DIGITAL COUNTER FOR ADJUSTABLE PIPETTE
Description Technical field
The invention relates to a plunger-operated pipette used in dispensing liquids, having a dosage volume, which can be adjusted and having the vol- ume displayed by means of digital rings. The invention relates explicitly to this display of volume.
Background art The adjustment of volume in plunger-operated pipettes can be implemented by having the plunger rod provided with a thread and a nut fitted thereon, the latter being adapted to be non-rotatable relative to a housing but slidable lengthwise of the rod. The housing is provided with an abutment, which jointly with the nut determines a top position for the plunger. The plunger can have its intake volume set by rotating the plunger rod. Patent publication Fl- 64752 (corresponds e.g. to publication EP-112887) discloses such a pipette, in which the adjusted volume is indicated by means of a series of digital rings. This pipette includes a disc concentric with a plunger, which rotates incrementally together with the plunger and which drives in respective in- crements a first digital ring of the series of digital rings, which in turn, always after a certain number of increments, drives a transmission gear to dial a second digital ring by one increment. The disc has its end face provided with notches matching the number spacing of the first digital ring. This face is responded by a ring spring non-rotatable relative to the pipette housing and provided with projections matching the transmission gear's notches. Thus, in response to its rotation, the plunger can be locked in positions defined by notches in the disc and projections in the ring spring, the first digital ring being also locked in a position, which shows a volume-representing reading at the display point. The second digital ring is held stationary between dialling actions by means of the transmission gear.
Summary of the invention
A pipette as set forth in claim 1 has now been invented. Other claims disclose some embodiments of the invention.
The inventive pipette has its first and second digital ring provided with alignment means, whereby the second digital ring is always able to place itself relative to the first digital ring, such that the volume-representing digital readings will be precisely in coincidence with each other at the reading point. Hence, reading a volume correctly is easy and reliable.
Thus, the digital rings can be in direct contact with each other. The alignment means may comprise a ring-encircling serration on one of the digital rings and on the other, respectively, at least one claw responding to the ser- ration.
Drawings
The attached drawings constitute a part of the written description of the in- vention and relate to the subsequent detailed description of the invention. Therein
- Fig. 1 shows one pipette of the invention in cross-section
- Fig. 2 shows axonometrically a first digital ring included in the pipette's set of digital rings - Fig. 3 shows axonometrically a second digital ring included in the pipette's set of digital rings.
Detailed description of the invention
The inventive pipette is provided with a plunger rotatable relative to a housing in such a way that, in response to its rotation, the plunger's position changes in axial direction relative to the housing and thereby defines a stroke volume of the plunger. A first digital ring is rotated along with the plunger. In addition, there is a second digital ring, which is adapted through the intermediary of an indexing element, such as a transmission gear, to make a single-increment turn whenever the first digital ring has rotated a certain distance. The reading point displays side by side one digital reading always from each of the digital rings, said digital readings jointly indicating
the stroke volume corresponding the plunger's rotational position. The digital reading of one ring may include one or more digits. The digital readings are usually equidistant from each other, but they can also be at uneven intervals if required by a particular application.
The digital rings are further provided with alignment means for aligning the second digital ring relative to the first one to always bring the digital readings precisely on the same line relative to each other, which makes the correct reading of a volume as quick and reliable as possible.
With regard to the alignment means, one of the digital rings may have its rim provided with alignment notches, the other having at least one alignment claw responding to the notches. The alignment notches can be provided particularly on the first digital ring. The alignment notches can be straight-cut or faceted.
The alignment means can be provided with a resilient actuator, such as a spring, biasing the digital rings against each other, yet allowing for an axial movement of the rings relative to each other, such that the first digital ring may rotate without rotating the second digital ring. In particular, the assembly can be such that the second digital ring is axially movable. The spring can be a coil spring fitted outside or inside a digital ring, especially the second digital ring.
A pipette of the invention will be described by way of example as follows.
The pipette has a housing 1 and at its bottom end a tip element 2, having its bottom end fitted with a tip container or a tip. On top of the tip element there is a sliding sleeve 3 for removing the tip. Its extension comprises an operat- ing rod 4, which is compelled to move relative to a handle by way of a gear 5 in order to reduce a required driving force (see FI 92374, which corresponds e.g. to publication EP 566939). In the tip element there is fitted a return spring 6 for the tip remover. The housing is covered with a shaped hand- fitting element 7. In its top section the housing has a finger grip 8.
Through the tip element 2 extends a circular hole, which is further extended by a hole through the housing. The tip element is provided with a plunger 9, having an extension in the form of a rod 10. The rod has a bushing-shaped
lower section fitted around the plunger's upper section. The upper portion of the rod extends through the housing. The rod has its top end provided with an actuating knob 11. In the tip element's upper section, the hole is provided with an enlargement, which has an O-ring 12 at its bottom for sealing the plunger against the tip element. The O-ring is pressed from above by means of a packing spring 13 fitted between the housing and the tip element.
The plunger rod 10 is provided with a thread, which is adapted to carry a nut 14 whose rotation relative to the housing is prevented by means of length- wise guides and grooves. Thus, when the rod is rotated, the nut slides lengthwise of the rod. The housing is provided with a limiter 15, against which the nut is pressed from below by means of a primary spring 16. Hence, the nut and the abutment define a top limit for the plunger movement. The rod has its upper section fitted within a limiting collar 17 slidable thereon, the collar having a flange at its top end. Above the limiting collar, the housing has its bore threadedly fitted with a calibration nut 18, against which the limiting collar is pressed from below by means of a secondary spring 19 which is more powerful than the primary spring. The limiting collar has its top end extending beyond and above the calibration nut for defining, together with the bottom end of the press knob, a lower limit for the plunger's dispensing action and, hence, a dosage volume. When drawing liquid into the tip, the plunger is pressed against this lower limit and allowed to return to the upper limit. When discharging liquid from the tip, the plunger is pressed still further against the force of the secondary spring past the lower limit in order to expel the liquid as thoroughly as possible. The dosage volume is calibrated by adjusting the lower limit by turning the calibration nut. (Similar calibration systems have been described for example in publications FI 64752 and EP 737515, the former corresponding to publication EP 112887).
Around the plunger rod 10 there is fitted rotatably therewith a first digital ring 20. For fitting purposes, the first digital ring has thereinside two axially mounted wedges 21 and the plunger rod has complementary keyways. The first digital ring has its upper end face provided on its inner rim with a stop recess 22, which is complementary to each reading of the ring and re- sponded by a protrusion in a non-rotating ring spring 23 (see FI 64752). Thus, the plunger rod rotates and locks incrementally. Underneath the first digital ring there is a second digital ring 25. Its upper end face is provided with a gear 26. The first digital ring has its top end provided respectively with
one pair of teeth 27 for turning, always after a full circle through the intermediary of the transmission gear 26, the second digital ring by an increment corresponding to the serration.
The first digital ring 20 has along the inside rim of its bottom edge a thinner ring having its end face provided with alignment notches 29. Each alignment notch represents one reading of the digital ring. The second digital ring 25 has two alignment claws 30 on radially opposite sides to fit appropriately in the notches of the first digital ring. The second digital ring has its lower sec- tion thinner and fitted on the inside with a coil spring 31. Its bottom end bears by way of a collar 32 against the limiter 15, the second digital ring being thereby pressed against the first ring by the coil spring. By virtue of the alignment notches and claws, the rings stop at an exactly desired position relative to each other, in which the rings have their readings precisely in line with each other on the display. The transmission gear 28 prevents the second digital ring from making a turn into the range of an adjacent number, except when the transmission gear is incremented by the pair of teeth 26.