EP2881175A1 - Cassette stack made of individual cassettes, preferably to receive of preparations for laboratory analyses - Google Patents

Abstract

A cassette stack of individual cassettes (2) is proposed, preferably for holding preparations for laboratory analyzes, the individual cassettes (2) each having a rectangular base (16) and at least four side walls (24), and the cassettes (2) via a common strand (8) are held together in a stacked form. All cassettes (2) are provided with an opening (18) or recess through which the common strand (8) passes. The strand (8) has a resistance element (14) below the lowermost cassette (2) of the cassette stack.

Description

The invention relates to a cassette stack of individual cassettes, preferably for receiving preparations for laboratory analysis, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

The cassettes of such a stack, also called Einbettkassetten serve, for example, in medical laboratories as receptacles for histological samples. The cassettes are labeled manually or mechanically for your distinction. In order not to have to manually insert each individual cassette manually into the printer slot of a printer or a cassette magazine when machine labeling, cassettes are connected to a cassette stack with each other, which is then inserted into a slot. The easiest way to connect the stacked cassettes by means of a guided around them outside cord.

In the EP 1 238 706 A2 It is proposed to connect the cassettes by means of an adhesive tape running along the cassettes, or via a thin weld. In this case, however, it is disadvantageous that after the insertion of the cassette stack into the printer shaft or into the cassette magazine and before printing, the cassettes can only be singled out by cutting, loosening or by separating the adhesive tape or the weld, in order to then use them as an embedding cassette to be able to use. In addition, depending on the design of the printer shaft or cartridge magazine, the cutting, loosening or separation of the adhesive tape or the weld may be hindered by existing in this area walls or wall areas of the printing shaft, but at least be difficult. In the case of connecting the cassettes via adhesive tapes, adhesive residues may adhere to the cassettes on the outside after separation of the adhesive tape, which may make it difficult to slide the cassettes in the printer tray or cassette magazine.

As an alternative to that in the EP 1 238 706 A2 described connection technology would be possible to connect the cassette by means of a drawn along the cassette stack adhesive seam, such as a glued seam of silicone, hot or liquid adhesive. But even in this case would be the slicing, loosening or separating the adhesive seam through in this Area existing walls or wall areas of the printer shaft difficult. In addition, residues may adhere to the cassettes after separation of the adhesive seam, which may make it difficult for the cassettes to slip in the printer tray or cassette magazine.

The invention is therefore based on the object to propose measures in such a stack of cartridges, which further simplify the handling of the cartridge stack, especially in the context of the printing process and its preparation.

To solve this problem is proposed in a cassette stack with the features given above that all cassettes are provided with an opening or recess through which the common strand passes, and that the strand has a resistance element under the lowest cassette of the cassette stack.

This technical solution makes it possible when inserting the cassette stack in z. As a printer tray or a cassette magazine to hold the entire cassette stack only on the common strand and carry. A further connection of each cassette with the strand, such as by adhesive forces or by individual welds, is not necessary and, above all, not useful. In particular, there is no attachment of the individual cassettes to the strand in the longitudinal direction of the strand. It is created the possibility directly after the insertion of the cartridge stack in the slot and without having to embrace just by an increased pulling on the strand up and while exerting counter pressure on the top cassette, for example, with the other hand, the strand to pull upwards out of the openings or recesses of all cassettes. With a single movement, pulling out the strand, the cassettes are immediately separated.

With one embodiment, it is proposed that the resistance moment is a transverse element at the lower end of the strand. The cross member prevents the strand from being pulled out of the openings or recesses of the cassette stack already in an attempt to support or lift the cassette stack.

In a further embodiment, it is proposed that the resistance element is an end section of the strand which is deformed with respect to the remaining strand path. As a resistance element therefore no additional component is needed.

A particularly simple way to use the strand itself as a resistance element, it is when the resistance element over the other strand course angled end portion of the strand is. So that all individual cassettes of the cassette stack can be raised via a single strand, the angled end section is preferably supported against the underside of the lowermost cassette.

With a further embodiment, it is proposed that the strand is a flat strip, preferably made of plastic, and that the opening or recess for receiving the flat strip is of oblong cross-section. Such a ribbon can be well threaded into a corresponding slot-shaped opening or recess in the cassette.

Further embodiments of the cassette stack relate to the positioning and design of the openings or recess. It is proposed that a side wall of the cassette has a printable labeling field, and that the opening or recess is arranged in the region of this side wall, and further that a side wall is a double wall and composed of an outer wall having the printable label field, and an inner wall, and that the opening or recess is formed by the gap between the two walls.

With a preferred embodiment, it is proposed that the opening or recess is further a latching element for closing the cassette by means of a lid. The opening or recess thus has a double function. On the one hand, it provides space for the passage of the strand, on the other hand, it is part of a closing device for a cover of the cassette. It can therefore be used simultaneously as a passage for the strand for closing the cassette anyway existing opening or recess, so that no additional design measures must be made to the cassette.

With a further embodiment, it is proposed that the inner wall is arranged at right angles, and the outer wall is arranged at an angle to the bottom of the cassette with the formation of a V-angle. This arrangement is of great advantage when inserting the strand.

Further simplification of the handling of the cartridge stack is achieved by a good hand-grip loop at the top of the string. Preferably, the loop is formed from the material of the strand. This embodiment makes it possible to produce a strand with a loop and cross member from a conventional ribbon without additional elements.

Fig. 1

in einer geschnittenen sowie zweifach unterbrochenen Seitenansicht eine erste Ausführungsform eines Kassettenstapels während dessen Einführens in einen Druckerschacht;

Fig. 2

in einer partiell geschnittenen Seitenansicht nur den Kassettenstapel nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Unterseite des Kassettenstapels;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Kassettenstapels;

Fig. 5

den Vorgang des Einführens des Strangs in den Kassettenstapel;

Fig. 6

das Umformen des Strangs zu einer Schlaufe.

Further advantages and details will become apparent from the following description of three embodiments, reference being made to the drawings. Show:

Fig. 1

in a sectional as well as twice interrupted side view of a first embodiment of a cartridge stack during its insertion into a printer shaft;

Fig. 2

in a partially sectioned side view only the cassette stack after Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the underside of the cassette stack;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cassette stack;

Fig. 5

the process of inserting the strand into the cassette stack;

Fig. 6

the forming of the strand into a loop.

FIG. 1 shows in a sectional view a side view of a cassette stack while it is introduced from above into a printer shaft 4 of a printer suitable for printing on the cartridges. The section runs centrally through the threaded onto a common strand 8 cassettes. 2

The representation Fig. 1 is also interrupted twice. In the bottom part of the already introduced into the printer tray 4 cassettes 2 are visible. The base 10 of the printing tray 4 and its extension in the longitudinal direction of the cassette 2 is designed such that the inserted cassettes 2 rest in a certain inclination of about 20 °.

The middle and the upper part of the Fig. 1 shows the cassette stack just introduced from above with the cassettes 2 threaded on the strand 8, a loop 12 at the upper end of the strand 8 and a resistance element 14 at the lower end. This is designed as an angled end portion of the strand 8, which is located below the bottom 16 of the bottom cassette 2 of the cassette stack, and is supported from below against this bottom 16.

Due to the fact that the cassettes 2 are connected to one another only loosely threaded together by the strand 8 designed as a flat strip and that they are not fastened individually to the strand, the cassettes 2 can enter into the inclined position advantageous for printing when they are introduced into the shaft 4. While all the cassettes 2 of the upper part of the illustration are stacked substantially horizontally yet, changes this in the middle part of FIG. 1 Increasing from top to bottom, so that the bottom cassettes 2 take the desired inclination.

In FIG. 2 is just the cartridge stack off FIG. 1 represented, wherein in an upper partial section can be seen how the strand 8 is passed through all the cassettes 2 within the cassette stack, but without the individual cassettes are fixed in the strand longitudinal direction of the strand 8. In FIG. 2 unrecognizable openings 18 of the cassettes 2 will be described in more detail below.

A lower part section in Fig. 2 as well as the Fig. 3 shows how the strand 8 is bent at right angles below the lowest cassette 2 at an angled portion 28, so that the angled longitudinal portion forms the resistance element 14 arranged transversely to the rest of the strand. In this case, the angled end portion of the strand 8 is supported against the bottom 16 and against the bottom 20 of the lowermost cassette 2, and thus supports all the cassettes 2 of the cassette stack.

Each cassette 2 consists of a perforated bottom 16 and side walls 24. The perforations may be holes 22 or other apertures of any shape.

The in the FIGS. 1 to 3 each side wall shown on the left is a double wall 23 and consists of an inner wall 25 and an outer wall 26, which also serves as a printable labeling field 26. While the inner wall 25 is disposed at right angles to the floor 16 and connected directly thereto, the outer wall 26 extends obliquely at an angle to the upper edge of the inner wall 25. Where the inner wall 25 and the outer wall 26 meet V-shaped, a slot-shaped opening 18 for passing the flat strip 8 is arranged on the middle of the width of the cassette. The length and width of the opening 18 corresponds to the corresponding cross section of the flat belt eighth

For a possible horizontal alignment of only held by the strand 8 cassettes 2, it is advantageous that in each case the inner wall 25 is supported with its outer wall 26 side facing directly against the strand 8, ie in particular against the broad side of the strand. 8

The angled portion 28 of the plastic flat strip 8 has such rigidity that it can absorb the weight of the threaded on the flat strip 8 cassettes 2 without major deformation. However, after lowering the stack in exerted the printer shaft 4 by pulling on the loop 12, a certain additional pressure on the bend, the bend 28 so much that after overcoming this initial resistance of the strand 8 can be pulled upwards out of the cassette 2. The additional pressure is generated by pulling on the loop 12 of the ribbon 8 upwards, with simultaneous downward pressure on the topmost cassette 2 of the cassette stack.

Depending on the nature of the cassettes 2 or their number within a cassette stack to be introduced as a whole, the geometries, i. H. in particular, the width of the opening 18 and the length of the angled end portion 30 of the flat strip 8, are coordinated.

The FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a cassette stack in a perspective view, in which each cassette 2 additionally has a lid 34. As shown, the cover 34 can be connected via a hinge 32 to the side wall 24 of the cassette 2 opposite the double wall 23, or the connection between the cassette base body and the cover takes place via a film hinge or a predetermined breaking point.

To close the cassette 2, the lid 34 engages on its side facing away from the hinge 32 according to the snap-lock principle by means of a hook-shaped latching element 36 in the opening 18 a. The opening 18 also acts as a latching element 38.

The FIGS. 5 and 6 show the process of inserting the ribbon 8 into the stack of cassettes and reshaping the top strand to form a loop 12.

The ribbon 8 is inserted with its front end first from the bottom of the cassette ago in the cassette stack. The cassette stack is in this case fixed in a position in which the openings 18 of the individual cassettes are aligned with each other. In this case, the two forming from the bottom of the cassette forth V-shaped successive walls 25 and 26 to the slot-shaped opening 18 towards constricting funnel, which greatly simplifies the insertion and then continue the Stranergfangs from cassette to cassette, so that it is sufficient to push the strand 8 forward at its rear end.

The front portion of the flat belt, after all the cassettes have been passed through, arrives in a fixedly arranged chicane 40, which passes from the flat strip 8 through approximately 180 ° becomes, whereby the loop 12 is formed. The loop ends are then connected, for example by hot pressing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

cassette

4

Printer shaft, shaft

8th

Strand, flat band

10

reason

12

loop

14

Resistance element, cross element

16

ground

18

Opening, gap

20

bottom

22

Hole, breakthrough

23

double wall

24

Side wall

25

inner wall

26

Outside wall, labeling field

28

angling

30

end

32

joint

34

cover

36

latching element

38

latching element

40

chicane

Claims (13)

Cartridge stack of individual cassettes (2), preferably for holding preparations for laboratory analysis, the individual cassettes (2) each having a rectangular bottom (16) and at least four side walls (24), and the cassettes (2) via a common strand ( 8) are held together in stack form, characterized in that all the cassettes (2) are provided with an opening (18) or recess through which the common strand (8) passes, and in that the strand (8) under the lowermost cassette (2 ) of the cassette stack has a resistance element (14). Cassette stack according to claim 1, characterized in that the resistance element is a transverse element (14) at the lower end of the strand (8). Cartridge stack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the resistance element (14) is an opposite end of the strand deformed end portion (30) of the strand (8). Cartridge stack according to claim 3, characterized in that the resistance element (14) is an end portion (30) of the strand (8) angled relative to the rest of the strand run. A cassette stack according to claim 4, characterized in that the angled end portion (30) is supported against the underside (20) of the lowermost cassette (2). Cassette stack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strand is a flat strip (8) which preferably consists of plastic, and in that the opening (18) or recess for receiving the flat strip (8) is of oblong cross section. Cartridge stack according to claim 6, characterized in that a side wall of the cassette (2) has a printable labeling field (26), and that the opening (18) or recess is arranged in the region of this side wall. A cartridge stack according to claim 7, characterized in that the side wall is a double wall (23) and is composed of an outer wall (26) having the printable label field and an inner wall (25), and in that the opening (18) or recess between the two walls (25, 26) is located. A stack of cassettes according to claim 8, characterized in that the opening (18) or recess is further a latching element (38) for closing the cassette (2) by means of a lid (34). Cartridge stack according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the inner wall (25) is arranged at right angles, and the outer wall (26) is arranged obliquely to the bottom (16) of the cassette (2). Cassette stack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a loop (12) at the upper end of the strand (8). Cartridge stack according to claim 11, characterized in that the loop (12) is formed from material of the strand (8). Cartridge stack according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that in each case the inner wall (25) with its outer wall (26) facing side directly against the strand (8), ie in particular against the broad side of the strand (8), supported.

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