EP3538274B1 - Fluid-release unit and manual metering device with at least one fluid-release unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a fluid dispensing unit for a hand-held metering device, in particular for a pipette, with a receiving space in which a displacement means is displaceable in order to receive or dispense a fluid, in particular a liquid, with the fluid dispensing unit, with a shaft and with a head part, wherein the The receiving space is connected via a dispensing channel formed in the shaft to a dispensing opening formed at a free end of the shaft, the head part being arranged at a head end of the fluid dispensing unit opposite the free end of the shaft and the head part having a cover cap that can be removed from the head part the at least one element of the fluid delivery unit arranged in the head part can be covered or covered.

From the pamphlet DE 820 332 C a measuring tube for medicine drops is previously known, which has a piston which is axially movably mounted in a glass tube which is pulled out towards the tip and provided with a closure cap and a graduation mark.

From the pamphlet US 2012/0039768 A1 and US 2015/0037227 A1 further fluid dispensing units in a different design are previously known.

The invention also relates to a hand-held dosing device, in particular a pipette, with a base body and with at least one fluid dispensing unit, the base body comprising displacement means for receiving and dispensing a fluid, in particular a liquid, with the fluid dispensing unit and actuation means for operating the displacement means, and wherein the base body and at least one Fluid delivery unit are detachably connected to one another.

Such fluid dispensing units and hand metering devices are known from the prior art in various forms.

When using such hand-held metering devices, it is desirable to be able to remove the fluid dispensing unit from a base body of the hand-held metering device, for example for cleaning or also for carrying out repairs.

In order to be able to exchange elements of the fluid dispensing unit if necessary or to be able to subject them to a thorough cleaning, the fluid dispensing unit can also be at least partially demountable. In particular, elements that are arranged in the head part of such a fluid delivery unit can be covered with the aid of the cover cap in their position of use on or in the head part and thus protected against contamination or damage.

In particular, the often small-scale individual parts of the fluid dispensing unit can easily fall apart and get lost after the fluid dispensing unit has been detached from the base body of the hand-held dispensing device. In some hand-held metering devices and fluid dispensing units known from the prior art, this is prevented by the aforementioned cover cap. A connection between the cover cap and the head part of the fluid dispensing unit can only be released with a certain amount of effort, sometimes only with the use of special tools.

The object of the invention is to provide a fluid dispensing unit and a hand-held metering device of the type mentioned at the beginning, which simplify dismantling of the fluid dispensing unit, for example for its repair or cleaning.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a fluid dispensing unit of the type mentioned at the beginning with the means and features of claim 1. To achieve the object, in particular in the case of a fluid dispensing unit of the type mentioned at the beginning proposed that the cover cap is fastened to the head part by means of a releasable snap connection, at least one latching projection and / or at least one latching recess of the snap connection having at least one inclined surface oriented in such a way that the snap connection can be released by rotating the cover cap relative to the head part.

It can be advantageous if the cover cap can be rotated relative to the head part in its position of use fixed on the head part in order to release the snap connection.

In this way, a fluid dispensing unit is provided whose cover cap on the one hand is reliably attached to the head part of the fluid dispensing unit and whose cover cap on the other hand can be easily removed from the head part without great effort and, above all, without the use of a dismantling aid, in order to use the fluid dispensing unit for cleaning and / or cleaning purposes, for example. or to dismantle or open the repair and / or replacement of individual parts of the fluid delivery unit arranged in the head part.

In one embodiment of the fluid delivery unit according to the invention, it can be provided that the fluid delivery unit has a sealing means which is arranged in the head part. In this context, it can be particularly advantageous if the sealing means can be fixed or fixed with the cover cap in its position of use in the head part. In this way, the cover cap can have a double function. On the one hand, it can prevent the elements of the fluid dispensing unit arranged in the head part from being lost or soiled. On the other hand, it can ensure that the sealant remains positioned in its correct sealing position.

In one embodiment of the fluid delivery unit according to the invention, it can be provided that the at least one latching projection is arranged on the cover cap and the at least one latching recess is arranged on the head part. In another embodiment of the fluid delivery unit according to the invention, it can be provided that the at least one locking recess is arranged on the cover cap and the at least one locking projection is arranged on the head part.

In a preferred embodiment of the fluid dispensing unit, the at least one latching projection has an inclined surface on each of two opposite sides oriented transversely to the direction of rotation of the covering cap. In a further embodiment of the invention, as an alternative or in addition to this, the at least one latching recess can each have an inclined surface on two opposite sides oriented transversely to the direction of rotation of the cover cap.

In particular, if each latching recess and each latching projection has such an inclined surface on two opposite sides oriented transversely to the direction of rotation of the cover cap, the latching connection between the cover cap and the head part of the fluid dispensing unit can be easily established by rotating the cover cap relative to the head part in both conceivable directions of rotation be solved.

It is possible here for the at least one inclined surface to be formed by a bevel on a side of the locking projection or the locking recess that is oriented transversely or at right angles to the direction of rotation of the cover cap.

The fluid dispensing unit can be designed as a piston unit in which the receiving space is a cylinder into which a piston of a hand-held metering device for dispensing a fluid arranged in the cylinder can be pushed. Through a By pushing the piston into the cylinder, the fluid contained therein can be expressed from the cylinder. In one embodiment of the fluid delivery unit, it can be provided that it - designed as a piston unit - has a piston itself as at least one displacement means, which piston can be displaced in the receiving space. The piston can then be displaced within the receiving space with further displacement means, for example a manual metering device.

The cover cap can have a passage opening. A piston and / or a piston rod of a hand-held metering device, in particular a pipette, for example, can be introduced into the receiving space through this passage opening.

The sealant can be a sealing ring. In particular when using the fluid dispensing unit according to the invention in a hand-held metering device that has a piston, the sealing ring can also be a piston sealing ring with which a gap between a piston that can be inserted into the receiving space, in particular the cylinder, and the cylinder can be sealed.

In order to be able to fix the sealing means in a position of use in the head part of the fluid delivery unit, the sealing means can be pressurized. To apply pressure to the sealing means, a compression spring and / or a pressure piece can be arranged between the cover cap and the sealing means. When using a compression spring and a pressure piece between the cover cap and the sealing means, it can be useful if the pressure piece rests against the sealing means. In this way, when the cover cap is fixed on the head part, the compression spring can first be pretensioned, which then causes the pressure piece can preferably press axially against the sealant. In this way, a reliable seal can be made.

The fluid delivery unit according to the invention can have a particularly compact shape if the cover cap can be inserted or inserted into the head part. In the case of a cover cap that can be inserted into the head part, it can be advantageous if the at least one latching means, that is to say the at least one latching projection or the at least one latching recess, are arranged on an outer circumference of the cover cap. Corresponding to this, the locking trough completing the locking connection and / or the locking projection completing the locking connection can then be arranged or formed at a corresponding point on an inner circumference in a receptacle of the head part for the cover cap.

In order to be able to insert the cover cap into the head part, the head part can have a receptacle for the cover cap and the cover cap can be inserted or inserted into the receptacle of the head part.

The fluid dispensing unit can further comprise at least one fastening means for releasably fastening the fluid dispensing unit to a base body of a hand-held metering device. This fastening means can be a thread, in particular an external thread, preferably formed on the head part.

In order to facilitate detachment of the covering cap from the head part, the covering cap can have a grip area. In the position of use of the cover cap on the head part, this grip area can protrude beyond the head part, so that it is particularly easily accessible to a user of the fluid dispensing unit. The area can be roughened, knurled and / or coated to prevent slipping in order to allow the rotatable release of the To make the cover cap of the head part even easier.

The object is also achieved by a hand-held metering device with the means and features of the independent claim directed to the hand-held metering device. In particular, a hand-held metering device of the type mentioned at the outset is proposed to achieve the object, in which the at least one fluid dispensing unit is a fluid dispensing unit according to the invention.

The base body and the fluid dispensing unit can be releasably connected or connected to one another by means of a screw connection. In this way, the fluid delivery unit can be removed from the base body in a particularly simple manner. In this context, it should be pointed out that a combined snap-screw connection can also exist between the base body and the fluid delivery unit. With such a snap-screw connection, it can be provided that when a defined screw-in depth is reached, a latching connection engages or is established which gives the user of the hand-held metering device haptic and, if necessary, acoustic feedback about the proper establishment of the connection between the base body of the hand-held metering device and the fluid dispensing unit . This feedback is generated by properly establishing the connection.

The manual metering device can have, as displacement means, at least one piston that can be pushed into a receiving space for a fluid with the aid of the actuation means and a piston rod connected to the actuation means and the piston. In another embodiment of the manual metering device, it can have a piston rod connected to the actuating means and a piston of the fluid delivery unit as the displacement means.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen, als Pipette ausgebildeten Handdosiervorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine ausgebrochene Schnittdarstellung der in Figur 1 dargestellten Handdosiervorrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der in den Figuren 1 und 2 dargestellten Fluidabgabeeinheit der erfindungsgemäßen Handdosiervorrichtung,

Fig. 4

ein Querschnitt des Kopfteils der in den Figuren 1 bis 3 abgebildeten Fluidabgabeeinheit,

Fig. 5

eine Explosionsdarstellung des Kopfteils der in den Figuren 1 bis 4 dargestellten Fluidabgabeeinheit sowie

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Kopfteils der in den vorherigen Figuren abgebildeten Fluidabgabeeinheit in montiertem Zustand.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the figures. They show in partly highly schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a hand-held dosing device according to the invention, designed as a pipette,

Fig. 2

a broken sectional view of the in Figure 1 shown hand dosing device,

Fig. 3

a sectional side view of the in the Figures 1 and 2 illustrated fluid dispensing unit of the hand-held metering device according to the invention,

Fig. 4

a cross section of the head part of the Figures 1 to 3 fluid dispensing unit shown,

Fig. 5

an exploded view of the head part of the Figures 1 to 4 illustrated fluid delivery unit and

Fig. 6

a perspective view of the head part of the fluid delivery unit shown in the previous figures in the assembled state.

The Figures 1 to 6 show different views of a hand-held metering device designated as a whole by 1. The manual metering device shown in the figures is designed as a mechanical and manually operable pipette 2. The hand-held metering device 1 has a base body 3 and a fluid dispensing unit 4.

The base body 3 comprises at least one displacement means 5 with which a fluid, in particular a liquid, can be dispensed and received with the fluid dispensing unit 4.

In addition, the base body 3 has an actuating means 5 a in the form of a lever for actuating the displacement means 5.

The base body 3 and the fluid delivery unit 4 are detachably connected to one another by means of a screw connection 6.

The displacement means 5 comprises a piston rod 8 connected to a piston 7 of the fluid delivery unit 4, which in FIG Figure 2 can be seen in the beginning. Piston 7 and piston rod 8 are connected to one another via a connecting piece 9.

The fluid delivery unit 4 comprises a receiving space 10 for receiving an air cushion, a shaft 11 and a head part 12. The receiving space 10 is connected via a delivery channel 13 formed in the shaft 11 to a delivery opening 15 formed at a free end 14 of the shaft 11. The head part 12 is arranged on a head end 16 of the fluid delivery unit 4 opposite the free end 14 of the shaft 11. The head part 12 has a cover cap 17 which can be removed from the head part 12 and with which at least one sealing means 18 arranged in the head part 12 can be fixed in its position of use.

In its position of use on the head part 12, the covering cap 17 is rotatable relative to the latter and is fastened to the head part 12 by means of a releasable snap connection 19. At least one latching projection 20 and / or at least one latching recess 21 of the snap connection 19 has at least one inclined surface 22 oriented in such a way that the snap connection 19 can be released by rotating the cover cap 17.

In the exemplary embodiment of the fluid delivery unit 4 according to the invention shown in the figures, two such latching projections 20 are formed on the cover cap 17. To Correspondingly, the head part 2 has latching recesses 21.

As in particular the sectional view of the head part 12 according to FIG Figure 4 illustrated, 2 such inclined surfaces 22 are formed on each of the two latching projections 20 of the head part 12. The two inclined surfaces 22 are formed on two opposite sides 23 and 24 of each of the two latching projections 20, which are oriented transversely to the direction of rotation of the cover cap 17.

The two inclined surfaces 22 of each of the two locking projections 20 are each formed by a bevel on the sides 23 and 24 of the respective locking projection 20, which are oriented transversely or at right angles to the direction of rotation of the cover cap 17.

The fluid delivery unit 4 is designed as a piston unit. The receiving space 10 of this piston unit 4 is a cylinder 25.

The cover cap 17 has a passage opening 26 on the top. The piston 7 and / or the piston rod 8 can be inserted through this passage opening 26 into the receiving space 10 of the fluid dispensing unit 4, which is designed as a cylinder 25, in order to displace an air cushion located there in the direction of the dispensing opening 15 connected to the cylinder 25 via the dispensing channel 13. The displacement of the air cushion in the direction of the dispensing opening 15 is used to convey a volume of liquid to be dispensed, which is held in a pipette tip, out of the pipette tip. In the position of use, the pipette tip is attached to the free end 14 of the shaft 11 and is then in pressure connection with the dispensing opening 15 and with the dispensing channel 13. Thus, the air cushion can be displaced in the direction of the dispensing opening 15 for liquid dispensing the pipette tip and a displacement of the air cushion into the receiving space 10 can be used for receiving liquid into the pipette tip.

The sealing means 18 of the fluid delivery unit 4 is a sealing ring 27, which can also be referred to as a piston sealing ring 27, since it seals a gap between a wall of the receiving space 10 and the piston 7. This at least when the piston 7 is inserted into the receiving space 10 designed as a cylinder 25.

In order to apply pressure to the sealing means 18, which is present as sealing ring 27, between the cover cap 17 and the sealing means 18, the fluid delivery unit 4 has a compression spring 28 and a pressure piece 29. When the cover cap 17 is in the position of use, the pressure piece 29 is pressed against the sealing means 18 via the bias of the compression spring 28, so that this sealing ring can rest against the surfaces to be sealed against one another. In addition, the sealing means 18 can be reliably fixed in its position of use in the head part 12 of the fluid dispensing unit 4.

The head part 12 has a receptacle 30 for the covering cap 17. Thus, in the position of use, the cover cap 17 can be inserted into the receptacle 30 of the head part 12, as it is for example in the Figures 3 and 6 can be clearly seen.

As a fastening means for releasably fastening the fluid dispensing unit 4 to the base body 3 of the hand-held metering device 1, the fluid dispensing unit 4 has a thread 31 designed as an external thread. The external thread 31 is formed on an outside of the head part 12. The cap 17 also comprises a grip area 32 which, in the position of use of the cap 17 on the head part 12, extends over the head part 12 survives. The grip area 32 is provided with a knurl 33, that is, knurled.

The base body 3 of the hand-held metering device 1 has a mating thread 34 in the form of an internal thread which matches the thread 31 of the head part 12, which is designed as an external thread.

In order to facilitate the dismantling of the fluid delivery unit 4, it has the cover cap 17 with which at least one sealing means 18 located in the head part 12 of the fluid delivery unit 4 can be fixed in its position of use. In order to detach the covering cap 17 from the head part 12, it can be rotated relative to the head part 12. The detachable snap connection 19 is provided between the cap 17 and the head part 12 and is formed by at least one latching projection 20 and / or at least one latching recess 21, with at least one inclined surface 22 oriented in this way being formed on the latching projection 20 and / or on the latching recess 21 is that the snap connection 19 can be released by rotating the cap 17 relative to the head part 12.

List of reference symbols

1

Hand dosing device

2

pipette

3

Base body

4th

Fluid dispensing unit

5

Means of displacement

5a

Actuating means / pushers

6

Screw connection

7th

piston

8th

Piston rod

9

Connector

10

Recording room

11

shaft

12

Headboard

13

Delivery channel

14th

free end of 11

15th

Dispensing opening

16

Head of 4th

17th

Cover cap

18th

sealant

19th

Snap connection between 12 and 17

20th

Locking projection

21st

Locking recess

22nd

Sloping surface

23

Page of 20

24

Page of 20

25th

cylinder

26th

Passage opening

27

Sealing ring

28

Compression spring

29

Pressure piece

30th

Admission on 12

31

Thread / external thread on 12

32

Grip area

33

Knurl

34

Thread / mating thread / internal thread on 3

Claims (15)

1. Fluid dispensing unit (4) for a manual metering device (1), in particular for a pipette (2), with a receiving space (10) in which a shifting means (5) can be displaced in order to pick up or to dispense a fluid, in particular a liquid, with the fluid dispensing unit (4), with a stem (11) and with a head part (12), wherein the receiving space (10) is connected via a dispensing channel (13) formed in the stem (11) to a dispensing opening (15) formed at a free end (14) of the stem (11), wherein the head part (12) is arranged at a head end (16) of the fluid dispensing unit (4), said head end lying opposite the free end (14) of the stem (11), and wherein the head part (12) has a covering cap (17) which can be removed from the head part (12) and with which at least one element of the fluid dispensing unit (4), said element being arranged in the head part (12), can be covered or is covered, characterized in that the covering cap (17) is fastened to the head part (12) by means of a releasable snap connection (19), wherein at least one latching projection (20) and/or at least one latching depression (21) of the snap connection (19) has at least one oblique surface (22) which is oriented in such a manner that the snap connection (19) can be released by rotation of the covering cap (17) relative to the head part (12).
2. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fluid dispensing unit (4) has a sealing means (18) which is arranged in the head part (12), and in that the sealing means (18) can be fixed or is fixed with the covering cap (17) in the use position thereof in the head part (12).
3. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one latching projection (20) is arranged on the covering cap (17) and the at least one latching depression (21) is arranged on the head part (12), or in that the at least one latching depression (21) is arranged on the covering cap (17) and the at least one latching projection (20) is arranged on the head part (12).
4. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one oblique surface (22) is arranged on the at least one latching projection (20), or in that the at least one latching projection (20) and/or the at least one latching depression (21) in each case have/has an oblique surface (22) on two opposite sides (23, 24) oriented transversely with respect to the direction of rotation of the covering cap (17) .
5. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one oblique surface (22) is formed by a bevel on a side (23,24) of the latching projection (20) or of the latching depression (21), which side is oriented transversely or at right angles with respect to the direction of rotation of the covering cap (17).
6. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid dispensing unit (4) is a piston unit, in particular with a piston (7) as at least one shifting means (5), and the receiving space (10) is a cylinder (25).
7. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering cap (17) has a passage opening (26) through which a piston (7) and/or a piston rod (8) can be introduced into the receiving space (10).
8. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of the preceding Claims 2-7, characterized in that the sealing means (18) is a sealing ring (27), in particular a piston sealing ring.
9. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order to pressurize the sealing means (18), a compression spring (28) and/or a pressure piece (29) are/is arranged between the covering cap (17) and the sealing means (18).
10. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head part (12) has a receptacle (30) for the covering cap (17), and in that the covering cap (17) can be inserted or is inserted into the receptacle (30) of the head part (12).
11. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid dispensing unit (4) comprises at least one fastening means (31) for releasably fastening the fluid dispensing unit (4) to a main body (3) of a manual metering device (1), in particular wherein the fastening means (31) is a thread (31), in particular an external thread, preferably formed on the head part (12).
12. Fluid dispensing unit (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering cap (17) has a gripping region (32) which, in the use position of the covering cap (17) on the head part (12), protrudes over the head part (12), in particular wherein the gripping region (32) is roughened, knurled and/or has an anti-slip coating.
13. Manual metering device (1), in particular pipette (2), with a main body (3) and with at least one fluid dispensing unit (4), wherein the main body (3) comprises shifting means (5) for dispensing and picking up a fluid, in particular a liquid, with the at least one fluid dispensing unit (4) and actuating means (6) for actuating the shifting means (5), and wherein the main body (3) and the at least one fluid dispensing unit (4) are releasably connected to each other, characterized in that the at least one fluid dispensing unit (4) is such a fluid dispensing unit according to one of the preceding claims.
14. Manual metering device (1) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the main body (3) and the fluid dispensing unit (4) can be connected or are connected releasably to each other by means of a screw connection (6), in particular wherein a thread (34), preferably an internal thread, is formed on the main body (3), or in that the main body (3) and the fluid dispensing unit (4) can be connected or are connected releasably to each other by means of a combined snap/screw connection, with which a haptic and/or acoustic feedback about correct production of the connection between the main body (3) of the fluid dispensing unit (4) can be produced by production of the connection.
15. Manual metering device (1) according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the manual metering device (1), in particular on the fluid dispensing unit (4), has, as the shifting means (5), at least one piston (7) which can be pushed into a receiving space (10) with the aid of the actuating means (5a), and/or a piston rod (8) which is connected to the actuating means (5a) and/or to a or to the piston (7).

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