EP3240638B1 - Rotating unit for the rotor of a planetary dual centrifuge - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rotating unit for a rotor of a dual centrifuge according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.

From the WO 2014/006059 A1 or the JP 2010 194470 A1 a generic dual centrifuge with rotating units for a rotor is known which can be arranged individually or in plurality in the rotor and in which, for example, centrifuge tubes containing sample material are stored in a sample container receptacle of a receiving unit. Safe storage of the sample container during centrifugation is often only achieved by the receiving unit engaging relatively far into a rotating head of the rotating unit so as not to be thrown out of the rotating head by the forces generated during rotation. On the one hand, this has a disadvantageous effect on the size. On the other hand, secure storage in a rotating unit is not easy to implement or not possible, since the sample tubes have to be inserted horizontally into the rotating head for certain tasks.

Furthermore, due to the limited installation space, especially with table centrifuges, it is generally difficult to provide further safety measures, for example to secure the non-rotatable mounting of the receiving unit in the rotating head or to contain contamination by sample material in the event of damage to a container during centrifugation.

From the JP 2009-119 587 A a dual centrifuge is known which has a rotating head and a receiving unit. The receiving unit and the rotary head are positively connected to one another, which, due to the tolerances, leads to small relative movements and thus to additional imbalances during operation. These imbalances in turn lead to heavy wear during operation and thus to premature failure of the centrifuge.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a rotating unit while avoiding the disadvantages mentioned and to develop it in such a way that sample material in a container, e.g. a tube, can be inserted more securely into the rotating unit by means of a receiving unit with only very little space requirement, and also various optimized To propose sample container receptacles and corresponding receiving units in which sample containers of different sizes and in different numbers can be received.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1 in conjunction with the features of the preamble.

The subclaims form advantageous developments of the invention.

The invention is based on the knowledge that a frictional connection / clamping connection between the receiving unit and the rotary head enables secure storage and simple replacement of the receiving unit. In addition, the installation space can be further reduced as a result.

According to the invention, the rotating unit for a rotor of a centrifuge has a bearing and a rotating head connected to the bearing, rotatably mounted in the latter via an axis of rotation, which can be driven relative to the rotor by a further rotating mechanism of the centrifuge. The rotating head is connected to a receiving unit in a rotatably releasable manner, into which at least one sample container receptacle can be inserted which contains the sample. The connection between the receiving unit and the rotating head is formed by a frictional connection, in which the receiving unit and the rotating head interlock in a wedge-shaped manner and the frictional connection increases when the receiving unit moves along the rotating axis of the rotating unit in the direction of the rotating head. The requirements for wedge-shaped frictional connections are technically easy to implement. An operator can then easily and without aids establish the frictional connection / clamping connection between the rotary head and the receiving unit and release it again.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotating unit is mounted at an angle in the rotor and is arranged in such a way that the receiving unit is pressed into the frictional connection with increasing rotation. As a result, forces generated during the rotation are used to strengthen the wedging of the receiving unit with the rotating unit. In this way, a simple and reliable fixing of the receiving unit in the rotating unit is ensured regardless of the speed of rotation.

According to one aspect of the invention, the frictional connection between an underside of the receiving unit and an end face of the rotary head is effective. The wedge-shaped frictional connection is particularly easy to produce, since the wedging / jamming takes place essentially by inserting the receiving unit and the loosening of the wedge-shaped frictional connection by removing the receiving unit.

It is advantageous if stops are provided to limit the movement in the wedge-shaped frictional connection. The stops mean that the receiving unit only covers a defined maximum path into the rotary head. This increases the operational safety of the centrifuge, since excessive wedging / jamming and a possibly resulting permanent jamming are prevented. In addition, such attacks also reduce the likelihood that receiving units that are not designed for the rotary head are mistakenly used.

In particular, the frictional connection of the receiving unit and the rotating head comprises truncated conical feet which engage in corresponding recesses, the receiving unit having the feet and the rotating head having the recesses or vice versa. Both feet and recesses can also be provided in the receiving unit and in the rotating head. The conical shape of the feet ensures a good wedge effect / clamping effect and high shear strength, and the outer contour of the feet which tapers in the direction of the recesses also serves to easily center the feet in the recesses.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the longitudinal axes of the feet are aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary head and the feet are designed to be rotationally symmetrical, with a longitudinal section through the resulting line of the conical shell at an angle of 10 ° to 35 °, in particular 15 ° to the axis of rotation is employed. In this angular range, the ratio of the shear strength of the feet on the one hand and the wedge effect / clamping effect on the other hand is particularly favorable. Furthermore, the feet can be centered well in the recesses when the receiving unit is inserted into the rotary head.

In order to simplify the production and to increase the load-bearing capacity of the frictional connection, the feet and the receiving unit are made in one piece, made of the same material and / or the feet and the rotary head are made in one piece, made of the same material.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the number and the dimensions of the feet are matched to the shear strength of the material of the feet in connection with the forces resulting from the alternating rotational load during operation with the dual centrifuge. This can prevent an undesired loosening of the wedge-shaped frictional connection during the centrifuge operation and thus damage within the centrifuge due to an insufficient number and / or dimensioning of the feet. At the same time, however, material costs and construction costs can also be reduced, since only the number and dimensions of the feet required for safe operation are provided.

It has proven to be advantageous that the diameter of the base area of the truncated cone of a foot to the height of the truncated cone has a ratio of 10: 6. Experience has shown that this achieves an optimal relationship between the shear strength of the feet and the stability of the frictional connection.

Plastic, in particular polyamide, is preferably used as the material for the receiving unit, and aluminum, in particular the aluminum alloy EN AW-AI Zn5Mg3Cu-T6, is used for the rotary head and the sample container receptacles. Strength, processability and costs of these materials are in a particularly good relationship to one another.

The rotor is driven by a drive shaft. Depending on the requirements in terms of strength, stability, weight, etc., the drive shaft can be made of aluminum or steel or it can be sheathed with steel.

A secure and stable frictional connection is made possible in a particularly simple manner by providing an even number, at least four, feet that are arranged rotationally symmetrically and are evenly spaced from one another. In addition, this rotationally symmetrical arrangement counteracts the occurrence of imbalances.

The receiving unit is preferably constructed symmetrically so that the receiving unit can be inserted into the rotating unit in two positions instead of just one.

If the feet are arranged on the edge of the receiving unit, the shear forces acting on the feet are lower. This results in a lower material load and thus a safe operation of the rotary head.

The storage of the receiving unit can be made even more secure in that the rotary head is provided with an upwardly open safety pot which completely surrounds the receiving unit, in particular with the sample container or the sample containers introduced into the sample container receptacle, in the assembled state . This also prevents the receiving unit from breaking out in a direction lateral to the axis of rotation if the wedge effect / clamping effect of the feet and recesses is lost, for example due to material defects. Furthermore, leakage of sample material from the safety pot, e.g. after destruction of a sample container, is counteracted if it is completely closed.

It is advantageous if a circumferential safety channel for receiving escaped sample material is made in the base of the rotary head or in the base of the safety pot. Spilled sample material is caught in it and can be distributed. In this way, an accumulation of leaked sample material in one place, which could be a cause of an imbalance, is avoided.

If a, in particular completely closed, cover is provided for the safety pot, which is preferably connectable to the latter via a quick-release fastener or a screw connection, the rotary head and especially the bearing connected to the rotary head as well as the rest of the interior of the dual centrifuge are protected from contamination, if a receiving unit and the sample containers contained therein are damaged, since the sample material is prevented from splashing out. In addition, the cover can represent a further protection against breaking out of the receiving unit.

In an alternative embodiment, the base of the safety pot has the feet and / or recesses for connection to the receiving unit. This makes the storage of the receiving unit within the safety pot safer. Furthermore, the protective effect of the safety pot with regard to possible contamination of the surroundings is improved, since the safety pot can be sealed more easily.

The safety pot is preferably connected to the rotary head via fastening means, in particular riveted. This ensures that the safety pot does not become detached from the rotating head during operation and damage the centrifuge.

In order to increase the safety during the operation of the rotary unit even further, the rotary head and the safety pot are designed as an integral, one-piece component made of the same material. By reducing the number of components, the system becomes more stable.

The safety pot is preferably completely closed, and it is also advantageous if the lid is also completely closed.

In an alternative embodiment, the wedge-shaped frictional connection is effective on a side surface of the receiving unit and on a peripheral wall of the safety pot. This configuration is also safe and less prone to failure.

The sample container receptacle can preferably be inserted into the receptacle unit and is detachably arranged there. The receptacle unit and the sample container receptacle are thus designed in two parts. In this way, different sample container receptacles can be introduced into a receptacle unit.

It is also very favorable if a set of receiving units is provided for different sample container receptacles for sample containers and / or loads, the respective receiving unit being optionally inserted into the rotary head. This ensures that a wide range of sample containers can be processed in different numbers and that there are always suitable sample container receptacles available, which are secured in the rotating head by strong wedging / jamming.

In particular, the receiving unit has a receiving space with two legs for two different sample container receptacles. In this way, the number of different receiving units required can be reduced by half.

The sample container receptacle is preferably supported in the receptacle space of the receptacle device by a clamping device without play. This causes the sample container to become detached from the Prevents the receiving unit, which increases the safety of the centrifuge during centrifugation and minimizes the risk of damage and contamination in the event of a malfunction.

In order to achieve a simple yet effective fixing of the sample container, the receptacle is provided with a first stop against which the sample container rests, and a second stop is provided at the end remote from the first stop. The sample container is clamped between the first stop and the second stop.

It has proven to be advantageous that the receiving unit and the sample container receiving means are designed in one piece. This reduces the number of components required and makes the storage of the sample container even safer.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention emerge from the following description in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine Explosionsansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Dreheinheit;

Fig. 2

eine Perspektivansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufnahmeeinheit für Probenbehälteraufnahmen;

Fig. 2a

eine Ansicht der Aufnahmeeinheit aus Fig. 2 von unten;

Fig. 2b

eine Seitenansicht der Aufnahmeeinheit aus Fig. 2;

Fig. 3a

eine Perspektivansicht einer Probenbehälteraufnahme;

Fig. 3b

eine Ansicht der Probenbehälteraufnahme aus Fig. 3a von oben;

Fig. 4a

eine Perspektivansicht einer weiteren Probenbehälteraufnahme;

Fig. 4b

eine Ansicht der Probenbehälteraufnahme aus Fig. 4a von oben;

Fig. 5

eine Perspektivansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufnahmeeinheit für Probenbehälteraufnahmen;

Fig. 5a

eine Ansicht der Aufnahmeeinheit aus Fig. 5 von unten;

Fig. 5b

eine Seitenansicht der Aufnahmeeinheit aus Fig. 5

Fig. 6

eine Perspektivansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Probenbehälteraufnahme;

Fig. 7

eine Perspektivansicht einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Probenbehälteraufnahme;

Fig. 8

eine Perspektivansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufnahmeeinheit in Baueinheit mit einer Probenbehälteraufnahme, und

Fig. 8a

eine Detailansicht des in Fig. 8 markierten Keilelements.

In the description, in the claims and in the drawing, the terms and assigned reference symbols used in the list of reference symbols given below are used. In the drawing means:

Fig. 1

an exploded view of a rotating unit according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a receiving unit according to the invention for sample container receptacles;

Fig. 2a

a view of the receiving unit Fig. 2 from underneath;

Figure 2b

a side view of the receiving unit Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 3a

a perspective view of a sample container receptacle;

Figure 3b

a view of the sample container holder Fig. 3a from above;

Figure 4a

a perspective view of a further sample container receptacle;

Figure 4b

a view of the sample container holder Figure 4a from above;

Fig. 5

a perspective view of a receiving unit according to the invention for sample container receptacles;

Figure 5a

a view of the receiving unit Fig. 5 from underneath;

Figure 5b

a side view of the receiving unit Fig. 5

Fig. 6

a perspective view of a sample container holder according to the invention;

Fig. 7

a perspective view of a further sample container receptacle according to the invention;

Fig. 8

a perspective view of a receiving unit according to the invention in a structural unit with a sample container receptacle, and

Figure 8a

a detailed view of the in Fig. 8 marked wedge element.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a rotating unit 10 according to the invention for a rotor of a centrifuge. The rotating unit 10 has a pot-shaped housing 12 into which a bearing 14 is concentrically placed. The housing 12 is provided on its open side with a flange 19 which runs around the entire circumference and has eight bores 20 that are evenly spaced from one another. The bores 20 are assigned bores 18 in a cover plate 16 which is screwed to the housing 12 by means of cylinder screws 22 and thus closes the open side of the housing 12.

The bearing 14 is provided with a concentric recess 14a, and the cover plate 16 with a concentric recess 16a. A bearing shaft 34 of a rotary head 24 engages through the recess 16a in the recess 14a, so that the rotary head 24 is rotatably mounted concentrically in the bearing 14.

The rotary head 24 has a base 30 and a wall 28 arranged circumferentially on the base 30. The bottom 30 and the wall 28 form a closed safety pot. in the In the bottom 30, directly adjacent to the wall 28, a circumferential safety channel 31 is introduced, in which, in the event of a defect, samples escaping during operation of the centrifuge are collected.

Adjacent to its free end, four positioning pegs 29 spaced evenly from one another on their circumference and a single positioning peg 29a are arranged in the wall 28. In the base 30, eight evenly spaced recesses 32 are provided adjacent to the wall 28. The function of the positioning pins 29, 29a and the recesses 32 will be explained with reference to the following figures. A toothing 26 is connected to the wall in a rotationally fixed manner along the entire circumference of the wall 28. The toothing 26 engages in a gear, not shown for the sake of clarity, of a conventional gear drive of a further rotary mechanism of the centrifuge. The use of gear drives as a further rotary mechanism is well known and has already been described in the prior art, so that further explanations in this regard can be dispensed with.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a receiving unit 40 according to the invention for receiving sample containers. In Fig. 2a the receiving unit 40 is off Fig. 2 shown in a view from below. Figure 2b shows the recording unit 40 from Fig. 2 in a side view. The receiving unit 40 has an essentially circular base 42 with an underside 42a and two pairs of partition walls 44, each arranged parallel to one another, with ends 56. The circumference of the bottom 42 is selected so that the receiving unit 40 can be introduced into the rotating head 24 with a safety pot with little play. In the event of a defect during operation of the centrifuge, sample material escaping can thus be passed through a gap between the circumference of the base 42 and the inner circumference of the in Fig. 1 The rotary head 24 shown and the wall 28 reach down into the safety channel 31 and are caught there.

The two pairs of partition walls 44 are arranged perpendicular to one another in the form of a double cross, so that when the receiving unit 40 is inserted in the rotary head 24, there are a total of five recesses 46a, 46b for receiving in the following Figures 3a, 3b , 4a and 4b described sample container receptacles 60, 70 result. The recesses 46a, 46b are laterally formed by areas of the partition walls 44 with the same length and partially by the in Figure 2 for the sake of clarity, wall 28 of rotary head 24, not shown, is limited. The recess 46a located in the center of the double cross is delimited on four sides by areas of the partition walls 44 and has a square base area. Closes on each side of the recess 46a a recess 46b, which is delimited on three sides by areas of the partition walls 44. A further four recesses 46b, which are each delimited on two sides by regions of the partition walls 44, are located between two recesses 46b when viewed along the circumference of the base 30. In each recess 46a and 46b, a projection 54 is formed on at least one area of a partition 44, which is used to guide the insertion of the sample container receptacles 60, 70.

A sample container receptacle 60, 70 adapted in its outer circumference to the base area of the recess 46a is also fixed without play by the four recesses 46b in any direction running parallel to the bottom 30 of the receptacle unit 40, since the ends 56 of the partition walls 44 with the wall 28 of the rotary head 24 each form stops that prevent the sample container receptacle 60, 70 from being displaced beyond the end 56. Consequently, the receiving unit 40 is suitable for storing up to five sample container receptacles 60, 70 for centrifugation at the same time.

To improve the stability of the partition walls 44, each recess 46c has a rounded outer wall 48 that is adapted to the area of the wall 28 of the rotary head 24 associated with the inserted state of the receiving unit 40 and connects the two associated ends 56 of the partition walls 44. In each of the four outer walls 48, a stabilizing rail 48a is introduced in the center, which is supported on the wall 28 of the rotary head 24 when the receiving unit 40 is inserted. The four stabilizing rails 48a also act when the receiving unit 40 is inserted into the rotary head 24 with the in Fig. 1 Positioning pins 29 shown in the wall 28 and serve to guide the receiving unit 40. Furthermore, the positioning grooves 48a and the positioning pins 29 assigned to them together support the non-rotatable mounting of the receiving unit 40 in the rotating head 24. Furthermore, there is a single guide rail on one of the four outer walls 48 49 is provided to which the positioning pin 29a is assigned. The interaction of the guide rail 49 with the positioning pin 29a ensures correct alignment of the receiving unit 40.

Essentially cylindrical wedge pins 50 are provided in the recesses 46c, which extend through the base 42 of the receiving unit 40 and are firmly connected to the base 42. On the underside 42a of the bottom 42, each wedge pin 50 forms at its free end a frustoconical foot 52, which in its dimensions corresponds to the recess 32 assigned to it in the bottom 30 of the Rotary head 24 is adapted, so that in the inserted state of the receiving unit 40 by the feet 52 and the recesses 32 a secure wedging / jamming is achieved.

On the side opposite the underside 42a of the base 42, the wedge pins 50 are aligned perpendicular to the base 42 and extend vertically approximately to the level of the free ends of the outer walls 48.

The underside 42a also has a cruciform knob arrangement 58, which cause the underside 42a to be spaced apart from the base 30 in order to minimize heat transfer. The cross-shaped arrangement was chosen because it represents a good compromise between stability and weight savings.

Fig. 3a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a sample container receptacle 60. In Figure 3b the sample container receptacle 60 is shown in a view from above.

The sample container receptacle 60 has the in Fig. 2 illustrated recesses 46a and 46b, with an edge 62a, an edge 62c parallel to the edge 62a, an edge 62b and an edge 62d parallel to the edge 62b, the length of the edges being identical. Four edges 62e are perpendicular to the bottom wall 61. In an insertion wall 63 delimited by the edge 62a and two edges 62e, six storage recesses 68a are made, in which up to six centrifuge tubes can be stored horizontally. A top wall 67 of the sample container receptacle 60 is arranged on a wall parallel to the bottom wall 61. Six storage recesses 68b are made in the top wall 67, in which up to six centrifuge tubes (not shown) can be stored vertically for a better overview. In a side wall 66 delimited by the edge 62b and two edges 62e, a positioning groove 64 is made, which is one in Fig. 2 projection 54 shown is assigned and when inserting the sample container receptacle 60 serves its correct positioning in the receptacle 46a, 46b.

In Figure 4a an alternative embodiment of a sample container receptacle 70 is shown. Figure 4b shows the sample container receptacle 70 in a view from above.

The sample container receptacle 70 differs from the sample container receptacle 60 only in that nine bearing recesses 78b are made in its top wall 77 instead of the six bearing recesses 68b in the top wall 67, and that one in its insertion side 73 Bearing recess 78a is introduced instead of the six bearing recesses 68a in the front side 63.

These two exemplary embodiments of the sample container receptacles 60, 70 show only two ways in which cylinder tubes of different dimensions and numbers can be stored in a rotating unit 10 according to the invention with the correspondingly designed sample container receptacle. Matching sample container receptacles that meet other requirements can easily be manufactured.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a receiving unit 80 according to the invention. In Figure 5a the receiving unit 80 is off Fig. 5 shown in a view from below. Figure 5b shows the recording unit 80 Fig. 5 in a side view.

On the one hand, the receiving unit 80 differs from the receiving unit 40 in that it is used to receive a single sample container receptacle 100 (see FIG Fig. 6 ) or 110 (see Fig. 7 ) is designed and consequently no partition walls are provided which correspond to the partition walls 44 of the receiving unit 40. On the other hand, the receiving unit 80, in contrast to the receiving unit 40, has a safety wall 88 which is arranged circumferentially on the outer contour of a base 82. With regard to the insertion of the receiving unit 80 into the rotating head 24 and the wedging between feet 84 provided on the underside 82a of the receiving unit 80 and the recesses 32 made in the rotating head 24, there are no differences compared to FIG Figures 2, 2a, 2b Described.

A cross-shaped receiving space 86 is delimited by an inner contour 88a of the safety wall 88. Two rectangular legs 86a and 86b of the receiving space 86 are arranged perpendicular to one another, the base areas of the first leg 86a and the second leg 86b being identical and the base areas of the in the FIGS. 6 and 7 sample containers 100, 110 shown correspond.

The first leg 86a serves to receive the sample container receptacle 100. For this purpose, a recess 90 is provided in the safety wall 88 at both ends of the leg 86a, the two recesses 90 being arranged diametrically with respect to the leg 86a. The recesses 90 are used to securely wedge the sample container receptacle 100 with the inserted sample container in the receptacle unit 80, as shown in FIG Fig. 6 will be explained in more detail. The second leg 86b serves to receive the sample container receptacle 110. For this purpose, a recess 92a is provided on one end of the leg 86b and two recesses 92b are provided in the safety wall 88 on the second end of the leg 86b. The recesses 92a, b serve to securely wedge the sample container receptacle 110 in the receptacle unit 80, as shown in FIG Fig. 7 will be explained in more detail.

In order to increase the protection of the rotating unit against contamination by sample material in the event of damage to a container, it is also conceivable that the safety wall 88 is isolated from the outside and a cover for the receiving unit 80 is provided on the safety wall 88. In this way, any sample material emerging from the sample container receptacles 100, 110 can be confined to the receptacle unit 80.

Fig. 6 shows a first sample container receptacle 100 according to the invention, which, as in connection with FIGS Figures 5, 5a and 5b is designed to be received in the first leg 86a of the receiving unit 80.

The sample container receptacle 100 has a recess 104a, b on two end faces 102a, b, into each of which a centrifuge tube, not shown for the sake of clarity, can be inserted for vertical storage. An end of a centrifuge tube (cover side) protruding from the respective recess 104a, b engages in an associated recess 90 in the safety wall 88 on both end faces 102a, b. As a result, the sample container receptacle 100 is wedged in the receptacle unit 80 and thus jammed.

In Fig. 7 a second sample container receptacle 110 according to the invention is shown, which is designed to be received in the second leg 86b of the receptacle unit 80.

The sample container receptacle 110 has an in Figure 7 The front side 112a facing the viewer has a recess 114a and on a front side 112b facing away from the viewer two recesses 114b. Centrifuge tubes (not shown) for vertical storage can be introduced into the recesses 114a, b for a better overview. Comparable to the in Fig. 6 The solution shown also engage in an associated end of a centrifuge tube protruding from the respective recess 114a, b on both end faces 112a, b Recess 92a, b in the safety wall 88 a. As a result, the sample container receptacle 110 is wedged in the receptacle unit 80.

Fig. 8 shows a receiving unit 120, which is formed in one piece with a sample container receptacle 124 for the horizontal receiving of two sample containers.

Like the ones in the Figures 2 and 5 The receiving units 40 and 80 described above, the receiving unit 120 has a substantially circular base 122, the periphery of which is attached to the inner periphery of the in Fig. 1 The rotary head 24 shown and the wall 28 is adapted so that the receiving unit 120 can be introduced into the rotary head 24 with a safety pot without play. A sample container receptacle 124 for receiving two sample containers (vials), not shown, is arranged in a horizontal position on the floor 122. The sample container receptacle 124 comprises two receptacle tubes 124a, 124b which are arranged in parallel, are integrally formed and are made of the same material. In order to introduce the vials, the receiving tubes 124a, 124b each have a receiving opening 126 at opposite ends with regard to their longitudinal extension.

Distributed over the circumference of the floor, four wall elements 123 are arranged vertically on the floor 122 to center the receiving unit 120 when it is introduced into the rotary head 24 and to stabilize it in the inserted state, functionally comparable to the ends 56 of the partition walls 44 of the receiving unit 40.

To close each receiving opening 126, a respective closing plate 128 is provided, as in FIG Figure 8a shown. The base area of the sealing plate 128 corresponds to a semicircular area 128a, which is adjoined by a rectangular area 128b. To insert the sealing plate 128 in an insertion direction 132, a recess, which cannot be seen from this perspective, is provided in the base 122, to which a groove, which is also not visible here, is connected within the receiving tubes 124a, 124b in the area adjacent to the receiving opening 126. This groove serves to guide and fix the locking plate 128. The thickness of the locking plate 128 and the width of the groove are essentially matched to one another, the thickness of the rectangular area 128b increasing slightly against the insertion direction 132, so that a wedge effect results when the locking plate is fully inserted into the groove. The wedge effect prevents the closure plate 128 from accidentally falling out of the recess in the base 122. Furthermore, there is a wedge effect between the closure plate 128 in the inserted state and the inserted vial.

A web 130, which serves as a handle for the user, is attached to the closure plate 128.

List of reference symbols

10

Turntable

12th

casing

14th

warehouse

14a

concentric recess

16

Cover panel

16a

concentric recess

18th

Drilling

19th

flange

20th

Drilling

22nd

Socket head cap screws

24

Turret

26th

Interlocking

28

Wall

29

Positioning pin

29a

Positioning pin

30th

floor

31

Safety channel

32

Recesses

34

Bearing shaft

40

Recording unit

42

floor

42a

bottom

44

Partitions

46a, b, c

Recesses

48

Exterior walls

48a

Stabilizing rails

49

Guide rail

50

Wedge Pins

52

Feet

54

head Start

56

end up

58

Knob arrangement

60

Sample container holder

61

Bottom wall

62a, b, c, d, e

edge

63

Slide-in wall

64

Positioning grooves

66

Side wall

67

Ceiling wall

68a, b

Bearing recesses

70

Sample container holder

73

Slide-in wall

77

Ceiling wall

78a, b

Bearing recesses

80

Recording unit

82

floor

82a

bottom

84

Feet

86

Recording room

86a

first leg

86b

second leg

88

Security wall

88a

Inner profile

90

Recesses

92a, b

Recesses

100

Double sample container holder

102a, b

End faces

104a, b

Recesses

110

Triple sample container holder

112a, b

End faces

114a, b

Recesses

120

Recording unit

122

floor

123

Wall elements

124

Sample container holder

124a, b

Pickup tubes

126

Receiving openings

128

Locking plate

128a

semicircular area

128b

rectangular area

130

web

132

Direction of insertion

α

angle

D.

Axis of rotation

Claims (15)

1. Rotating unit (10) for a rotor of a dual centrifuge, having a bearing (14) and a rotating head (24) that is connected to said bearing (14) and mounted therein so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, said rotating head (24) being adapted to be driven relative to the rotor by another rotating mechanism of said centrifuge, said rotating head (24) having a receiving unit (40, 80), with said rotating head (24) being non-rotatably connected to the receiving unit (40, 80) in a detachable manner, said receiving unit (40, 80) comprising a sample container receptacle (60, 70, 100, 110) for at least one sample container, characterized in that the connection between the receiving unit (40, 80) and the rotating head (24) is a non-positive connection, in which the receiving unit (40, 80) and the rotating head (24) engage the one in the other in a wedged manner in some areas, with the non-positive connection increasing as the receiving unit (40, 80) moves along the axis of rotation of the rotating unit (10) in a direction towards the rotating head (24).
2. Rotating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it is mounted at an angle in the rotor, with the rotating unit being arranged such that, with increasing rotation, the receiving unit (40, 80) is pressed into the non-positive connection and/or that the non-positive connection is effective between an underside (42a, 82a) of the receiving unit (40, 80) and a bottom (30) of the rotating head (24).
3. Rotating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that stops (42a, 82a, 30) are provided for limiting movement into the non-positive connection.
4. Rotating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-positive connection of the receiving unit (40, 80) and the rotating head (24) comprises truncated feet (52, 84) that engage in matching recesses (32), with said feet (52, 84) being provided in the receiving unit (40, 80) and said recesses (32) being provided in the rotating head (24), or vice versa, or wherein the receiving unit (40, 80) and the rotating head (24) both have feet (52, 84) and recesses (32), wherein in particular the longitudinal axes of said feet (52, 84) are aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating head (24), said feet (52, 84) are rotationally symmetrical, and a line resulting from a longitudinal section through the conical envelope of said feet (52, 84) with the axis of rotation (D) extends at an angle (α) of between 10° and 35°, in particular of 15°.
5. Rotating unit according to claim 4, characterized in that either said feet (52, 84) and said receiving unit (40, 80), or said feet (52, 84) and said rotating head (24), are integral with one another and made of the same material.
6. Rotating unit according to one of claims 4 or 5 above, characterized in that the ratio of the surface area diameter of the truncated cone of a foot (52, 84) to the height of the truncated cone is 10:6.
7. Rotating unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that plastic, in particular polyamide, is used as the material for the receiving unit (40, 80), and aluminum, in particular an aluminum alloy of the EN AW-AI Zn5Mg3Cu-T6 type, is used as the material for the rotating head (24) and the sample container receptacles.
8. Rotating unit according to one of claims 4 to 7 above, characterized in that an even number, at least four, of feet (52, 84) is provided, said feet (52, 84) being arranged to be rotationally symmetrical and equidistantly spaced from one another.
9. Rotating unit according to one of the claims 4 to 8 above, characterized in that said feet (52, 84) are arranged at the edge of the receiving unit (40, 80).
10. Rotating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating head (24) is provided with a safety vessel (28) that is open at the top, which safety vessel (28) completely laterally surrounds the receiving unit (40, 80), in particular with the sample container receptacle (60, 70, 100, 110), in the assembled state.
11. Rotating unit according to claim 10, characterized in that a circumferential safety channel (31) for receiving escaped sample material is provided in the base (30) of the rotating head (24) or of the safety vessel (28), preferably a cover is provided for the safety vessel (28), which cover can be connected to the latter by means of a quick-release fastener or a screw connection.
12. Rotating unit according to claim 4 and claim 11, characterized in that the feet (52, 84) and/or the recesses for connection to the receiving unit (40, 80) are provided in the bottom (30) of the safety vessel (28).
13. Rotating unit according to one of claims 11 or 12 above, characterized in that the safety vessel (28) is connected to the rotating head (24) by means of fasteners, in particular is riveted thereto.
14. Rotating unit according to one of claims 11 to 13 above, characterized in that the rotating head (24) and the safety vessel (28) are designed in one piece as an integral component that is made of one material.
15. Rotating unit according to any one of claims 11 to 14 above, characterized in that the non-positive connection is effective on a lateral surface of the receiving unit (40, 80) and on a circumferential wall of the safety vessel (28).

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