SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR A PIPETTE

Abstract: The object of the invention is a suspension device for supporting suction devices whereby the suction device is removably attached to a suspending rope of the suspension device and which suspension device comprises a coiling drum and rotating means for feeding the suspending rope from the drum and/or coiling onto it and means for preventing and permitting the rotation of the drum. The suspension drum can also be provided with means for charging the batteries of an electrical suction device attached to the suspension device.

Description: Suspension device for a pipette The object of the invention is a suspension device for supporting a suction device such as a mechanical or electrical pipette. In the laboratory work handheld suction devices such as pipettes are used e.g. for dispensing samples and reagents. These can be either mechanical or electronic, motor-driven pipettes. Electronic, independently used, handheld suction devices usually contain the power sources needed by the motor and the controlling means, which power sources usually are chargeable batteries. Despite that these suction devices have been developed more and more lighter, their continuous use causes stress to the user who is obliged to support the pipette with his handpower without any support for the hand. In the following the word 'pipette' is used for these various mechanical or electrical suction devices. When such a pipette is not used, it is usually placed in a stand on the working table or otherwise in the working place within the reach of the user. The stand is not always, however, in a suitable place for the user and his work, and then the pipette may be put down on the working table, whereby there is a danger for the tip used in the dispensing of getting dirty and/or even the damaging of the pipette itself. The stand, where the pipette or pipettes are stored, can be provided with a possibility for charging the batteries of the pipette, when the pipette is not in use. If the pipette is not placed in the charging stand, the batteries of the pipette are not charged. The pipette is then naturally not always ready for use or the use of the pipette must be interrupted in the middle of the ongoing use when the power given by the batteries expires. The object of the invention is to provide a suspension device in which the pipette is within the reach of the user, which suspension device can relieve the stress exerted on the user and in which device the batteries of the pipette can be charged. It is characterising to the invention that the suspension device comprises a coiling drum mounted in the body of the suspension device and rotating around its axle, a suspending rope coiled on the drum and fixed to it from its one end, mounting means in the other free end of the suspending rope for removably attaching the pipette to the suspending rope, means for rotating the coiling drum for feeding the suspending rope from the drum and/or coiling the suspending rope onto the drum, means for preventing and permitting the rotational movement of the drum and means for hanging and fixing the suspension device. Different kind of ropes, cables, wires, bands, hoses or other similar with sufficient strength and flexibility characteristics can be used as the suspending rope. The material for the suspending rope can be metal, plastic or their combination. Such a suspension device is mounted with the provided hanging and/or fixing means preferably to the ceiling, to a pole mounted to the ceiling, to a rod projecting from the wall, or to another suitable place in the working place, e.g. to the furnishing of the working place or to poles, bars or similar supporting rods adapted thereto. The suspension device is mounted with these hanging and fixing means to its desired mounting place in such a way that the free end of the suspending rope fixed to the coiling drum with the mounting means for the pipette is within reach of the user for attaching the pipette to the said suspending rope or detaching it therefrom. The suspension device itself can be placed on a suitable heigth with the hanging and fixing means of the suspension device. The pipette attached to the suspending rope can be moved supported by the suspending rope to different distances from the suspension device in the limits of the total length of the suspending rope. The suspending rope can be held in the desired length with the means for permitting and preventing the rotation of the coiling drum provided by the suspension device together with the rotating means of the said drum. When the user wants to move the pipette e.g. in the vertical direction downwards, he releases the blocking of the rotation of the drum and makes the drum to feed suspending rope. When the user in this way has got the pipette on the desired heigth, he stops the feeding of the suspending rope and blocks the rotation of the drum. Correspondingly when he wants to move the pipette in the vertical direction upwards, the user first releases the blocking of the drum rotation, makes the drum coil suspending rope onto the drum and after having got the pipette on the desired heigth, stops the coiling of the rope and blocks the rotation of the drum. The corresponding operations can also be done for moving the pipette sideways or in a oblique direction with regard to the suspension device. The pipette is always removable from the suspension device when desired and it can be used without attaching it to the suspension device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the means for rotating the coiling drum comprise e.g. a spring means between the drum and the body of the suspension device. When the means for permitting and/or preventing the rotation of the drum permit the rotation of the drum, the drum can be rotated by pulling from the suspending rope whereby the spring is strained and suspending rope is discharged from the drum. When the pull from the suspending rope is smaller than the spring force of the spring, the spring means with its spring force makes the drum to rotate in the opposing direction and makes the suspending rope coiled onto the drum. The spring has a rest position in which the spring holds the suspending rope to be coiled on the drum in such a way that a predetermined length of suspending rope projects from the suspension device. When the blocking of the drum is released, a desired length of suspending rope can be pulled out of the suspension device. After that the drum is blocked unrotatable and a desired length of suspending rope remains outside the suspension device. When the length of the suspending rope outside of the suspension device is desired to be shortened, the blocking of the drum is first released whereby the spring under the influence of its spring force returning towards its rest position makes the drum rotate in such a way that the suspending rope coils on the drum whereby that part of the suspending rope which is outside of the suspension device becomes shorter. When the length of the suspending rope is appropriate, the drum is blocked again and the suspending rope remains to the desired length. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the means for rotating the drum comprise an electric motor with its control means and means for communicating a rotational movement of the shaft of the electric motor to a rotational movement of the drum whereby the drum can be rotated with the motor for coiling the suspending rope onto the drum and/or feeding it from the drum. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the means for preventing and permitting the rotation of the drum are controlled with the control means of the motor. For blocking and releasing the drum as such known mechanical, electrical or electromechanical means can be used. The releasing or blocking can in a preferred embodiment of the invention be dependent on the force and/or the speed with which the suspending rope is pulled. The releasing is achieved in this case with a force that is greater than the force exerted by the pipette attached to the suspending rope. The blocking is achieved when the pulling of the suspending rope is interrupted, or when the speed with which the suspending rope is pulled is lower than the set pulling speed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the suspension device comprises means for charging the batteries of the pipette when the pipette is attached to the suspension device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the charger used in the charging of the batteries is mounted in the suspension device itself, preferably inside its body. The charger is connected to the electric mains preferably e.g. with a power cable and suitable connecting means associated with the hanging and fixing means of the suspension device. The connecting cable from the charger to the batteries of the pipette is taken parallel with the suspending rope in such a way that the charging cable coils onto the coiling drum together with the suspending rope according to its rotation. The other end of the connecting cable for the batteries of the pipette is provided with means for connecting the charging cable to the charging connection of the batteries of the pipette. In association with the means attaching the pipette to the suspending rope can in a preferred embodiment of the invention be provided means for connecting the connection cable of the charger and the charging connection of the batteries of the pipette to each other in such a way that when the pipette is being attached to the suspending rope with the fixing means, the batteries of the pipette are connected to the charger through the charging cable at the same time. The charger can also be a separate device which does not belong to the suspension device whereby the connecting coupling of the charger and the pipette to each other comprises connecting cables, connectors or joints from the charger through the hanging and fixing means of the suspension device to the suspension device, conductors associated with the suspending rope, connectors and joints to the connection provided for charging the pipette. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an electric cable having both a sufficient stregth for supporting the pipette and suitable electrical characteristics for supplying electricity for the charging of the batteries or similar power sources of the pipette is used as the suspending rope. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the suspending rope is formed as a combination of a suspending rope or a wire having the sufficient strength and an electric cable or wire intended for the charging of the power source of the pipette whereby the electric cable or wire is attached to that part of the suspending rope having supporting strength in such a way that it is not loaded with the mechanical stress caused by the weight of the pipette. The suspending rope and the said electric cable can be in a preferred embodiment of the invention parallel, within each other, or twisted with respect to each other. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the suspending rope is like a hose, whereby the said electric cable is within the hose and is thus mechanically protected. If the material for the hose is chosen to be of an electrically insulating material, the electric cable is additionnally electrically insulated. Still in a preferred embodiment of the invention the suspending rope can in addition to the said part having the supporting strength and the said electric cable or wire part intended for the charging the power source of the pipette consist of at least one other electric cable or wire by means of which the functions of the pipette can be controlled and/or data from the use of the pipette can be gathered. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this cable can also be used for controlling the control means for the rotation of the coiling drum. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the electric cable belonging to the suspending rope has separate conductors at least for charging the power source of the pipette, for controlling the functions of the pipette, and/or for gathering data of the use, and for controlling the rotation of the drum of the suspension device. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the suspending rope is like a hose whereby the electric cable can be placed inside the hose mechanically protected. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the fixing means of the pipette in the free end of the suspending rope are associated with means for controlling the motor intended for the rotation of the coiling drum of the suspension device. These means are in communication with the control means of the motor by means of the electric cable in the suspending rope. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the fixing means are also associated with means by means of which the electric cable in the suspending rope is connectable to means in the pipette for controlling the pipette and/or controlling its functions. In the following the invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. Figure 1 shows the basic structure of the suspension device simplified. The suspension device is referenced with the reference number 1 , comprising the coiling drum 2, means 3 for rotating the coiling drum 2, means 4 for preventing and permitting the rotation of the coiling drum 2, the suspending rope 5, means 6 for attaching the pipette 8 to the suspending rope 5, and means 7 for hanging and fixing the suspension device 1. The coiling drum 2, means 3 for rotating the drum 2 and means 4 for preventing and permitting the rotation of the drum 2 are adapted in a housing formed by the body of the suspension device. The housing has an opening through which the suspending rope 5 extends outside the housing. The other end of the suspending rope 5 is fixed to the drum 2, whereby the suspending rope 5 coils to the drum 2 or discharges from it when the drum is rotated depending on the direction of the rotation. The drum 2 can be in a known way appropriately grooved in order to prevent a tangling of the suspending rope. To the other end of the suspending rope are adapted fixing means 6 by means of which the pipette 8 can be removably attached to the suspending rope. For coiling the suspending rope 5 onto the drum 2, the suspension device 1 has in a preferred embodiment of the invention a spring means 3 for rotating the drum 2. The suspension device 1 is also provided with means 4 for preventing and releasing the rotation of the drum 2. When the spring means 3 is in its rest position, the suspending rope 5 is coiled onto the drum 2 in such a way that a part of it is outside the housing of the suspension device. By releasing the rotation of the drum 2 in bringing the means 4 in a position corresponding to the release, a desired length of the suspending rope 5 coiled onto the drum 2 can be pulled out of the suspension device. When the means 4 are brought in a position where they prevent the rotation of the drum, the pipette 8 attached to the suspending rope 5 remains at the pulled-out distance from the suspension device. When the drum 2 is released with the means 4 to rotate, the pipette 8 attached to the suspending rope 5 with fixing means 6 can be brought farther from the suspension device by pulling. If the pull from the suspending rope 5 is smaller than the restoring spring force of the spring means 3, the suspending rope is coiled back to the drum 2 under the influence of the spring force and the pipette 8 attached to it comes nearer to the suspension device 1. In this way the pipette 8 can easily be placed at the desired heigth and/or distance. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging device 10 is adapted in the housing of the suspension device. The charging device comprises means 1 1 and 12 for connecting the charging device to the electric mains and a charging cable 13 connected to the charging device 10. The charging cable 13 is taken to the coiling drum 2 and further preferably parallel with the suspending rope 5 up to the fixing means 6 of the pipette mounted to the suspending rope 5. The fixing means are associated with means 14 for connecting the charging cable 13 to the means in the pipette 8 for charging the batteries of the pipette 8. When the charging cable 13 is parallel to the suspending rope 5, in a preferred embodiment of the invention combined with it, the charging cable 13 coils to the coiling drum 2 at the same time with the suspending rope 5 and the pipette 8 is always chargeable when the pipette is attached to the fixing means 6 and connected to the charging cable 13 with the means 14.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A suspension device for supporting a suction device, such as a mechanical or electrical pipette, characterized in that the suspension device (1) comprises a coiling drum (2) mounted in the body of the suspension device (1) and rotating around its axle, a suspending rope (5) coiled on the drum (2) and fixed to it from its one end, mounting means (6) in the other, free end of the suspending rope (5) for removably attaching the suction device (8) to the suspending rope (5), means (3) for rotating the coiling drum (2) for feeding the suspending rope (5) from the drum (2) and/or coiling the suspending rope (5) onto the drum, means (4) for preventing and permitting the rotational movement of the drum (2), and means (7) for hanging and fixing the suspension device (1). 2. A suspension device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the means (3) for rotating the coiling drum (2) is a spring means between the coiling drum (2) and the body of the suspension device (1). 3. A suspension device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (3) for rotating the coiling drum (2) is an electrical motor and its controlling means. 4. A suspension device according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspension device (1) comprises means (10, 1 1, 12, 13 ) for charging the batteries of the suction device (8) attached to the suspension device (1). 5. A suspension device according to claim 4, characterized in that the charger (10) for the batteries of the suction device (8) is adapted inside the body of the suspension device (1). 6. A suspension device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection cable (14) between the charger (10) and the batteries of the suction device (8) is adapted parallel with the suspending rope (5) for coiling together with it onto the coiling drum (2) or discharging from it. 7. A suspension device according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspending rope (5) comprises a part having a sufficient mechanical strength and at least one electrical conductor. 8. A suspension device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the suspending rope (5) is an electrical cable consisting of one or several insulated conductors. 9. A suspension device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cable forming the suspending rope (5) comprises conductors (13) for attaching the batteries of the pipette (8) to the charger (10) and conductors for controlling the functions of the pipette (8) and/or for gathering data of use.

Inventors: SUOVANIEMI OSMO, SYRJAE KAISA, SUOVANIEMI, OSMO, SYRJAE, KAISA
Applicants: BIOHIT OYJ, SUOVANIEMI OSMO ANTERO, SYRJAE KAISA, SUOVANIEMI, OSMO, SYRJAE, KAISA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B01L3
IPC codes: B01L9