. 7 The piston section 17.14 shown on the right has a small outer diameter at the sealing lip 18.14, which, however, exceeds the inner diameter in the piston running region 5.1. When inserting this piston portion 17.14 is according to Fig. 8 a single force increase step measurable. This syringe piston 3.1 is too small.

The centering sections 11.11 to 11.13 can also be referred to as test sections. This is the case in particular if only a part of the centering sections 11.11 to 11.13 is used for centering. In principle, however, all centering 11.11 to 11.13 can be used for centering. The centering will be explained below.

According to Fig. 9 has a metering device according to the invention 370 designed as an elongate handle housing 38. At the lower end of the housing 38 is a substantially circular cylindrical receptacle 39 for the centering collar 12 of the syringe barrel 2 is present. The receptacle 39 is accessible through a circular opening 40 at its lower end from the outside. At the periphery of the receptacle 39 are radially inwardly a plurality of axially directed guide tabs 41 before.

Furthermore, a receiving body 42 with a substantially cylindrical piston receptacle 43 for a coupling piece 21 of a syringe plunger 3 is present in the housing 38. The piston receptacle 43 is accessible from the outside by a further circular opening 44 at its lower end.

The receiving body 42 is axially displaceable in the housing 38 by means of a repeating mechanism, not shown. The repeating mechanism can be carried out in this way in particular be like in the DE 29 26 691 C2 and the US 4,406,170 or the DE 43 41 229 C2 and the US 5,620,660 described. The relevant explanations of the embodiments of the various patents are included in the present patent application.

The repeating mechanism comprises an elevator lever 440, which is axially displaceable on the outside of the housing 38, wherein in Fig. 9 the elevator lever 440 is shown in the lowermost position. Accordingly, the receiving body 42 is in the lowermost position, in which its lower end is disposed approximately at the level of the bottom of the receptacle 39.

Furthermore, the repeating mechanism comprises a metering lever 45, which protrudes from the top of the housing 38 and is pivotally mounted in the housing 38. The metering lever 45 is loaded by a spring device so that it is pressed into its uppermost position. By pivoting the metering lever 45 down the receiving body 42 by a metering step is displaced downwards. The step size of the metering step is adjustable by means of a Einstellrädchens 46, which is located at the upper end of the housing 38.

Furthermore, two diametrically opposed syringe gripping levers 47 are arranged below in the housing 38. The syringe gripping levers 47 are pivotally mounted in the housing 38. The syringe gripping arms 47 have outwardly projecting actuating keys 48 out of the housing 38. They pass through apertures in the housing 38 and have hook-like cylinder gripping ends 49 projecting into the receptacle 39.

Furthermore, two piston gripping levers 50 are mounted diametrically opposite one another in the receiving body 42. The piston gripping levers 50 penetrate through openings in the receiving body 42 so that they engage with hook-like piston gripping ends 51 in the piston receptacle 43.

The syringe gripping levers 47 and piston gripping levers 50 are each designed with two arms with a gripping arm and an actuating arm and are pivotably mounted in the connecting region of the gripping arm and the actuating arm. Furthermore, the syringe gripping levers 47 on the inner sides of their actuating arms unlock cam and the piston gripping lever 50 on the actuating arms cam-like projections. Not shown spring elements load the syringe gripping lever 47 and the piston gripping lever 50 so that they are each pivoted toward each other with their Zylindergreifenden 49 and piston gripping ends 51. The construction corresponds to the embodiment according to DE 43 41 229 C2 and US 5,620,660 , The relevant embodiments of the aforementioned patents are included in the present patent application.

At the bottom of the receptacle 39, a scanning device 52.1 for encoding on a centering collar 12 of a syringe 1 is present, which in Fig. 10 and 11 is shown. The scanning device 52.1 has an annular disk-shaped sensor plate 53 with a central hole 54 and seven axially projecting nubs 55, which are distributed uniformly over the underside of the sensor plate 53. Each nub 55 is operatively connected to a microswitch disposed in the sensor plate 53. As a result of the operation of a nub 55, the microswitch operatively connected thereto is actuated.

Furthermore, the scanning device 52.1 comprises a carrier plate 56 for the sensor plate 53. The sensor plate 53 can be fixed to the carrier plate 56 by means of bolts 57, which pass through the holes 58 of the sensor plate 53.

The support plate 56 has a central hole 59 whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the hole 54 of the sensor plate 53. On the inner circumference of the hole 59 of the support plate 56 is a kreishohlzylindrisches centering element 60.1, (also "Centering tube" called) fixed with axial passage, which has a chamfer 61 at the bottom outside. The centering element 60.1 engages through the hole 54 of the sensor plate 53 when the sensor plate 53 is fixed to the carrier plate 56 by means of the bolts 57.

From the top of the support plate 56 are protruding pins 62, wherein in each case a pin 62 is arranged at one corner. The pins 62 are fixedly connected to the carrier plate 56.

On the pins 62 coil springs 63 are guided.

Further, a holding plate 64 is present, which also has a central hole 65 whose diameter corresponds approximately to the diameter of the holes 54, 59. The holding plate 64 has at the corners in each case a bore 66, in each of which a pin 62 of the support plate 56 can be inserted.

When the pins 62 are inserted into the holes 66, the coil springs 63 are arranged with slight bias between the support plate 56 and the support plate 64. This condition is in Fig. 11 shown.

Further, the support plate 64 axially directed spring hooks 67 on each opposite sides, each with a hook end 68 which slide on assembly of support plate 56 and retaining plate 64 by lateral grooves 69 of the support plate 56 and finally with the hook ends 68 engage over the underside of the support plate 56. This is also in Fig. 11 shown. The spring hooks 67 hold the assembly of support plate 56 and retaining plate 64 together.

In the Fig. 11 arrangement shown allows a springing together of support plate 56 and retaining plate 64th

Details of a sensor plate 53 are in the embodiment of EP 0 657 216 B1 and the US 5,620,661 described. The relevant statements in the aforementioned patents are incorporated in the present patent application.

According to Fig. 11 a syringe 1 is attached to the scanner 52.1. The syringe 1 rests against the sensor plate 53 with the upper side of the centering collar 12. Thus, arranged on the contact surface coding can be scanned by means of the nubs 55.

The centering element 60.1 with axial passage engages in the centering collar 12. In this case, centering element 60.1 rests with an axial passage on the cylindrical centering region 11.

The above-described arrangement of sensor plate 53, support plate 56, centering element 60.1 with axial passage and retaining plate 64 is in the housing 38 of the metering device 370 of Fig. 9 built-in. In this case, the holding plate 64 is fixed in the housing 38. The sensor plate 53 forms the bottom of the receptacle 39. From this floor, the centering element 60.1 is in the receptacle 39 into it. The receiving body 42 is accessible through the opening 40 of the receptacle and the holes 59 and 65 of the scanner 52.1 from the outside.

Fig. 12 shows a metering device 370 with an inserted syringe 1. The syringe 1 is inserted with the centering collar 12 through the opening 40 in the receptacle 39. In this case, the syringe 1 is guided by the alignment lugs 30 on the guide lugs 41, so that the codings on the contact surface 15 are assigned to the knobs 55 exactly. The syringe gripping levers 47 slide due to the spring action with their Zylindergreifenden 49 over the edge of the Zentrierbundes 12 until they snap under his bottom. When the abutment surface 15 bears against the sensor plate 53, the centering collar 12 on the underside is engaged behind by the cylinder gripping ends 49 of the syringe gripping lever 47.

When inserting the syringe 1, the receiving body 42 is arranged in its lowest position. In this position, the coupling piece 21 engages in the piston receptacle 43. The piston gripping levers 50 slide with their gripping ends 51 over the coupling piece 21 until they snap behind a piston collar 22 into a groove 23.

Furthermore, when the syringe 1 is inserted, the centering element with axial passage 60.1 penetrates into the centering area 11, so that the syringe 1 is fixed in the metering device 370. The fact that the centering element 60.1 is resiliently mounted, it can easily penetrate into the centering area 11, even if the syringe 1 is slightly obliquely attached to the centering element 60.1.

Through this centering, the syringe 1 is accurately positioned in its seat in the receptacle 39 and the piston receptacle 43, so that it is exactly gripped by the gripping means 47, 50. Furthermore, the centering element with axial passage 60.1 corrects any irregularities of the syringe barrel 2. Furthermore, the centering element 60.1 keeps the syringe 1 in the correct orientation, even if the spigot 8 of the syringe 1 is placed and a transverse force is introduced into the syringe 1.

Fig. 13 shows an alternative scanning device 52.2, in which the centering element 60.2 is fixed to a support plate 64. The scanning device 52.2 can be mounted in the metering device 370 instead of the scanning device 52.1. In this case, the holding plate 64 is fixed in the housing 38. In this embodiment, the syringe 1 is subject to an even lower deflection under load by a transverse force.

According to Fig. 14 has a syringe 1 in the centering 11 axially extending grooves 70. Furthermore, the centering element with axial passage 60.3 has circumferentially axially extending ribs 71 which fit into the grooves 70. When the syringe 1 is pushed onto the centering element 60.3, the intermeshing of grooves 70 and ribs 71 prevents the syringe 1 from rotating relative to the receptacle 39. This prevents damage to the sensor plate 53.

According to Fig. 15 For example, a lid 72 of a box, not shown, or a tray has a plate 73 which has a plurality of upwardly projecting carrier sleeves 74. Syringes 1.1, 1.2, 1.4 of different sizes are placed with their centering collar 12.1, 12.2, 12.4 on top of the edge of the carrier sleeves 74. They are guided on the outer circumference of the centering region 11.1, 11.2, 11.4 in the carrier sleeves 74. The outer conical transition regions 10.1, 10.2, 10.4 ensure that the syringes 1.1, 1.2, 1.4 are guided exactly in the correct holding position.

According to Fig. 16 has a syringe 1.8 a syringe barrel 2.8 with a cylinder section 4.8, which has a cylindrical piston barrel 5.8 inside. The cylinder section 4.8 has a bottom bottom 6.8 with a central hole 7.8, the edge of which has a conical tip section 8.8 of a more conical cone section 9.8 at the lower end.

The cylinder section 4.8 has at the upper edge two diametrically opposed, radially outwardly projecting projections 75 of a bayonet connection.

Furthermore, the syringe cylinder 2.8 comprises an adapter 76, which is formed substantially sleeve-shaped. The adapter 76 has on the inside of the lower edge outgoing axial grooves 77 of the bayonet joint, which at an axial Distance from the bottom ends. The axial grooves 77 are arranged on two diametrically opposite inner sides of the adapter 76. Top open the axial grooves 77 in circumferential grooves 78 of the bayonet connection.

The syringe barrel 2.8 is in Fig. 16 with the projections 75 inserted through the axial grooves 77 and screwed into the circumferential grooves 78, to the end of the respective circumferential groove 78. By this bayonet connection 75, 77, 78 of the syringe barrel 2.8 is connected to the adapter 76.

The adapter 76 has a centering area 11.8 above an intermediate floor 79, which delimits the circumferential grooves 78 above. The adapter 76 has at the top of a radially outwardly projecting centering collar 12.8, the top has a contact surface 15.8 with codings.

The intermediate bottom 79 has a large passage opening 80 through which a syringe piston 3.8 is inserted into the syringe barrel 2.8. The syringe piston 3.8 has a piston section 17.8 with a circumferential sealing lip 18.8 on the circumference. Below is the piston portion 17.8 connected to a piston tip section 19.8 and above it is provided with a piston rod 20.8. The piston rod 20.8 has a coupling piece 21.8 on top. Below the coupling piece 21.8, the piston rod 20.8 is provided with a disc 24.8 and sit underneath radially projecting wings 25.8 on the piston rod 3.8.

This syringe 1.8 can be used with the adapter 76 in the receptacle 39 and the coupling piece 21.8 in the receiving body 42 of a metering device 370, as for the syringe 1 based on Fig. 12 is explained above. The adapter is guided by the centering element 60.1 in the centering area, so that the syringe 1.8 is centered.

According to the following investigation report, the deflections of the syringe 1 held in the dosing device 370 (cf. Fig. 12 ) under load compared to a metering device, which has no centering of the syringe, extremely low.

In the investigation report which examined syringes are referred to as "Combitips ^®" which examined metering as "Multipette ^®" and the centering as "centering" or "centering" or "centering".

Task:

It should be investigated to what extent can be reduced to Multipette ^® by a centering ring on the Multipette ^® tilting the Combitips ^®. Current status: If too much pressure is applied to the vessel when dispensing a volume to a vessel wall, the Combitip® tilts towards the Multipette®. Here, the Combitip cylinder springs with the spring-loaded switching mat on one side. However, as the piston does not spring down, movement between the Combitip cylinder and the Combitip piston can occur. This may in turn lead to Dosierfehlern. If the cylinder tilts too much, a message is issued in the Multipette ^® . This can only be eliminated by a procedure in the zero position.

Summary:

With a non-spring-loaded centering sleeve (see Fig. 17a ) in the Multipette®, the force necessary to tilt the cylinder has been reversed. 78% higher than a standard Multipette®. In a Multipette® with sprung Centering sleeve (see Fig. 17b ), the force needed to tilt was increased by 40%.

Examined objects / examined material:

The prototypes were compared with a standard Multipette® X-Stream. For the experiments two Multipettes® were rebuilt. The safety mats with the mounting plates were changed as follows.

In Fig. 17a the centering sleeve is shown not spring-mounted on the support plate. The arrangement of Fig. 17a corresponds to the in Fig. 13 shown arrangement. In Fig. 17b the centering sleeve is attached to the bottom, so that the centering sleeve is mitfedert. The arrangement of Fig. 17b corresponds to the in the Figures 10 and 11 shown arrangement. The serial components of a Dispenser type Multipette ^® were not changed.

For the measurements 10ml Combitip ^® plus were used. The centering sleeves were tuned to this diameter.

Procedure / examination procedure:

The measurements were carried out on a train / printing machine (Z005 type) from Zwick Roell.

The test speed was 50mm / min. The measurements were started after 0.1N pre-power.

Individual results:

Fig. 18 (Table and graph) shows the comparison of a conventional dispenser of the type Mulitipette® with a metering device according to the invention with sprung centering sleeve and with a metering device according to the invention with non-spring-loaded centering. In measurements 1 and 2 (see Fig. 18a : Table) a series Multipette ^{® was} used. For measurements 3 and 4, a prototype mulipette ^® with non-spring-loaded centering sleeve - as in Fig. 17a shown - used. The measurements were 5 and 6 with a prototype Mulipette ^® with spring loaded centering - as in Fig. 17b shown. A graphical representation of the results is in Fig. 18b a shows the results with the conventional dispenser, b the results with the dispenser with the spring-loaded centering sleeve and c the results with the dispenser with the non-springed centering sleeve.

According to the following investigation report, in a conventional metering system which does not have centering of the syringe in the metering device, metering errors are caused by deflection of the syringe due to a transverse force. Accordingly, with syringes 1 and metering device 370 according to the invention considerably more precise dosages are possible.

In the investigation report which examined syringes are referred to as "Combitips ^®" which examined metering as "Multipette ^®" and the centering as "centering" or "centering" or "centering".

Task:

In the above study, the force needed to tilt the Combitips ^{® was} determined. Background: If too much pressure is applied to the vessel when dispensing a volume to a vessel wall, the Combitip ^® tilts over the Multipette. Here, the Combitip cylinder springs with the spring-loaded switching mat on one side. It should now be investigated how big the volumetric error is by tilting the Combitips ^® .

Summary:

If the Combitip ^® is tilted by 1mm compared to the Multipette ^® - less than 1N of force is required - a volume of 5ml will be twice the permissible error (according to Eppendorf specification).

Investigated objects / material under investigation:

The examination was performed with a standard Multipette ^® X-stream and a 50ml Combitip ^® plus. For metrological reasons, the largest Combitip ^{® was} selected for this test.

Procedure / examination procedure:

The experimental setup of the foregoing analysis has been extended by a Mettler AE 163 balance that was placed under the Combitip ^®. The Combitip ^® were filled with water. By dispensing the reversing stroke overhead, the bubble was pushed out. Before the measurement, 90% of the water was released again. The piston stood at the measurements thus 5mm above the Resthubstellung. For each experiment, the Combitip ^® was refilled. Since small volumes released at slow delivery rates usually collect as drops at the outlet of the Combitips ^® , the liquid pressed out by tilting became with a ca. 10cm ² large Kimberly Clark cloth absorbed. The drip tray under the clamped Combitip® with the cloth was weighed before and after the test.

In the test setup, the Zwick / Roell type Z005 pull-on / press machine was used with the balance.

The test speed was 50mm / min. The measurements were started after 0.1N pre-power.

Individual results:

deflection attempt pressed out vol. observation 1 mm 1 0.03g = 0.03ml The pushed out curd sticks to the tip 0.03ml is about a 3.9mm diameter ball 1 mm 2 0,02g = 0,02ml 1 mm 3 0,02g = 0,02ml 2mm 4 0.055g = 0.055ml One drop falls, the second hangs 0.065ml is about a 5mm diameter ball 2mm 5 0.06g = 0.06ml 2mm 6 0.07g = 0.07ml

1.2 to 1.3N were required to tilt the 50ml Combitip ^® by 2mm from the Multipette ^® X-Stream.

The Eppendorf specification for the Multipette ^® Xstream in combination with a 50ml plus: volume incorrectness imprecision 5.000μl ± 0.3% ≤ 0.25% 50.000μl ± 0.3% ≤ 0.15%

Percent error at 1mm deflection: At a volume of 50,000μl 0.03ml / 50ml * 100% = 0.06% At a volume of 5,000μl 0.03ml / 5ml * 100% = 0.6% larger than Eppendorf specification

Percent error at 2mm deflection: At a volume of 50,000μl 0.06ml / 50ml * 100% = 0.12% At a volume of 5,000μl 0.06ml / 5ml * 100% = 1.2% greater than Eppendorf specification

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

syringe

2

syringe barrel

3

syringe plunger

4

cylinder section

5

Piston movement area

6

ground

7

hole

8th

syringe section

9

cone section

10

Transition area

11

centering

12

spigot

13

contact section

14

shell section

15

contact surface

16

insertion

17

piston section

18

sealing lip

19

Plunger tip section

20

piston rod

21

coupling

22

piston collar

23

groove

24

disc

25

wing

26

outer edges

27

bevel

28

outer edge

29

bevel

290

annular gap

30

alignment tab

31

injection mold

32

tool plate

33

hot runner nozzle

34

Werkzeugabdeckplatte

35

stripper

36

tool core

37

cavity

370

metering

38

casing

39

admission

40

opening

41

guide nose

42

receiving body

43

piston receiving

44

opening

440

winding lever

45

apportioning

46

Einstellrädchen

47

Syringe gripping levers

48

operating keys

49

Cylinder gripping ends

50

Plunger gripping levers

51

Plunger gripping ends

52

scanning

53

sensor plate

54

hole

55

burl

56

support plate

57

bolt

58

holes

59

hole

60

centering

61

chamfer

62

pen

63

coil spring

64

Retaining plate

65

hole

66

drilling

67

spring hooks

68

hook end

69

groove

70

groove

71

ribs

72

cover

73

plate

74

carrier sleeves

75

head Start

76

adapter

77

axial member

78

circumferential groove

79

false floor

80

Through opening

Claims (13)

Dosing device with a syringe (1), wherein the syringe (1) has the following features: - A syringe barrel (2) and a syringe plunger (3), - wherein the syringe barrel (2) has an outlet at the bottom, a centering collar (12) at the top on the outer circumference, which has a substantially circular disk-shaped contact section (13.1), a piston running region (5) connected to the outlet, in which the syringe piston (3) sealingly guides is, and has a coupling piece (21) at the upper end of the syringe plunger (3), and the dosing device having the following features: - comprising a housing (38) - A receptacle (39) for the centering collar (12) of the syringe barrel (2) having an axial opening (40) for axial insertion of the centering collar (12) in a fastening position, - A receiving body (42) having a piston receptacle (43) for axially inserting a coupling piece (21) in an attachment position, - Fastening means (47, 50) for releasably holding the centering collar (12) and coupling piece (21) in their mounting positions in the receptacle (39) and in the piston receptacle (43), - wherein the fastening means (47, 50) radially deliverable gripping means for gripping the Zentrierbundes (12) and the coupling piece (21) in the mounting positions, and - Piston adjusting devices for moving the receiving body (42) in the housing (38),
characterized, - That the syringe (1) has a cylindrical centering region (11) of the syringe cylinder (2) further above than the piston running area (5) and - That the metering device in the receptacle (39) on the axial opening (40) aligned centering element (60) with axial passage for axial insertion into the cylindrical centering region (11) of the syringe barrel (2). Dosing device with syringe according to claim 1, wherein the syringe barrel (2) and the syringe plunger (3) are made of one and the same or of different plastics. Dispensing device with syringe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the syringe has a cylindrical piston running region (5) with a first inner diameter and the syringe barrel (3) at least at a distance of at least 3 mm from its upper end the centering region (11), the second Inner diameter that exceeds the first inner diameter and is at least 16.2 mm and at most 17.7 mm. Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 3 with a syringe, wherein the coupling piece (21) can be inserted through the axial passage of the centering element (60), so that the syringe piston (3) can be pulled out of the syringe cylinder (3). Dosing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wall thickness of the syringe barrel (2) in the cylindrical piston running region (5) is greater than in the centering region (11). Dosing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the syringe has a conical insertion area (16) at the upper end of the centering area (11) and / or a conical transition area (10) between the centering area (11) and the cylindrical piston running area (5). of the syringe barrel (2). Dosing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the centering region (11) inside a contour with projections and / or recesses (69), wherein the largest imaginary, inscribed in the contour circle has the second inner diameter. Dosing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the centering collar (12) has an outer diameter of about 21 to 24mm and / or a height of about 3.2 to 4.5 mm and / or the centering a distance of at least 3 to 6mm from the top of the syringe barrel. Dosing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the syringe plunger (3) above below a coupling piece (21) has a disc (24) and / or axially extending wings (25) and between the disc (24) and / or Wings (25) and the cylindrical centering an annular gap (290) with a gap width of 0.5 to 2.5 mm is present. Dispensing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the syringe has a filling volume selected from the volumes 10 ml, 5 ml, 2.5 ml, 1 ml, 0.5 ml, 0.2 ml, 0.1 ml. Dosing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the centering element (60) of the metering device in the contact region with a centering an outside diameter of 16.2 to 17.7 mm and / or a wall thickness of 0.4 to 2.5 mm and / or with respect to a stop for the top of the centering collar (12) protrudes 2.2 to 6 mm. Dosing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the centering element (60) of the dosing device on the outside has a contour with projections (70) and / or depressions, wherein the smallest, the contour circumscribing circle has a second inner diameter. Dosing device with syringe according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the centering element (60) is rigidly arranged with respect to the receptacle (39) or is spring-loaded with respect to the receptacle (39) in the axial direction.

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