The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for equipping an optical measurement instrument with transportation protection. Furthermore, the invention relates to an optical measurement instrument equipped with transportation protection.
The work in analytical biochemical laboratories and in clinical laboratories is often based on different optical measurements, which can be, for example but not necessarily, absorption measurements, photoluminescence measurements, and/or chemiluminescence measurements. Further, there is an analysing method called Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay or AlphaScreen™.
a shows a schematic illustration of a known optical measurement instrument suitable for performing some or all of the measurements of the kind mentioned above.
The optical measurement instrument includes a mechanical support element 102 onto which the optical module 123 constituting the optical interface can be fastened. The mechanical support element 102 is connected to a body structure 101 of the optical measurement instrument with the aid of threaded rods 103 and 104 and counterparts 105 and 106 so as to allow the distance D from the optical interface to the measured and/or excited sample 153 to be adjusted. The counterparts 105 and 106 may include, for example, servomotors arranged to move the mechanical support element 102 in the positive or negative z-direction of a co-ordinate system 190 in order to adjust the distance D.
The optical measurement instrument includes a receptable element 111 that is suitable for receiving the sample plate 120. The optical measurement instrument includes mechanical support elements arranged to moveably support the receptable element 111 with respect to the body structure 101. These mechanical support elements include a support rail 108 and guide elements 109 and 110 shown in
As the optical measurement instrument includes movable parts such as the mechanical support element 102 and the receptable element 111, the optical measurement instrument is preferably equipped with transportation protection during transportation, e.g. during shipping. A known solution is to use a bolt 128 or some other suitable pin for locking the mechanical support element 102 and the receptable element 111 to the body structure 101. The bolt 128 is capable of acting as a transportation protection element which is arranged to prevent the movable parts from moving during transportation and which has to be removed before the normal use of the optical measurement instrument. An inconvenience related to a technical solution of the kind described above is the work needed for installing the bolt 128 or another suitable pin to the optical measurement instrument before the transportation and also the work needed for removing the bolt or the other suitable pin after the transportation. For example, to be able to install the bolt 128 to the optical measurement instrument it is required that a hole 129,
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a new arrangement for equipping an optical measurement instrument with transportation protection, the said optical measurement instrument comprising:
The arrangement according to the invention comprises a detachable transportation protection element that is arranged to be pressed between the first mechanical support element and the body structure so as to mechanically restrict movement of the receptable element with respect to the body structure.
As the transportation protection element is arranged to be pressed between the first mechanical support element and the body structure, there is no need to install e.g. a bolt or some other pin into holes of different parts of the optical measurement instrument and thus the need for positioning the said parts in such a manner that the said holes are aligned with respect to each other is avoided.
In conjunction with such an optical measurement instrument that comprises driving elements that can be used for adjusting the distance between the first mechanical support element and the body structure, the transportation protection element can be arranged to be pressed between the first mechanical support element and the body structure for example with the aid of the above-mentioned driving elements. The driving elements may comprise for example one or more threaded rods having the thread pitch angle so small that each threaded rod is self-locking by friction to a respective counterpart in the longitudinal direction of the one or more threaded rods. Hence, the first mechanical support element and the receptable element are bound to the body structure with the aid of the above-mentioned driving elements and the transportation protection element. It is also possible that the transportation protection element is arranged to expand as a response to a control action directed to the transportation protection element in order to arrange the transportation protection element to be pressed between the first mechanical support element and the body structure. The transportation protection element can be, for example, a balloon-like bag that is expanded with e.g. pressurised air.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a new optical measurement instrument. The optical measurement instrument according to the invention is equipped with transportation protection and it comprises:
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a new method for equipping an optical measurement instrument with transportation protection, the optical measurement instrument comprising:
The method according to the invention comprises arranging a detachable transportation protection element to be pressed between the first mechanical support element and the body structure so as to arrange the transportation protection element to mechanically restrict movement of the receptable element with respect to the body structure.
A number of exemplifying embodiments of the invention are described in accompanied dependent claims.
Various exemplifying embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open expressions that do not exclude the existence of also unrecited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.
The exemplifying embodiments of the invention and their advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument according to the prior art,
b shows a schematic illustration of a view seen downwards from line A-A of
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped according to an embodiment of the invention with a transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection,
b shows a schematic illustration of the optical measurement instrument of
c shows a schematic illustration of a view seen downwards from line A-A of
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped according to an embodiment of the invention with a transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection,
b shows a schematic illustration of the optical measurement instrument of
c shows a schematic illustration of a view seen downwards from line A-A of
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped according to an embodiment of the invention with a transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection,
b shows a schematic illustration of the optical measurement instrument of
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped according to an embodiment of the invention with a transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection,
b shows a schematic illustration of the optical measurement instrument of
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped according to an embodiment of the invention with a transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection,
b shows a schematic illustration of the optical measurement instrument of
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped according to an embodiment of the invention with a transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection,
b shows a schematic illustration of the optical measurement instrument of
c shows a schematic illustration of a view seen downwards from line A-A of
a and 1b have been explained earlier in this document in conjunction with the background of the invention.
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped with a detachable transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection.
The optical measurement instrument may include, among others, the following functional elements: an excitation light source, a detector, one or more optical filters, light guides, and an optical interface capable of directing an excitation beam to a sample to be measured and/or to collect emission beam from the sample. One or more of the above-mentioned functional elements may be changeable optical modules that are not necessarily present in the optical measurement instrument during transportation, e.g. shipping. Hence, the above-mentioned functional elements are not shown in
The optical measurement instrument includes a first mechanical support element 202 that is suitable for supporting the optical interface. As mentioned above, the said optical interface may be a changeable optical module that is not necessarily installed to the first mechanical support element 202, or alternatively the optical interface may include optical components that are integral parts of the optical measurement instrument. The first mechanical support element 202 is connected to a body structure 201 of the optical measurement instrument with the aid of driving elements that allow the first mechanical support element 202 to be moved relative to the body structure 201 in the positive and negative z-directions of a co-ordinate system 290. The co-ordinate system 290 is assumed to be fixed relative to the body structure 201. In the optical measurement instrument shown in
The optical measurement instrument includes a receptable element 211 that is suitable for receiving a sample plate. The optical measurement instrument includes second mechanical support elements arranged to moveably support the receptable element 211 with respect to the body structure 201. The second mechanical support elements include a support rail 208 and guide elements 209 and 210 shown in
The above-mentioned sample plate is not shown in
In the following parts of this description of the exemplifying embodiments, a notation such as “the transportation protection element 212-215” means “the transportation protection element including the first part 213, the second part 212, and the helical springs 214 and 215”. Correspondingly, a notation such as “the driving elements 203-206” means “the driving elements including the threaded rods 203 and 204 and the respective counterparts 205 and 206”. The same is valid also for other figures.
As shown in
In an optical measurement instrument according to an embodiment of the invention a surface of the transportation protection element 212-215 that is in mechanical contact with the body structure 201 is at least partially covered with anti-slip material and/or a surface of the transportation protection element that is in mechanical contact with the first mechanical support element 202 is at least partially covered with anti-slip material. The anti-slip material can be for example rubber.
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped with a detachable transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection.
The transportation protection element includes a first part 313 that is in mechanical contact with the receptable element 311 in a substantially similar manner as a sample plate is intended to be in mechanical contact with the receptable element.
The transportation protection element further includes a second part 312 connected to the first part 312 in a flexible manner so as to allow the second part to be pressed against the body structure 301 with the aid of the first mechanical support element 302 in the direction of the arrow 330, as shown in
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped with a detachable transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection.
The transportation protection element 412 is a piece of material such as plastics or rubber and it is dimensioned to fit with the receptable element 411 as illustrated in
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped with a detachable transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection.
The transportation protection element includes a first part 513 that is in mechanical contact with the receptable element 511 in a substantially similar manner as the sample plate is intended to be in mechanical contact with the receptable element. The transportation protection element further includes a second part 512 that is connected to the first part in a flexible manner with the aid of springs 514 and 515. The springs allow the second part 512 to be pressed with the aid of the first mechanical support element 502 against the body structure 501 in the direction of the arrow 530.
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped with a detachable transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection.
The transportation protection element 612 is arranged to expand as a response to a control action directed to the transportation protection element in order to arrange the transportation protection element to be pressed between the first mechanical support element 602 and the body structure 601.
a shows a schematic illustration of an optical measurement instrument that is equipped with a detachable transportation protection element suitable for providing transportation protection.
Arrangements according to some exemplifying embodiments of the invention are described below referring to
An arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention includes a detachable transportation protection element 212-215, 312-314, 412, 512-515, 612, 712 for equipping an optical measurement instrument with transportation protection, the said optical measurement instrument including:
In the above-mentioned arrangement, the detachable transportation protection element is arranged to be pressed between the first mechanical support element and the body structure so as to mechanically restrict movement of the receptable element with respect to the body structure.
In an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, the transportation protection element 212-215, 312-314, 412, 512-515, 612 is located with respect to the receptable element in a substantially similar manner as a sample plate is intended to locate with respect to the receptable element.
In an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, the transportation protection element includes:
In an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, the transportation protection element 312-314 is made of elastic material and the first part 313 of the transportation protection element is connected to the second part 312 of the transportation protection element with strips 314 of said elastic material.
In an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, a surface of the transportation protection element that is in mechanical contact with the body structure is at least partially covered with anti-slip material.
In an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, the transportation protection element 212-215, 312-314, 412, 512-515, 712 is arranged to be pressed between the first mechanical support element 202, 302, 402, 502, 702 and the body structure 201, 301, 401, 501, 701 with the aid of driving elements 203-206, 303-306, 403-406, 503-506, 703-706 of the optical measurement instrument, the driving elements being arranged to move the first mechanical support element relative to the body structure.
In an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, the first mechanical support element 202 is locked to a position, in which it presses the transportation protection element, with the aid of driving elements that include at least one threaded rod 203, 204 having the thread pitch angle so small that the threaded rod is self-locking by friction to a respective counterpart 205, 206 in the longitudinal direction of the threaded rod.
In an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, the transportation protection element 612 is arranged to expand as a response to a control action directed to the transportation protection element in order to arrange the transportation protection element to be pressed between the first mechanical support element 602 and the body structure 601.
The above-mentioned method includes arranging, in phase 801, a detachable transportation protection element to be pressed between the first mechanical support element and the body structure so as to arrange the transportation protection element to mechanically restrict movement of the receptable element with respect to the body structure.
The method may include possible other method phases such as, for example, manufacturing or assembling the transportation protection element and/or packaging the optical measurement instrument.
In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the transportation protection element is placed with respect to the receptable element in a substantially similar manner as a sample plate is intended to locate with respect to the receptable element.
In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, a surface of the transportation protection element that is in mechanical contact with the body structure is at least partially covered with anti-slip material.
In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the method includes pressing, with the aid of the first mechanical support element, the transportation protection element against the body structure.
In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the first mechanical support element is pressed against the transportation protection element using least one threaded rod having a thread pitch angle so small that the threaded rod is self-locking by friction to a respective counterpart in the longitudinal direction of the threaded rod.
In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the method includes expanding the transportation protection element in order to arrange the transportation protection element to be pressed between the first mechanical support element and the body structure.
In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the transportation protection element is made of elastic material and the first part of the transportation protection element is connected to the second part of the transportation protection element with strips of said elastic material.
The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting. Therefore, the invention is not limited merely to the embodiments described above.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20095217 | Mar 2009 | FI | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/FI10/50107 | 2/18/2010 | WO | 00 | 11/2/2011 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61157626 | Mar 2009 | US |