WO2019106219A1 - Tool for the manual removal of tubes accommodated in a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool for the manual removal of tubes accommodated in a container.

Description

 DESCRIPTION

TOOL FOR THE MANUAL EXTRACTION OF ALLOY PIPES IN A

CONTAINER

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a tool for the manual removal of tubes housed in a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, tubes of the type used for the storage of samples are stored in containers. The commercial containers house the tubes keeping small distances between them, so that the space occupied by said tubes is minimized.

If you want to remove one of the tubes from the container where they are stored, the small distance between tubes is a problem.

Thin clamps can be used to extract the tubes individually. However, the tubes can fall or change position due to poor grip of the clamps on the surface of the tube, which is a problem when the tubes are not coded and their content is defined by occupying specific positions, with the additional risk of pour the contents of the tube. The result of gripping each tube with these clamps also varies depending on the thickness and material of the tube, and the friction obtained with the flaps of these clamps.

The use of special plugs on the tubes and specific forceps that fit with these plugs can solve the problem of the overturning of the tube. However, the use of these special plugs requires the use of tubes compatible with these plugs, so it is not a viable solution for unsupported tubes that are already stored in containers or that were already plugged with generic plugs. In the state of the art can also be found devices that have movable elements and that allow the extraction of rows of tubes from a container. Some of said devices are in themselves the container where the tubes are housed, which is a problem since it is not possible to use commercial containers. In addition, these devices allow the extraction of the required tubes by means of push elements that, manually or automatically, raise by means of a lever or mechanism a support that allows raising the tubes to be extracted. Due to the mobility of the lifting system, these devices are unreliable. Additionally, the force necessary for the activation of the lifting system may involve the overturning or movement of the tube or tubes to be lifted, which is a bad result when extracting the tubes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a solution to the above problems by means of a tube extraction tool according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention provides a tool for the manual removal of tubes housed in a container, wherein the tool comprises:

 - a base defined according to a plane (P) and configured to support the container,

 - at least one fixed support member comprising a bearing end, the bearing end being spaced apart from the plane (P) and configured to support at least one tube, and

 - a first stop transverse to the plane (P) and located on one side of the base.

The present tool allows the arrangement of at least one of the tubes housed in a container at a height higher than the rest of tubes housed in said container. The raised arrangement of the at least one tube is achieved by supporting the container on the tool, so that the tube or tubes that are arranged on the at least one fixed support element are placed at a higher height, said height defined according to the distance established between the plane (P) and the supporting end. Advantageously, the first stop facilitates the alignment of the container on the tool, while increasing the stability of said container once mounted on the tool.

Throughout this document, a first stop transverse to the plane (P) is understood as a stop emerging from the plane (P), so as to allow the alignment of the aforementioned container.

In one embodiment, the first stop is perpendicular to the plane (P).

When placing the container on the tool in a use situation, the container is arranged at the height defined by the plane (P). The tubes housed in the container that are not supported by the at least one fixed support element are still disposed in the container without varying their relative position with respect to the container. However, the at least one tube that is supported by the at least one fixed support element is located distanced from the plane (P), its position being therefore a high position in height with respect to the rest of tubes not supported by the element fixed support. In this way, the tubes supported by the at least one fixed support element are located at a defined elevation height with respect to the plane (P), thus varying the position in which they were originally stored in the container. Meanwhile, the rest of the tubes not supported by the at least one fixed support element remain in the same position in which they were stored in the container.

The tool is intended to be used with containers whose lower part allows access to the lower end of the tubes housed in the container. The lower part of the container can be diaphanous, with an opening that allows access to any of the tubes, regardless of their position of accommodation in the container. The lower part of the container can have more than one opening, so that each opening provides access to one or more of the tubes housed in the container. The lower part of the container may have the form of a grid, for example a grid where each opening of the grid provides access to a single housing position in the container. However, a container with a closed bottom part can also be used with the tool of the invention, provided that the lower part of the container is configured so as to support the container on the base of the tool as well as supporting the at least one tube on the at least one fixed element of support. An example of this type of container it would be a container provided with a lower cover configured as a flexible membrane.

Preferably the first stop extends along the side of the base.

Preferably, the first stop has a height greater than the height of the at least one fixed support element.

In one embodiment, the base comprises a perimeter flange configured to support the container. Thus, the container rests on said perimeter flange supporting part of its outer contour on it.

In one embodiment the tool comprises a second stop transverse to the plane (P) and located on one side of the base facing the first stop. Preferably the first and second stop extend along two facing sides of the base and are parallel to each other. Preferably, the second stop has a height greater than the height of the at least one fixed support element. In one embodiment, the first stop and the second stop are perpendicular to the plane (P) and have the same height.

In one embodiment the tool comprises a plurality of fixed support elements, configured to support a single tube each. In one embodiment, all the fixed support elements have the same height with respect to the plane (P). In one embodiment the fixed support elements are arranged in a straight line.

In one embodiment the arrangement of the fixed support elements is in a straight line, said straight line being perpendicular to the first stop transverse to the plane (P), which allows the selection of a specific row or column of tubes of the container for its disposal to a higher height with respect to the rest of the tubes of the container. However, in other embodiments, the fixed support elements can be configured according to other relative provisions of one with respect to another, for example fixed support elements that conform half a row or half column of the rows or columns defined by the tubes present in the container. Additionally, there may also be fixed support elements that allow the support of alternate tubes in rows or columns of the container. In one embodiment the tool comprises a fixed support element configured to support a plurality of tubes.

In one embodiment, the tool comprises at least one position indicating element, which facilitates the correct positioning of the container with respect to the at least one fixed support element. Preferably, at least one position indicating element is disposed on the first stop.

In one embodiment, at least one position indicating element is a mark, a projection, a slot or a notch. In one embodiment, at least one position indicating element is a V-shaped notch or a semicircular notch. The tool can include several position indicators, configured with the same or with different form.

In one embodiment the base has an H-shaped configuration, with two substantially parallel sides joined by a central zone. In this embodiment the at least one fixed support element is disposed on the central zone of the base. Advantageously, this configuration results in a saving of material and a lighter tool.

In one embodiment the fixed support elements have a substantially cylindrical shape. Advantageously, a substantially cylindrical configuration for the fixed support elements reduces the likelihood of snagging or collision with container elements.

In one embodiment the fixed support elements have a prismatic shape, where a surface of said prismatic shape is suitable for the support of at least one tube.

All features and / or method steps described herein (including claims, description and drawings) can be combined in any combination, except combinations of such mutually exclusive features. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred embodiment, given solely by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures. .

Figure 1 This figure shows a perspective view of a manual tube removal tool according to a first embodiment (configured to extract tubes aligned in columns).

 Figure 2 In this figure the main views (plan, elevation and profile) of the tool according to the embodiment of Figure 1 are illustrated.

 Figure 3 This figure shows a perspective view of a manual tube removal tool according to a second embodiment (configured to extract tubes aligned in rows).

 Figure 4 This figure illustrates the main views (plan, elevation and profile) of the tool according to the embodiment of Figure 3.

 Figure 5 This figure shows the initial step for placing a container with tubes on a tool according to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4.

 Figure 6 This figure shows the positioning of a container with tubes on a tool according to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 7 This figure illustrates the use of a tool according to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 together with a container already mounted on said tool.

DETAILED EXHIBITION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the tool (1) for the manual removal of tubes (T) housed in a container (C), when the tubes (T) to be drawn are aligned in a column of the container . In figure 2 the main views of the tool (1) of figure 1 are shown.

The tool (1) comprises a base (2), which in this embodiment is H-shaped, with two sides facing and parallel, which is joined by a central area (2.4). Said base (2) is defined according to a plane (P), represented schematically in figure 2.

On the two facing sides of the base (2) are a first stop (4.1) and a second stop (4.2), perpendicular to the plane (P) and arranged facing and parallel to each other. The first stop (4.1) and the second stop (4.2) extend longitudinally each along the side of the base on which they are arranged.

The base (2) also comprises two perimeter flanges (2.3), resulting from the available space of each of the sides of the base (2) once the first stop

(4.1) and the second stop (4.2) are located on said sides. In a situation of use of the tool (1), the container (C) rests on these perimeter flanges (2.3) on the lower part, while its external lateral contour is supported against the first stop (4.1) and the second stop (4.2), so that the total volume of said container (C) is limited by three of its surfaces, namely the lower surface and two of its lateral surfaces.

In this embodiment, the first stop (4.1) and the second stop (4.2) contain position indicator elements (2.1, 2.2), in this case a first V-shaped notch.

(2.1) in the first stop (4.1) and a second V-shaped notch (2.1) in the second stop (4.2), as well as a plurality of projections (2.2) located along both the first stop (4.1) and of the second stop (4.2), in its longitudinal direction.

In this embodiment, each of the projections (2.2) is accompanied by a number, the numbering of the projections being correlated increasing from the center of the tool (1) towards the ends of the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop. These positional marks in the form of numbers provide an additional reference of the position of the container with respect to the tool (1) and facilitate the placement of the container (C) on the tool (1) in a suitable position to raise the column of tubes (T). ) desired. The existence of marks "in mirror" in the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop allows the tool (1) to have an axial symmetry of 180 ° and that, therefore, can be used without having to orient it previously with respect to to the container (C).

The tool (1) according to this embodiment comprises a plurality of fixed elements of support (3) (eight fixed support elements (3) in this embodiment), on which the tubes (T) that wish to be lifted for removal from the container (C) are supported. The fixed support elements (3) are located on the central area (2.4) of the base (2) aligned along the longitudinal direction of the central zone (2.4) and perpendicular to the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop. Additionally, said fixed support elements (3) are aligned with the notches (2.1) in V located in the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop. As seen in figures 1 and 2, the fixed support elements (3) have a cylindrical configuration, with a substantially flat support end (3.1) suitable for supporting a tube. In addition, the fixed support elements (3) have a height less than the height of the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop with respect to the plane (P), being hi the height of the fixed support elements (3) and h ₂ the height of the first (4.1) and second (4.2) stops.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the tool (1) according to a second embodiment, configured to facilitate the extraction of a plurality of tubes (T) aligned in a row of the container (C). In figure 4 the main views of the tool (1) of figure 3 are shown.

As in the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, the tool (1) has a base (2) in the form of H, with two sides facing and parallel, joined by a central area (2.4), and on each of the two opposite sides of the base (2) is a stop (4.1, 4.2) perpendicular to the plane of the base (2). However, in this second embodiment the tool (1) has twelve fixed support elements (3), arranged aligned in the central area (2.4) of the tool (1).

In this embodiment, the projections (2.2) located along each of the vertical stops (4) have an associated correlative letter increasing from the center of the tool (1) towards the ends of the first (4.1) and the second (4.2). ) cap. These positional marks in the form of letters provide an additional reference of the position of the container with respect to the tool (1) and facilitate the placement of the container (C) on the tool (1) in a suitable position to raise the row of tubes (T). ) desired. The existence of marks "in mirror" in the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop allows the tool (1) to have an axial symmetry of 180 ° and that, therefore, can be used without having to orient it previously with respect to to the container (C). The presence of positional marks in the form of numbers is especially advantageous in the case of a tool provided for the extraction of pipes arranged in columns, while positional marks in the form of letters is especially advantageous in the case of a tool intended for extraction of tubes arranged in rows, since in standard 96 position containers the coordinates that define the position of the housings for the tubes in the container are defined by increasing numbers from left to right for the columns and by increasing letters from top to bottom for the rows of the container.

The plant of the tool (1) shows, in figures 2 and 4, how the central zone (2.4) and the perimeter flanges (2.3) of the base (2) form a single surface of the tool (1), being located on said central area (2.4) the fixed support elements (3) aligned and separated from each other by a fixed distance.

It is also observed in these figures the alignment of the fixed support elements (3) with the center of the V-grooves (2.1) located in the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop, as well as the positioning of said elements fixed support (3) perpendicular to the long dimension of the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop.

In figure 4 the height (hi) of the fixed support elements (3) is represented schematically, which is less than the height (h ₂ ) of the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop. In figures 5 to 7 an embodiment of the use of the tool according to the embodiment of figures 3 and 4 is exemplified.

Figure 5 shows a first step in the process of placing a container (C) full of tubes (T) on a tool (1) as shown in figures 3 and 4. This figure shows a same moment of approximation of the container (C) to the tool (1) in isometric, elevation, profile and plant view.

As seen in Figure 5, the container (C) is configured to accommodate up to 96 tubes, arranged in eight rows and twelve columns. In figure 5 the container has been represented full of tubes (T), although only some of the Tubes have been identified with the reference "T" in the figure, for clarity.

To place it on the tool (1), the container (C) is approached to the tool (1), until the container (C) is positioned so that the sides of the container (C) are limited by the first stop (4.1 ) and the second stop (4.2).

Figure 6 shows the position of the container (C) on the tool (1) once it has been placed between the first stop (4.1) and the second stop (4.2), but where the container is not still supported on the base (two). In this position the first stop (4.1) and the second stop (4.2) allow to slide the container (C) along the longitudinal direction of the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop, without losing the correct alignment of the container (C) with respect to the tool (1) preventing the container (C) from rotating. This sliding of the container (C) with respect to the tool (1) allows to easily align the row of the tube (T) that it is desired to extract with the V-notches (2.1) or to align the upper edge of the container (C) with the projections (2.2) corresponding to the letter that designates the row where the tube (T) is to be extracted. Therefore, the projections (2.2) as well as the V-notches (2.1) help to arrange the container in the proper position with respect to the tool (1) to extract the desired tube.

In figure 6, the same instant is represented in the placement of the container (C) on the tool (1) by means of perspective, elevation, profile and plant views. Both in the profile and in the elevation, the alignment of the container (C) on the tool (1) is indicated by means of arrows for its correct positioning. Thus, in the elevation it is shown how two of the outer side surfaces of the container (C) are located in the space contained between the inner surfaces of the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop, so that said outer side surfaces of the container (C) rest on the inner surfaces of the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop. In the profile, the placement of the container (C) with respect to the notch in the form of V (2.1) or with respect to the fixed support elements (3) is represented by arrows.

The plan view of figure 6 shows in turn how the container (C) is positioned using as reference the projections (2.2) and one edge of the container (C). Finally, Figure 7 shows the views in perspective, elevation, profile and plant of the final positioning of the container (C) on the tool (1), when the container is supported on the tool and one of the rows of tubes (T). ) is arranged at a high height to facilitate manual removal.

 Thus, as seen in the perspective of the present figure, the container (C) is completely supported by the tool (1). The first (4.1) and the second (4.2) stop limit the position of the container (C) by two of its parallel side surfaces, while the container (C) supports its bottom on the perimeter flanges (2.3) of the base (two). The support of the container (C) on the perimeter flanges (2.3) is also clearly observed in the plan view of the present figure, where it is also observed how the container (C) supports the first (4.1) and the second (4.2) cap. Depending on the configuration of the lower part of the container, the container can additionally rest on the central area (2.4) of the base (2).

In addition, the positions of the container corresponding to the tubes (T) to be extracted are arranged on the fixed support elements (3), so that the tubes housed in said positions of the container (C) rest on the fixed support elements (3) and are in an elevated position with respect to the rest of the tubes (T) housed in the container. In the present figure it is observed, particularly more clearly in the views in perspective and profile, how high the row of tubes (T) to be extracted with respect to the rest of tubes (T) housed in the container (C). The position of said tubes (T) at a higher height with respect to the rest of tubes (T) allows the simple manual extraction of the selected tube or tubes.

The profile view of the present figure also shows how the row of tubes (T) raised is completely aligned with the V-shaped notches (2.1) of the tool (1).

The plan view also allows to see how the upper edge of the container is aligned with the projection labeled with the letter "C", which corresponds to the standard coordinate for the third row of the container (numbered with letters from top to bottom according to the standard notation) whose tubes are elevated.

Finally, the positioning procedure in the case of extraction of a The tube column (T) is analogous to that described, the tool (1) being of suitable dimensions for housing the container (C) in such a position as to allow the column of tubes to be placed on the fixed support elements (3) ( T) to extract.

Claims

1. Tool (1) for the manual removal of tubes (T) housed in a container (C), characterized in that the tool (1) comprises: - a base (2) defined according to a plane (P) and configured to support the container (C),  - at least one fixed support element (3) comprising a bearing end (3.1), the bearing end (3.1) being spaced apart from the plane (P) and suitable to support at least one tube (T), and - a first stop (4.1) transverse to the plane (P) and located on one side of the base (2). 2. Tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the base (2) comprises a perimeter flange (2.3) configured to support the container (C). 3. Tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second stop (4.2) transverse to the plane (P) and located on one side of the base (2) facing the first stop (4.1). Tool (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that the first stop (4.1) and the second stop (4.2) extend along two opposite sides of the base (2) and are parallel to each other. 5. Tool (1) according to any of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the first stop (4.1) and the second stop (4.2) are perpendicular to the plane (P). 6. Tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixed support element (3) is suitable to support a plurality of tubes (T). 7. Tool (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of fixed support elements (3). 8. Tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixed support elements (3) are arranged in a straight line. 9. Tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the arrangement of the fixed support elements (3) is perpendicular to the first stop (4.1). 10. Tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one position indicator element (2.1, 2.2). 11. Tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one position indicator element (2.1, 2.2) is disposed on the first stop (4.1). 12. Tool (1) according to any of claims 10 to 11, characterized in that at least one position indicating element (2.1, 2.2) is a mark, a projection, a notch or a groove. 13. Tool (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that at least one position indicator element (2.1) is a V-shaped notch. 14. Tool (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that at least one position indicator element is a notch in a semicircular shape. 15. Tool (1) according to any of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that it includes positional marks in the form of letters or numbers that accompany the position indicator elements (2.2). 16. Tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the base (2) has an H-shaped configuration, with two substantially parallel sides joined by a central area (2.4), and wherein the at least one Fixed support element (3) is located on the central area (2.4). 17. Tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the fixed support elements (3) have a substantially cylindrical shape. 18. Tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the fixed support elements (3) have a height (hi) with respect to the plane (P) lower than the height (h ₂ ) of the first stop (4.1) with respect to the plane (P).