• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A metering device (1) is proposed which allows a metered intake and / or delivery of fluid samples. It contains a dosing head (17) which can be moved by a positioning device (23) and which has a dosing device (25) which has a plurality of dosing units (2) arranged in a matrix-like distribution. Each metering unit (2) is equipped with electrically operable drive means (7) and has drive contact means (42) arranged on a rear end portion (8). The dosing head (17) also has a control head (26) with electronic control means (45) which can be connected to a main control device (63). The control head (26) has arranged on a bottom (47) control contact means (43) which are connected to the control means (45). The control head (26) is a separate unit with respect to the metering device (25), which can be attached to the metering device (25) and / or can be removed from the metering device (25), wherein in each case an electrical contact or separation between the Control contact means (43) and the drive contact means (42) takes place.
    公开号:CH710104B1
    申请号:CH01190/15
    申请日:2015-08-18
    公开日:2019-02-15
    发明作者:Wolfgang Gauchel Dr
    申请人:Festo Ag & Co Kg；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Description: The invention relates to a dosing device for the dosed intake and / or delivery of fluid samples, with a dosing head that can be moved and positioned by a positioning device and that has a dosing device with a plurality of dosing units arranged side by side in a matrix-like distribution, the rear side being oriented in the same direction Have end sections and are each equipped with movable dosing means and drive means assigned to the dosing means, the dosing head also being equipped with a control device which has control means which enable independent, operational control of the drive means of the individual dosing units, the control means being controlled by an electronic main control device are formed.
    Such a metering device, which is known for example from DE 19 835 833 A1, allows the metered intake and / or delivery of fluid samples from carrier substrates or in carrier substrates, for example so-called microtiter plates. The fluid samples are, for example, biological or biochemical analysis samples that are to be analyzed or otherwise treated, or also nutrient solutions or reagents of various types. Usually, the samples to be treated are provided in the carrier substrate in matrix-like recesses or in such recesses to be given, often with a distribution grid of 8x12 wells or samples. The dosing device has a dosing head which can be moved and positioned as desired by means of a suitable positioning device, for example a multi-axis system, and which is equipped with a number of dosing units corresponding to the number of receiving recesses in the carrier substrate, which are arranged next to one another in a comparable distribution matrix and with a longitudinal direction parallel to one another , It is mostly syringe-like dosing units with internal dosing means that can be moved with the aid of drive means in order to take up or dispense the respective fluid sample in the desired amount. According to DE 19 835 833 A1, the drive means are formed by pneumatic cylinders which can be controlled pneumatically with the aid of control means of a control device of the dosing head. The control means are valves which in turn can be controlled by means of a main control device in order to receive the necessary commands for the individual actuation of the individual dosing units. The assembly of the known metering device is relatively complex, which is due, among other things, to the required individual tubing measures between the pneumatic cylinders of the metering units and the valves of the control device.
    The invention has for its object to take measures that simplify the assembly of the metering device.
    To achieve this object, the invention provides in connection with the features mentioned above,
    that the drive means are of an electrically actuable type and each dosing unit has at its rear end section individually electrical drive contact means connected to the associated drive means, the drive contact means of all dosing units being arranged in a matrix-like distribution together in the region of a connection side of the dosing device,
    - That the control device is designed as a separate control head with respect to the dosing device, the control means of which are designed as electronic control means and which has an underside facing the connection side of the dosing device, on which control contact means are arranged in a matrix-like distribution corresponding to the distribution of the drive contact means connected to the electronic control means
    - And that the control head for its assembly and / or disassembly can be attached to the metering device as a structural unit and / or can be removed from the metering device in such a way that the control contact means and the drive contact means are simultaneously electrically contacted in pairs or separated from one another.
    In this way, when assembling the dosing head, the connections required for control purposes between the dosing units of the dosing device and the control means of the control device can be produced uniformly in a single operation. The control means are combined in a control head which can be handled independently and which can be attached to the metering device as a structural unit, with all control-related connections being established directly during this attachment. In the same way, all control engineering connections are disconnected again at the same time when the control head is removed from the metering device. This eliminates the need to establish and separate individual connections as part of individual work processes. In order to make this handling possible, the dosing units are equipped with electrically actuable drive means for their dosing means, which can be actuated by means of purely electrical drive signals. This favors the rapid formation and separation of corresponding electrical control connections when attaching or detaching the control head. Each metering unit is equipped on the back with suitable electrical contact means, which are referred to as drive contact means for better differentiation and which, when the control head is mounted, are electrically contacted with contact means arranged on an underside of the control head, which are referred to as control contact means for better differentiation. These control contact means are in communication with the control means of the control head, which are electronic control means, which are able, on the basis of control commands provided by a main electronic control device, to output suitable electrical drive signals which are transmitted via the Connections between the control contact means and the drive contact means to the electrically actuated drive means of the individual metering units. Since the connection between the control contact means and the drive contact means in the assembled state of the control head is detachable, the control head can be removed again at any time, which in the event of a defect means that one or more dosing units that no longer function correctly can be replaced quickly allows.
    [0006] Advantageous further developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.
    The electronic control means expediently contain for each dosing unit, i.e. for the electrically actuable drive means of each dosing unit, a separate electronic controller, which is referred to as the drive means controller due to its assignment to the drive means. In this way, the electrically actuable drive means of each metering unit can be controlled in a specific manner and independently of the other metering units. Each drive means controller in the control head is expediently electrically connected to control contact means of the control head which are specifically assigned to it.
    [0008] The drive means are preferably of an electric motor type. For example, the drive means are formed by electrically controllable servomotors or stepper motors. In order to be able to control the electromotive drive means as required, the drive means controllers are preferably designed as motor controllers. Such a motor controller is in particular able to generate electrical drive signals for the electromotive drive means of the associated metering unit on the basis of control signals supplied by the main control device.
    Preferably, the electronic drive controller are realized as components of individual controller modules of the control head. Each controller module has at least one drive means controller. Appropriately, all controller modules, preferably detachable and replaceable, are mounted on a common support plate of the control head, on which all control contact means are also arranged.
    [0010] There are several advantageous options for the implementation and electronic equipment of the controller modules. One possibility provides that for the electrically actuatable drive means of each dosing unit there is a separate controller module which only has the drive means controller for a single one of the several dosing units. Such controller modules each contain, for example, a circuit board on which the drive means controller in question is implemented in terms of circuitry.
    Another possibility provides that several drive means controllers are individually contained or installed in one or more of the controller modules. In contrast to the aforementioned first possibility, a smaller number of physical controller modules is then required compared to the number of dosing units. Nevertheless, the drive means controllers combined in one and the same controller module are functionally independent of one another.
    [0012] Yet another possibility provides that several drive means controllers are used in one or more of the controller modules, which use common circuit components. For example, a common intermediate circuit could be provided for the drive means controllers of the same controller module in order to store energy. Here too, a smaller number of physical controller modules is required than the number of dosing units. The drive means controllers combined in this way in one and the same controller module are in turn independent of one another with regard to their actual control function, but have common subfunctions.
    In all the cases mentioned, there is the possibility of individual control and, accordingly, individual actuation of the individual metering units on the basis of an appropriate addressing. It is also possible to operate several or all of the dosing units at the same time. Each dosing unit can be controlled specifically and independently of the other dosing units. In this way, the respective analytical conditions can be optimally taken into account.
    On the control head side, the control contact means are preferably combined to form individual contact means units which are individually assigned to the individual drive means controllers or also to the controller modules. Several control contact means can be present within the contact means units, so that multi-pole contacting and control of the individual dosing units is possible. In this way, a bidirectional signal transmission is particularly favored, by means of which not only drive signals can be directed to the drive means, but also feedback signals from sensor means possibly present in the dosing units.
    [0015] The metering device expediently has a holding structure in which the metering units are fixed. The dosing units are preferably exchangeably fixed in the holding structure, so that a quick exchange is possible in the event of a defect or in the event of contamination, the downtimes being very short because the control head can be removed and replaced in a very short time.
    [0016] The holding structure for the metering units is preferably designed in block form. It is expedient if it has a modular structure, with a subdivision into individual modules which enable the holding structure to be separated in order to be able to easily exchange individual dosing units without having to also remove the other dosing units.
    The holding structure and the dosing units are expediently equipped with suitable position-setting means which cooperate with one another in such a way that the dosing units can be positioned in the holding structure in a specific desired position. This setpoint position is selected such that the drive contact means of the associated metering unit have a reproducible orientation that matches the orientation of the associated control contact means of the control head, so that when the control head is attached, electrical contact can be made between the two-sided contact means.
    [0018] The position setting means are designed in particular for a rotation angle setting of the metering units relative to the holding structure. It is therefore expedient for them to be mounted in the holding structure only in a very specific rotational angle position. The position setting means preferably also ensure a predetermined axial relative position of the dosing units with respect to the holding structure. If the dosing units are inserted into recesses in the holding structure, sling means can ensure that the desired axial relative position is maintained.
    In order to optimally compensate for manufacturing tolerances and to ensure reliable contacting of the contact means, it is advantageous if the control contact means and / or the drive contact means are designed as spring contact means. In this case, there is a spring elasticity that is effective in the direction of assembly or disassembly, which ensures a secure electrical connection regardless of limited positional deviations between the control head and the metering device.
    [0020] The metering device is expediently equipped with a base support on which the metering device is fixed, expediently in a detachable manner. The basic carrier is expediently equipped with at least one fastening interface, by means of which it can be attached to a positioning device, which is expediently also a component of the metering device. With the help of the positioning device, the metering device can be moved and positioned as desired in order to use the metering units for sampling or sample dispensing according to the application.
    Preferably, the control head is also arranged independently of the metering device on the base support. In this way, the metering device can be relieved of the weight of the control head. The electrical contacting between the control contact means and the drive contact means is also simplified in this way.
    [0022] The base carrier is preferably equipped with receiving means which enable the control head to be received independently of the metering device. The receiving means expediently contain linear guide means which cooperate with the control head during assembly and disassembly of the control head and bring about a positive guidance of the control head, so that the electrical contact means can be fed exactly to one another. For example, the linear guide means contain a plurality of parallel guide rods which slide into guide holes in the control head so as to be slidable.
    It is also advantageous if the receiving means of the base support have separate support means with respect to the metering device, on which the control head, which is mounted ready for operation, rests. In this way, the weight of the control head is absorbed by the basic carrier. In particular, in conjunction with spring-elastic control contact means and / or drive contact means, reliable electrical contacting can nevertheless be ensured.
    The drive contact means are expediently located on a rear end face of the metering units, the metering units in particular having an elongated, preferably rod-like shape. The dosing units are designed in particular in a syringe technique.
    [0025] The control head is expediently designed in block form. It is also advantageous if the control head has a housing in which the electronic control means are protected.
    The control head expediently has an internal bus via which all electronic control means and possibly all controller modules are connected to a common communication interface of the control head. This communication interface enables communication with an external electronic main control device. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the control signals supplied by the main control device are serial control signals. It is also advantageous if the internal bus is a serial bus, so that the effort for the internal electrical connection of the control head is reduced to a minimum.
    Although the main control device can in principle also be part of the dosing head, it is considered to be more advantageous if it is arranged separately from the dosing head. The main control device can then also be used very simply for other control purposes, in particular to control further dosing heads.
    The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. In this shows:
    1 shows a preferred embodiment of the metering device according to the invention in the assembled state of all its components in a perspective view,
    FIG. 2 shows the dosing device from FIG. 1, the housing of the control head being partially removed, so that electronic controller modules integrated with drive means controllers are visible therein,
    3 shows the dosing device from FIGS. 1 and 2, the control head being shown in the state removed from the dosing device immediately before assembly thereon,
    4 shows a detail of the dosing device in the upper region of the dosing head to illustrate the electrical contact between the control head and the dosing units, a state being shown during the assembly of the control head and immediately before the control contact means and the drive contact means are combined,
    5 shows an individual representation of the control head with an oblique view of the underside, an area framed by a dash-dotted line being shown separately enlarged again in FIG. 4,
    6 shows an individual illustration of the metering device in a perspective view, a section with a dash-dotted line being illustrated separately, also enlarged, and
    7 shows a top view of the dosing head with the control head removed, looking in the direction of arrow VII from FIG. 3, a cut-out line framed with a dash-dotted line also being shown here in an enlarged manner.
    The dosing device 1 is equipped with a plurality of dosing units 2, each of which is capable of receiving and dispensing a fluid sample. Fluid samples to be recorded are regularly provided in a matrix-like distribution within a correspondingly constructed carrier substrate, such a carrier substrate being in particular a so-called microtiter plate. The carrier substrate has a multiplicity of receiving recesses, in each of which a fluid sample can be provided. With the help of the dosing units 2, the fluid samples can be taken from the receiving wells and subjected to a subsequent treatment, for example an analysis. The metering device 1 can also be used to dispense treated or untreated fluid samples for storage or further treatment in such a carrier substrate.
    The dosing device 1 is used, for example, in medical technology, in the pharmaceutical field and / or in any biological or biochemical measures.
    The metering units 2 are expediently constructed identically to one another. They each preferably have an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis 3. On a front end they have an opening 4 which is formed by a front end section of the metering unit 2, which is, for example, a syringe needle 4a. Inside the dosing unit 2 there is a receiving chamber 5 which communicates with the opening 4 and is delimited by movable dosing means 6 which, for example, have a syringe plunger. The metering means 6 can be moved in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 3 by associated drive means 7, which are also arranged inside each metering unit 2, in order to change the volume of the receiving chamber 5, so that a negative pressure or excess pressure can be generated in the receiving chamber 5 whose help a fluid sample can be sucked in or pushed out again.
    A metering unit 2 constructed and operating in this way can also be referred to as a syringe pump.
    Each dosing unit 2 has a rear axial end section 8, which is the opening end 4 having the front end section - formed in the embodiment of the syringe needle 4a - axially opposite. The drive means 7 are expediently accommodated in this rear end section 8 or form this rear end section 8 directly themselves. Each metering unit 2 ends at the rear end section 8 with an axially oriented rear end face 12.
    Preferably, each metering unit 2 has a circular cross-sectional contour on the outside. Each metering unit 2 is expediently designed to be circular-cylindrical on the outside, although it is graded at least once and preferably several times over its length. As an example, there is a first gradation 13 of the outer contour of each dosing unit in a transition area between the rear end section 8 and the adjoining further longitudinal section, the outer diameter of which is somewhat smaller than that of the rear end section 8.
    The dosing units 2 are available in a multiple number. They are arranged next to one another at right angles to these longitudinal axes 3, with longitudinal axes parallel to one another, in particular with respect to the axial direction of the longitudinal axes 3 at the same height. The metering units 2 are arranged next to one another in a matrix-like distribution, so that their longitudinal axes 3, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 7, lie on the intersection points of a regular grid-shaped grid. This grid-shaped grid is defined by a family of first straight lines 14 and a family of second straight lines 15 crossing this family of first straight lines 14 at right angles.
    The entirety of metering units 2 arranged in a matrix is also referred to below as a metering unit matrix 16. This metering unit matrix 16 expediently has a grid of 8x12 metering units
    2, a row of eight metering units 2 being arranged along every second straight line 15, twelve such rows each having eight metering units 2 being placed parallel to one another in the axial direction of the first straight line 14. The dosing device 1 contains a dosing head 17 which can be seen particularly well from FIGS. 1 to 3, the dosing units 2 being components of this dosing head 17. The dosing head 17 is defined by dimensions in a Cartesian coordinate system with an x-axis, a y-axis perpendicular thereto and a z-axis perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis. In the following, directions that run in the axial direction of one of these Cartesian axes are also referred to simply as the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction and the z-axis direction for the sake of simplicity.
    In the operational orientation of the dosing head 17, to which the present embodiments relate in the absence of any contrary information, the z-axis runs in the vertical direction. The dosing head 17 has a vertical axis 18 indicated by dash-dotted lines, which coincides with the z-axis. The first straight lines 14 run in the x-axis direction, the second straight lines 15 in the y-axis direction. The longitudinal axes 3 of the metering units 2 extend in the z-axis direction. Furthermore, the dosing units 2 are aligned in the dosing head 17 such that their rear end faces 12 point vertically upwards and the openings 4 point vertically downwards.
    All the dosing units 2 combined in the dosing unit matrix 16 expediently end at the same level below. By way of example, all the openings 4 lie in a common plane perpendicular to the z-axis.
    The dosing head 17 expediently has at least one attachment interface 22, indicated only by dashed lines in FIG. 3, via which it is attached to a positioning device 23, only indicated schematically, during its intended use, preferably in a detachable manner. The positioning device 23 is designed to move the dosing head 17 fixed thereon and to position it as required, so that the dosing units 2 experience a corresponding movement and positioning with respect to the carrier substrate mentioned. The dosing head 17 can expediently be moved by means of the positioning device 23 in all three axis directions of the Cartesian coordinate system method mentioned, wherein additional rotary axes of movement can also be implemented. The positioning device 23 is preferably an electrically and / or by means of fluid power and preferably pneumatically operated device. The positioning device 23 can be, for example, a robot-like manipulator.
    The dosing head 17 expediently contains a base support 24, on which the at least one fastening interface 22 is expediently arranged. The base carrier 24 thus functions as a link to the positioning device 23, which can be a component of the metering device 1. The dosing units 2 belong to a dosing device 25 of the dosing head 17, which is shown in isolation in FIG. 6 and which is carried by the base carrier 24. The dosing head 17 also has a control head 26 representing an electronic control device, which is used for the operational control of the drive means 7 of the dosing units 2.
    The base support 24 expediently has a frame-like frame structure. As an example, it has a support plate 27 equipped with the at least one fastening interface 22, which extends in a plane perpendicular to the x-axis and from which a plurality of support rods 28 protrude in the x-axis direction, onto which the metering device 25 opposes one of the support plate 27 Front is attached. A front end frame part 32 flanks the metering device 25 on the front side opposite the support plate 27 and is also a component of the base support 24.
    As is particularly clear from FIG. 6, the metering device 25, in addition to the plurality of metering units 2, also expediently also contains a holding structure 33 in which the metering units 2 are fixed to form the metering unit matrix 16. The holding structure 33 is expediently designed in block form and defines a plurality of, for example, channel-shaped receptacles 34 which are arranged in the distribution pattern corresponding to the dosing unit matrix 16 and in which one of the dosing units 2 is inserted in each case.
    In the drawing, the holding structure 33 is shown as an integral block, which it can be. This holding structure block has a plurality of receptacles 34 penetrating it in the z-axis direction, into which the metering units 2 are inserted. The metering units 2 are preferably detachably fixed in the holding structure 33 so that they can be replaced if necessary.
    The holding structure 33 has an upper side 35 oriented in the z-axis direction, the metering units 2 preferably being inserted from this upper side 35 into the receptacles 34 opening out there. The dosing units 2 penetrate the holding structure 33 in the z-axis direction and, with their front end sections 4a, which are exemplarily formed by the syringe needles, protrude from the holding structure 33 on an underside 36 of the holding structure 33 opposite the upper side 35.
    So that all dosing units 2 have a reproducible insertion depth with respect to the holding structure 33, each dosing unit 2 is assigned position-setting means 37 which specify the insertion depth and thus the axial relative position in the z-axis direction between each dosing unit 2 and the holding structure 33. In the exemplary embodiment, these position setting means 37 include a stop shoulder 37a formed on the outside of each dosing unit 2, which is formed in particular by the first gradation 13 and with which the dosing unit 2 inserted into a receptacle 34 is seated on the upper side 35 of the holding structure 33.
    Installed in this way, each metering unit 2 projects with its rear end section 8 upward beyond the upper side 35. All rear end faces 12 of the existing metering units 2 are expediently located in a common plane perpendicular to the z-axis.
    The position setting means 37 are expediently also designed for a rotation angle position setting of the dosing units 2 with respect to the holding structure 33. For this purpose, the position setting means 37 contain coordinated first coding means 37b on each dosing unit 2 and second coding means 37c on the holding structure 33 specifically assigned to these first coding means 37b. The coding means 37b, 37c ensure that the dosing units 2 only have a very specific angular orientation with respect to them their longitudinal axis 3 in the use position in the holding structure 33 can be used correctly. This ensures that electrical contact means, which are referred to as drive contact means 42, arranged on the rear end section 8 and in particular on the rear end face 12 of each dosing unit 2 have a predetermined orientation with respect to the holding structure 33. This ensures polarity-proof contacting with further electrical contact means, designated as control contact means 43, which are provided on the control head 26 for a purpose to be explained below.
    By way of example, the first coding means 37b each consist of a projection which projects radially from the rear end section 8, while the second coding means 37c have a recess which is formed on the upper side 35 at a location on the circumference of the opening of the receptacle 34 there, and in which the projection formed on the dosing unit 2 engages at the correct angular position.
    It goes without saying that the first and second coding means 37b, 37c can also be of a different type. For example, the dosing unit 2 for forming the first coding means 37b could at least partially have a non-circular outer contour that cooperates with a complementary inner contour of the receptacle 34 that defines the second coding means 37c.
    In deviation from the exemplary embodiment, the holding structure 33 can also have a modular structure. For example, the holding structure 33 can have a plurality of holding plates which are lined up in the x-axis direction, metering units 2 being lined up between respectively adjacent holding plates in the y-axis direction. Holding clips can be arranged on the holding plates, which clasp the individual dosing units 2 and hold them due to their elasticity. It is advantageous if in each case a holding plate and a plurality of metering units 2 are assembled to form an assembly unit before the metering device 25 is assembled, whereupon these assembly units are then pushed onto the support rods 28 one after the other. With the help of the front end frame part 32, the holding plates are then held together to form the holding structure 33. In order to replace individual dosing units 2, it is sufficient to move the holding structure 33 a little apart from one another in the region of two adjacent holding plates, so that the dosing units 2 arranged between them are accessible.
    It is also possible to clamp adjacent holding plates together using additional holding clips. Such holding clips are expediently attached to the side surfaces of the holding structure 33 oriented in the y-axis direction.
    If the metering device 25 is fixed to the base support 24, the associated metering units 2 are oriented with one another with the same orientation, with the rear end faces 12 pointing vertically upwards in the z-axis direction at the same height as already mentioned.
    The drive means 7 of the individual dosing units 2 which serve to drive the dosing means 6 are each of an electrically actuable type. An electromotive design that is also implemented in the exemplary embodiment is particularly advantageous. Thus, the drive means 7 of each dosing unit 2 are formed in particular by an electric motor which can be actuated by means of electrical drive signals. When actuated, the electric motor causes an actuating movement of the dosing means 6 in order to change the volume of the receiving chamber 5, as already mentioned.
    Preferably, the electromotive drive means 7 contain a threaded spindle which extends in the metering unit 2 and on which a non-rotating spindle nut sits, which is arranged on the metering means 6. The electromotive drive means 7 are capable of rotating the threaded spindle either clockwise or counterclockwise, which results in a linear movement of the spindle nut and the dosing means 6 fixed thereon in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 3.
    The drive means 7 are electrically connected to the drive contact means 42 arranged on the rear end face 12 via internal electrical conductors of the metering units 2, which are not shown in detail.
    Each metering unit 2 thus has drive contact means 42 arranged on the rear, which are individually electrically connected to the drive means 7 of the associated metering unit 2.
    Thus, the drive contact means 42 assigned to the individual dosing units 2 are arranged in a matrix-like distribution in the same way as the assigned dosing units 2, the drive contact means 42 of the individual dosing units 2 also being exemplarily at a crossing point of the first and second straight lines 14, 15 lie. The drive contact means 42 of all metering units 2 are located in the area of a connection side 44 of the metering device 25, this connection side pointing vertically upwards in the z-axis direction and in particular being assigned to the top side 35 of the holding structure 33.
    For controlled actuation of the individual dosing units 2, the dosing head 17 is equipped with the control head 26 already mentioned. This control head 26 contains the electronic control means 45 that control the operation of the drive means 7 of the metering units 2. The control head 26 preferably has a housing designated as a head housing 46, which is only partially indicated transparently in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 and in which the electronic Control means 45 is housed in a manner shielded from the environment.
    The electronic control means 45 supply the electrical drive signals required to actuate the electromotive drive means 7. Each metering unit 2 can preferably be controlled by the control means 45 specifically and independently of the other metering units 2.
    [0061] The control means expediently contain at least one electronic controller module 45a. Multiple configuration with controller modules 45a is particularly expedient, which applies to the exemplary embodiment. Each controller module 45a preferably contains at least one circuit board with at least one control circuit implemented thereon.
    The control circuits of the controller modules 45a form electronic drive means controllers 45a '. Such a drive means controller 45a ′ is expediently functionally assigned to the drive means 7 of each metering unit 2. Each controller module 45a can have one or more drive means controllers 45a '. Each drive means controller 45a ′ is preferably connected to control contact means 43 of the control head 26 that are individually assigned to it.
    By way of example, a plurality of drive means controllers 45a 'are individually contained in each of the controller modules 45a. This requires a smaller number of physical controller modules 45a compared to the number of metering units 2, which saves installation space and costs. Nevertheless, the drive means controllers 45a ′ combined in one and the same controller module 45a can be operated functionally independently of one another. The multiple configuration with drive means controller 45a ′ can alternatively be limited to only one controller module 45a or to only some of the controller modules 45a.
    In one embodiment, not shown, all controller modules 45a each contain a single electronic drive means controller 45a '. In this case, the drive means 7 of each metering unit 2 is individually assigned its own electronic controller module 45a. The number of dosing units 2 then corresponds to the number of controller modules 45a.
    There is also the advantageous possibility of integrating several drive means controllers 45a 'in one or more of the controller modules 45a, which use common circuit components. For example, one and the same controller module 45a could be provided with a common intermediate circuit for the drive means controllers 45a ′ in order to store energy. Here, too, a smaller number of physical controller modules 45a is required than the number of dosing units 2. The drive means controllers 45a 'combined in this way in one and the same controller module 45a are in turn independent of one another with regard to their actual control function, but have common circuit components.
    The drive means 7 receive the required electrical drive signals via electrical connections between the drive contact means 42 and the control contact means 43 arranged on the control head 26, the latter being assigned to the electronic drive means controllers 45a 'and the controller modules 45a and above have already been mentioned.
    The control head 26 is arranged in the z-axis direction above the metering device 25 and quasi placed on the metering device 25 from above. The control contact means 43 are located on an underside 47 of the control head 26 which faces downward in the z-axis direction and consequently faces the upward-facing connection side 44 of the metering device 25.
    Preferably, the control head 26 is equipped with a support plate 48, the plane of expansion of which is perpendicular to the z-axis and the underside of which forms the underside 47 of the control head 26. The controller modules 45a are expediently detachably and interchangeably mounted on the support plate 48, preferably on the upper side 52 thereof. The support plate 48 preferably belongs to the optionally available head housing 46, which can also have a protective hood 53 indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, which is attached to the support plate 48 from above under cover of the controller modules 45a.
    The control contact means 43 are arranged on the underside 47 of the control head 26 with the same matrix-like distribution pattern as the drive contact means 52 on the connection side 44 of the metering device 25. It is advantageous if the drive means controller 45a which is the same in each case assigned control contact means 43 are combined to form individual contact means units 54 which are delimited from one another. Such a contact means unit 54 is assigned to each dosing unit 2.
    In the fully assembled state, control contact means 43 assigned to a drive means controller 45a ′ and drive contact means 42 each assigned to a dosing unit 2 lie opposite one another in pairs in the z-axis direction and are electrically contacted with one another in the correct assignment. Since the control contact means 43 are electrically conductively connected to the respectively assigned drive means controller 45a 'via electrical conductors of the control head 26, which are not shown, there is thus a continuous electrical connection between the drive means 7 of a respective metering unit 2 and a drive means controller 45a'. of the control head 26 before. In this way, the drive means controllers 45a ′ can transmit the electrical drive signals to the drive means 7.
    As can be seen, for example, from FIGS. 3 and 5, the control head 26 is a separate unit with respect to the metering device 25. The control head 26 can therefore be attached to the metering device 25 and / or removed from the metering device 25 for its assembly and / or disassembly. The assembly is carried out in the manner shown in FIG. 1, in that the control head 26 with its underside 47 is positioned vertically above the metering device 25 which has already been attached to the base support 24 and then in the context of a mounting movement 55 indicated by an arrow on the connection side 44 the dosing device 25 is lowered until the control contact means 43 are contacted with the drive contact means facing them. The process of mechanically assembling the control head 26 is thus combined with an automatic establishment of the electrical connections between the drive means controllers 45 a ′ and the drive means 7 of the metering units 2.
    In a comparable manner, all paired electrical connections between the control contact means 43 and the drive contact means 42 are disconnected again when the control head 26 is removed again from the metering device 25 as part of a dismantling movement 56 indicated by a dash-dotted arrow. The dismantling movement 56 is exemplarily oriented upwards in the z-axis direction.
    The position setting means 37 mentioned further above ensure that the drive contact means 42 of the individual metering units 2 are oriented such that, regardless of the multipole version in each case, polarity-safe, correctly assigned contacting takes place between the control contact means 43 and the drive contact means 42 ,
    Both the assembly movement 55 and the disassembly movement 56 are expediently a linear movement. The formation and separation of the electrical connections between the contact means 42, 43 does not require any specific use of tools, but results automatically when attaching and detaching the control head 26. It is possible to use the drive contact means 42 and the control contact means 43 in this connection as one another to carry out complementary plug-in contact means which can engage in one another in the context of a detachable plug connection. However, the implementation of the control contact means 43 as spring contact means 43a, which is present in the exemplary embodiment, is considered to be more advantageous, the control contact means 43 being resilient in the z-axis direction. When the control head 26 is attached to the metering device 25, the control contact means 43 designed as spring contact means 43a come into contact with the associated drive contact means 42, preferably designed as rigid contact surfaces, before the control head 26 assumes its desired position. When the control head 26 is subsequently moved further into the desired position or end position, the control contact means 43 are pushed back by the unrelenting drive contact means 42, so that they then bear against the drive contact means 42 under pre-tensioning and ensuring a secure electrical connection.
    As an alternative to the control contact means 43, the drive contact means 42 can of course also be designed as spring contact means. Likewise, both the drive contact means 42 and the control contact means can be implemented in the form of spring contact means 43a.
    The dosing head 17 can be designed such that the control head 26 is exclusively attached to the dosing device 25 in its mounted desired position. However, a design is more advantageous in which the control head 26 is only coupled to the metering device 25 via the electromechanical connection of the drive contact means 42 and the control contact means 43, while the mechanical fixing of the control head 26 takes place independently of the metering device 25. Such an embodiment exists in the exemplary embodiment, where the control head 26 and the metering device 25 are arranged independently of one another on the base carrier 24.
    By way of example, the base support 24 has, in its entirety, reference means 57, which receive the control head 26 mounted in the desired position or end position and hold it on the base support 24 independently of the metering device 25. The receiving means preferably have support means 58 which are arranged in the region of the upper side 35 of the holding structure 33 and which are designed as components of the base support 24 and which have support surfaces 58a pointing upwards in the z-axis direction. In the end or target position, the control head 26 rests with its underside 47 on the support surfaces 58a. These are designed such that the electrical connection between the drive contact means 42 and the control contact means 43 is provided when the control head 26 is supported on it.
    It is advantageous if the receiving means 57 also have linear guide means 62, through which the control head 26 is guided so as to be linearly displaceable relative to the base support 24 during the mounting movement 52 and during the dismantling movement 56. In this way it is ensured that the contacting and also the separation of the drive contact means 42 and the control contact means 43 proceed smoothly and without risk of damage. By way of example, the linear guide means 62 include guide rods 62a projecting upward beyond the support surface 58a parallel to the z-axis direction and which can slide in sliding fashion into complementary guide bores 62b which open out to the underside 47 of the control head 26.
    The drive means controllers 45a ′, which are preferably designed as motor controllers, are designed such that they can be controlled by an electronic main control device 63, which preferably also belongs to the metering device 1. However, this main control device 63 is expediently designed and arranged separately from the dosing head 17. At least one control line 64, which is only indicated schematically, serves in particular for the electrical connection to the control means 45 or the drive means controllers 45a '.
    Each drive means controller 45a 'is designed in such a way that it can generate electrical drive signals for the drive means 7 of the respectively assigned metering unit 2 on the basis of electrical control signals which it receives from the main control device 63. In the exemplary embodiment, the drive means controller 45a 'is an electronic circuit which can also be referred to as a motor controller and which is equipped with the necessary control electronics in order to control and actuate the electromotive drive means 7 as required.
    The control head 26 expediently has a communication interface 65, to which all the controller modules 45a and thus all the drive means controllers 45a 'are connected via only schematically indicated internal electrical conductors 66. The internal electrical conductors 66 can be implemented as cables or in the form of conductor tracks. The communication interface 65 is equipped with electromechanical interface means 67 which are accessible from the outside and to which the control line 64 leading to the main control device 63 can be connected or connected. In this way, the main control device 63 can communicate with all the controller modules 45a by means of the communication interface 65.
    The communication interface 65 is expediently equipped electronically in such a way that it can communicate with the main control device 63 via a serial bus implemented in the control line 64. In this case, the communication interface 65 is preferably able to individually control the individual drive means controllers 45a ′ or controller modules 45a on the basis of the control signals received from the main control device 63 and assigned address signals.
    The internal electrical conductors 66 expediently define an internal bus 68 of the control head 26, through which the control signals output by the communication interface 65 are transmitted to the controller modules 45a and / or drive means controller 45a '. It is advantageous if the internal bus 68 is also a serial bus. However, there is also the possibility of connecting each controller module 45a to the communication interface 65 via at least one individual electrical conductor.
    权利要求:
    Claims (18)
    [1]
    claims
    Dosing device for the dosed intake and / or delivery of fluid samples, with a dosing head (17) which can be moved and positioned by a positioning device (23) and which has a dosing device (25) with a plurality of dosing units (2) arranged next to one another in a matrix-like distribution which have rear end portions (8) oriented in the same direction with respect to one another and which are each equipped with movable dosing means (6) and drive means (7) assigned to the dosing means (6), the dosing head (17) also being equipped with a control device (26) , Which has control means (45) which enable independent control of the drive means (7) of the individual metering units (2), the control means (45) being designed for control by an electronic main control device (63), characterized .
    - That the drive means (7) are of an electrically actuable type and each metering unit (2) has at its rear end section (8) individually electrical drive contact means (42) connected to the associated drive means (7), the drive contact means ( 42) all dosing units (2) are arranged in a matrix-like distribution together in the area of a connection side (44) of the dosing device (25),
    - That the control device (26) is designed as a separate with respect to the metering device (25) control head (26), the control means (45) are designed as electronic control means (45) and one of the connection side (44) of the metering device (25) facing Underside (47), on which control contact means (43), which are connected to the electronic control means (45), are arranged in a matrix-like distribution corresponding to the distribution of the drive contact means (42),
    - And that the control head (26) for its assembly and / or disassembly can be attached to the metering device (25) as a structural unit and / or can be removed from the metering device (25) in such a way that the control contact means (43) and the drive Contact means (42) are electrically contacted in pairs or separated from each other.
    [2]
    2. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic control means (45) for each dosing unit (2) contain their own electronic drive means controller (45a ') through which the electrically actuable drive means (7) of the respectively assigned dosing unit (2 ) can be actuated specifically and independently of the other metering units (2), each drive means controller (45a ') being connected to control contact means (43) of the control head (26) individually assigned to it.
    [3]
    3. Dosing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive means (7) are of an electromotive type, each electronic drive means controller (45a ') being designed as a motor controller, which is in particular able on the basis of electrical received from the main controller (63)
    Control signals to generate electrical drive signals for the electromotive drive means (7) of the associated metering unit (2).
    [4]
    4. Dosing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the electronic drive means controller (45a ') are realized as components of individual controller modules (45a) of the control head (26), each controller module (45a) having one or more drive means controllers ( 45a ') and all controller modules (45a) are mounted on a common support plate (48) of the control head (26), on which all control contact means (43) are also arranged.
    [5]
    5. Dosing device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the control contact means (43) are combined to form contact means units (54) which are individually assigned to the individual drive means controllers (45a ').
    [6]
    6. Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the dosing device (25) has a holding structure (33) in which the dosing units (2) are fixed, in particular in an interchangeable manner.
    [7]
    7. Dosing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the holding structure (33) is block-shaped and has a modular structure.
    [8]
    8. Dosing device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the holding structure (33) and the dosing units (2) are equipped with position setting means (37) which cooperate with one another in order to specify a desired position of the dosing units (2) in which the the drive contact means (42) arranged in the dosing units (2) are correctly positioned with respect to the control contact means (43).
    [9]
    9. dosing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the position setting means (37) for an angular position of the dosing units (2) with respect to the holding structure (33) are formed and also specify an axial relative position of the dosing units (2) with respect to the holding structure (33) ,
    [10]
    10. Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control contact means (43) and / or the drive contact means (42) are designed as spring contact means.
    [11]
    11. Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has a base carrier (24) carrying the dosing device (25), which is equipped with at least one fastening interface (22) which enables attachment to a positioning device (23).
    [12]
    12. Dosing device according to claim 11, characterized in that the dosing device (25) and the control head (26) are arranged independently of one another on the base support (24).
    [13]
    13. Dosing device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that on the base support (24) receiving means (57) for receiving the control head (26) are arranged, the control head (26) linear guide means during assembly and disassembly (62) which have a plurality of guide rods (62a) which can slide into the control head (26).
    [14]
    14. Dosing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the receiving means (57) on the base support (24) and with respect to the dosing device (25) separate support means (58) on which the control head (26) rests.
    [15]
    15. Metering device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the drive contact means (42) are arranged on a rear end face (12) of the metering units (2) having an elongated shape.
    [16]
    16. Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the control head (26) is block-shaped and / or that the control head (26) has a housing in which the electronic control means (45) are housed.
    [17]
    17. Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the electronic control means (45) are connected via an internal, preferably serial bus (68) of the control head (26) to a communication interface (65) of the control head (26), which is equipped with interface means (67) which enable communication with the main electronic control device (63).
    [18]
    18. Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the main control device (63) belongs to the dosing device (1) and is arranged separately from the dosing head (17).
    43 54
    43,43a
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    CH710104A2|2016-03-15|
    DE102014013552B3|2015-05-21|
    CN105424960B|2018-09-04|
    CN105424960A|2016-03-23|
    引用文献:
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    DE19754000A1|1997-12-05|1999-06-17|Max Planck Gesellschaft|Device and method for the electrically triggered microdrop delivery with a dispensing head|
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    DE102018202521A1|2018-02-20|2019-08-22|Festo Ag & Co. Kg|metering|
    DE102020200295A1|2020-01-13|2021-07-15|Festo Se & Co. Kg|Positioning system for positioning end effectors|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    DE102014013552.7A|DE102014013552B3|2014-09-12|2014-09-12|metering|
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