Method for checking the functionality of a metering pump
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH
InventorGuenther Kotulla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a metering pump, for example, for a pipetting apparatus in an automated analysis machine, and to a method for checking the functionality thereof.
Claims12
A method for checking the functionality of a metering pump comprising a cylinder and a motor-driven plunger which is movable in the cylinder, the plunger being displaceable between a start position and a target position, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) displacing the plunger via a motor from the start position in a direction of the target position with a driving force F0, wherein an initial value of the driving force F0 is stored in a control device and is less than a driving force F2, a value of the driving force F2 stored in the control device;
- (b) monitoring via a sensor whether the plunger arrives at the target position;
- and
- (c) returning the plunger via the motor to the start position with the driving force F2;
- wherein:
- (d) a signal is generated by the control device indicating the functionality of the metering pump if it is determined that the plunger reaches the target position and the driving force F0 is less than a maximum driving force F1, a value of the maximum driving force F1 stored in the control device;
- and
- (e) the steps a) to c) are repeated with the driving force F0 increased by a value n resulting in a driving force F0+n, the value n stored in the control device, the driving force F0+n being less than the driving force F2, if it is determined that the plunger does not reach the target position.
A metering pump comprising a cylinder, a plunger which is movable in the cylinder, and a motor, wherein a driving force is transferable from the motor onto the plunger, as a result of which the plunger is displaceable between a start position and a target position, and wherein the metering pump has a control device configured such that it controls a method for checking the functionality of the metering pump, the method comprising:
- (a) displacing the plunger via a motor from the start position in a direction of the target position with a driving force F0, wherein an initial value of driving force F0 is stored in the control device and is less than a driving force F2, a value of the driving force F2 stored in the control device;
- (b) monitoring via a sensor whether the plunger arrives at the target position;
- and
- (c) returning the plunger via the motor to the start position with the driving force F2;
- wherein:
- (d) a signal is generated by the control device indicating the functionality of the metering pump if it is determined that the plunger reaches the target position and the driving force F0 is less than a maximum driving force F1, a value of the maximum driving force F1 stored in the control device;
- and
- (e) the steps a) to c) are repeated with the driving force F0 increased by a value n resulting in a driving force F0+n, the value n stored in the control device, the driving force F0+n being less than the driving force F2, if it is determined that the plunger does not reach the target position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.