EP4058200B1 - Centrifuge for automatic loading - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a centrifuge for automatic loading according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.

Centrifuges with automatically opening and closing loading openings are used in automated systems. This enables automated loading and unloading by robots. In applications in which microplates are used as carriers in particular, horizontal or lateral feeding is common, since so-called Scara robots only work in the horizontal direction.

A generic centrifuge for automatic loading is from DE 10 2013 104 141 A1 known. This centrifuge comprises a drive shaft which is mounted and driven so as to be rotatable about a rotor axis. A rotor is arranged on the drive shaft, which is coupled to the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed and detachable manner and has receptacles for containers for media to be centrifuged. In addition, the centrifuge comprises a housing with lateral outer walls delimiting the centrifuge and a cover. An outer wall has a laterally directed side opening for loading the rotor when needed. Furthermore, a safety tank is provided in the housing, into which the drive shaft protrudes concentrically. The containment vessel completely surrounds the rotor with respect to the rotor axis along it. The safety tank is surrounded by a protective wall which is adapted to the shape of the adjacent outer wall of the housing and closes off the side opening in a closed position in the area of the side opening. In this case, the safety tank and the protective wall surrounding the safety tank are firmly connected to one another and form a safety unit arranged in the housing. The security unit interacts with an adjustment mechanism by which the security unit can be moved relative to the housing in such a way that the protective wall opens and closes the side opening of the outer wall of the housing. The protective wall can thus be moved from a closed position into an open position and vice versa.

Increasingly, other robot systems are now being used, which require larger opening cross-sections or loading in the vertical direction, but the centrifuge must nevertheless have the ability to completely and securely surround the rotor chamber, so that in the event of a crash, the parts moved by the damaged rotor can be pushed through safety unit are completely retained inside the centrifuge.

From the WO 2013/003692 A1 a centrifuge is known with a side opening and a top opening, which together form the loading opening. However, the loading opening can only be closed in a rotatable manner by a hatch that can be moved by a rotating mechanism. The hatch has at least the shape of the loading opening and adjoins a cover of the housing and a side wall of the safety tank offset by the wall thickness of the cover and the side wall. The disadvantage of this design is that there is no protective wall surrounding the safety boiler next to the housing and the hatch is designed to be inflexible in terms of its function. Another disadvantage is that the safety tank has a hatch opening on the circumference, ie in the area of the highest loads in the event of a crash, where the broken rotor parts hit, which significantly reduces the stability of the safety tank. The necessary safety standard cannot be achieved in this way. The centrifuge is only designed for low rotational speeds of the rotor. Furthermore, this opening has the disadvantage that air turbulence occurs in the gap between the hatch and the safety boiler, which leads to an increased noise level during operation.

From the U.S. 9,446,417 B2 Another loading centrifuge with a side port is known.

The invention is based on the object of further developing a centrifuge according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that flexible opening of the loading opening is ensured while avoiding the disadvantages mentioned, particularly in centrifuges with high rotational speeds. A high level of stability and a high safety standard for the centrifuge should be ensured.

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

The dependent claims form advantageous developments of the invention.

The invention is based on the finding that the provision of a ceiling opening next to a side opening in conjunction with a two-part, wall-shaped closing element for closing the loading opening increases the possibilities of constructing safe centrifuges, especially in the area of the weak point of the centrifuge, namely the loading opening.

According to the invention, therefore, the side opening extends to the ceiling. A top opening is then provided in the top, resulting in a loading opening formed by a side opening and a top opening, with the top opening being able to be opened and closed via a further closing wall by means of a second adjustment mechanism. It is now also possible to use robots which require a larger loading opening and, in particular, also space obliquely upwards for the loading and unloading process, without impairing the safety of the centrifuge.

The first and second locking mechanisms are preferably coupled to one another, so that the opening movement and the closing movement of the protective wall and the closing wall are coordinated with one another.

In this case, the coupling can take place electrically or mechanically. In the case of a mechanical coupling, the first and second adjustment mechanisms are coupled to one another in such a way that during the opening movement the protective wall opens first and, with a time delay, the closing wall, and during the closing movement, the closing wall closes first and, with a time delay, the protective wall. This has the advantage that additional structural measures to increase stability in the area of the loading opening in the closed position are made possible.

The closing wall is preferably mounted so that it can be moved in a translatory manner, in particular at right angles to the rotor axis. This has the advantage that the space required for moving the closing wall remains small.

In order to increase the stability of the closing wall, it is designed in such a way that in the closed position it extends into the side opening, in particular thereby forming a plane on the outside with the protective wall.

The stability and safety in the closed position in the area of the loading opening is also increased by the fact that in the closed position the closing wall and the protective wall partially overlap and for this purpose the protective wall has a shoulder into which the closing wall engages in certain areas.

In order to ensure cooling during operation, an air intake opening is provided in the closing wall and an air intake opening in the top of the housing, these being aligned with one another in the closed position. During operation, the air thus first enters the rotor chamber through the air intake opening in the top of the housing via the air intake opening in the closing wall.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a spring is provided which acts on the closing wall in the direction of the closed position, so that the closing wall is opened against the spring force of the spring. This ensures that the closed position is always maintained by the closing wall during operation and unintentional opening of the loading opening is avoided.

The closing wall is preferably formed from sheet metal. This enables a compact and inexpensive construction, which is also sufficiently malleable to absorb the energy of the impacting parts in the event of damage. The safety tank can also be made from a deep-drawn sheet metal part, which converts the kinetic energy of parts thrown away into deformation energy.

The protective wall can be part of a protective housing surrounding the safety boiler. This enables a compact construction of the centrifuge and further increases safety.

It is of great advantage with regard to safety in the event of a crash if, according to one embodiment of the invention, the protective housing is designed to be completely closed in the horizontal direction over its height. In other words, no openings or recesses for loading and unloading are provided on the circumference. This means that the most heavily stressed area of a centrifuge in the event of a crash, i.e. where the fragments of a broken rotor hit, is not weakened by a hatch opening.

The protective housing is preferably made of sheet metal, which has good energy-absorbing properties in the event of a crash. The kinetic energy is easily expressed in Deformation energy transferred. Alternatively or in addition, the safety tank can also be made of sheet metal.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the safety tank is designed to be rotationally symmetrical. In this case, the safety tank can be designed to be closed over its height in the radial direction. As a result, the safety boiler has a high level of strength, which is not impaired by recesses or openings.

In order to further increase safety, the closing wall is dimensioned in such a way that in the closed position the closing wall completely covers the safety boiler and/or the closing wall completely covers the protective housing. Then both the closing wall and the cover of the housing are provided at the top, which shield the interior of the rotor and, in the event of damage, serve as an energy absorber for the parts flying from the rotor.

In the closed position, the safety boiler and/or the protective housing is or are sealingly against the closing wall. The flow in the rotor space is therefore not affected by possible leakage.

Preferably, the safety boiler and/or the protective housing has or has a seal on its side facing the closing wall in the closed position.

An increase in security can also be achieved in that the closing wall has support walls which extend laterally downwards and are coupled to the second adjustment mechanism. The support walls are preferably formed in one piece and of the same material as the closing wall.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first adjusting mechanism has at least one push rod, which engages in an articulated manner on the side of the safety unit and is articulated to a driven, horizontally displaceable carriage on the bottom of the centrifuge. This ensures that the mass required for the adjustment mechanism is arranged close to the ground.

The second adjustment mechanism preferably has at least one driver in the area of the carriage, which engages effectively when the carriage has moved a predetermined distance. Before Above all, the predetermined path is dependent on the height of that part of the closing wall which protrudes into the side opening in the closed position.

The safety tank can have a central recess which enables the opening and closing movement relative to the drive shaft. A safety cover surrounding the drive shaft and covering the central recess in the closed position can be provided which, together with the safety tank and the closing wall, completely delimits a rotor space with the rotor, except for the passage of the drive shaft.

Further advantages, features and application possibilities of the present invention result from the following description in connection with the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

Fig. 1

perspektivische Ansicht auf eine Zentrifuge nach der Erfindung von schräg oben vorne mit einer fast geöffneten Beladungsöffnung;

Fig. 2

perspektivische Ansicht auf die Zentrifuge von Fig. 1 mit einer geschlossenen Beladungsöffnung;

Fig. 3

eine Längsschnittansicht durch die Zentrifuge von Fig. 1 mit einer geschlossenen Beladungsöffnung;

Fig. 4

eine Längsschnittansicht durch die Zentrifuge von Fig. 1 mit einer geöffneten Beladungsöffnung;

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht auf die Zentrifuge von Fig. 1 ohne Gehäuse, Antrieb und Rotor in der Schließstellung der Sicherheitseinheit und der Schließwand;

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht von Fig. 5 einer ersten Zwischenposition bei der Bewegung der Sicherheitseinheit und der Schließwand aus der Schließstellung in die Öffnungsstellung;

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht von Fig. 6 in einer zweiten Zwischenposition bei der Bewegung der Sicherheitseinheit und der Schließwand aus der Schließstellung in die Öffnungsstellung;

Fig. 8

eine Seitenansicht von Fig. 7 in der Öffnungsstellung der Sicherheitseinheit und der Schließwand;

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf einen Schlitten des ersten und zweiten Verstellmechanismus in der Schließstellung;

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Ansicht von Fig. 9 einer ersten Zwischenposition bei der Bewegung der Sicherheitseinheit und der Schließwand aus der Schließstellung in die Öffnungsstellung;

Fig. 11

eine perspektivische Ansicht von Fig. 9 einer zweiten Zwischenposition bei der Bewegung der Sicherheitseinheit und der Schließwand aus der Schließstellung in die Öffnungsstellung, und

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Ansicht von Fig. 9 in der Öffnungsstellung der Sicherheitseinheit und der Schließwand.

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

1

perspective view of a centrifuge according to the invention from diagonally above and in front with an almost open loading opening;

2

Perspective view of the centrifuge from 1 with a closed loading port;

3

a longitudinal sectional view through the centrifuge of 1 with a closed loading port;

4

a longitudinal sectional view through the centrifuge of 1 with an open loading port;

figure 5

a side view of the centrifuge from 1 without housing, drive and rotor in the closed position of the safety unit and the closing wall;

6

a side view of figure 5 a first intermediate position in the movement of the safety unit and the closing wall from the closed position to the open position;

7

a side view of 6 in a second intermediate position during the movement of the security unit and the closing wall from the closed position to the open position;

8

a side view of 7 in the open position of the safety unit and the closing wall;

9

a perspective view of a carriage of the first and second adjustment mechanism in the closed position;

10

a perspective view of 9 a first intermediate position in the movement of the safety unit and the closing wall from the closed position to the open position;

11

a perspective view of 9 a second intermediate position in the movement of the safety unit and the closing wall from the closed position to the open position, and

12

a perspective view of 9 in the open position of the security unit and the closing wall.

The figures show an embodiment of a centrifuge 10 for automatic loading and unloading. The centrifuge 10 comprises a housing 12 with an end wall 14, a rear wall 16, a left side wall 18 and a right side wall 20. The housing 12 is closed at the top with a cover 22 and is firmly connected at the bottom with a base plate 24, see FIG 3 and 4 . The base plate 24 is provided with a foot 26 in each of its corner areas, i.e. with a total of four feet 26.

The housing 12 has in its central area between the end face 14 and the cover 22 in each case an adjoining, rectangular recess 28 and 30 which together form a loading and unloading opening 32 of the centrifuge 10 .

The loading and unloading opening 32 is designed to be closable. The recess 28 in the end wall 14 is closed by a protective wall 34 and the recess 30 by a closing wall 36 .

Adjacent the recess 30 in the ceiling 22 there is an air intake opening 38 which aligns with a further air intake opening 40 in the closing wall 36 when the loading and unloading opening 32 is closed, see FIG 2 .

Like the one in particular Figures 3 and 4 As can be seen, the centrifuge 10 has a drive shaft 44 which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotor axis 42 . A rotor 46 is non-rotatably but releasably connected to the drive shaft 44 . The rotor 46 is provided with hangers 47 on which plates 48 (e.g. microtiter plates, deep-well plates) with a large number of cavities are placed, which are filled with the liquids to be centrifuged. These filled plates are placed in and removed from the centrifuge by a robot.

A safety tank 50 is designed to be rotationally symmetrical and surrounds the rotor 46 in the radial direction over the entire height and upwards and downwards. A circular recess 52 is provided in a bottom of the safety tank 50, which is dimensioned in such a way that tilting is possible, as will be described further below. This recess 52 is closed by a rotationally symmetrical cover 54 when the safety tank 50 is in the operating state of the centrifuge 10, see FIG 3 .

The cover 54 is coaxially connected to a drive housing 56 by screws 58 . The drive shaft 44 is rotatably mounted in the drive housing 56 and is driven by a drive motor 60 . The drive housing 56 is firmly connected to the base plate 24 and also the cover 54. The cover 54 surrounds the drive shaft 44 without touching it. The rotor 46 is mounted on the drive shaft 44 above the cover 54 . The drive shaft 44 with the rotor 46 rotates relative to the cover and the drive housing 56 during operation.

The safety tank 50 is surrounded by a protective housing 62 which is rectangular. The protective housing 62 is provided with an end face which is formed by the protective wall 34 . In addition, a left and a right side wall 64 is provided, as well as a rear wall 66. The protective housing 62 forms a safety unit 68 with the safety tank 50. A circumferential seal 70 is provided on the upper edge of the safety tank 50.

The seal 70 sealingly abuts the closing wall 36 when the safety unit 68 is in the operating position of the centrifuge 10, see FIG 3 . In this position is a through the closing wall 36, the safety tank 50 and the cover 54 limited and closed rotor interior 72 formed. The drive shaft 44 engages with the rotor 46 in the rotor interior 72 .

The closing wall 36 is provided on each side with a side wall 74 extending in the direction of the base plate 24 . In the lower area, the side wall 74 is introduced into a guide rail 76, which runs parallel to the base plate 24 and in the longitudinal direction of the centrifuge 10 and is screwed to it, see FIG Figures 7 to 12 . The closing wall 36 and the side wall 74 thus form a further housing unit 78 which can be moved along the guide rail. The closing wall 36 is arranged directly below the cover 22 of the housing 12 .

The Figures 5 to 8 can be seen in detail how the safety unit 68 and the further housing unit 78 is moved with the closing wall 36, so that the centrifuge 10 from an operating position, see 2 , 3 and figure 5 , into a loading and unloading position, see 1 , 4 and 8 , is transferred. In order to initiate the opening movement of the safety unit 68, a push rod 80 is articulated on the inside of the side wall 64 of the protective housing 62 at its free end in the upper region of the side wall 64 via a joint 80a. The push rod 80 extends as far as the guide rail 76 and engages there in an articulated manner in a carriage 82 which is displaceably mounted in the guide rail 76 .

The carriage 82 in turn engages in a further carriage 84 which is guided in a further guide rail 86 . The further guide rail 86 runs parallel to the guide rail 76. The carriage 82 and the further carriage 84 are coupled to one another, as will be described in detail further below.

The other carriage 84 is connected to a threaded spindle 88 . The threaded spindle 88 in turn is connected to a drive 90 . The drive 90 drives the lead screw 88 so that it rotates. The further carriage 84 engaging in the threaded spindle 88 and its thread is thereby moved translationally along the further guide rail 86 .

On the side remote from the joint 80a on the inside of the side wall 64, approximately at the same height in the operating position, a hinge 92 is provided in each case, via which the safety unit 68 is pivotably mounted about a fixed axis. The hinge 92 is connected to the base plate 24 via support arms, which are not shown here for reasons of clarity.

The first carriage 82 is connected to a spiral spring 94 which in turn engages the side wall 74 of the further housing unit 78 on the side remote from the first carriage 82 . The closing wall 36 is thus held in the direction of the operating position via the spiral spring 94 , that is to say it is acted upon by the force of the spiral spring 94 .

The construction of carriages 82, 84 and guide rails 76, 86 and threaded spindle 88 is present on both side walls 74 of the further housing unit 78. Only the drive 90 is only present on one side, which is connected to the other threaded spindle 88 via a toothed belt. As a result, both threaded spindles 88 are driven synchronously and the carriages 82, 84 are thus moved on both side walls 74.

Like the one in particular Figures 3 and 4 6 to 8, the closing wall 36 is designed at its free end in such a way that it extends into the recess 28 in certain areas. In addition, the associated area of the protective wall 34 is provided with a step, so that the protective wall 34 and the closing wall 36 are in the operating position, see FIG 3 and figure 5 , overlap.

In the Figures 9 to 12 the first guide rail 76 and the second guide rail 86 are shown in detail. The side wall 74 engages in the first guide rail 76 in each case. The base area of the first guide rail 76 is aligned parallel to the side wall 74 . The side wall 74 is provided with a driver 96 in the area of the guide rail 76 . The driver 96 is arranged in relation to the carriages 82 and 84 such that a stop 98 associated with the driver 96 and connected to the second carriage 84 only engages the driver 96 when the carriage 84 has moved a predetermined distance is.

The second guide rail 86 essentially consists of two guide rods on which the second carriage 84 is arranged. The base of the second guide rail 86 is parallel to the base plate 24.

The first carriage 82 engages in the first guide rail 76 . The second carriage 84 has an L-shaped support structure, the upper part of which is connected to one end of the coil spring 94 . A joint 100 for the push rod 80 protrudes perpendicularly from the support structure. The back of the stop 98 is adapted to the shape of the joint 100 .

The figure 5 and the 9 show the situation of the centrifuge 10 in its operating position. The closing wall 36 closes the recess 30 in the ceiling 22 and the protective wall 34 closes the recess 28 in the end wall 14. The loading and unloading opening 32 is closed. The centrifuge 10 can treat the introduced media in the sample containers in the rotor 46 by centrifugation.

When the centrifuging process is complete and the centrifuge 10 is to be unloaded and/or loaded, the loading and unloading opening 32 must be opened. For this purpose, the protective wall 34 and thus the safety unit 68 are first tilted downwards in that the carriage 82 with the carriage 84 is moved to the right by the drive 90 . The push rod 80 pivots as a result and the safety unit 68 folds around the stationary hinge 92. This is necessary so that the overlapping area of the closing wall 36 and the protective wall 34 initially moves apart. This first intermediate position when moving from the operating position to a loading and unloading position is in 6 and 10 shown. In this case, the carriage 82 has moved so far with the other carriage 84 that the stop 98 is in contact with the driver 96 . The protective wall 34 and the closing wall 36 no longer overlap.

In the next step, the safety unit 68 pivots with the protective wall 34 about the hinge 92 until the safety unit 68 rests on a stationary support 102 with its front lower end and the lower end of the protective wall 34 . The support 102 is firmly connected to the base plate. The pivoting of the security unit 68 is initiated by the movement of the carriage 82 with the carriage 84 . Here, the push rod pivots about the joint 100. At the same time, the further housing unit 78 moves with the slides 82 and 84 until the safety unit rests on the support 102 with its front end. This situation is in 1 , 7 and 11 shown.

In the next step, the carriage 84 continues to move, the carriage 82 stops, since further pivoting is no longer possible. The carriage 82 with the push rod 80 and the safety unit 68 is held by the hinge 92 . Driven by the drive 90, the carriage 84 moves further into the loading and unloading position and thus also the further housing unit 78 consisting of the closing wall 36 and the two side walls 74. This situation is in 4 , 8 and 12 shown.

The carriage 84, driven by a threaded spindle and a motor, takes the first carriage with it (carrier function on the left) and, with a time delay, the closing wall (carrier function on the right).

Driver function on the left: lower the boiler from closed to open in the end position Driver function on the right: move the closing wall.

• Phase 1: Mitnehmen von erstem Lager 82-> Abkippen der Sicherheitseinheit 68, Schließwand 36 steht
• Phase 2: Mitnehmen von erstem Lager 82-> Abkippen der Sicherheitseinheit 68 und Mitnehmen Schließwand 36
• Phase 3: erstes Lager 82 bleibt stehen, Sicherheitseinheit hat Endstellung erreicht, Schließwand 36 wird weiter in Endstellung verfahren.

Process:

• Phase 1: Taking along the first bearing 82 -> tipping of the safety unit 68, closing wall 36 stands
• Phase 2: Take the first bearing 82 -> tilt the safety unit 68 and take the closing wall 36 with you
• Phase 3: first bearing 82 stops, safety unit has reached the end position, closing wall 36 is moved further into the end position.

The movements of the protective wall 34 and the closing wall 36 are thus coordinated and coupled to one another. During the opening movement, protective wall 34 opens first, followed by closing wall 36 with a time delay. During the closing movement, closing wall 36 closes first, followed by protective wall 34 with a time delay.

During the opening movement, the closing wall 36 translates parallel to the guide rail 76 and thus at right angles to the rotor axis 42.

The protective housing 62 and the safety boiler 50 and thus the protective wall 34, but also the closing wall 36 are made of sheet metal. Both the protective housing 62 and the safety tank 50 are designed to be closed over their height in the horizontal direction.

The closing wall 36 completely covers the safety tank 50 in the operating position/closed position.

Reference List

10

centrifuge

12

Housing

14

bulkhead

16

back panel

18

side wall, left

20

Sidewall right

22

Ceiling

24

bottom plate

26

Foot

28

recess, bulkhead

30

recess, ceiling

32

Loading and unloading opening of the centrifuge 10

34

Protective wall to close the recess 28

36

Closing wall for closing the recess 30

38

Air intake opening in the ceiling 22

40

further air intake opening in the closing wall 36

42

rotor axis

44

drive shaft

46

rotor

47

Rotor hanger 46

48

Plates with cavities

50

safety boiler

52

Recess in the safety boiler

54

Covering the recess 52

56

drive housing

58

screw

60

drive motor

62

protective housing

64

Side wall of the protective housing 62

66

back panel

68

Safety unit consisting of safety boiler 50 and protective housing 62

70

Gasket of safety boiler 50

72

rotor interior

74

Side wall which is connected to the closing wall 36

76

guide rails

78

further housing unit consisting of closing wall 36 and two side walls 74

80

push rod

80a

Joint of the connecting rod 80

82

first sled

84

further, second slide

86

another guide rail

88

lead screw

90

drive

92

hinge

94

spiral spring

96

driver

98

attack

100

Joint on the first slide 82 for the push rod 80

102

In stock

Claims (18)

1. Centrifuge (10) for automatic loading, comprising:

   a) a drive shaft (44) driven to be rotatable about a rotor axis (42),

   b) a rotor (46) which is releasably coupled to the drive shaft (44) for conjoint rotation therewith, and has receptacles for containers for media to be centrifuged,

   c) a housing (12) having lateral outer walls (14, 16, 18, 20), which delimit the centrifuge (10), and a cover (22), with at least one outer wall (14) having a lateral opening (28) directed to the side for loading the rotor (46) as required,

   d) a safety vessel (50) into which the drive shaft (44) projects and which surrounds the rotor (46),

   e) a protective wall (34) surrounding the safety vessel (50) at least in regions, which protective wall (34) is adapted at least to the shape of the adjacent outer wall (14) having the lateral opening (28) in such a way that it closes off the lateral opening (28),

   wherein the safety vessel (50) and the protective wall (34) firmly connect to one another to form a safety unit (68) which is operatively connected to an adjusting mechanism (104) that is adapted to move the safety unit (68) in such a way as to cause the protective wall (34) to open and close the lateral opening, thus allowing the protective wall to be moved from a closed position into an open position thereof, and vice versa, characterized in that the lateral opening (28) extends up to the housing cover (22) and that a cover opening (30) is provided in the housing cover (22) adjoining the lateral opening (28), thus creating a loading and unloading opening (32) formed from the lateral opening (28) and the cover opening (30), wherein the cover opening (30) is adapted to be opened and closed via a further closing wall (36) by means of a second adjusting mechanism (106).
2. Centrifuge according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second closing mechanisms are coupled to one another so as to coordinate the respective opening and closing movements of the protective wall (34) and the closing wall (36).
3. Centrifuge according to claim 2, characterized in that the first adjustment mechanism (104) and the second adjustment mechanism (106) are mechanically coupled to one another, in particular the first and second adjustment mechanisms (104, 106) are coupled to one another in such a way that, during the opening movement, the protective wall (34) is the first to open, and then, with some time delay, the closing wall (36) opens, and during the closing movement, the closing wall (36) is the first to close, and then, with some time delay, the protective wall (34) closes.
4. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing wall (36) is mounted such that it can be moved in translation, in particular at right angles to the rotor axis (42).
5. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing wall (36) is designed in such a way that, in the closed position, it extends into the lateral opening (28), in particular thereby forming a plane with the protective wall (34) on the outside of the centrifuge (10), preferably, in the closed position, the closing wall (36) and the protective wall (34) overlap in regions and, for this purpose, the protective wall (34) has a shoulder in which the closing wall (36) engages in regions.
6. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an air intake opening (40) is provided in the closing wall (36) and an air intake opening (38) is provided in the cover (22) of the housing (12), which openings are aligned with one another in the closed position.
7. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring (94) is provided which acts on the closing wall (36) towards the closed position, thus causing the closing wall (36) to open against the force of the spring (94).
8. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing wall (36) is made of sheet metal.
9. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective wall (34) is part of a protective housing (62) completely surrounding the safety vessel (50) in the circumferential direction, preferably in that the protective housing (62) is completely closed over its height in the horizontal direction, in particular the protective housing (62) is made of sheet metal.
10. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety vessel (50) is made of sheet metal.
11. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety vessel (50) is designed to be rotationally symmetrical, in particular it is designed to be closed over its height in the radial direction.
12. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing wall (36) is dimensioned such that, in the closed position, the closing wall (36) completely covers the safety vessel (50).
13. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing wall (36) is dimensioned such that, in the closed position, the closing wall (36) completely covers the protective housing (62).
14. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the closed position, the safety vessel (50) and/or the protective housing (62) abut(s) against the closing wall (36) in a sealing manner, preferably the safety vessel (50) and/or the protective housing (62) has or have a seal (70) on its side that faces the closing wall (36) in the closed position.
15. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing wall (36) comprises support walls (74) that extend downwardly on the side and are coupled to the second adjustment mechanism (106).
16. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first adjustment mechanism (104) has at least one push rod (80) which engages the safety unit (68) laterally in an articulated manner and is coupled in an articulated manner to a horizontally displaceable driven carriage (82, 84) provided at the bottom of the centrifuge (10).
17. Centrifuge according to claim 16, characterized in that the second adjustment mechanism (104) comprises at least one driver (96) in the area of the carriage (82, 84), which driver (96) effectively couples when the carriage (82; 84) has moved over a predetermined distance, which predetermined distance is preferably dependent on the height of the part of the closing wall (36) that projects into the lateral opening (28) in the closed position.
18. Centrifuge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety vessel (50) has a central recess (52) made therein which allows the opening and closing movement of the safety unit (68) relative to the drive shaft (44), in particular in that a safety cover (54) is provided which surrounds the drive shaft (44) and covers the central recess (52) in the closed position and which, together with the safety vessel (50) and the closing wall (36), completely delimits a rotor chamber (72) with the rotor (46), except for the passage for the drive shaft (44).

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