U.S. patent application number 10/125578 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-07 for device for reception of objects and climatic cabinet.
Invention is credited to Ferger, Stefan.
Application Number | 20020163283 10/125578 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7682268 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020163283 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferger, Stefan |
November 7, 2002 |
Device for reception of objects and climatic cabinet
Abstract
The invention concerns an apparatus for holding objects, with an
object holder, a connecting device for fixing of the apparatus with
respect to its surroundings, and with an adjusting device
connecting the object holder and the connecting device, and a
climatic cabinet on which the apparatus can be situated. In order
to create accurate adjustment possibilities for the apparatus, it
is characterized in that the adjusting device is designed such that
it can be adjusted, with respect to the connecting device, along a
first axis and a second axis and around a rotational axis by means
of adjusting elements; in that separate adjusting elements are
provided for adjustments along the first and second axes; and in
that common adjusting elements are provided for adjustments along
the first or second axes and around the rotational axis.
Inventors: |
Ferger, Stefan; (Ranstadt,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP
Washington Square
Suite 1100
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
7682268 |
Appl. No.: |
10/125578 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/280 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 9/00 20130101; B01L
1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/280 |
International
Class: |
A47B 081/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2001 |
DE |
DE 10119650.4 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus to hold objects, with an object holder, a
connecting device for fixing the apparatus with respect to its
surroundings and with an adjusting device that connects the object
holder and the connecting device, characterized in that the
adjusting device (7) is designed so that it can be adjusted with
respect to the connecting device (6) along a first axis and a
second axis and around a rotational axis by means of adjusting
elements; in that separate adjusting elements are provided for
adjustment along the first and second axes; and in that common
adjusting elements are provided for adjustment of the first or
second axes and around the rotational axis.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
first and the second axes are arranged perpendicular to one
another.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
connecting device (6) has adjusting elements for an adjustment with
respect to the surroundings along a third axis.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that an
adapter is located in a defined position on the connecting device
(6) and in that the adapter has adjusting elements for an
adjustment with respect to the surroundings along a third axis.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the
third axis is arranged perpendicular to the first and the second
axes.
6. The apparatus according to one of claim 1, characterized in that
the adjusting device (7) has guide grooves (9), and guide bolts
that mesh into the guide grooves (9).
7. The apparatus according to one of claim 6, characterized in that
the adjusting device (7) has adjusting screws for fine
adjustments.
8. The apparatus according to one of claim 1, characterized in that
the rotational axis is located parallel to the first or second
axes.
9. The apparatus according to one of claim 1, characterized in that
the adjusting device (7) has a basic body (18) located on the
connecting device (6) that is preferably designed as a rectangular
parallelepiped, and an adjusting body (19), preferably U-shaped, at
least partially adjacent to the basic body (18) that embraces the
basic body (18).
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the
adjusting body (19) can be adjusted with respect to the basic body
(18) along an axis and around the rotational axis.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the
object holder (4) is fixed in place on the adjusting body (19).
12. The apparatus according to one of claim 1, characterized in
that the object holder (4) is essentially designed in the form of a
plate.
13. The apparatus according to one of claim 1, characterized in
that the connecting device (6) is designed as a connecting
plate.
14. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the
adapter is designed as a plate.
15. A climatic cabinet with a service opening for the introduction
of objects, wherein an apparatus for holding objects, with an
object holder and an adjusting device, is situated below or in the
vicinity of the service opening by means of a connecting device,
characterized in that the adjusting device (7) is designed to be
adjustable with respect to the connecting device (6) along a first
axis and along a second axis, and around a rotational axis, by
means of adjusting elements; in that separate adjusting elements
are provided for the adjustment along the first and the second
axis; and in that common adjusting elements are provided for the
adjustment along the first or the second axis and around the
rotational axis.
16. The climatic cabinet according to claim 15, characterized in
that the connecting device (6) is fixed in a predefined position on
an adapter, which is held on the outside wall of the climatic
cabinet (1) in such a way that its position can be adjusted.
17. The climatic cabinet according to claim 15, characterized in
that the object holder (4) has a placement surface (21) for
objects, and in that the placement surface (21) can be displaced in
its position with respect to the horizontal, and can be aligned
vertically, by adjusting the object holder (4) around the
rotational axis.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent
Application No. 10119650.4 entitled, DEVICE FOR RECEPTION OF
OBJECTS AND CLIMATIC CABINET, filed Apr. 20, 2001, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for
holding objects and an associated environmental enclosure. More
particularly, the present invention relates to an object holder
having an adjusting and a connecting device mounted within a
climatic cabinet with an easy access opening.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Known object holder apparatuses of the generic type are, for
example, provided with spherical joints and are in that way
adjustable. However, a separate adjustment of individual axes by
means of spherical joints is not possible. In addition, spherical
joints do not permit fine adjustment. Moreover, adjusting devices
for displacement along an axis are known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The goal of the invention is to develop further the generic
state of the art, so as to create possibilities for exact
three-dimensional adjustment.
[0005] It is therefore a feature and advantage of the present
invention to provide an apparatus that is simple to operate and can
be adjusted accurately in several directions is created in that the
apparatus for holding objects is equipped with an object holder, a
connecting device for fixing the apparatus with respect to its
surroundings, and an adjusting device to connect the object holder
and the connecting device, and is characterized in that the
adjusting device is designed to be adjustable with respect to the
connecting device, along a first and second axis and around a
rotational axis, by means of the adjusting elements; in that
separate adjusting devices are provided for adjustment along the
first and second axes; and in that a common adjusting device is
provided for adjustment along the first or the second axes and
around the rotational axis. The object holder can be provided in
particular for holding flat objects, for example, microtiter
plates. The apparatus is fixed with respect to its surroundings by
means of the connecting device, for example, to a wall or to the
floor. The connecting device is connected with the object holder
via an adjusting device, which makes possible adjustment of the
object holder relative to the connecting device and thus to the
surroundings.
[0006] It is appropriate for the first and the second axes to be
arranged perpendicular to one another. Moreover, it is advantageous
for the connecting device to have adjusting elements for an
adjustment, with respect to the surroundings, along a third axis.
It is also advantageous for an adapter to be located in a defined
position on the connecting device, and for the adapter to have
adjusting elements for an adjustment with respect to the
surroundings along a third axis. Appropriately, the third axis is
situated perpendicular with respect to the first and the other
[sic; second] axes.
[0007] The adjusting device advantageously has guide grooves, and
guide bolts meshing with the guide grooves, so as to facilitate
displacement of the parts with respect to one another, and to
increase its accuracy.
[0008] The adjusting device usefully has adjusting screws for fine
adjustments, so as to increase the accuracy of the adjustments.
[0009] Moreover, it is appropriate for the rotational axis to be
placed parallel to the first or second axes. Furthermore, it is
sensible for the adjusting device to have a basic body located on
the connecting device that is preferably designed as a rectangular
parallelepiped, and an adjusting element, preferably U-shaped, at
least partially adjacent to the basic body that embraces the basic
body. In particular, the adjusting element can be displaced along
an axis and around the rotational axis, with respect to the basic
body. The object holder can be fixed in place on the adjusting
element.
[0010] The object holder can essentially be designed in the shape
of a plate, so as to be able to hold flat objects such as
microtiter plates. The plate can have fixing elements, to
[facilitate] exact positioning of the objects and to prevent their
slipping. The connecting device can be appropriately designed as a
connecting plate; similarly, the adapter can be designed as a
plate.
[0011] It is therefore another feature and advantage of the present
invention to provide a climatic cabinet having a service opening
for the introduction of objects, wherein an apparatus for holding
objects, with an object holder and an adjusting device is situated
below or in the vicinity of the service opening, by means of a
connecting device. It is characterized in that the adjusting device
is designed to be adjustable with respect to the connecting device
along a first axis and a second axis, and around a rotational axis,
by means of adjusting elements; in that separate adjusting elements
are provided for adjustment along the first and second axes; and in
that common adjusting elements are provided for an adjustment along
the first or second axes and around the rotational axis.
[0012] In this way, it is possible to transfer objects from the
interior of the climatic cabinet, via intermediate storage on the
object holder, to a robot, for example; or conversely, a robot can
place objects on the object holder, so that the objects can then be
brought into the interior of the climatic cabinet and deposited
there. Such climatic cabinets are known, for example, from WO
98/05753 or EP 725 133 A2.
[0013] It is appropriate for the connecting device to be attached
at a predefined position on an adapter, which in turn is held on
the outside wall of the climatic cabinet such that its position can
be adjusted. In particular, it is advantageous for the object
holder to have a-placement surface for objects and that it be
possible to align its position vertically and horizontally by
adjusting the object holder around the rotational axis.
[0014] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the
invention that will be described below and which will form the
subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0015] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the
abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be
regarded as limiting.
[0016] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] An embodiment of the invention is described below with the
aid of drawings. The drawing figures show the following:
[0018] FIG. 1, an apparatus according to the invention, placed in a
climatic cabinet;
[0019] FIG. 2, a front view of an apparatus according to the
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3, a side view of an apparatus according to the
invention; and
[0021] FIG. 4, a side view of an apparatus according to the
invention, in various adjusted positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a climatic cabinet with an apparatus according
to the invention. The climatic cabinet 1 has a cabinet door 2,
which is used for manual intervention inside of the climatic
cabinet 1. Within the climatic cabinet 1, storage devices, for
example, for microtiter plates, can be provided, along with a
transporting apparatus to transport the microtiter plates from the
storage devices through the service opening 3 to the object holder
4. The service opening 3 can be closed by means of a cover 5.
[0023] The object holder 4 is fixed on the climatic cabinet 1 and
can be adjusted. To this end, a connecting device 6 is fixed on the
climatic cabinet 1. This can also be adjusted. The adjusting device
7 is located between the connecting device 6 and the object holder
4.
[0024] FIGS. 2 to 4 show, in various views, the apparatus for the
holding of objects, which comprises the connecting device 6, the
adjusting device 7, and the object holder 3. The connecting device
6 is located on the wall of the climatic cabinet 1 and can be
adjusted in a vertical direction. It is fixed there by means of
fixing screws 8. The fixing screws 8 engage with the wall of the
climatic cabinet 1 by means of grooves 9. The connecting device 6
can be displaced along the grooves 9. To this end, an adjusting
screw 10 is used, with which the connecting device 6 can be
displaced with regard to the climatic cabinet 1 in a known manner.
The connecting device 6 has a groove 11 that runs in a horizontal
direction, in which the adjusting device 7 is conducted in a
horizontal direction and is adjusted. To this end, an adjusting
screw 12 is used that is located approximately in the middle of the
groove. The adjusting device 7 is conducted and fixed in the groove
14 by means of the fixing bolts 13 also. The adjusting screws 15
are used to adjust the adjusting device 7 perpendicularly to the
wall of the climatic cabinet 1. The adjusting device 7 is secured
in the adjusted position on the connecting device 6 by means of a
fixing screw 16, wherein fixing bolts 17 are also provided for
connecting the adjusting device 7 with the connecting device 6.
Other fixing bolts 18 are located in the connecting device 6. These
engage with longitudinal holes in the back wall of the climatic
cabinet 1, not visible in the figure, and support adjustment or
fixing of the apparatus on the climatic cabinet 1.
[0025] The adjusting device 7 essentially consists of a basic body
18, located on the connecting device 6, an adjusting body 19
located on the basic body 18, and a holder 20, wherein the holder
20 is fixed on the adjusting body 19 and is essentially extended
along (not necessarily parallel to) the climatic cabinet 1. On its
upper end, the holder 20 has a part 20', which is bent at a right
angle, on which the object holder 4 is fixed. The object holder 4
is essentially designed in the shape of a plate, with a placement
surface 21 for objects, for example, for microtiter plates. Locking
elements 22 for the locking the objects (not depicted in the
figures) arranged on the placement surface 21 are located on the
comers of the placement surface 21 and on two edges that lie on the
opposite side.
[0026] The basic body 18 is fixed, as described above, on the
connecting device 6 after adjustment. The adjusting body 19 is
designed in the shape of a U, wherein it embraces the vertical side
surfaces of basic body 18. The legs 23 of the adjusting body 19,
which are adjacent to these side surfaces of the basic body 18,
have two grooves 24 extending in the direction of the wall of the
climatic cabinet 1. A fixing screw 25 engages with one of the
grooves and a guide pin 26 engages with the other. The guide pin 26
is fixed in the basic body 18; the fixing screw 25 is also screwed
into it there. The fixing screws 25 and the guide pins 26 are
usefully placed alternately--in other words, on one of the two
sides of the adjusting body 19, above, and on the other one, below.
With the aid of the fixing screws 25 and the guide pins 26, both of
which can be moved within grooves 24, a linear movement of the
adjusting element 19, perpendicular to the back wall of the
climatic cabinet 1, and a swiveling motion around an imaginary axis
parallel to the back wall of the climatic cabinet 1 and running
vertically, are possible. In this way, the object holder 4 and in
particular, its placement surface 21 are swiveled out of the
horizontal position. Before the position is locked by means of the
fixing screws 24 located on the side, the extent of this movement
is finely adjusted by the displacement screws 15.
[0027] Adjustment of the connecting device 6 on the climatic
cabinet 1 is effected, as stated above, by means of the adjusting
screw 10. This engages with a thread of a bolt 27, which in turn is
locked in the back wall of the climatic cabinet 1. This swiveling
motion is shown in FIG. 4.
[0028] The many features and advantages of the invention are
apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended
by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the invention which fall within the true spirits and scope of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *