Patent Application
20220267126
The present application is directed to laboratory lift mechanisms.
Present principles understand that laboratory work often involves relatively heavy equipment that may from time to time need to be moved. For example, flow cytometry equipment such as Sony's SHA 800 used to identify/sort cells in biosamples can be heavy (e.g., 250 pounds or more) yet may require lab technicians to move the equipment for use or repair. This problem is often further complicated by the heavy equipment being disposed in the laboratory in a tight space such as a cabinet.
Accordingly, a mechanism is provided to allow a laboratory technician such as an engineer to safely lift and turn laboratory equipment up to 360 degrees, allowing easier access to areas of the equipment with minimum effort. The mechanism provides for compact operation to account for minimal space for moving the equipment. Various limits and options are provided to allow for lifting and, if desired, rolling to assist moving equipment around benches and floors with safe and minimal effort.
In one aspect, an assembly includes a flow cytometry apparatus disposed in a laboratory cabinet. The assembly also includes a platen supporting the flow cytometry apparatus in the laboratory cabinet, and a base coupled to the platen to permit the platen to rotate relative to the base to thereby rotate the flow cytometry apparatus. The apparatus further includes plural inflatable lift bags engaged with a bottom of the base. At least one source of air is connected to at least one of the lift bags to inflate the lift bag and raise the base with platen and flow cytometry apparatus.
In example embodiments the platen and the base may be disk-shaped. If some implementations the platen can include an axle and the base can include a receptacle, and the axle is rotatably received in the receptacle.
In example implementations a locking mechanism prevents rotatable motion of the platen relative to the base.
The source of air may include a manually actuated pump, and if desired plural sources of air may be connected to respective inflatable lift bags.
Also, plural hook and loop fasteners may be provided for connecting respective inflatable lift bags to the base.
In another aspect, an apparatus includes at least one platen having a top surface configured to support an object and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The apparatus also includes at least one base below the bottom surface and coupled to the platen to permit rotatable motion of the platen relative to the base. Plural lift bags are provided with plural fasteners coupling the lift bags to the base to raise the base responsive to the lift bags being inflated.
In another aspect, a method includes disposing a piece of equipment in a laboratory cabinet, engaging the piece of equipment with a rotatable surface in the cabinet, and raising the rotatable surface in the cabinet.
The details of the present application, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring to
Considering
As shown in
Also, plural hook and loop fasteners 30 may be provided for connecting respective inflatable lift bags 26 to the base 20, e.g., to the bottom of the base.
In example implementations one or more locking mechanisms 32 may be provided to prevent rotatable motion of the platen 18 relative to the base 20. The locking mechanism 32 may be established by a rigid L-shaped bracket that can be moved toward and away from the platen to grip the platen, or a flexible strap that can be formed with a hole to engage a detent on the platen, or other structure.
Similarly, an equipment lock 34 may be provided to hold or lock the equipment 12 onto the platen 18. The equipment lock 34 may be structurally similar or the same as the locking mechanism 32.
While the particular LABORATORY LIFT MECHANISM is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.
Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged, or excluded from other embodiments.
“A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B, C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together.
