U.S. patent application number 12/530946 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-11 for packaging, shipping and storage device for capillary tubes.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEW OBJECTIVE, INC. Invention is credited to Lee Sawdey, James M. Sellers, Haydn B. Taylor, Gary A. Valaskovic, Nathan E. Winters.
Application Number | 20100032329 12/530946 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38514098 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100032329 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Valaskovic; Gary A. ; et
al. |
February 11, 2010 |
PACKAGING, SHIPPING AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR CAPILLARY TUBES
Abstract
Capillary tube holder, a storage and shipping container in which
a loaded capillary tube holder is securely held, a fixture for
loading capillary tubes onto a capillary tube transfer fixture for
transferring, removing or replacing individual capillary tubes from
a loaded capillary tube holder.
Inventors: |
Valaskovic; Gary A.;
(Cambridge, MA) ; Sawdey; Lee; (Merrimack, NH)
; Sellers; James M.; (Portsmouth, NH) ; Taylor;
Haydn B.; (Portsmouth, NH) ; Winters; Nathan E.;
(Merrimack, NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GERSTENZANG, WILLIAM C.;NORRIS MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS, PA
875 THIRD AVE, 8TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Assignee: |
NEW OBJECTIVE, INC
Woburn
MA
|
Family ID: |
38514098 |
Appl. No.: |
12/530946 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
March 12, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US07/63776 |
371 Date: |
October 12, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/443 ;
206/446; 206/467; 206/470; 206/560; 206/563; 206/776 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 9/065 20130101;
B01L 2400/027 20130101; B01L 2200/18 20130101; B01L 2200/025
20130101; B01L 2300/0838 20130101; B01L 2300/0609 20130101; B01L
9/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/443 ;
206/446; 206/467; 206/560; 206/563; 206/470; 206/776 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/20 20060101
B65D085/20; B65D 1/34 20060101 B65D001/34; B65D 6/18 20060101
B65D006/18; B65D 6/02 20060101 B65D006/02; B65D 71/52 20060101
B65D071/52; B65D 25/54 20060101 B65D025/54 |
Claims
1. A capillary tube holder comprising a) a holder body (1) having a
front side, a rear side, two flank sides, a bottom surface and a
top surface (3), grooves (2) in said top surface (3) and a
depression in said top surface at the rear of said body, said
depression running from one of said two flank sides to the other,
transverse to said grooves, said grooves running parallel to said
flank sides beginning at the front of said body and ending at said
depression, said depression being lower than the lowest part of
said grooves, and mating elements on the flank sides of the holder
body b) a holding clip (20), having a top side, a bottom side, and
two ends, two side arms (21) extending at approximately right
angles from said bottom side at said ends, said bottom side having
a compression element (24) inserted into a corresponding recess in
the surface thereof or being adhered to the surface thereof, and
extending away from said surface of said bottom side, said holding
clip side aims having mating elements (22) at the ends thereof
which mating elements are complementary to the mating elements on
the flank sides of said holder body, the distance between the legs
being adapted to fit over the flank sides of said holder body, with
said side arms fitting over said flank sides of said holder body to
engage the mating elements of said arms with the mating elements on
the flank sides of said holder body to lock said holding clip in
place over a grooved section of said top surface of said holder
body with said compression element compressed against the grooves
on said section of said top surface or against any capillary tubes
present in or on said grooves.
2. The capillary tube holder of claim 1, wherein said holder body
further comprises additional mating elements on the bottom surface
thereof.
3. The capillary tube holder of claim 1, wherein said front side of
said holder body has a detent groove therein, running perpendicular
to said flank sides.
4. The capillary tube holder of claim 1, wherein said mating
elements on the flank sides of said holder body are tapered mating
elements, disposed perpendicularly from the top surface and
tapering increasingly further away from the flank sides along the
direction from the top surface towards the bottom surface.
5. The capillary tube holder of claim 1, wherein said compression
element of said holder clip is an elastomeric insert.
6. The capillary tube holder of claim 5, wherein the elastomer of
said elastomeric insert has a Shore A durometer hardness of greater
than 40 and less than 60.
7. The capillary tube holder of claim 6, wherein said Shore A
durometer hardness is between 45 and 55.
8. The capillary tube holder of claim 5, wherein the elastomer of
said elastomeric insert is a platinum cured silicone rubber.
9. The capillary tube holder of claim 5, wherein said elastomeric
element is a rubber gasket.
10. The capillary tube holder of claim 9, wherein the rubber of
said rubber gasket is a butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber.
11. The capillary tube holder of claim 5, wherein said compression
element has a rectangular cross-section.
12. The capillary tube holder of claim 1, wherein said grooves are
V-shaped grooves.
13. The capillary tube holder of claim 1, wherein said mating
elements (22) of said side arms (21), said mating elements (9) on
said holder body and said compression element are disposed in
relationship to each other, and the Shore A hardness of said
compression element selected at a value whereby said mating
elements (22) of said arms (21) engage with said mating elements
(9) of said holder body to compress said compression element
against any capillary tubes present in said groves with a force
sufficient to prevent movement of said tubes in said groves until a
movement initiating force of between 0.04 and 3.0 Newtons are
applied directly to said tubes along the tube axis to said tubes to
begin movement of said tubes in said grooves, and a sliding force
of between 0.04 to 2.8 Newtons is applied to maintain said
movement.
14. A container for the capillary tube holder of claim 2,
comprising a box (85) having a top wall, a bottom wall, two side
walls a front end and a rear wall which define the interior of said
box, the interior surface of said bottom wall being provided with
mating elements (81) which are complementary to the mating elements
on the bottom surface of capillary tube holder body 1, the top wall
having a hinged section which is integral with a front wall for
said box, and which in the open position exposes said mating
elements for insertion of said capillary tube holder thereon from
the top to engage the mating elements of said tube holder body with
the mating elements on the interior surface of said bottom wall of
said box, and for withdrawal of any capillary tubes mounted on said
holder from the front, and being closable to bring said front wall
into contact with said bottom wall at the front end of said
container, and enclose said capillary tube holder, and any
capillary tubes mounted thereon, within said box.
15. The container of claim 14, wherein said hinged section is
transparent.
16. The container of claim 14 wherein, between the hinges of said
hinged section and the front side of said container said sidewalls
are comprised of two sections, a first section extending from said
bottom surface and a second section extending from said hinged
section of said top wall, said two sections meeting each other upon
closure of said hinged section.
17. The container of claim 14, wherein said first sections of said
sidewalls have either a bump or a hole, and said second sections
have the other of a bump or a hole, said bumps and holes being
complementary to and engagable with each other to secure said
hinged section in a closed position.
18. The container of claim 14 wherein said container is formed of a
front section and a rear section which are engagable with each
other to form the container, said front section comprising said
mating elements 81 and said hinged section of said top wall, said
rear section having a length which is defined in accordance with
the length of capillary tubes to be mounted on said holder body and
enclosed by said box.
19. The container of claim 14 wherein the bottom of said container
has an inwardly extending indentation which aligns with the hinge
in the top wall of a second said container when two of said
containers are stacked one on top of the other.
20. A loading fixture for loading capillary tubes onto a capillary
tube holder of claim 1, comprising an alignment fixture (30),
loading mount (40) and loading clip (50), wherein a) said alignment
fixture (30) comprises a body having a front side, a rear side and
a top surface, at least one magnet (32) located on said top
surface, and an upward protrusion projecting from said top surface
at the rear side thereof, said protrusion having an inwardly facing
flat surface (34) forming an approximately 90.degree. angle with
said top surface, b) said loading mount (40) comprises a body
having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front side, a rear side
(43) and two flank sides, with at least one magnet (42) mounted in
said body and being exposed at or through said top surface and said
bottom surface and being disposed to align with said at least one
magnet (32) on said alignment fixture, said loading mount (40)
having an elevated section having an upwardly stepped edge (41) on
the top surface thereof adjacent the rear side, said upwardly
stepped edge (41) facing the front side of said loading mount (40),
c) said loading clip (50) having a top side, bottom side, two ends
and a planar rear face (55), with two side arms projecting from
said bottom side at said ends, at an approximately 90.degree. angle
from said bottom side, each side arm terminating in a side arm end
having a magnet (53) affixed thereto, an elastomeric insert 54 held
against said rear face (55) by a pressure clamp (52) and projecting
beyond the bottom side of said loading clip 50, the plane of said
rear face (55) forming an acute angle with an axis passing through
said side arms from the bottom of said loading clip to the side arm
ends.
21. The loading fixture of claim 20, wherein said at least one
magnet mounted in said body are two magnets, and said at least one
magnet of said alignment fixture are two magnets.
22. The loading fixture of claim 20, wherein said planar rear face
of said loading clip has two threaded holes therein adjacent the
ends thereof, and said pressure clamp has two holes aligned with
said holes in said planar rear face of said loading clip whereby
said pressure clamp is attached to said planer rear face by screws,
to hold said elastic insert against said planar rear face.
23. The loading fixture of claim 20, wherein said elastic insert
has an approximately rectangular shape and an approximately flat
edge on the portion projecting beyond the bottom side of said
loading clip.
24. The loading fixture of claim 20, wherein when a capillary tube
holder body having a grooved surface is placed on mount (40) and
loading clip (50) is placed over said holder body on said mount,
said loading clip magnets (53) are brought into alignment with and
magnetically attached to said at least one magnet (42) of loading
mount (40) to bring the projecting part of said elastomeric insert
(54) of loading clip (50) into angular contact with said grooved
surface of said holder body, said projecting part of said
elastomeric insert (54) imparts a resistance to the insertion of
capillary tubes into said grooves that will require a force of less
than one Newton to initiate movement of said capillary tubes into
said grooves, and a force of less than 0.04 Newton up to about 0.2
Newton to maintain said movement of said capillary tubes into said
grooves.
25. A method of loading capillary tubes into a capillary tube
holder, which comprises a) placing loading mount (40) of claim 20
on an alignment fixture (30) of claim 20, with rear side (43) of
loading mount (40) abutting the inwardly facing flat surface of the
upward protrusion of alignment fixture (30), and bringing the at
least one magnet (42) of loading mount (40) into alignment with and
magnetic attachment to the at least one magnet (32) of alignment
fixture (30) to hold loading mount (40) to alignment fixture (30),
b) placing a holder body (1) of claim 1 on mount (40) with rear
face (13) of holder body (1) abutting the upwardly stepped edge
(41) of said elevated section of loading mount (40), c) placing
loading clip (50) of claim 20 over holder body (1) on mount (40)
and bringing the loading clip magnets (53) into alignment with and
magnetic attachment to the at least one magnet (42) of loading
mount (40) to bring the projecting portion of the elastomeric
insert (54) of loading clip (50) into angular contact with a
portion of said grooved surface of said holder body (1), or with
any capillary tubes (91) that are present in or on said grooves, d)
inserting one or more capillary tubes in the grooves of holder body
(1) by sliding said capillary tubes between said grooves and said
elastic insert (54) of said loading clip (50), e) placing the
holding clip (20) of claim 1 over said grooved surface of holder
body (1) and engaging mating elements (22) of said holding clip
with the mating elements on the sides of holder body (1) to
compress said compression element of said holding clip (20) against
said capillary tubes (91) in said grooves, f) removing loading clip
(50) from said mount (40), and removing said holder body (1), with
tubes (91) thereon, from said mount (40).
26. A transfer carrier, for transferring or removing a group of
tubes from a tube holder (1) on which said tubes are held in
alignment with respect to each other, while maintaining said
alignment, comprising a carrier body (60) and carrier clip (70),
said carrier body having a front, a rear, two sides and a top
surface (68), a plurality of grooves 64) in said top surface,
running in the direction from the front to the rear, and a cavity
(65) through said top surface, adjacent the rear and configured to
receive a tube holder (1), securing elements for removably securing
said tube holder within said cavity, said cavity having sufficient
interior clearance for said tube holder (1) and holding clip (20)
to pass through said cavity upon application of sufficient force to
release said holder (1) from said securing elements.
27. The transfer carrier of claim 26, further comprising a slot
(61) through the rear thereof adapted to receive at least one
projection (5) extending from a side of a holder body (1) of a
capillary tube holder.
28. The transfer carrier of claim 26, wherein said securing
elements are compressive elements (63).
29. The transfer carrier of claim 28, wherein said compressive
elements are spring loaded pins.
30. The transfer carrier of claim 29, wherein said spring loaded
pins are adapted to interface into detents in a face of a holder
body (1) of a capillary tube holder.
31. The transfer carrier of claim 26, wherein a portion of the top
surface, beginning at the front of said transfer adjacent the front
of said carrier, adjacent the part of the cavity closest to the
front of said transfer carrier, or both, is stepped down to a level
equal to or lower than the bottom of said grooves.
32. The transfer carrier of claim 26, wherein said carrier clip
(70) comprises a body having a top side and a bottom side with two
side arms projecting from the bottom side, and a compression
element or insert on the surface of the bottom side of said
body.
33. The transfer carrier of claim 32, wherein the side arms of said
transfer clip (70) and the sides of said carrier body comprise
interlocking complementary mating elements.
Description
[0001] This application pertains to a handling and packaging
assembly, or system, for small diameter tubes and rods. It is
particularly useful for the handling of small diameter (Outside
diameter.ltoreq.2 mm) tubes that have one end (the proximal end)
tapered to a fine tip with the other end (the distal end) square
cut. Such tubes find general application in the field of analytical
chemistry, and most specifically in the field liquid
chromatography-mass spectrometry. These tapered tubes, or needles,
are typically used as ionization emitters in electrospray
ionization mass spectrometry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Traditionally capillary tubes or needles have been packaged
in one of two ways: [0003] (1) An adhesive material, such as double
sided adhesive tape or spray adhesive, is used to affix the tubes
in a plastic box; the box typically having a base and flip top lid.
The base of the box typically has a raised portion to which the
adhesive is applied. The tubes are then placed on the adhesive
surface and held by the adhesive for shipping and storage before
use. [0004] (2) The tubes are placed individually into a secondary
packaging tube that has an inside diameter greater than the outside
diameter of the tube being packaged. The secondary tube is then
sealed with end caps on each end.
[0005] These systems have significant shortcomings. The adhesives
used in system (1) may chemically contaminate the tubes being
shipped. This is not acceptable for applications in mass
spectrometry, a chemical analysis method. Furthermore, the
adhesives may deteriorate over time and loose holding power,
damaging the tubes being stored.
[0006] System (2) is limited in its ability to protect the ends of
the capillary tubes since the tubes may shift in the packaging
tubes. Contact with at least one end of the capillary tube is
typically unavoidable. The typical solution is to affix the distal
end of each capillary tube to one of the end caps of the packaging
tube, either with an adhesive or by the use of a rubber end cap
that has an internal bore having an inside diameter less than the
OD of the packaged tube.
[0007] A need therefore exists for an assembly which: [0008] (1) is
free of any natural or synthetic adhesives, epoxies etc. that could
cause chemical contamination of the tubes. More specifically, an
assembly which provides a pure mechanical "friction based" holding
of the tubes, and [0009] (2) protects the tubes during shipping,
especially the tapered ends of the tubes, which cannot withstand
any direct physical contact with a surface. Preferably the system
avoids contact of either the proximal and distal ends of the tubes
with any surface within the package. [0010] (3) allows the end user
to remove a single tube at a time from the package without
disturbing any other tubes in the package or damaging the tube in
any way, [0011] (4) can be produced at cost which is low enough so
that the price to the consumer is unchanged, as compared to prior
art assemblies. Parts of the system that ship to the customer must
be inexpensive enough to be considered disposable while those used
in manufacturing are re-usable on at least a limited or extended
basis. [0012] (5) meets the physical requirements of manufacturing
and quality control, which include: [0013] a. Ability to load tubes
"one-at-a-time" into the assembly. [0014] b. Ability to remove
entire groups of tubes from the assembly and handle them en masse,
while maintaining their respective alignment, to expose either the
proximal or distal ends for further inspection or processing.
[0015] c. Ability to remove individual tubes that do not meet
specifications or pass quality control inspections during
manufacturing and replace them with acceptable tubes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In accordance with the invention, there is now provided an
assembly/system formed of functional components that provide for
the processing, handling, storage, and shipping of groups, or
arrays, of tubes. The core of the system is a holder 1 and holding
clip 20 that uses a compression element 24 to hold the tubes 90
into the grooves 2 of holder 1. The holder 1 and holding clip 20,
including the compressible element 24, and tubes 90, when assembled
together, comprise a sub-assembly 15. Various other components and
sub-assemblies interface with the combined holder 1, holding clip
20, and tubes 90. Different outside diameter tubes may be
accommodated by either adjusting the depth of the grooves 2, the
amount of compression applied by the element 24 or both. The
compression element 24 is preferably a rectangular section of an
elastomeric material, such as rubber, that is held normal to the
top surface 3 of holder 1.
[0017] A loading system comprised of an alignment fixture 30,
loading mount 40 and loading clip 50 enables the loading of a
holder 1 and holding clip 20 with a population of tubes 90. The
design of the loading system enables the loading of individual
tubes onto the holder, the application of the holding clip 20 once
the holder 1 is populated, and the subsequent removal of the
combined holder 1, holding clip 20, and tubes 90 from the loading
system. Loading clip 50 has a compression element 54 that is
similar in form and substance to the compression element 24 used in
the holding clip 20. However the mounting scheme for compression
element 54 differs in that the compression element 54, which is
preferably a piece of rectangular elastomeric sheet, such as
rubber, is held at all acute angle with respect to the top surface
3 of the holder 1.
[0018] There is also provided a carrier transfer system which
enables handling and processing operations to be carried out on the
distal ends 93 of the tubes 90. The carrier transfer system allows
the group of tubes 90 to be removed from the holder 1 and holding
clip 20 while maintaining their respective alignment in an array.
The carrier transfer system comprises a carrier body 60 and carrier
clip 70. The carrier body 60 interfaces to the holder 1 and holding
clip 20 in a reversible manner so that the group of tubes 90 may be
released from the holder 1 and holding clip 20 or transferred to an
empty holder 1 and holding clip 20. The transfer clip 70 is
designed to protect the proximal end of the tube. It contains a
compression element 74, which is similar in form and substance to
compression elements 24 and 54, that is held normal to the surface
3 of holder 1.
[0019] Finally a package suitable for long-term storage and
shipping of the holder 1, holding clip 20, and tubes 90 assembly,
i.e., sub-assembly 15, is provided, so that the sub-assembly 15 may
be placed directly into the package without the need to
individually handle tubes. The package is designed to accommodate
tubes that are either shorter in length than the holder 1 or longer
than the holder 1 body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an empty holder body, tubes to be loaded
onto the holder body and a holder clip to hold the loaded tubes
onto the holder body.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the tube holder and
holder clip, with optional securing rod 26.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a holder clip and elastomeric insert (a
compression element) to be inserted into a recessed slot on the
bottom of the holder clip body.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates the holder body with capillary tubes
loaded thereon and held in place by the holder clip, and the mating
elements of the holder clip arms engaged with the corresponding
mating elements on the holder body. The loaded holder body, with
engaged holder clip constitute sub-assembly 15.
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a loading fixture assembly comprising
alignment fixture 30, loading mount 40, and loading clip 50
together with a loaded holder body 1 and holding clip 20.
[0025] FIG. 6A is a detailed view of loading clip 50, illustrating
magnets 53, elastomeric insert 54, pressure clamp 52 and tightening
screws 51.
[0026] FIG. 6B is an exploded side view of angled face 55 of
loading clip 50, elastomeric insert 54 (compression element),
pressure clamp 52, magnet 53 and tightening screws 51.
[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates the loading fixture assembly with loaded
holder body mounted thereon.
[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates a capillary tube 91, having a tapered
proximal end 94 and square-cut distal end 93, being loaded onto
holder body 1 through the use of the loading fixture assembly of
FIG. 5.
[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates holding clip 20 being installed onto the
loaded holder body 1, prior to removing the holder body from the
loading fixture assembly.
[0030] FIG. 10 illustrates the loading fixture assembly, with
loaded holder body thereon, as illustrated in FIG. 9, but with
loading clip 50 removed.
[0031] FIG. 11A illustrates transfer carrier body 60, transfer clip
70 with sub-assembly 15 about to be placed onto the transfer
carrier body.
[0032] FIG. 11B illustrates a bottom view of transfer clip 70 with
elastomeric insert 74 (compression element) to be inserted into
recessed slot 77
[0033] FIG. 12A illustrates sub-assembly 15 mounted in the transfer
carrier body.
[0034] FIG. 12B is a frontal view of the carrier body with
sub-assembly 15 mounted on, showing the stepped down top surface at
the front of the carrier body, spaced away from the proximal ends
of the tubes thereby avoiding contact of the proximal ends of the
tubes with the surface of the carrier body.
[0035] FIG. 13 illustrates sub-assembly 15 mounted in the transfer
carrier body with transfer clip 70 placed over the loaded capillary
tubes to hold them onto the transfer carrier body and, at the same
time, cover and protect the proximal ends of the tubes.
[0036] FIG. 14 illustrates sub-assembly 15 mounted in the transfer
carrier body with transfer clip 70 in place, with the holding clip
20 and the holder body 1 removed, to form sub-assembly 76.
[0037] FIG. 15 illustrates a loaded sub-assembly 15 in
juxtaposition with shipping sub-assembly 85.
[0038] FIG. 16 illustrates sub-assembly 15 secured within shipping
sub-assembly 85.
[0039] FIG. 17 illustrates a loaded sub-assembly 15 with extended
length tubes 92, in juxtaposition with shipping sub-assembly
85.
[0040] FIG. 18 illustrates sub-assembly 15 with extended length
tubes secured within shipping assembly 15, with the loaded tubes
projecting into the rear storage area of the shipping
sub-assembly.
[0041] FIG. 19 illustrates the loaded shipping sub-assembly in
closed position, suitable for shipping or storage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the core components of the system, a
holder body 1, the group of tubes that are being handled 90, and
the holding clip 20 that holds the tubes 90 in place. A group of
tubes 90 consists of individual tubes 91 each of which has a front
(proximal) end 94 and rear (distal) end 93. Typically the front end
94 is tapered to a fine tip and the rear end 93 is square cut.
Holder body 1 has a combination of features that enable it to meet
the requirements outlined above. As seen, holder body 1 has a front
side, a rear side having holes 6, two flank sides, a bottom surface
and a top surface 3. There are parallel grooves 2, which preferably
are V shaped grooves, in the top surface 3 of the holder body that
are parallel to the surface. There is a recessed top surface 4 that
is lower than the deepest part of the groove 2 at the rear section
of the holder. The recessed portion 4 allows individual tubes to be
handled from the rear.
[0043] Holding clip 20 has two protruding side arms 21, which are
terminated by tapered mating elements 22 that mate with
complementary tapered mating elements 9 on the flank sides of
holder body 1. The tapered mating elements 9 on the flank sides of
holder body 1 are disposed perpendicularly from the top surface and
taper increasingly further away from the flank sides along the
direction from the top surface towards the bottom surface. The
distance between the two respective side arms 21 is set so that the
clip has a direct positive engagement with the holder body 1,
resulting in what is commonly referred to as a snap-fit. As the
holding clip 20 is forced into place the arms 21 deflect as the
faces of elements 9 and 22 make contact. Each side arm 21 aligns
with the recessed slots 12 in the two flank sides of the holder
body 1. As shown in FIG. 3, elastomeric insert 24 (a compression
element) fits into recessed slot 25 on the underside of holding
clip 20. The elastomeric insert 24 is preferably made with a
rectangular cross section, and can be made of Viton.RTM., a
fluoroelastomer available from DuPont Performance Elastomers LLC,
Buna N rubber (a Nitrile rubber), Teflon.RTM.
polytetrafluoroethylene available from E.I. DuPont De Nemours and
Company Corporation, or platinum cured silicone rubber; preferably
Viton.RTM. or silicon rubber, most preferably silicone rubber. The
relative hardness of the elastomeric insert is preferably within
the range of 20 to 80, and most preferably within the range of 45
to 55, as measured by a Shore A Durometer. Therefore the most
preferred elastomer insert is a platinum cured silicone rubber
having a Shore A hardness greater than 45 and less than 55. The
slot 25 is perpendicular to the top face 3 of holder body 1 when
the holding clip 20 is engaged. Thus the end face of elastomeric
insert 24 makes perpendicular contact with the tubes 90. The
assembled combination of the holder body 1, holding clip 20,
compressive element 24 and tubes 90 comprises sub-assembly 15, as
illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0044] The amount of static (and dynamic) holding force is readily
controlled by either changing the relative hardness of the
elastomeric insert 24; and/or by altering the dimensions of the
insert. Using an insert made from a higher durometer material will
increase the holding force because the amount of reactive force
generated by compressing the insert increases. Similarly making the
elastomeric insert either thicker or taller will increase the
holding force. Increasing the thickness of the insert increases the
contact surface area of the elastomeric insert 24 with the tubes
90, hence the holding force will increase. By increasing the height
of the elastomeric insert 24, the amount of elastomer that
protrudes out of the slot 25 will increase. The holding force on
tubes 90 will increase since the compression of the elastomeric
insert 24 will be greater, creating a larger reactive holding force
on the tubes 90. The thickness of the elastomeric insert may be
within the range of 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably within the range of 1
to 5 mm, and most preferably within the range of 1.5 to 2 mm. The
thickness of the elastomeric insert 24 and the height protruding
from slot 25 is determined empirically so that a pull test of tubes
90 being held in subassembly 15 will yield a number within the
preferred range for static and dynamic holding force. Changing the
diameter of the tubes 90 will require a change in either hardness
or dimension of elastomeric insert 24. Most conveniently the height
of elastomeric insert 24 may be changed to bring the holding force
within the desired range.
[0045] The holder body 1 optionally includes a slot 8 transverse to
its bottom surface and holding clip 20 optionally includes holes 23
in each of the two side arms 21 which align with slot 8 when the
clip is engaged with the holder body. Optional rod 26 may then be
inserted through the holes 23 and under the holder body, via the
slot 8, to further secure the holding clip 20 to holder body 1. The
holder body 1 optionally includes through holes 6, in between
protrusions 5, running parallel to the top face 3. The holes 6 can
be used to hold or mount the holder body 1 on one or more mating
cylindrical rods; or to manipulate holder body 1 using hand tools
such as needle-nose pliers or forceps.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows the holder body 1, tubes 90 and holding clip 20
when fitted together to form an assembled group of tubes. The sides
of holding clip 20 are flush with the side of holder body 1. The
tubes 90 are held in place between the elastomeric insert
(compression element) 24 and the grooves 2. The holding force
applied to tubes 90 is determined by the amount of static and
dynamic friction between tubes 90 and groove 2 and tubes 90 and
elastomeric insert 24. When holding clip 20 is pressed in place on
holder 1, the elastomeric insert 24 is slightly compressed. The
reactive holding force that keeps the assembly together is provided
by the mating elements 22 on holding clip 20 and complementary
tapered mating elements 9 on holder body 1. The securing rod 26 is
not shown in this illustration, but could be used, if desired, to
further secure the assembly by being inserted into one of holes 23
on the first side arm 21 of clip 20, across the bottom of holder
body 1 and into the second hole 23 on the second side arm 21 of
clip 20.
[0047] To load, or "populate", holder body 1 with the array of
tubes 90, the loading fixture assembly of FIG. 5 is employed. This
fixture assembly provides for loading the holder body 1 one tube at
a time, either by hand or by an automated handling system. In
addition to the holding clip 20 and holder 1 body, the loading
assembly includes alignment fixture 30, loading mount 40, and
loading clip 50. Loading mount 40 is held in place on alignment
fixture 30 by means of complementary magnets, 32 in the alignment
fixture and 42 in the loading mount.
[0048] FIGS. 6A and 6B show the loading clip 50 in detail. Magnets
53 in the protruding side arms of the loading clip 50 mate with the
magnets 42 in the loading mount 40. An elastomeric insert
(compression element) 54, is held in place by a pressure clamp 52
that is mounted to the loading clip 50, preferably by means of
ordinary machine screws 51. Loading clip 50 has an acutely angled
surface 55, best seen in FIG. 6B, with respect to the plane of top
surface 3 when assembled, so that rubber insert 54 is held at an
acute angle with respect to the top surface 3 of holder body 11.
This acute angle provides for low friction insertion of the distal
end 93 of singe tube 91 into a groove 2 on holder body 1. This
acute angle with respect to top surface 3 of holder 1 is preferably
within the range of 45.degree. to 85.degree., more preferably
within the range of 65.degree. to 85.degree., and most preferably
within the range of 75.degree. to 80.degree..
[0049] The initial assembly to populate a holder body 1 with tubes
is shown in FIG. 7. Loading mount 40 is placed on alignment fixture
30 so that the rear face 43 of loading mount 40 is in contact with
the front face 34 of protrusion 35 on alignment fixture 30. The
complementary magnet pairs 32 and 42 in the alignment fixture 30
and loading mount 40 hold the two components together. Holder body
1 is placed on loading mount 40 so that the rear face 13 is in
contact with the stepped edge 41 on loading mount 40. Loading clip
50 holds the holder body 1 in place on the mount 40 by means of
complementary magnets 53 that align with magnets 42 in the loading
mount 40.
[0050] The angled nature of the contact between elastomeric insert
54 and the tubes 90 results in the combination of sliding and
static friction between the tubes and the elastomeric insert being
different when the direction of movement of the tubes, with respect
to the front of the mount is changed. The insertion force will be
lower for pushing the distal end 93 of tube 91 in between groove 2
and elastomeric insert 54, than for the reverse operation. This
characteristic makes the tubes easier to insert into the loading
assembly and more difficult to remove. It has been found that these
requirements can be met if the force required to initiate movement
of the tubes in the assembly and the force necessary to maintain
that movement, once initiated, fall within certain ranges.
[0051] There are two components to these force considerations:
[0052] 1.) The force necessary to initiate movement of the
constrained tube (the static force). [0053] 2.) The force necessary
for comfortable extraction such that the process is smooth,
homogenous and normalized across all grooves (the dynamic
force).
[0054] The force required to initiate movement (the static force)
of the tubes into the loading fixture assembly should be less than
1 N (Newton), preferably between 0.04 to 0.5 N, and the force
required to maintain movement of the tubes into the loading fixture
(dynamic force) should preferably be from less than 0.04 N up to
about 0.2 N.
[0055] FIG. 8 illustrates the population of individual tubes 91
into the loading assembly comprised of the alignment fixture 30,
loading mount 40, holder body 1, and loading clip 50. The distal
end 93 of tube 91 is inserted between the groove 2 and angled
elastomeric insert 54. The tube 91 is pushed toward the rear of the
holder body 1 until the proximal end 94 is in alignment with
fiducial mark 33 on alignment fixture 30. This operation is then
repeated until the desired number of tubes are loaded onto holder
body 1. Holding clip 20 is then inserted, i.e., snap fitted, onto
holder body 1, so that the elastomeric insert (compression element)
24 is compressed against the tubes 90 in grooves 2. The tubes are
then held in place by the friction between the tubes and
compression element 24, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0056] In accordance with the foregoing procedure, once the holder
body 1 is fully populated with tubes 90, the (temporary) loading
clip 50 may be replaced with the standard holding clip 20. FIG. 9
shows the grooves 2 in holder body 1 fully populated by tubes with
holding clip 20 in place just behind the loading clip 50. Once
holding clip 20 is in place the tubes are secure and the loading
clip 50 may then be removed as shown in FIG. 10. The loaded
sub-assembly 15, made-up of holder body 1, tubes 90, compression
element 24, and holding clip 20 may then be removed from the
loading mount 40 for further handling operations or packaging.
[0057] To insure maximum utility of the holder clip sub-assembly 15
as a multi purpose manufacturing process fixture and final
packaging and presentation element, functional and ergonomic
factors should be considered Environmental effects which may be
encountered during shipping and handling should also be taken into
consideration, in order to assure survivability during shipping and
handling. With respect to the functional effects, the tubes 90
should be rigidly held in their respective grooves 2 and their
alignment, especially the alignment of their ends, should be
maintained as the sub-assembly 15 travels through a range of
manufacturing processes, during which the sub-assembly 15 is
exposed to a variety of shocks, vibrations, and inertial forces.
Ergonomically, the size of sub-assembly 15 should be as compact as
possible yet still addressable with a normal hand and finger size
for ease of placement and manipulation of the capillary tubes
during processing. Additionally, once assembled into the final
packaging and shipped to the customer for use, it is important that
the tubes 90 are able to be easily and efficiently extracted in
serial fashion from either a right or left handed approach. All
three elements of the clip holder sub-assembly 15 should be
constructed to give the end user a comfortable and successful
experience such that the human/device failure modes are minimized.
It has been found that these requirements can be met if the force
required to initiate movement of the tubes in the assembly and the
force necessary to maintain that movement, once initiated, fall
within certain ranges.
[0058] A preferred range of tensile force required (static force)
to initiate tube movement (or conversely prevent movement) in the
holder assembly 15 was found to be 0.04-3.0 N, preferably 1.0-1.6
N. A preferred range of tensile force (dynamic force) to maintain
movement, once initiated, was found to be 0.04-2.8 N, preferably
0.8-1.4 N.
[0059] FIG. 11A shows the transfer carrier body 60, the carrier
clip 70, and the tube-clip-holder sub-assembly 15. Carrier body 60
has elements deigned to interface with holder body 1. A slot 61
through the rear face of the transfer carrier body 60 has an
internal width that is slightly larger than the width of the
rectangular protrusions 5 on the rear face of the holder body 1.
Securing elements in the form of spring loaded compressive elements
63, commonly referred to as spring loaded pins, interface into the
detent 10 on the front face of the holder body 1. The combination
of these elements enables sub-assembly 15 to be fitted into the
mating cavity 65 in the carrier body 60. Cavity 65 is configured to
receive holder body 1 and temporarily secure it in place through
cooperation of spring-loaded pins 63, detent 10, protrusions 5 and
slot 61, and has sufficient interior clearance so that the holder
body 1 and mating holding clip 20 can pass through said cavity upon
the application of sufficient force to overcome the holding force
of the spring-loaded pins.
[0060] Carrier body 60 has additional features for holding of the
tubes 90. A set of grooves 64 in top face 68 have identical shape,
spacing and depth as the grooves 2 found in the holder body 1. In
front of the grooves at the leading part of carrier body 60 there
is a stepped-down top face 67 (best seen in FIG. 12B). Mating
elements 62, similar to elements 9 on the holder body 1, are placed
on the front ends of the sides of carrier body 60.
[0061] A carrier clip 70 has two side arms 75 that each have
complementary mating elements 72 that mate with elements 62 on the
carrier body 60. The spacing and shape between elements 72 is set
so that the carrier clip 70 may be clipped into place on carrier
body 60 in a manner completely analogous to that of the action of
holding clip 20 on holder body 1. The bottom of carrier clip 70 is
shown in FIG. 11B. A compression element, such as elastomeric
insert 74 fits into recessed groove 77 in a manner completely
analogous to the compression element/elastomeric insert 24 fitting
into the groove 25 of holding clip 20. The composition, dimensions,
action, static and dynamic holding force on the tubes 90 provided
by elastomeric insert 74 in carrier clip 70 is completely analogous
to that provided by elastomeric insert 24 in holding clip 20.
[0062] Insertion proceeds by first aligning the holder protrusions
5 parallel with the slot 61, holding the sub-assembly 15 at an
acute angle with respect to the carrier body. Rear face 13 is
pressed into contact with the rear face 66 of cavity 65, while
ensuring that protrusions 5 are aligned to fit into the slot 61.
Once in position, the angle between the sub-assembly 15 and carrier
body 60 is reduced by rotating sub-assembly 15 through an axis
defined by the contact of mating elements, 5 and 61, and, 13 and
66, until the compressive elements 63 make contact with the front
face 14 of the holder body 1. The alignment between the holder body
1 and carrier body 60 is then made parallel when the compressive
element 63 makes positive engagement with the detent 10 on the
front face 14 of holder body 1 as shown in FIG. 12.
[0063] FIG. 12A shows sub-assembly 15 in position for transfer or
replacement of the tubes 90. FIG. 12B shows a frontal view of the
subassembly 15 on carrier body 60. To complete the transfer,
carrier clip 70 is applied to the carrier body as shown in FIG. 13.
elastomeric insert 74 presses the tubes into the grooves 64. At
this stage the tubes are held in place by clips 70 and 20
simultaneously. Holding clip 20 may then be released by bending the
side arms 21 sufficiently outward so that mating elements 22 and 9
are no longer in contact. Holding clip 20 can then be removed. The
holder body 1 is then removed through the bottom of the assembly by
pushing said holder body 1 through the cavity 65 so that the
compressive elements (spring-loaded clips 63) release from the
detent 10 on the front face 14 of holder body 1. Removal through
the bottom of the assembly leaves the tubes 90 undisturbed. The
resulting arrangement of the tubes 90, carrier body 60, carrier
clip 70 and elastomeric insert 74 is shown in FIG. 14, comprising
sub-assembly 76. The distal ends 93 of the tubes 90 are now exposed
for processing, inspection or removal of individual tubes for
further use, and the proximal ends 91 are fully protected by the
shield 73 on clip 70.
[0064] The action of the carrier assembly is fully reversible so
that tubes 90 in sub assembly 76 may be transferred back to sub
assembly 15 by reversing the steps as described above.
[0065] For packaging storage and shipping sub-assembly 15 fits into
sub assembly 85. Sub assembly 85 is a hinged box having a top wall,
a bottom wall, two side walls, a front end and a rear wall which
define the interior of the box. The box comprises a rear housing
section 80, a front section 83 and a hinged lid 82, comprising a
part of the top wall, as shown in FIG. 15. Rear housing section 80
attaches to the front section 83 through any conventional means
including snap-fit, adhesives, screws, solvent welding, or
ultrasonic welding. Lid 82 is attached to front section 83 via a
snap fit hinge 86 well known to those skilled in the art of plastic
hinged boxes.
[0066] Hinged lid 82 is preferably transparent.
[0067] Preferably, between the hinges of said hinged lid 82 and the
front side of box 85, the side walls are each comprised of two
sections; a first section extending from the bottom surface of the
box and a second section extending from the hinged lid, the two
sections meeting each other to form a closed wall upon closure of
the hinged lid.
[0068] Front section 83 has mating elements 81, which are snap-fit
elements that engage with complementary elements 11 on holder body
1 (illustrated in FIG. 2). Sub-assembly 15 is pressed down onto
mating elements 81 as shown in FIG. 16. Protrusions 84 guide the
alignment of the underside of holder body 1 so that the
complementary mating elements 11 align with and are engaged by
snap-fit mating elements 81 on the surface of front section 83.
Elements 81 are flexible in the plane perpendicular to the rear
face of holder body 1 so that they are deflected by elements 11
when pressure is applied, normal to surface 3, to sub-assembly 15.
When fully engaged, elements 81 and 111 secure sub-assembly 15 in
place on the surface of front section 83 within box 85, in the
manner of a snap fit, well known to those skilled in the art.
[0069] The lid 82 is integral with the front wall of the box and
has bumps 88 that mate with complementary holes 89 on the side
walls of front platform 83 as shown in FIG. 16. When the lid is
moved to the closed position the side walls of the lid 82 and
platform 83 deform slightly until the bumps 88 are coincident with
the holes 89. These complementary features hold the lid in closed
position to protect the tubes within, until opened by the ultimate
user to access the tubes.
[0070] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate rear housing 80, which is hollow
inside to accommodate tubes 92, having a length that extends beyond
the rear surface 13 of holder body 1. Such tubes are shown mounted
on the holder body in FIG. 17. FIG. 18 shows the loaded holder body
of FIG. 17 installed in the sub-assembly (box) 85 for storage
and/or shipment.
[0071] FIG. 19 illustrates indentation 87 on the bottom surface of
sub-assembly/box 85 which runs parallel to the hinge 86. This
allows for the ready stacking of closed boxes 85 on top of each
other. The depth of the indentation is complementary to the height
of the hinge 86 to allow for even balanced stacking of boxes.
[0072] While the present invention was shown and described with
reference to the preferred embodiments, various modifications will
be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, it is not
intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment
and/or details thereof, and departures can be made therefore within
the spirit and scope of appended claims.
TABLE-US-00001 Assembly Element Number Description holder 1 holder
2 plurality (linear array) of grooves in top surface 2 3 to surface
of holder 4 recessed top surface of holder 5 rectangular protrusion
on rear surface 13 of holder 6 Hole(s) on rear of holder 7 bump on
side of holder 8 Slot through base of holder, parallel to front
face of holder 9 mating feature on side of holder to interface with
clip 10 cylindrically indented surface on front face of holder 11
mating feature on underside of holder body 12 recessed portions on
side of holder body to allow clip engagement 13 Rear face of holder
body 1 14 front face of holder body 1 15 combined holder 1,
compressive element 24, clip 20, and tubes 90 holding clip 20
holding clip 21 Side arm of clip 22 mating feature on side arm to
hold clip onto holder 23 Hole through side arm of clip, parallel to
clip body, aligned to slot feature 8 24 compression element normal
to the top surface 3 of holder 1 25 recessed slot for compression
element 24 26 optional locking rod alignment fixture 30 alignment
fixture 31 recession in top surface of fixture 32 magnet flush with
recessed top surface 31 33 fiducial mark on top surface 34 front
face of protrusion 35 35 protrusion on rear of fixture loading
mount 40 loading mount 41 recessed to surface on loading mount 42
magnet press fit into body of loading mount 43 rear face of mount
40 loading clip 50 loading clip 51 screw holding pressure plate to
clip body 52 pressure plate 53 magnet press fit into clip body 54
compression element held at an acute angle relative to the top
surface of holder 1 55 Angled face on rear side of clip body 50
carrier 60 carrier body 61 alignment slot in rear face of carrier
body, accepts the 62 mating element on side of carrier, mates with
feature 72 of carrier clip 63 spring loaded alignment pin, mates
with indented front surface of holder 64 plurality (linear array)
of grooves in top surface of carrier body 65 through-cavity 66 rear
internal face of cavity 67 stepped top surface of carrier, below
the depth of the grooves 64 68 top surface of carrier carrier clip
70 carrier clip body 71 holder through the top of the carrier clip
side arm 72 mating feature on side arm of clip that mates with
feature on carrier body 73 shield element of clip that extends past
and around the forward (leading) edge of the tubes 74 compression
element 75 side arm of carrier clip 70 76 sub-assembly comprising
carrier 60, tubes 90, clip 70 and compressive element 74 77
recessed slot for compression element 74 box 80 rear box housing 81
mating feature inside box that mates with features 11 on underside
of holder 82 hinged box lid 83 front box platform 84 alignment
protrusions 85 box sub-assembly 86 hinge 87 indentation to allow
for box stacking 88 bump on lid 89 mating hole in front platform
tubes 90 plurality (linear array) of tubes whose length does not
extend past the rear surface of the holder body 91 single tube 92
plurality (linear array) of tubes whose length extends past the
rear surface of the holder body 93 rear end (distal end) of tube 94
front end (proximal end) of tube
* * * * *