阅读说明：本技术 样品容器弹簧检查设备 (Sample container spring inspection apparatus ) 是由 R-P·戴斯利 于 2021-05-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及样品容器弹簧检查设备。本发明提供一种用于测量插入到样品容器托架(7)的开口(6)中的样品容器(2)的纵向轴线(1)与参考射线(3)之间的角度(α)的设备(100),所述设备(100)包括：第一加速度计(4),其可固定至所述样品容器(2)并且适于根据所述样品容器(2)的取向生成多个第一加速度计信号(S1x、S1y、S1z),以及计算单元(5),其联接至所述第一加速度计(4)并且适于根据所述多个第一加速度计信号(S1x、S1y、S1z)计算所述角度(α)。(The invention relates to a sample container spring inspection apparatus. The invention provides an apparatus (100) for measuring an angle (α) between a longitudinal axis (1) of a sample container (2) inserted into an opening (6) of a sample container holder (7) and a reference ray (3), the apparatus (100) comprising: -a first accelerometer (4) fixable to the sample container (2) and adapted to generate a plurality of first accelerometer signals (S1 x, S1y, S1 z) depending on an orientation of the sample container (2), and-a calculation unit (5) coupled to the first accelerometer (4) and adapted to calculate the angle (a) depending on the plurality of first accelerometer signals (S1 x, S1y, S1 z).)

1. Apparatus (100) for measuring an angle (α) between a longitudinal axis (1) of a sample container (2) inserted into an opening (6) of a sample container holder (7) and a reference ray (3), the apparatus (100) comprising:

a first accelerometer (4) fixable to the sample container (2) and adapted to generate a plurality of first accelerometer signals (S1 x, S1y, S1 z) depending on an orientation of the sample container (2), and

a calculation unit (5) coupled to the first accelerometer (4) and adapted to calculate the angle (a) from the plurality of first accelerometer signals (S1 x, S1y, S1 z).

2. The apparatus (100) of claim 1,

the reference ray (3) forms a longitudinal axis of an opening (6) of the sample container holder (7).

3. The apparatus (100) of claim 1 or 2,

the first accelerometer (4) is adapted to generate three first accelerometer signals (S1 x, S1y, S1 z) depending on the orientation of the sample container (2) in space.

4. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

the apparatus (100) comprises a second accelerometer (8) fixable to the sample container carrier (7) and adapted to generate a plurality of second accelerometer signals (S2 x, S2y, S2 z) depending on an orientation of the sample container carrier (7),

wherein the calculation unit (5) is coupled to the second accelerometer (8) and adapted to calculate the angle (a) from the plurality of second accelerometer signals (S2 x, S2y, S2 z).

5. The apparatus (100) of claim 4,

the second accelerometer (4) is adapted to generate three second accelerometer signals (S2 x, S2y, S2 z) depending on the orientation of the sample container carrier (7) in space.

6. The apparatus (100) of claim 5,

the three first accelerometer signals (S1 x, S1y, S1 z) representing a first vector representing the orientation of the sample container (2) in space,

the three second accelerometer signals (S2 x, S2y, S2 z) represent a second vector representing the orientation of the reference ray (3) in space,

wherein the calculation unit (5) is adapted to calculate the angle (a) based on a dot product of the first vector and the second vector.

7. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

the device (100) comprises a reference sample container (2), wherein the first accelerometer (4) is fixed to the reference sample container (3).

8. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

the sample container carrier (7) comprising spring means (9) inserted into an opening (6) of the sample container carrier (7) and adapted to fix a sample container (2) inserted into the opening (6) by applying a spring force to the inserted sample container (2),

wherein the calculation unit (5) is adapted to check the function of the spring device (9) depending on the calculated angle (a).

9. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

the calculation unit (5) is adapted to check whether the spring means (9) is correctly inserted into the opening (6) according to the calculated angle (a).

10. The device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

the calculation unit (5) is adapted to check whether the spring means (9) is worn or broken according to the calculated angle (a).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring an angle between a longitudinal axis of a sample container inserted into an opening of a sample container holder and a reference ray.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly accurate and easy to manufacture device for measuring the angle between the longitudinal axis of a sample container inserted into an opening of a sample container holder and a reference ray.

The sample container carrier may for example be a single sample container carrier or may for example be part of a circular conveyor chain comprising a plurality of connected sample container carriers forming the chain.

The apparatus is adapted to measure an angle between a longitudinal axis of a sample container inserted into a respective opening of the sample container carrier and a reference ray. The sample container may be a conventional sample container, for example in the form of a conventional sample tube. However, the sample container may alternatively be realized as an imitation of a sample container having the same relative dimensions as commonly used sample containers but which is not intended to contain a sample.

The apparatus comprises a first accelerometer fixable or fixed to the sample container and adapted to generate a plurality of first accelerometer signals in dependence on an orientation of the sample container in space. For the basic functional principle of the accelerometer, please refer to the related technical literature.

The device further comprises a calculation unit (for example in the form of a microprocessor) coupled to the first accelerometer and adapted to calculate the angle from the plurality of first accelerometer signals. Calculating angles from accelerometer signals is well known in the art and reference is made thereto for this purpose.

According to one embodiment, the reference ray is a longitudinal axis of an opening, in particular a circular opening, of the sample container carrier.

According to one embodiment, the first accelerometer is adapted to generate three first accelerometer signals depending on the orientation of the sample container in space. A first of the three first accelerometer signals may for example represent an acceleration in the x-direction, a second of the three first accelerometer signals may for example represent an acceleration in the y-direction, and a third of the three first accelerometer signals may for example represent an acceleration in the z-direction.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a second accelerometer fixable or fixed to the sample container carrier and adapted to generate a plurality of second accelerometer signals depending on the orientation of the sample container in space, wherein the calculation unit is coupled to the second accelerometer and adapted to calculate the angle depending on the plurality of first accelerometer signals and depending on the plurality of second accelerometer signals.

According to one embodiment, the second accelerometer is adapted to generate three second accelerometer signals depending on the orientation of the sample container carrier in space. A first of the three second accelerometer signals may for example represent an acceleration in the x-direction, a second of the three second accelerometer signals may for example represent an acceleration in the y-direction, and a third of the three second accelerometer signals may for example represent an acceleration in the z-direction.

According to an embodiment, the three first accelerometer signals represent a first vector representing the orientation of the sample container in space and the three second accelerometer signals represent a second vector representing the orientation of the reference ray in space, wherein the calculation unit is adapted to calculate the angle based on a dot product of the first vector and the second vector.

According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a reference sample container, wherein the first accelerometer is fixed to the reference sample container.

According to one embodiment, the sample container carrier comprises a spring device or a spring insert inserted into an opening of the sample container carrier and adapted to fix a sample container inserted into the opening by applying a spring force to the inserted sample container, wherein the calculation unit is adapted to check whether the spring device functions correctly depending on the calculated angle. The longitudinal axis of the sample container inserted into the opening usually extends substantially in the z-direction if the spring means function correctly. Thus, if the spring device functions ideally, the calculated angle may correspond to a set point, for example a set point of 0 °. If the calculated angle deviates from the set point by more than a given threshold, for example by more than 5 ° to 10 ° from the set point, it can be concluded that the spring means does not function properly.

According to one embodiment, the calculation unit is adapted to check whether the spring device is correctly inserted into the opening based on the calculated angle.

According to one embodiment, the calculation unit is adapted to check whether the spring means is worn or broken according to the calculated angle.

The position of the spring means inserted into the sample container influences the position of the sample container. Sample containers placed obliquely in the opening have a negative impact on container handling and processing efficiency.

The present invention provides the ability to measure the degree of deflection of, for example, a reference sample container, which can then be used to determine, for example, the position of a spring device or insert.

The sample container may be considered a vector whose orientation is defined by { ax, ay, az } below.

A reference vector, which may be described as a sample container holder vector, is defined by the orientation { bx, by, bz }.

Assuming that during the measurement both the sample container carrier and the sample container inserted into the opening of the sample container carrier are stationary, the linear acceleration is zero.

For simplicity, the accelerometer assigned to the sample container carrier may be aligned with a flat top surface of the sample container carrier, wherein the flat top surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the circular opening of the sample container carrier.

The measurements from both accelerometers will reflect the distribution of gravity based on the orientation of the object to which they are connected. Using the dot product of the two vectors, the angle between the two vectors, in this case the angle of inclination of the sample container relative to the top surface of the sample container holder, can be determined.

An angle known as, for example, zero reflects a no-error condition in which the sample container is placed perpendicular to the top surface of the sample container carrier. A sample container having a diameter of, for example, 13 mm and an angle of inclination of 2-5 degrees reflects that the outer surface of the sample container is in contact with the inner diameter of the edge of the opening, wherein this case describes a sample container holder without spring means or breakage or absence of spring means in the opening.

By means of the apparatus of the invention, automatic predictive maintenance of sample container carriers can be performed. Further, characterization or testing of tube types, detection of new tube types, and the like may be achieved. Furthermore, sample container carrier inspection may be performed during a shut down in which sample container carriers are not actually used. When the measured angle is higher than a predetermined angle, for example 2 degrees, predictive maintenance is performed by replacing the sample container holder or an inserted spring means.

Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 schematically shows an apparatus for measuring an angle between a longitudinal axis of a sample container inserted into an opening of a sample container holder and a reference ray, and

fig. 2 schematically illustrates a laboratory automation system including a circular conveyor chain including a plurality of connected sample container carriers forming the chain and the apparatus of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross-sectional side view of an apparatus 100 for measuring an angle α between a longitudinal axis 1 of a sample container 2 inserted into an opening 6 of a sample container holder 7 and a reference ray 3. As shown, the reference ray 3 forms the longitudinal axis of the opening 6 of the sample container carrier 7.

In fig. 1, only a single opening 6 of the sample container carrier 7 is shown. However, the sample container carrier 7 may have more than one opening 6, for example 5 linearly arranged openings 6 or 50 openings arranged in rows and columns.

The apparatus 100 comprises a first accelerometer 4 fixed to the sample container 2 and adapted to generate three first accelerometer signals S1x, S1y, S1z depending on the orientation of the sample container 2 in space.

The apparatus 100 comprises a second accelerometer 8 fixed to the top surface of the sample container carrier 7 and adapted to generate three second accelerometer signals S2x, S2y, S2z depending on the orientation of the sample container carrier 7 in space.

The three first accelerometer signals S1x, S1y, S1z represent a first vector representing the orientation of the sample container 2 in space. The first vector may be represented as

Thus, the three second accelerometer signals S2x, S2y, S2z represent a second vector representing the orientation of the reference ray 3 in space. The second vector may be represented as

The calculation unit 5 is adapted to calculate the angle alpha based on the dot product of the first vector and the second vector. It comprises the following steps:

it follows

Thus, the angle α can be calculated based on the above equation.

The sample container carrier 7 comprises spring means 9 which are inserted into the opening 6 of the sample container carrier 7 and which are adapted to fix a sample container 2 inserted into the opening 6 by applying a spring force to the inserted sample container 2.

If the spring means 9 functions as intended, the angle α is zero, i.e. the longitudinal axis 1 of the sample container 2 extends only in the z-direction. If the measured angle a deviates from zero more than a given threshold value, for example more than +/-3 degrees, it can be determined that the spring device 9 is malfunctioning.

The calculation unit 5 is adapted to check the function of the spring means 9 on the basis of the calculated angle alpha. The calculation unit may for example be adapted to check whether the spring means 9 are correctly inserted into the opening 6 and/or whether the spring means 9 are worn or broken, depending on the calculated angle alpha.

For this purpose, the sample container 2 may form a reference sample container as part of the apparatus 100, wherein the first accelerometer 4 is permanently fixed to the reference sample container 2. The reference sample container 2 may then be used to check whether each spring means 9 of the plurality of sample container carriers 7 functions correctly.

The calculation unit 5 may store the respective measured angle of each sample container carrier 7 and perform predictive maintenance, e.g. for absolute changes or rates of change of the measured angle.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a laboratory automation system 200 comprising a circular transport chain 201 comprising a plurality of connected sample container carriers 7 forming the chain 201 and the apparatus 100 of fig. 1. The device 100 is used to check whether the sample container carrier 7 functions properly during a shutdown of the laboratory automation system 200.

During normal operation of the laboratory automation system 200, the reference sample container 2 with the first accelerometer 4 fixed thereto is stored in the storage unit 202. The sample container carrier 7 transports sample containers in the form of laboratory sample tubes containing laboratory samples to be processed. With a laboratory sample tube inserted into the opening 6 of the sample container carrier 7, it is transported in the direction of movement of the chain 201.

During a shutdown of the laboratory automation system 200, no sample tubes are inserted into the openings 6 of the sample container carriers 7. The gripper 203 removes the reference sample container 2 with the first accelerometer 4 fixed thereto from the storage unit 202 and sequentially inserts the reference sample container 2 into the opening 6 of the sample container carrier 7 to be inspected. The respective resulting angle α is then used for checking the sample container carriers 7, in particular for checking the spring means 9 of the respective sample container carrier 7. Alternatively, if a problem with one of the sample container carriers is detected or becomes otherwise apparent, the spring status may be checked in the operational mode.