EP3302806B1 - Pipette tip packaging - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a pipette tip package consisting of a base box and from these stacked rows of holes for receiving pipette tips having pipette carriers, and top of a cover, wherein the pipette carriers are formed for releasable connection to the base box or the end cover and interposed in the stacking direction, By covering means with the pipette carrier connectable serving aprons are spaced from each other.

Pipette carriers are used to store and provide plastic pipette tips for use.

EP 2 848 308 A1 discloses a pipette tip package having stacked pipette tip carriers.

By the EP 2 839 880 A1 For example, a pipette tip carrier comprising a four-sided, cup-shaped plate having a plurality of holes for inserting pipette tips enclosing the base frame is so stiff that it resists the clamping force of a gripping tool engaging its edges is held securely by this. In particular, in this case the handling of the carrier for pipette tips to be improved by a machine.

The pipette carrier is lockable with a skirt-like spacer frame. For this purpose, the pipette carrier is designed with a peripheral base projecting at the lower end of its walls and downwardly angled edge pedestal with inwardly angled, bevelled locking cams on the downwardly angled base walls. The locking cams are on the Assigned walls of the spacer frame provided complementary counter-locking means, wherein the locking cams and the counter-locking means snap over each other. In order for this snap-in or catch connection can be solved in order to process the pipette tips from the pipette carrier, the edge pedestal is lifted by bending with its locking cams of the counter-latching means of the spacer frame. The pipette carrier is thus exposed and can be removed from the spacer frame.

The invention has for its object to provide for a generic pipette tip packaging pipette, which allow in a simple and secure way on the one hand stacking and on the other hand successive destacking of the pipette carrier to store a pipette carrier in a system box for local removal of the pipette tips.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that each wrapping apron is made of an elastic plastic material and on its head end facing the lower side of an upper pipette carrier via first latching means with the respective upper pipette carrier and at its foot end facing the upper side of a next pipette carrier via second latching means tensile strength is locked with the next following pipette carrier, wherein the second locking means for removing the respective upper pipette carrier can be unlocked from the next following pipette carrier together with the covering apron held tensile strength of the first locking means. The thus interconnected via the first locking means unit of pipette carrier and wrapping apron can be locked via the second locking means with a subsequent unit consisting of pipette carrier and associated skirting apron, so that a secure and tensile in the vertical direction stack layer of several units of interconnected Pipet carriers and serving aprons is achieved.

The end cover is latched to the top unit pipette support to prevent contamination of the pipette tips.

The units of pipette carrier and wrapping apron are stacked starting from the base box on top of each other and form a so-called stack pack, from which the pipette tips can be processed directly after loosening the end cap. The combination of upper and lower locking means stacked pipette carriers can be successively processed, the lower and second locking means can be unlocked without having to unlock the connection of the upper and first locking means to the pipette carrier. It can thus be achieved that the remaining stacking layer is always stably secured by two locking connections from unit to unit (pipette carrier, wrapping apron, pipette carrier).

Once the top pipette support is emptied, this is lifted together with its wrapping apron by releasing the locking engagement of the second locking means between the skirt and the underlying pipette carrier, so that access to the pipette tips of the underlying pipette carrier is made possible.

A single pipette carrier together with the enclosed apron can optionally be removed as a refill pack from the stack pack then serving as a supply unit for processing the pipette tips and converted into a system box. The execution of pipette tips from a refill pack is from the WO 00/51899 A1 basically known.

To implement the units of pipette carrier and wrapping apron from their stacked position in the lockable by also a lid system box, in turn, the locking engagement of the second locking means between wrapping apron and subsequent pipette carrier is released and the top Lift the stacking unit with the end cap and place it on the system box. When placing the cover apron dips into the system box, wherein locking means of the attached to the pipette carrier end cover are solved by the contour of the system box. The end cap is then removed and latched onto the now uppermost pipet carrier of the stacked units remaining in the stack box of the base box for a next transfer step.

To either expose the pipette carrier in the stack pack or the removal of a unit from the stack pack as a refill, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the first locking means are designed as latching hooks spaced apart in the horizontal direction at two opposite pipette carrier sides below the outer Rows of holes adjacent edge portions of the pipette carrier are arranged projecting downwards, wherein the latching hooks are provided at their free, lower ends with the outer rows of the pipette carrier facing locking lugs, which engage in the transition region between a head-side edge region and the side walls of the shroud, provided complementary detent openings. When placing the pipette carrier on the wrapping apron, the locking lugs of each arranged front and rear on the two longitudinal sides of the pipette carrier, preferably two spaced-apart latching hooks in the complementary recesses of the skirting apron and as a result, the locking lugs engage below the upper edge of the wrapping apron in this , Thus, a secure both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction locking the pipette carrier is achieved on the wrapping apron.

This first latching connection between the pipette carrier and the casing apron can be released by a pulling movement of the latching hooks away from the casing skirt, so that the pipette carrier can be lifted off the wrapping apron. The releasable latching connection of pipette carrier and Envelope apron on the one hand allows easy replacement of the apron or the pipet carrier. On the other hand, a defined distance between pipette carrier and wrapping apron is achieved by the elongated latching hooks.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the second latching means are formed as latching tabs, which are integrally formed on two opposite side walls of the wrapping apron on the bottom end down and provided at their free ends facing away from the side walls, outwardly directed locking projections are, which engage in two opposite pipette carrier sides in the adjacent to the outer rows of holes edge portions of the pipette carrier, stepped recesses, wherein the recesses have a the outside of the edge region facing the front, dovetailed tapered portion which faces the rows of holes rear rectangular cutout passes. When placing the wrapping apron on a pipette carrier dive the locking tabs in the front, wide area of the dovetailed tapered recess in the edge region of the pipette carrier, wherein the outwardly directed locking projections engage under the edge region. Thus, a tensile locking connection between the shroud and a subsequent pipette carrier is achieved.

To release this second latching connection, the two opposite latching tabs or partially the side walls of the wrapping apron are pressed inwards from the outside with the fingers of one hand, which is readily possible due to the dimensions of the boxes or units in question here, whereby the elastic locking tabs are moved within the dovetailed tapered sections in the rear rectangular cutout of the recesses, wherein the locking projections from the under cross Release catch connection. When passing the waisted portion of the dovetailed tapered portion up to the rectangular cutout of the locking recess, the elastic locking tabs bulge or deform somewhat concave and take after immersion in the rectangular section again their original straight stretched position. With sustained pressure or finger pressure, the sheathing hook connected to an upper pipette carrier via the latching hooks can simply be lifted off the following pipette carrier, because the latching tabs with the latching projections have sufficient free space in the rectangular cutouts. The lifting without maintaining the pressure, could also be ensured by the fact that the locking projection is less wide than the narrowest point at the end of the dovetailed portion of the recess.

Figur 1a, 1b

einen Pipettenträger zur Aufnahme von Pipettenspitzen in einer perspektivischen Gesamtansicht (Figur 1a) und von der Unterseite her gesehen (Figur 1b);

Figur 2

in einer perspektivischen Gesamtansicht mehrere auf einer Basisbox als Stackpack übereinander gestapelte Pipettenträger, die durch erste Rastmittel jeweils mit einer zwischengesetzten Umhüllungsschürze verbunden sind und wobei die Umhüllungsschürzen über zweite Rastmittel mit einem jeweils folgenden Pipettenträger verrastet sind;

Figur 3

als Einzelheit eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf den in Figur 2 strichpunktiert eingekreisten Bereich, wobei hier die verriegelte Position der über die zweiten Rastmittel mit einem nachfolgenden Pipettenträger verbundenen Umhüllungsschürze dargestellt ist;

Figur 4

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der Figur 3;

Figur 5

eine Darstellung wie in Figur 3, demgegenüber die entriegelte Position zeigend;

Figur 6

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der Figur 5; und

Figur 7

eine Systembox zur Aufnahme eines Pipettenträgers einschließlich Umhüllungsschürze.

Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of illustrated in the drawings embodiments of the invention. Show it:

FIG. 1a, 1b

a pipette carrier for receiving pipette tips in a perspective overall view ( FIG. 1a ) and seen from the bottom ( FIG. 1b );

FIG. 2

in a perspective overall view of several stacked on a base box as a stack pack pipette carrier, which are connected by first locking means each with an interposed wrapping apron and wherein the wrapping aprons are latched via second locking means with a respective following pipette carrier;

FIG. 3

as a detail a perspective top view of the in FIG. 2 dash-dotted circled area, with here the locked Position of the over the second locking means connected to a subsequent pipette carrier shroud is shown;

FIG. 4

a sectional side view of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5

a representation like in FIG. 3 while showing the unlocked position;

FIG. 6

a sectional side view of FIG. 5 ; and

FIG. 7

a system box for receiving a pipet carrier including a wrap apron.

The embodiment according to FIG. 1a shows a trained as a tray rigid, latticed cup-shaped pipette carrier 1, which is suitable for receiving in the FIGS. 5 and 6 indicated pipette tips 1a has a row of holes 2 having bottom 3, which is surrounded by a collar-like circumferential edge 4.

On the longitudinal sides 5 of the pipette carrier 1 are below the edge 4 spaced from each other two downwardly projecting latching hooks 6 formed, which are formed at their free ends with pointing in the direction of the rows of holes 2 locking lugs 7 (see, see FIG. 1b ).

As in FIG. 2 4, four pipette carriers 1 are stacked one above the other with the interposition of a wrapping apron 8 stacked in a stack pack, the lowest pipette carrier 1 being received by a base box 9 and the top pipette carrier 1 being closed by a closure lid 11 held by a latching means 10. The wrapping apron 8 made of an elastic plastic material has at its head end 12 in the transition region between a head-side edge region 13 and its side walls 14 latching openings 15 for receiving the latching hooks 6 and latching lugs 7 of the pipette carrier 1 on.

When placing the pipette carrier 1 on the wrapping apron 8, the latching hooks 6 with their latching noses 7 dip into the latching openings 15 of the wrapping apron 8, wherein the latching noses 7 subsequently engage under the top edge area 13. The pipette carrier 1 is thus captively locked on the wrapping apron 8.

To release the latching connection between the pipette carrier 1 and wrapping apron 8, the latching hooks 6 are spread by a pulling movement to the outside, whereby the lock between the pipette carrier 1 and wrapping apron 8 is released and the pipette carrier 1 can be lifted from the wrapping apron 8.

To connect the casing skirt 8 with a subsequent or underlying pipette carrier 1, the wrapping apron 8 is formed in the region of its two side walls 14 with latching lugs 17 projecting downwards over the foot end 16, the latching lugs 17 facing away from the side wall 14 at their free ends , outwardly directed latching projections 18 are provided (see this FIG. 4 and 6 ).

For this purpose, complementary stepped recesses 19 are provided in the peripheral edge 4 orthogonal to the longitudinal sides 5 of the pipette carrier 1, which have a front dovetail-like tapering section 20 which merges into a rear rectangular cutout 21 (cf. FIG. 1b and 3 ).

When placing the wrapping apron 8 on the next following pipette carrier 1, the locking tabs 17 dive with their outward locking projections 18 from above the front, ie in the correspondingly wide region of the dovetailed tapered portion 20 a, wherein the locking projections 18 engage below the peripheral edge 4 of the pipette support 1 after the dipping recesses 19, so that the enclosure skirt 8 tensile strength with the pipette carrier first is connected (see this FIGS. 3 and 4 ).

To release the locking between the cover skirt 8 and the pipette carrier 1, the locking tabs 17 and the side walls 14 in the region of the locking tabs 17 are subjected to pressure from the outside, so that the locking tabs 17 with their locking projections 18 from its locking position within the dovetailed tapered portion 20th be moved into the rear rectangular cutout 21. In this case, the elastic locking tabs 17 bulge when passing the dovetailed tapered portion 20, which is finally narrowed by projections 22, up to entry into the rectangular cutout 21 temporarily slightly concave and take after reaching the unlocked position within the rectangular section 21 again relaxed , stretched position (see this FIGS. 5 and 6 ).

On the one hand, the removal of the pipette tips 1a after releasing the locking handles 10 and lifting the end cover 11 directly from the stacked, successively processed pipette carriers 1 of the stack pack according to FIG. 2 respectively. On the other hand, lifted by loosening the locking connection of the locking tabs 17 in the stepped recesses 19 a via the latching hooks 6 with the shroud 8 locked and equipped with pipette tips 1a pipette carrier 1 as a unit or refill from the stack pack and together with the skirt 8 in a with a Closing lid 23 provided system box 24 are stored (see this FIG. 7 ), from which the pipette tips 1a can then be processed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

pipette carrier

1a

pipette tip

2

row of holes

3

ground

4

edge

5

long side

6

First latching means / latching hook

7

locking lug

8th

Serving apron

9

base box

10

latching

11

End cover

12

head

13

head-side edge area

14

Side wall

15

latching opening

16

foot

17

Second locking means / locking tab

18

catch projection

19

stepped recess

20

dovetailed section

21

rectangular cutout

22

head Start

23

cap

24

System box

Claims (3)

1. Pipette tip packaging, comprising a base box (9) and, extending therefrom, rows of holes (2) stacked on top of each other for receiving pipette carriers (1) having pipette tips and at the top a closing cover (11) wherein the pipette carriers (1) are designed to be detachably connected to the base box (9) or the closing cover (11) and are spaced with regard to each other by way of enveloping skirtings (8), which are interposed in the stacking direction and made of an elastic synthetic material and are connectable in a tensile manner with the upper pipette carrier (1) by means of first securing means (6) at the head end (12) facing the lower side of an upper pipette holder (1)
   characterised in that
   each enveloping skirting (8) at its foot end (16) facing the upper side of the following pipette holder (1) is locked in a tensile manner via second securing means (17), wherein to remove the upper pipette holder (1) together with the enveloping skirting (8) held in a tensile manner by its first securing means (6) the second securing means (17) can be unlocked from the next pipette holder (1).
2. Pipette tip packaging according to claim 1
   characterised in that
   the first securing means are designed as securing hooks (6) which are arranged protruding downwards spaced with regard to each other in the horizontal direction on two opposite pipette carrier sides (5) under edge areas (4) of the pipette carrier (1) adjacent to the outer rows of holes (2), wherein the securing hooks (6) at their free, lower ends are provided with securing noses (7) facing the outer rows of holes (2) of the pipette carrier which engage in complementary securing openings (15) provided in the transition between a head-side edge area (13) and the side walls (14) of the enveloping skirting (8).
3. Pipette tip packaging according to claim 1 or 2
   characterised in that
   the second securing means are designed as securing lugs (17) which are formed on two opposite side walls (14) of the enveloping skirting (8) projecting downwards beyond its foot end (16) and on their free ends are provided with outwardly directed securing projections (18) facing away from the side wall (14) which engage in two stepped securing recesses (19) formed on two opposite pipette carrier sides (5) in the edge areas (4) of the pipette carrier (1) adjacent to the outer rows of holes (2), wherein the securing recess (19) has a section (20) facing the outer side of the edge area (4) and narrowing in a swallowtail-like manner, which transitions into a rear rectangular section (21) facing the rows of holes (2).

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