Device for mounting a plurality of actuator modules

A device for mounting a plurality of actuator modules in a grid pattern to a support frame with support bars is provided. Each actuator module has a regular polygonal basic shape with three, four or six corners. The device comprises a plurality of support brackets mountable to the support bars. Each support bracket is provided with a support structure arranged at a node of the grid pattern and having a cross element adapted to support corner regions of neighboring actuator modules at the node. A transport device comprising a plurality of actuator modules and a device for mounting the plurality of actuator modules in a grid pattern to a support frame is also provided. A laboratory sample distribution system and a laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory sample distribution system are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to EP 16157591.5, filed Feb. 26, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a device for mounting a plurality of actuator modules in a grid pattern to a support frame and to a transport device comprising a plurality of actuator modules and a device for mounting the plurality of actuator modules in a grid pattern to a support frame. Further, the invention relates to a laboratory sample distribution system and to a laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory sample distribution system.

A laboratory automation system typically comprises a plurality of pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical stations, in which samples, for example blood, saliva, swab and other specimens taken from the human body, are processed. It is generally known to provide various containers, such as test tubes or vials, containing the samples. The test tubes are also referred to as sample tubes. In the context of the application, containers such as test tubes or vials for containing a sample are referred to as sample containers.

A known laboratory sample distribution system with a transport device comprises a transport plane or driving surface and a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators being stationary arranged below the driving surface and a plurality of sample containers comprising a magnetically active device, preferably at least one permanent magnet. The electromagnetic actuators are adapted to move a sample container carrier placed on top of the driving surface by applying a magnetic force to the sample container carrier. The sample container carriers have a retaining area for retaining sample containers so that sample containers can be placed in an upright or vertical position in the sample container carriers.

However, there is a need for a device for mounting actuator modules of a transport device to a support frame allowing for an easy assembly of the transport device.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a device for mounting a plurality of actuator modules in a grid pattern to a support frame with support bars is presented. Each actuator module can have a regular polygonal basic shape with three, four or six corners. The device can comprise a plurality of support brackets mountable to the support bars. Each support bracket can be provided with a support structure arranged at a node of the grid pattern and can have a cross element adapted to support corner regions of neighboring actuator modules at node.

Accordingly, it is a feature of the embodiments of the present disclosure to provide for a device for mounting actuator modules of a transport device to a support frame allowing for an easy assembly of the transport device. Other features of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent in light of the description of the disclosure embodied herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A device for mounting a plurality of actuator modules in a grid pattern to a support frame with support bars is provided. Each actuator module can have a regular polygonal basic shape with three, four or six corners. The device can comprise a plurality of support brackets mountable to the support bars. Each support bracket can be provided with a support structure arranged at a node of the grid pattern and can have a cross element adapted to support corner regions of neighboring actuator modules at the node. An actuator module having an at least essentially square basic shape with four corners can be particularly suitable for being supported by four support brackets. Each support bracket can be provided with one support structure arranged at a node of a square grid pattern.

A plurality of support brackets can be mounted to support bars of a support frame in a suitable arrangement. After a framework for a transport device has been built by the plurality of support brackets, the actuator modules can be mounted to the framework.

In one embodiment, the device can comprise fixation elements adapted for fixing the support brackets adjustable in position to the support bars and at least one mounting rail for positioning and aligning at least a subset of the support brackets on one of the support bars of the support frame. For mounting the support brackets to the support bars, suitable fixation elements can be provided such as, for example a slot nut to be inserted into a groove of the support bar. Prior to tightening a respective screw, the slot nut can be moved along the groove for positioning the support bracket along the support bar. The mounting rail can be manufactured with high precision and can allow positioning of a subset of support brackets at the support bars. In one embodiment, the mounting rails can be removed after the support brackets are mounted to the support bars. One mounting rail can be reused for mounting a further subset of support brackets. In other embodiments, the mounting rail can remain on the support frame and/or can be an integral part of the support frame.

The support brackets, in one embodiment, can each be at least substantially L-shaped in a side view comprising a supporting leg with the support structure and mounting leg for mounting the support bracket to the support frame. The L-shape can be advantageous for supporting the actuator module in a position offset in vertical and horizontal direction from the support bar. The L-shaped support brackets can be mounted to the support bar such that the mounting leg can protrude to a side of the support bar in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support bar.

The mounting leg can be provided with a throughhole for inserting a fixation screw. In other embodiments of the support brackets, the mounting leg can be provided with a slit for an insertion of a fixation screw perpendicular to a screw axis.

The support bracket, in one embodiment, can be provided with a step in a top view so that the mounting leg can be offset to the supporting leg in a direction substantially perpendicular to a side of the support bracket. In one embodiment, the mounting leg can be offset to the supporting leg over a distance that can equal half the width of the support bracket. The step can allow aligning the support structures of two support brackets by mounting the support brackets to opposite sides of one support bar such that the mounting legs of the two support brackets can abut each other.

For precise positioning of the support structure of the support bracket in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support bar, in one embodiment, the support bracket can be provided with a stop element for limiting a movement of the support bracket towards a support bar of the support frame.

The support structure can comprise a cross element for supporting adjoining corners of neighboring actuator modules. In one embodiment, the cross element can comprise several fingers arranged at angles adapted to an angle of the regular basic shape of the actuator modules so that in each case, one or two fingers can be adapted to support one corner region of one actuator module. In the case that the actuator module has a triangular basic shape, six fingers can be arranged at angles of about 60°. In the case that the actuator module has a square basic shape, four fingers can be arranged at angles of about 90°. In the case the actuator module has a hexagonal basic shape, three fingers can be arranged at angles of about 120°. The fingers, in one embodiment, can be arranged to extend in a direction that can coincide with bisectors of the supported corner regions. Each corner region can be supported by one finger.

In other embodiments, the fingers can be arranged so that in each case two fingers can be adapted to support one corner region of one actuator module. Each finger can be adapted to support the adjacent corner regions of two neighboring actuator modules. In other words, the fingers can extend in parallel to sides of the actuator module adjoining the supported corner region. In one embodiment, the corner regions of the actuator modules can be provided with chamfers allowing arrangement of the actuator module closer to a support structure. Alternatively, or in addition, the support structure can comprise a recess for receiving the corner region.

In one embodiment, the actuator modules can be provided with a planar top surface element serving as a driving surface. In other embodiments, the support structure can be provided with a pillar element adapted to support a driving surface arranged above the actuators. The driving surface can be adapted to carry sample container carriers. In other words, the driving surface and the actuator module can be separate and individually mounted to the support brackets. This can allow, for example, the actuator module to be mounted with less strict tolerances than the driving surface.

The driving surface, in embodiments of the transport device, can be tiled and can comprise a plurality of driving surface modules. Each driving surface module can be detachably mountable to a subset of the support brackets.

To couple the driving surface, or individual driving surface elements, with the support brackets, a top surface of the pillar element, in one embodiment, can be provided with apertures adapted to receive positioning pins provided at a bottom side of a driving surface panel covering at least a subset of actuator modules or at a bottom side of driving surface modules.

At least some of the support brackets, in one embodiment, can be provided with a cable support, in order to position and support cables and/or other media supply lines for a media supply of the transport device.

A transport device for a laboratory sample distribution system with a plurality of actuator modules, each actuator module comprising a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators, and with a device for mounting the plurality of actuator modules in a grid pattern to a support frame can be provided.

A laboratory sample distribution system can be provided. The laboratory sample distribution system can have a transport device and a plurality of sample container carriers. The sample container carriers can each comprise at least one magnetically active device such as, for example, at least one permanent magnet. The sample container carriers can be adapted to carry a sample container containing a sample. The magnetic actuators of the transport device units of the transport device can be suitably driven for generating a magnetic field such that a driving force can be applied to each of the sample container carriers for transporting the sample container carriers on the surface pieced together of driving surface modules of the units. The distribution system, in addition, in one embodiment, can comprise additional conveyor devices for moving a sample container carrier along a defined path.

A laboratory automation system with a plurality of pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical stations and with a distribution system having a transport device and number of sample container carriers can be provided.

Referring initially toFIG. 1,FIG. 1schematically shows a top view of a transport device1comprising a support frame2and several, in the embodiment shown, twenty actuator modules3. The support frame2can comprise several support bars21. The actuator modules3can be arranged in a grid pattern such as, for example, a square grid pattern. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, a driving surface plane of the transport device1can be tiled comprising several driving surface modules4. Each driving surface module4can be assigned to one actuator modules3. The actuator modules3can be mounted to the support frame2. Each of the actuator modules3shown can have a substantially square shape allowing building of transport devices1of various designs by adding additional actuator modules3at either side of already existing modules1and/or removing actuator modules3from the device1shown inFIG. 1. Actuator modules having a substantially square shape with four corners can be particularly suitable for being supported by four support brackets5(seeFIG. 3). Each support bracket5can be provided with one support structure50arranged at a node of a square grid pattern. In other embodiments, the actuator modules and/or the driving surface modules can have a substantially triangular shape or a substantially hexagonal shape.

FIG. 2schematically shows a top view of a second embodiment of a transport device1comprising several actuator modules3mounted to a support frame2in a grid pattern such as, for example, a square grid pattern. The support frame2can comprise support bars21to which the actuator modules3can be mounted. In contrast toFIG. 1, a driving surface of the transport device10shown inFIG. 2is not tiled. Instead, one driving surface panel104can be placed on top of several actuator modules1. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the driving surface panel104can cover all actuator modules3of the transport device10.

FIG. 3is a top view of a support frame2with support bars21and a device for mounting actuator modules3ofFIG. 1 or 2to the support frame2. The device can comprise several support brackets5with support structures50arranged at nodes of the grid pattern.FIGS. 4 and 5show a support bracket5in a perspective view and a top view, respectively.

Each actuator modules3can be supported by the support structures50of several support brackets5, which support structures50can be arranged at nodes of the grid pattern. In the embodiment shown having a square grid pattern, corners regions of up to four actuator modules3can be supported using one support bracket5. The number of actuator modules3coupled by one support bracket5can depend on the basic shape of the actuator module3, and, hence the pattern in which the actuator modules3can be arranged. In the case the actuator modules to be supported have a substantially triangular shape, corners regions of up to six actuator modules can be supported using one support bracket5. In the case the actuator modules to be supported have a substantially hexagonal shape, corners regions of up to three actuator modules can be supported using one support bracket5.

The support brackets5can be mounted to the support bars21, for example, by using slot nuts (not shown). In order to simplify a positioning of each support bracket5along the support bars21and to align a plurality of support brackets5, the device can comprise mounting rails6.

As best seen inFIG. 4, the support bracket5can be essentially L-shaped seen in a side view comprising a supporting leg51with the support structure50and mounting leg52for mounting the support bracket5to one support bar21. As shown inFIG. 3, the L-shaped support brackets5can be mounted to the support bars21such that the mounting leg52can protrude to a side of the support bar21in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support bar21. The supporting leg51can protrude in an at least substantially vertical direction.

At a distal end of the mounting leg52, a slit53can be provided for receiving a screw or bolt (not shown) for mounting the support bracket5to the support bar21(seeFIG. 3). In other embodiments, a throughhole can be provided. Providing a slit53instead of a throughhole can allow approaching of the support bracket5from a direction substantially perpendicular to the support bars21and substantially perpendicular to an axis of the screw or bolt. A movement of the support bracket5towards the support bar21can be limited by a stop element57.

As best seen inFIG. 5, the mounting leg52can be provided with a step54, so that the mounting leg52and the supporting leg51can be offset in an axial direction of the support bar21. The offset can be about half the width of the support bracket5. This can allow aligning the support structures50of two abutting supporting brackets5arranged at opposite sides of a support bar21in the longitudinal direction of the support bar21.

As best seen inFIG. 3, in the embodiment shown, the mounting rail6can be provided with slits60having a width that can be twice the width of the support bracket5. Two abutting support bracket5can be inserted in one slit60of the mounting rail6from opposite sides of the support bar21with the mounting leg52of each support bracket5abutting one side wall of the slit60and the two support legs51being arranged centered in the slit60. Further, as shown inFIG. 3, it can also be possible to insert only one support bracket5in one slit60. In case no second support bracket5can be inserted into one slit60, an incorrect positioning or tilting of the support bracket5can be prevented by the stop element57. For this purpose, the stop element57can be provided with a wing element58protruding from a side of the support bracket5over a distance equal to the width of the support bracket5.

At the distal end of the supporting leg51, the support structure50can be provided. The support structure50can comprise a cross element55with several fingers550adapted to support corners of actuator modules3at a respective node. In the embodiment shown, square actuator modules3arranged in a square grid pattern can be provided. Hence, the cross element55can have four fingers550arranged at angles of about 90° to each other. In the embodiment shown, each corner region of an actuator module3can be supported by two fingers550, which fingers550in each case can extend in parallel to the two adjacent sides of neighboring actuator modules3. Each finger550can be adapted to support two neighboring actuator modules3at their adjacent sides. In other embodiments not shown, the four fingers can each be arranged to support one corner region of one actuator module and can extend in the direction of a bisector of the corner region.

The support structure50can further be provided with a pillar element56having planar top surface560adapted to support a driving surface104spanning several actuator modules3(seeFIG. 2) or a driving surface module4(seeFIG. 1). At the planar top surface560, four apertures561can be adapted for receiving positioning pins (41, seeFIG. 7) provided at corners of the driving surface modules4. In the case of triangular driving surface modules, the corner supports can be provided with six apertures. In the case of hexagonal driving surface modules, the corner supports can be provided with three apertures.

The support bracket5shown can further be provided with a cable support59. The cable support59can position and support cables and/or other media supply lines (not shown) for a media supply of the actuator module3and/or other elements of the transport device. In the embodiment shown, the cable support59can be arranged below the supporting leg51and can extend substantially in parallel to the supporting leg51.

FIG. 6shows the support structure2ofFIG. 3. One actuator module3can comprise a number of electro-magnetic actuators30mounted to four support brackets5.FIG. 7shows a detail VII ofFIG. 6in a top view.

As best seen inFIG. 7, in the embodiment shown, a grid structure34of the actuator module3can rest on two fingers550arranged at an angle of about 90° to each other. Each finger550can be adapted to support an additional actuator module3(not shown), which can be arranged adjacent to either one of the side faces of the actuator module3shown. In the embodiment shown, the corner region of the actuator module3can be provided with a chamfer allowing the arrangement of the actuator module3close to the support structure50. Further, the corner region can partly be received in a recess provided in the pillar element56underneath the top surface560. The pillar element56can be longer than the actuators30so that the top surface560adapted for supporting a driving surface or driving surface modules3can be arranged above the upper end of the actuators30.

One actuator module3together with a driving surface module4is shown in more detail inFIG. 8. The actuator module3shown can have a substantially square shape with four equal sides and four corners. It can be adapted to be mounted to the support brackets5, wherein, in the embodiment shown, the corners of the actuator module3can be chamfered. The corners of the driving surface module4may not be chamfered to provide a gapless driving surface.

The actuator module3can comprise a carrier element31with stands32protruding from the bottom surface. The actuator module3can be placed on the stands32for example during transport, for storage and/or for an assembly. In the embodiment shown, the actuator module3can comprise a grid structure34made of a magnetically conductive material such as, for example, a metal. The actuators30can be mounted to the grid structure34. The grid structure34can be a rigid structure. In the embodiment shown, the grid structure34can be further used for supporting the actuator module3on the support brackets5(seeFIG. 7).

In the embodiment shown, one driving surface module4can be provided on top of each actuator module3with a driving surface element40made of a material suitable for slidingly transporting sample carriers (not shown) along the top surface of the driving surface element40. The driving surface element40can have a substantially square shape with four sides of equal length and four corners. The dimension of the driving surface module4can be at least essentially the same than that of the actuator module3.

At the four corners of the driving surface module4, connection pins41can be provided for mounting the driving surface module4via the support brackets5to the support frame2(seeFIG. 3). The connection pins41can be adapted to be inserted into the apertures561provided at the top surface560of the support brackets5. Hence, several driving surface modules4can be aligned by the support brackets5.