Transport device for a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994806-B2
Application number	US-201615346015-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2013
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

A transport device for a container has a base, a vertical member extending up from the base and a complementary handling unit extending from an end of the vertical member spaced from the base. The complementary handling unit is configured for releasably engaging a container, such as a bioreactor container, so that the container can be transported to a holding device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transport device ( 31 ) for lifting and transporting a bioreactor container ( 1 ), the bioreactor having a wall ( 3 ) that is flexible at least in some areas so that the wall can be shortened into a transport condition in a direction opposite to a stretching direction (S), the bioreactor ( 1 ) further having a handling unit ( 11 ) connected to the wall ( 3 ), wherein the transport device ( 31 ) comprises:
a base;
a vertical support extending up from the base;
a complementary handling unit ( 33 ) extending from an end of the vertical support remote from the base, the complementary handling unit ( 33 ) being configured to releasably engage the handling unit ( 11 ) of the bioreactor container ( 1 ); and
a securing unit ( 19 ) that is engageable with the wall ( 3 ) when the wall ( 3 ) is in the transport condition to prevent the wall ( 3 ) of the bioreactor container ( 1 ) from stretching along the stretching direction (S) and being releasable to permit the wall ( 3 ) to stretch along the stretching direction (S), wherein at least one of the complementary handling unit ( 33 ) and the securing unit ( 19 ) is dimensioned relative to the bioreactor container ( 1 ) so that at least one component of the transport device ( 31 ) engages and locally deforms the wall ( 3 ) of the bioreactor container ( 1 ) for creating turbulence in the bioreactor ( 1 ) during use.

2. The transport device ( 31 ) of claim 1 , wherein the base is wheeled base.

3. The transport device ( 31 ) of claim 1 , wherein the vertical support is vertically adjustable for adjusting a height position of the complementary handling unit ( 33 ) relative to the base of the transport device ( 31 ).

4. The transport device ( 31 ) of claim 3 , wherein the vertical support is motorized for carrying out vertical adjustments to the height position of the complementary handling unit ( 33 ).

5. The transport device ( 31 ) of claim 1 , wherein the complementary handling unit ( 33 ) includes what is a rotation device ( 35 ) configured so that the complementary handling unit ( 33 ) can be rotated about a horizontal axis (A).

6. The transport device ( 31 ) of claim 1 , wherein the complementary handling unit ( 33 ) is configured to engage the handling unit ( 11 ) of the bioreactor container ( 1 ) while moving the complementary handling unit ( 33 ) of the transport device ( 31 ) substantially horizontally toward the handling unit ( 11 ).

7. The transport device ( 31 ) of claim 1 , wherein the complementary handling unit ( 33 ) includes a clamp ( 33 ) configured for releasably engaging the handling unit ( 11 ) of the bioreactor container ( 1 ).

8. The transport device ( 31 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component of the transport device ( 31 ) that engages and locally deforms the wall ( 3 ) of the bioreactor container ( 1 ) for creating turbulence in the bioreactor ( 1 ) during use extends substantially parallel to the stretching direction (S).

9. The transport device ( 31 ) of claim 8 , wherein the at least one component of the transport device ( 31 ) that engages and locally deforms the wall ( 3 ) of the bioreactor container ( 1 ) for creating turbulence in the bioreactor ( 1 ) during use is at least one part of the securing unit ( 19 ).

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh

Inventors

• Husemann Bernward
• Kahlert Wolfgang
• Chaussin Sebastien
• Seitz Reiner

Classifications

• B62B3/04

  involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment · CPC title

• C12M23/48

  Holding appliances; Racks; Supports (holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00) · CPC title

• C12M23/46

  Means for fastening · CPC title

• B62B5/0033

  Electric motors · CPC title

• C12M23/52 Primary

  Mobile; Means for transporting the apparatus (transportable laboratories B01L1/52) · CPC title