Patent Description:
Laboratory instruments such as thermal cyclers or heating or cooling chambers have a manually operated lid that is closed down securely over a DNA sample container to prevent evaporation of samples. While these manually operated lids function well in applications where there is an operator present, they are not compatible with automated devices and do not meet the specific demand requirements of automated devices.

There are currently commercially available these types of instruments that have an automated lid. The automated lid has a simple hinge that is operated by a small motor and rotates about the hinge on the back edge. The motor is commanded to operate by software and the instrument is large enough to accommodate the space necessary for a hinged lid.

<CIT> describes a gas flux chamber assembly comprising a lift-and-rotate mechanism and a chamber. <CIT> describes a device for automatically analyzing samples by a colorimetric procedure particularly used for blood analysis. <CIT> describes a vertical movement mechanism embedded in a position which corresponds to the vicinity of one end fringe of a platen cover of a copying machine. <CIT> describes a sanitary garbage can. <CIT> describes a multi-motion assembly for leadscrew system.

There remains a need in the art for a sample container lid that can meet the specific requirements of automated instrumentation. The lid should be able to be operated in an automated fashion and suitable for the limited space requirements of instruments of compact design. These space requirements stem from the instruments often having very limited space in the vertical direction and thus not accommodating a hinged lid.

The invention is as set out in the claims.

The present invention provides a laboratory instrument comprising a lid mechanism in accordance with the claims, which can be an automated instrument. The lid mechanism has a compact design enabling it to function in very small spaces, and therefore on very compact instrumentation. It is also designed to be conveniently operable by software programming and with a minimum of maintenance or operator intervention. Also provided is an automated laboratory instrument having a lid mechanism of the invention.

In a first aspect the present invention provides a laboratory instrument comprising a lid mechanism for securing a sample container. In this aspect the lid mechanism comprises several components, including a nut positioned at least partially around the circumference of a jackscrew and containing a threaded portion that is mated to a threaded portion of the jackscrew; a motor translationally attached to the nut for driving rotational motion of the nut around the jackscrew and vertical motion of the jackscrew; a main shaft positioned around the jackscrew with a bearing support positioned on the main shaft; a moving support comprising a bearing guide track and positioned on the main shaft so that the bearing support is positioned within the bearing guide track; and a lid plate positioned on the moving support so that vertical movement of the moving support causes vertical movement of the lid plate and rotational movement of the moving support causes rotational movement of the lid plate wherein the jackscrew is connected to the moving support in a relation so that vertical movement of the jackscrew causes vertical movement of the moving support.

The bearing guide track can be substantially arc shaped and can have a substantially vertical portion and a substantially diagonal and/or substantially horizontal portion. Friction between the bearing support and an edge of the bearing guide track on the moving support can cause rotational movement of the moving support. Displacement of the bearing support within the substantially vertical portion causes the moving support to move in a substantially vertical direction, and displacement of the bearing support within the substantially diagonal and/or substantially horizontal portion causes the moving support to move rotationally.

In one embodiment rotational movement of the moving support causes a lateral movement of the lid plate positioned on the moving support and the lateral range of motion can be about <NUM>-<NUM> degrees or about <NUM> degrees. In one embodiment the components are arranged so that the motor is translationally attached to a pulley that drives the rotational motion of the nut around the jackscrew and vertical motion of the jackscrew.

In another aspect the invention provides an automated laboratory instrument comprising a lid mechanism described herein. The automated laboratory instrument has a sample container containing one or more sample wells and the lid mechanism covers or exposes samples in the sample container. Lateral movement of the lid plate exposes at least one sample well in the sample container. In some embodiments the automated laboratory instrument is a temperature controlled chamber or a thermocycler. In some embodiments of the automated laboratory instrument movement of the moving support in the vertical direction occurs to an extent that the lid plate is lifted vertically clear of the sample container. And lateral movement of the lid occurs in an amount sufficient to expose at least a portion of the sample container and allow access to one or more samples in the container.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The present invention provides a laboratory instrument comprising a lid mechanism, such as an automated laboratory instrument. The mechanism is sized and operates in a manner that is suitable for compact laboratory instrumentation. By utilizing a clever design the lid mechanism of the invention provides a lid that can be operated in an automated fashion in small spaces, particularly vertically limited spaces, and further allows additional automated instrumentation to access samples present within a sample container because the lid can be rotated completely out of the way. In some embodiments the lid mechanism of the invention accomplishes this using only a single motor.

With reference to <FIG> there is depicted an embodiment of a lid mechanism of the invention, a jackscrew <NUM> is present near the center of this aspect of the mechanism and a nut <NUM> positioned around the jackscrew. The lid mechanism contains a motor <NUM> for driving rotational motion of the nut around the jackscrew. In the embodiment depicted (in <FIG>) the motor is translationally attached to the nut <NUM>. The jackscrew <NUM> has a threaded portion <NUM>, which is threaded at a specific pitch. There is also a nut <NUM> positioned on or around or partially around the jackscrew. The nut is positioned at least partially around the circumference of the jackscrew. The nut contains a threaded portion <NUM> that is mated to a threaded portion <NUM> of the jackscrew so that rotation of the nut around the jackscrew causes the jackscrew <NUM> to move vertically upwards or downwards. Thus, in this embodiment the jackscrew does not move rotationally but moves vertically in an up and down motion, which motion is driven by rotation of the nut around the jackscrew. The nut <NUM> is held substantially in place by radial bearings <NUM>, which can be covered by a bearing cap <NUM>. There is also a main shaft <NUM> that is positioned on or around or partially around the jackscrew (e.g. at least partially around the circumference of the jackscrew) and has a bearing support <NUM> positioned thereon. In one embodiment the main shaft <NUM> is a generally tubular shaped structure that surrounds the jackscrew. The main shaft can completely surround the circumference of the jackscrew. The main shaft can be fastened or attached to the jackscrew so that it moves vertically with the jackscrew and/or so that it does not move independently of the jackscrew.

The lid mechanism further contains a moving support <NUM>, which can be attached to the jackscrew <NUM>, for example by a screw <NUM> or other fastener. In the embodiment depicted there is present a lid plate <NUM> (<FIG>) fastened or attached to the moving support and that moves with the moving support. Thus, in this embodiment vertical movement of the moving support causes vertical movement of the lid plate, and rotational movement of the moving support causes rotational movement of the lid plate. The moving support <NUM> has a bearing guide track <NUM> as a part of the component or associated with it. The bearing guide track <NUM> can take the form of a channel within the body of the moving support. In the embodiment depicted the moving support <NUM> is positioned on or around the main shaft <NUM> and/or the jackscrew so that the bearing support <NUM> is positioned within the bearing guide track <NUM> and the bearing guide track moves around the bearing support <NUM>. The screw <NUM> fastens the moving support <NUM> to the jackscrew <NUM> and the moving support <NUM> is free to rotate laterally about the jackscrew <NUM> as depicted in <FIG>.

In one embodiment the bearing guide track <NUM> is substantially arc shaped and has a substantially vertical portion (<FIG>, <NUM>) and a substantially diagonal <NUM> or horizontal portion <NUM>. When the jackscrew is moved in an up and down direction it thus causes corresponding movement of the moving support. In the embodiment depicted friction between the bearing support <NUM> and an edge of the bearing guide track <NUM> on the moving support causes rotational movement of the moving support as the moving support is forced to rotate around the bearing support. By substantially vertical is meant at an angle of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees (or from <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees or about <NUM> degrees) relative to level. By substantially diagonal is meant at an angle of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees (or from about <NUM> to about <NUM> degrees or about <NUM> degrees) relative to level. By substantially horizontal is meant from <NUM> degrees to about <NUM> degrees (or from <NUM> degrees to about <NUM> degrees or about <NUM> degrees) relative to level.

The lid mechanism has a nut <NUM> that rotates around the jackscrew <NUM>. In the embodiment depicted the nut <NUM> has a bearing cap <NUM> and radial bearings <NUM> that secure the nut in position. The nut <NUM> also has a threaded interior surface <NUM> so that rotation of the nut around the jackscrew causes the jackscrew to move laterally in an up and down direction. When the jackscrew <NUM> is moved in a vertical up and down direction by rotation of the nut <NUM>, the moving support <NUM> moves or is carried with it correspondingly. Because the bearing support <NUM> of the main shaft <NUM> is positioned within the bearing guide track <NUM> of the moving support <NUM> when the jackscrew <NUM> moves in a vertical direction and the moving support <NUM> moves or is carried with it, the moving support <NUM> is forced to rotate around the jackscrew <NUM> and main shaft <NUM>. The lid plate <NUM>, which is attached to the moving support is therefore also forced to also rotate laterally.

As depicted in <FIG>, the relationship of the components is such that displacement of the bearing support <NUM> within the substantially vertical portion of the bearing guide track causes the moving support <NUM> to move in a substantially vertical ("up and down") direction, and displacement of the bearing support within the diagonal and/or horizontal portion causes the moving support to move at least partially rotationally, and can also cause it to move vertically. The lid plate <NUM> is attached to the moving support <NUM>, so that rotational or lateral movement of the moving support causes a corresponding rotational or lateral movement of the lid plate positioned on the moving support. The lateral range of motion can be from <NUM> to <NUM> degrees, but in various preferred embodiments is from <NUM>° to <NUM>°, or from <NUM>° to <NUM>° or from <NUM>° to <NUM>° or about <NUM> degrees.

In one embodiment the motor <NUM> is translationally attached to a belt <NUM>, which in turn is translationally attached to a pulley <NUM> and drives rotation of the nut around the jackscrew (which forces the jackscrew to move vertically) through the pulley but the person of ordinary skill will realize that other translational mechanisms can also be used. The motor is not shown in <FIG> but can be positioned in any convenient location so it can drive the pulley. In the embodiment depicted the pulley <NUM> receives its rotational power from the motor causing movement of the pulley and consequent movement of the nut <NUM>. Rotational movement of the nut causes the jackscrew to move vertically.

The lid mechanism is suited for various laboratory or industrial applications, or for use in a robot. The lid mechanism is suitable to provide a lid over a sample plate or sample container. Thus, the laboratory instrument comprises a lid mechanism in accordance with the claims (e.g. the lid mechanism is comprised on or functionally incorporated within the laboratory instrument). The laboratory instrument may be an automated laboratory instrument which can have a sample container containing one or more sample wells and the lid mechanism can cover the samples or sample wells when in the closed position or expose the samples or sample wells when in the open position. As the lid mechanism moves to the open position the lateral movement of the lid plate exposes and provides access to at least one sample well in the sample container. A sample container can be any container that carries or holds samples. In one embodiment the sample container has a box or tray that contains samples, e.g. samples in test tubes or centrifuge tubes. The samples can be contained within sample wells, such as a structure that contains the lower part of a sample tube. The lid of the sample container can be a lid mechanism of the invention.

In one embodiment the automated laboratory instrument is a thermocycler or temperature controlled chamber, but it can also be any laboratory instrument where there would be a benefit from application of the invention, more examples being a chiller or incubator. In one embodiment movement of the moving support in the vertical direction occurs to an extent enabling the lid plate is lifted vertically clear of the sample container to an extent allowing a lateral movement of the lid plate without being blocked by the lip of the sample chamber. Lateral movement occurs to an extent sufficient to expose at least a portion of the sample container and allow access to one or more samples in the container. In a particular embodiment the lateral movement exposes or enables access to all samples in the sample container.

With reference to <FIG> there is depicted a lid mechanism of the invention incorporated into an automated laboratory instrument, which in this embodiment is a thermocycler. In <FIG> the lid mechanism is in the closed position and the lid plate <NUM> closes the sample chamber <NUM>. In various embodiments the sample chamber <NUM> can be the container (e.g. a tray) that holds the samples or a chamber that holds the sample container or samples. In the closed position the lid plate shields the samples in the sample chamber from light and can allow no light to enter the sample chamber. There is also indicated on the moving support <NUM> the bearing guide track <NUM>, which has a substantially vertical portion (<NUM>) and a substantially diagonal portion (<NUM>) and/or a substantially horizontal portion (<NUM>). In <FIG> is depicted the lid plate <NUM> in an open, raised position. A clearance <NUM> is visible and the lid plate is clear of the sample chamber <NUM>. In this position the jackscrew <NUM> has been moved vertically to a lower position causing the bearing support <NUM> to be pulled down in the bearing guide track <NUM> and thus causing the moving support <NUM> to also be lowered. Due to friction of the bearing support with the side of the bearing guide track the moving support <NUM> is forced to rotate laterally into an open position (<FIG>). The lid plate rotates in an amount sufficient to expose at least a portion of the sample container and at least one sample <NUM> within the sample container, and thus allow access to one or more samples <NUM> in the sample chamber. <FIG> depicts the lid mechanism in the fully open position providing access to samples <NUM> in the sample chamber, and the lateral movement of the lid plate is approximately <NUM> degrees.

As the bearing support approaches the substantially horizontal portion of the bearing guide track (and maximum rotational motion) friction is increased between the bearing support and the side of the bearing guide track. Therefore, the lid mechanism will function most efficiently in some embodiments when the substantially horizontal portion of the bearing guide track is not truly horizontal, at least for no more than a minimal space of motion. By properly designing the shape of the bearing guide track a smooth vertical and horizontal rotation of the lid plate is achieved.

<FIG> represents an embodiment of the lid mechanism of the invention on an automated laboratory instrument. In this embodiment rotational movement is translated to the lid plate via a motor <NUM> connected to a belt <NUM>, and two pulleys <NUM> (one shown). Persons of ordinary skill in the art with reference to this disclosure will realize other methods of translating a force of movement from a power source to the mechanism. For example, a direct-drive motor can be connected to the jackscrew and provide rotational force. In another embodiment the belt and motor can be replaced with another power source or an internal nut motor, which can eliminate the need for one or more of the pulleys and bearings. An example of such a power source is a linear actuator, which are known in the art. In one embodiment the power source can be mounted on the bottom portion of the main shaft and the jackscrew extends into or through the power source. In various additional embodiments vertical motion can be translated to the moving support through a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a piezoelectric actuator, an ultrasonic motor, an electro-mechanical actuator, a linear motor, a telescoping linear actuator such as a helical band actuator, a rigid belt actuator, a rigid chain actuator, a segmented spindle, or a cam drive. In addition to these embodiments the person of ordinary skill with resort to the present disclosure will realize additional methods of providing power to move the components of the lid mechanism.

The nut, jackscrew, and other components of the lid mechanism can be made of any suitable material. In different embodiments the components can be made of, for example, a plastic, steel, or a suitable metal. Persons of ordinary skill with resort to the present disclosure will also realize other suitable materials that can be employed in manufacturing the components described herein.

The lid mechanism of the invention performs its functions in situations where the vertical clearance above the lid plate of the mechanism is limited. The vertical space above the lid plate can be a space of less than <NUM> (<NUM> inches), or less than <NUM> (<NUM> inches) or less than <NUM> (<NUM> inches) or less than <NUM> (<NUM> inches) or less than <NUM> (<NUM> inches) or less than <NUM> (<NUM> inch). The vertical space is measured by the distance above the lid plate in the closed position that the lid plate can rise before encountering an obstruction.

The jackscrew has a threaded portion, which is mated with a similarly threaded portion of the nut, preferably of an interior surface of the nut. The threaded portion of the jackscrew and/or interior surface of the nut can be a groove that rises along the exterior surface of the jackscrew at a particular pitch, which can be a defined pitch. A defined pitch is when the groove on the jackscrew rises (or falls) along the jackscrew by the same amount with each path traced around the circumference of the jackscrew. The nut can be of a complete circular shape or an incomplete circular shape with the interior surface threaded and of sufficient surface area so that it mates with the exterior surface of the jackscrew and drives movement of the jackscrew.

In one embodiment the bearing support and the main shaft can be formed as a single unitary component or as separate components that are fastened together or connected. <FIG> depicts a cross-section of the jackscrew and main shaft and the jackscrew can be positioned inside the main shaft and can be partially or completely surrounded by it. Thus, in some embodiments the main shaft can have one or more windows or openings in the component. The main shaft can have a bearing support either fastened to it or connected to it or otherwise present on it so that the main shaft and bearing support move together as a unit. In one embodiment the lid plate is attached to, fastened to, or otherwise connected to the moving support. The bearing support can have a variety of shapes, such as a small knob or button.

Some components of the lid mechanism are translationally attached to other components. When components are translationally attached, they are linked so that one or more components provide rotational or kinetic energy to one or more other components. Thus, in one embodiment one or more motors of the lid mechanism can be translationally attached to one or more pulleys. This means that kinetic energy (which can be rotational energy) generated by the motor is translated to a belt and/or pulley, and these components translate that energy to a rotational force of the nut, which then powers vertical movement of the jackscrew. This translational attachment can be direct, but can also be indirect. When the translational attachment is indirect there are additional components in between the component generating the energy and the component to which the energy is transmitted or translated.

Some embodiments of the invention also utilize a belt and pulley system. A belt and pulley system is characterized by two or more pulleys in contact with a common belt and connected thereby, which allows for mechanical power, torque, or kinetic energy to be transmitted from a power source across axles. One or more of the pulleys can be driven by the power source and the power translated to another axle by a connected belt. In the invention the pulleys can be of differing diameters to achieve a mechanical advantage. In the invention the belt can also be substituted with a chain, gear train, or other component that is capable of transmitting energy from one axle to another. An axle is a central shaft that exhibits rotational motion that can be transmitted to a pulley. A pulley is a wheel or generally circular component positioned on an axle or central shaft. The wheel or pulley is desirably circular in shape but is not necessarily so. As an example in one embodiment a pulley connected to the motor and a pulley connected to the nut can be considered "axles" and are connected by a belt which transmits rotational motion from the motor to the nut.

Claim 1:
A laboratory instrument comprising a lid mechanism for securing a sample container for a laboratory instrument, comprising:
a nut (<NUM>) positioned at least partially around the circumference of a jackscrew (<NUM>) and containing a threaded portion (<NUM>) that is mated to a threaded portion of the jackscrew (<NUM>);
a motor (<NUM>) translationally attached to the nut for driving rotational motion of the nut around the jackscrew and vertical motion of the jackscrew;
a main shaft (<NUM>) positioned around the jackscrew with a bearing support (<NUM>) positioned on the main shaft;
a moving support (<NUM>) comprising a bearing guide track (<NUM>) and positioned on the main shaft so that the bearing support is positioned within the bearing guide track;
a lid plate (<NUM>) positioned on the moving support so that vertical movement of the moving support causes vertical movement of the lid plate and rotational movement of the moving support causes rotational movement of the lid plate; wherein the jackscrew (<NUM>) is connected to the moving support (<NUM>) in a relation so that vertical movement of the jackscrew (<NUM>) causes vertical movement of the moving support (<NUM>).