EP2067529B1 - Siphoning device for laboratory containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refilling device for laboratory containers, which makes it possible to quickly, safely and without spilling the substance from a first to a second container to fill a powdery substance. It is especially intended for applications in the context of Pulverdosiergeräten, which have a dosing, which is fed by a working container. The working container can be designed as a container that can be connected to the dosing head or firmly connected to it, or as a hollow space in the interior of the dosing head itself.

If the substance supply is used up in the working container, it must be replenished, wherein substance is transferred from a reservoir into the working container. This transfer of substance from a first to a second container is a relatively common process in some laboratories and can be done by simply shaking when the vessel to be filled has a sufficiently large opening and / or accidental spillage of substance can be accepted ,

On the other hand, if the container to be filled has only a small opening, if the substance to be transferred is poisonous, or if for any reason any spillage must be avoided even the smallest amounts, the manual Umpfütten or the transfer using conventional utensils such as funnels and spatulas to a relatively time-consuming and possibly also delicate or dangerous activity.

Another difficulty also occurs when transferring substances that react with the ambient atmosphere or have a very high readiness for moisture absorption. This problem could be solved by filling the substance in a so-called glove box under a protective gas atmosphere, which is cumbersome and time consuming.

Coupling devices with shut-off valves have long been known in the art. They are used in particular, where after a Umfüllvorgang should be prevented that the recirculated fluid exits the separate coupling parts.

A coupling device with shut-off valves is in the US Pat. No. 1,827,286 A disclosed. It is a coupling unit for railway cars and locomotives. Each of the coupling halves has an individually operable ball valve, which can be closed as needed before disconnecting the coupling halves, so that after disconnection of the coupling the gas pressure in the lines is maintained and the brakes are not blocked.

Furthermore, many bottle caps with hinged cap are known and widely used in the prior art. Such a bottle closure is used for example in the US 5 484 070 A disclosed, which additionally has a child safety.

The bottle closures known in the prior art are wholly unsuitable for safely replenishing the aforementioned toxic substances, since no tight connection can be achieved between the mouth of the closure and the working container without first unfolding the cap and releasing the bottle opening.

Also, the couplings with shut-off valves in both coupling parts are unsuitable, since there is a dead volume between the two valves, in which remains of the transferred substance could get stuck and enter the environment as soon as the coupling is separated.

The present invention therefore has for its object to provide a container for refilling laboratory containers, which makes it possible to quickly and safely refill a particular powdered substance from a first to a second container, wherein the substance transfer from the first into the second container is substantially under tight closure so that no substance particles can escape to the outside during the transfer process and after the transfer process, or, if possible, no mixing of the gaseous medium present in the containers with the ambient air can take place.

This object is achieved by a transfer device according to claim 1 and by a transfer method for pulverulent substance according to claim 12. Detailed aspects and further developed embodiments of the invention are defined in the further subordinate claims.

A transfer device according to the present invention comprises a housing, which is either fixed or connected by a coupling means, with a reservoir. The coupling means may for example be a threaded connection, a snap connection but also a simple plug connection. The housing of the transfer device has a passage opening and a closure member movably connected to the housing for closing the passage opening. The closure member has at least one connection point for at least one working container and is rotatable or slidable relative to the housing between at least one open position and at least one closed position. In the closed position, the passage opening is closed by the closure part, and in the open position, the interior of the reservoir is connected via the passage opening with the interior of the working container used in the at least one connection point.

The transfer device according to the invention is suitable for connecting containers in order, in particular, to transfer a powdery substance from a first container, hereinafter referred to as a reservoir, into a second container, hereinafter referred to as a working container. Because the working container can be connected directly to the closure part, the opening of the working container can be guided past the passage opening directly. As a result, no, a dead volume forming, separable connection shafts are necessary, the separation of which there is a risk that substance can enter the environment.

The transfer device according to the invention makes it possible for a reservoir mouth which is closed before the substance transfer to be opened and also closed again while the container mouths are coupled together are. Thus, the Umfüllvorgang designed, for example, so that the working container to be filled is coupled with a closed by the Umfüllvorrichtung reservoir, which is arranged with its mouth down in a holder. Then, the passage opening is opened by moving or pivoting the closure part, so that substance from the reservoir can flow into the working container to be filled. By this arrangement, the substance can pass from the reservoir into the working container, at the same time the gas volume present in the working container is displaced by the inflowing substance and flows as a result of the generated by the effluent substance negative pressure in the reservoir into the reservoir. Any dust development outside the inventive transfer device is thus avoided. Subsequently, the closure part is closed again and the working container is released from the connection point and closed.

The possibility provided by the invention to keep a reservoir closed, as long as the container mouths are not coupled, also has the advantage that the contents of such a closed reservoir of each even short-term contact with the ambient atmosphere is completed, creating, for example, a moisture absorption or oxidation the substance contained in the container can be prevented.

The inventive refilling device can be designed so that the closure part is opened and closed by actuation of the outside, for example by an operator. In an advantageous embodiment, at least the working container to be filled consists of a transparent material, so that the operator can observe the material transfer and control it by adjusting the closure part.

If the clearance between the closure part and the housing is smaller than the smallest particle size, no substance can pass uncontrollably through this gap into the environment.

It makes sense, however, arranged at the mouth of the passage opening at least one sealing ring coaxial with the passage opening, which is in constant contact with the closure part. By means of this sealing ring residues of the substance are stripped off the mouth of the working container during the displacement or pivoting of the closure part and retained in the passage opening and / or transported into the working container. The shape of the sealing ring and its cross section can be chosen arbitrarily and does not necessarily have to be circular.

In order to increase safety, further sealing elements, for example a bellows, can be arranged between the closure part and the housing.

According to the invention possibilities of positive locking for securing the connections of the transfer device are provided with the reservoir and the working container. For example, with a terminal interlock, the connection of the working container inserted in the at least one connection point can be secured inextricably when the closure part is in the open position. Furthermore, the closure member may be locked with a closure member lock in the closed position when no working container is connected to the at least one connection point.

This inevitability between the presence of a working container in the connection point and the release of the closure part can be achieved particularly advantageous in that with the onset of a working container in the connection point, the closure part locking is actuated and the closure part is unlocked and by removing the working container from the connection point the closure part is automatically locked again.

An embodiment of the transfer device according to the invention with a plurality of connection points formed on the closure part is suitable for applications where a plurality of working containers with the same substance are to be filled from a storage container. In the event that not all existing connection points are filled with working containers to be filled, it is provided that the angle of rotation or the displacement distance of the closure part can only be released by the closure part locking to the extent that connection points are equipped with working containers without any gaps, thus preventing the escape of substance through unoccupied connection points.

If the housing of the transfer device is not insoluble, but is connected by a coupling means with the reservoir, a coupling agent locking may be provided to prevent accidental opening of the reservoir.

The coupling means for connecting the transfer device with a storage container and also the connection point for connection to a working container can be designed, for example, as a screw connection, bayonet connection, latching device or insertion device. Preferably, the coupling agent and the connection point can be distinguished from one another without being confused, so that the coupling agent can only be connected to a storage container and the connection point can only be connected to a working container.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the transfer device and the storage container and working container to be connected to it are standardized in such a way that storage containers can be connected directly to the coupling means and working container directly to the connection point. For storage and working containers that do not meet this standard connection, appropriate adapter can be created. In order to avoid the formation of dead volumes, as described above, these adapters preferably remain on the containers and not on the transfer device. As a result, the different containers are provided with a standardized interface, by means of which these different containers can also be easily connected to a device with the same standardized interface, for example a dosing device.

In the housing of the transfer device, a refillable chamber for a drying agent or a connection point to a replaceable desiccant cartridge can be formed, wherein the desiccant atmospherically communicates with the interior of the reservoir and optionally absorbs moisture from the substance in the reservoir.

Furthermore, at least one gas connection can be arranged on the housing of the transfer device, through which, for example, a protective gas can be supplied. Optionally, this can also be replaced by a gaseous medium present in the storage container or working container. This can have several advantages. For example, can be changed by the supply of a corresponding gas, the flowability of the substance or even the reactivity of the substance can be influenced. Of course, the arrangement of multiple gas connections is possible, which are connected to individual areas of the present transfer device and / or with the reservoir and / or with the working container.

After filling the work container can be closed, for example, by hand with a lid belonging to the container. However, it can also be provided that a closure sealing device and / or a closure device is arranged on the housing of Umfüllvorrichtung, which serves for applying a lid, sealing plug and / or a sealing adhesive on the filling opening of the working container when the same solved after filling of the connection point becomes.

So that during the transfer process the most dense connection possible between the storage container and the working container, the at least one connection point can have a spring element, by means of which spring element a working container inserted into the connection point can be tensioned against the housing.

• ein Vorratsbehälter wird mit dem Kupplungsmittel einer Umfüllvorrichtung verbunden. Dabei wird beispielsweise ein Schraubdeckel des Vorratsbehälters abgeschraubt und durch die Umfüllvorrichtung ersetzt, wobei sich das Verschlussteil im geschlossenen Zustand befindet,
• mindestens ein Arbeitsbehälter wird mit dem Verschlussteil durch die mindestens eine Anschlussstelle verbunden,
• gegebenenfalls wird vor dem Öffnen der Durchtrittsöffnung der Arbeitsbehälter durch das Verschieben oder Verschwenken des Verschlussteils mit einer Trockenmittelkammer verbunden,
• gegebenenfalls wird über einen Schutzgasanschluss das im Vorratsbehälter und/oder im Arbeitsbehälter vorhandene gasförmige Medium durch ein inertes Schutzgas ersetzt,
• die Durchtrittsöffnung wird durch das Verschieben oder Verschwenken des Verschlussteils geöffnet und die mit der Umfüllvorrichtung verbundenen Behälter in eine Umfülllage gebracht, so dass Substanz infolge der Schwerkraft vom Vorratsbehälter in den Arbeitsbehälter fliesst,
• nachdem der Arbeitsbehälter gefüllt ist, wird das Verschlussteil wieder geschlossen und
• der Arbeitsbehälter mittels einer Verschlusssiegelvorrichtung versiegelt und/oder der Arbeitsbehälter aus der Anschlussstelle gelöst.

A method for transferring a substance from a storage container into a working container, which are connected to one another by the transfer device according to the invention, comprises essentially the following steps:

• a reservoir is connected to the coupling means of a transfer device. In this case, for example, a screw of the Unscrewed and replaced by the transfer device, wherein the closure member is in the closed state,
• at least one working container is connected to the closure part by the at least one connection point,
• if appropriate, the working container is connected to a desiccant chamber by the displacement or pivoting of the closure part before the passage opening is opened,
• if appropriate, the gaseous medium present in the storage container and / or in the working container is replaced by an inert gas via an inert gas connection by an inert protective gas,
• the passage opening is opened by the displacement or pivoting of the closure part, and the containers connected to the transfer device are brought into a transfer position, so that substance flows from the storage container into the work container as a result of gravity,
• after the working container is filled, the closure part is closed again and
• the working container is sealed by means of a closure sealing device and / or the working container is released from the connection point.

Figur 1

eine schematisch und im Schnitt dargestellte Umfüllvorrichtung in Aufsicht, mit einer Schraubverbindung als Kupplungsmittel zum Vorratsbehälter und mit einer Schraubverbindung als Anschlussstelle zu einem Arbeitsbehälter sowie mit einem linear verschiebbaren Verschlussteil in geöffneter Stellung;

Figur 2

die Umfüllvorrichtung aus Figur 1 ebenfalls im Schnitt, jedoch im Unterschied zu Figur 1 in einer Seitenansicht und in geschlossener Stellung dargestellt;

Figur 3A

eine beispielhafte Darstellung einer Umfüllvorrichtung in Aufsicht und im Schnitt mit einer Schraubverbindung als Kupplungsmittel zum Vorratsbehälter, einer von der Seite mit einem Arbeitsbehälter verbindbare Anschlussstelle und einem linear verschiebbaren Verschlussteil;

Figur 3B

das linear verschiebbare Verschlussteil mit der U-förmig ausgebildeten Anschlussstelle;

Figur 4

eine beispielhafte Darstellung einer Umfüllvorrichtung mit einer bajonettartig ausgestalteten Anschlussstelle zu einem Arbeitsbehälter und einem Drehschieberverschluss;

Figur 5

eine beispielhafte Darstellung einer Umfüllvorrichtung mit Anschlussstellen für zwei Arbeitsbehälter;

Figur 6

eine beispielhafte Darstellung einer Umfüllvorrichtung mit einer Kammer für Trockenmittel, einem Gasanschluss und einer Verschlusssiegelvorrichtung;

Figur 7

eine beispielhafte Darstellung einer Umfüllvorrichtung mit einer Anschlussstelle mit Federelement und mit einer Verschlussvorrichtung für Verschlussstopfen.

The transfer device according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to examples and with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematically and in section transfer device in plan view, with a screw connection as a coupling means to the reservoir and with a screw connection as a connection point to a working container and with a linearly displaceable closure member in the open position;

FIG. 2

the transfer device FIG. 1 also on average, but unlike FIG. 1 shown in a side view and in the closed position;

FIG. 3A

an exemplary representation of a transfer device in plan view and in section with a screw connection as a coupling means to the reservoir, one from the side with a working container connectable connection point and a linearly displaceable closure part;

FIG. 3B

the linearly displaceable closure part with the U-shaped connection point;

FIG. 4

an exemplary representation of a transfer device with a bayonet-like designed connection point to a working container and a rotary valve closure;

FIG. 5

an exemplary representation of a transfer device with connection points for two work containers;

FIG. 6

an exemplary representation of a transfer device with a chamber for desiccant, a gas connection and a closure sealing device;

FIG. 7

an exemplary representation of a transfer device with a connection point with spring element and with a closure device for sealing plug.

FIG. 1 shows a transfer device 1 shown schematically in plan view and in section with a housing 2, which has a first screw connection as coupling means 3 to a reservoir 4. The closure member 7 is designed as a linearly movable slide and guided in a continuous guide 8 in the housing 2, wherein the displacement path is limited in both directions by stops 11. In the closure part 7, a second screw connection is formed as a connection point 5 to a working container 6. In the one stop position comes as shown, the connection point 5 to cover with a formed in the housing 2 through opening 10 so that the interior of the reservoir 4 is connected through the passage opening 10 throughout with the interior of the working container 6 and a powdery substance or granules due Gravity can flow from the reservoir 4 in the working container 6.

In the other stop position, the connection point 5 and thus the mouth of the working container 6 is offset from the passage opening 10, so that the passage opening 10 is closed by the closure part 7. The design the closure member 7 as a manually movable slider is particularly advantageous in connection with a working container 6 made of transparent material, since the progressive filling of the working container 6 can be observed and controlled and stopped by moving the closure member 7. So that no substance particles can enter the environment, the transfer device 1 has two sealing systems. The first sealing system is arranged coaxially to the passage opening 10, annularly formed sealing ring 9. This sealing ring 9 seals the one hand, the better recognizability because of in the FIG. 1 To large game shown between the housing 2 and the closure member 7 from. On the other hand, during the closing process, substance particles adhering to the front side of the mouth of the working container 6 are wiped clean and retained in the passage opening 10. For this construction to work satisfactorily, the end face of the mouth of the working container 5 should be approximately flush with the upper edge of the closure part 7. Of course, the sealing ring 9 or an annular sealing lip with the same function can also be arranged at the mouth of the working container 6. The second sealing system is an elastic bellows 12, which is arranged between the housing 2 and the closure part 7 and prevents substance particles from entering the environment in an uncontrolled manner. Furthermore, both sealing systems prevent exchange of the gaseous medium between the environment and the substance-containing cavities.

In FIG. 2 in turn, the transfer device 1 is off FIG. 1 also shown in section, but in a side view and in the closed position. The longitudinal guide of the closure part 7 guided in the housing 2 and the bellows 12 enclosing the closure part 7 are clearly visible.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2 an embodiment of a lock closure shown. A mounted in the housing 2 locking pin 14 engages in the closed state in a formed on the closure part 7 bore 18 a. So that the locking bolt 14 always engages securely, it is pressed in the direction of the closure part 7 by means of a spring 17, which is supported against the housing 2. In the bore 18, a stamp 15 is also mounted linearly displaceable. Once a work container 6 in the connection point. 5 is screwed, presses a trained on the working container 6 collar 16 against the punch 15, moves it along its central longitudinal axis and thereby pushes the locking pin 14 against the spring force of the spring 17 and along its central longitudinal axis of the bore 18th Once the locking pin 14 completely out of the hole 18 has been pushed out, the closure member 7 can be moved relative to the housing 2.

The transfer device 21 in FIG. 3A has a housing 22 which is connected to a reservoir 23. A closure member 27 with a connection point 29 is mounted linearly displaceable in a guide 28 of the housing 22. For better illustration, the closure part 27 is in FIG. 3B shown in plan view. In the FIG. 3B it is clear that the connection point 29 is U-shaped.

As in FIG. 3A shown, the passage opening 20 present in the housing 22 is closed by the closure member 27 when no working container 24 is inserted in the connection point 29. The working container 24 is inserted laterally into the connection point 29 with the flange 26 formed on its mouth 26 and subsequently displaced together with the closure part 27 relative to the housing 22 until the mouth 25 coincides with the passage opening 20. The guide 28 not only encompasses the longitudinal edges of the closure part 27, but also covers the mouth 25 and prevents the flange 26 from slipping laterally out of the connection point 29. In other words, the work container 24 is locked to the junction 29 when the closure member 27 is in the open position. In order to release the connection with the working container 24, the closure member 27 is brought back into the closed position, wherein only in this position, the working container 24 can be removed from the connection point 29.

In the transfer device of FIG. 4 For example, the above-mentioned concept of locking the working container to the connection point is realized in an analogous manner with a rotatable instead of a sliding closure part. The transfer device 31 has a housing 32, which is connected to a storage container 33. The working container 36 has a cylindrical neck 48 with at least one protruding cam 38. The housing 32 has a cylindrical bore 41, in which a closure member 37 about a vertically arranged axis of rotation X. is pivotally mounted. The closure member 37 has a cylindrically shaped recess as a connection point 39, whose inner diameter substantially corresponds to the diameter of the cylindrical neck 48. The bottom part of the closure part 37 formed by the recess has an opening 42 arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation X, which in the opened state releases a passage opening 30 formed in the housing 32.

The connection point 39 for the working container 36 is formed as a bayonet connection, which cooperates with the rotatable closure member 37 inevitably so, so that formed in the housing 32 through opening 30 is closed when no working container 36 is inserted in the connection point. This inevitability is achieved by means of at least one closure part groove 45 formed in the closure part 37 and by means of at least one control groove 46 which is L-shaped in the housing 32. For a working container 36 can be inserted into the connection point 39, the cam 38 must be able to engage simultaneously in the Verschlussteilnute 45 and in the control groove 46. Due to the guidance of the cam 38 in the L-shaped control groove 46, the working container 36 can not be pulled out of the connection point 39 during the transfer process, as long as the passage opening 30 is not closed.

In order to prevent substance 42 adhering to the side walls of the opening, a working container adapter 49 is arranged at the mouth of the working container 36. Its passage engages in inserted into the closure member 37 working container 36 in the opening 42, so that only the working container adapter 49 and not the opening 42 comes into contact with substance. After filling the working container 36, the passage can be sealed, for example with a protective cap. Optionally, the working container adapter 49 can also be removed and replaced by a sealing plug.

A spontaneous rotation of the closure member 37 can be prevented by the contact friction with the housing 32, or the closure member 37 can be urged by a torsion spring, not shown, in the closed position in which the opening 42 to the passage opening 30 is offset by 180 °.

By completely inserting the neck 48 into the connection point 39 and then rotating it through 180 °, the neck 48 in the connection point 39 or in the housing 32 is thus fixed on the one hand and the closure part 37 simultaneously rotated to the open position, so that the path from the reservoir 33 is exposed in the working container 36 through the passage opening 30 and the opening 42 and the substance due to gravity from the reservoir 33 can flow into the working container 36. The filled working container 36 is decoupled by turning and pulling again from the connection point 39, wherein the closure member 37 is carried along by the rotation and thus closes the passage 30 again.

An inventive refilling device can also be provided with more than one connection point for working containers. FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a transfer device 51 with a housing 52 which is connected to a reservoir 53. In the housing 52, a passage opening 54 is arranged. The closure part 56 has two connection points 57A, 57B for two working containers 55. By this arrangement, several working containers 55 can be filled serially. Thus, the closure member 56 of the transfer device 51 can not be moved unintentionally into the open position when no working container 55 is inserted into one of the connection points 57A, 57B, each of the connection points 57A, 57B, a locking device. This essentially has a pivotally mounted locking segment 59 and a spring 58. The passage opening 54 respectively nearest locking segment 59 engages with a locking tooth 60 formed in a formed on the housing bore 50 and is held in this position due to the spring force of the spring 58. When screwing a working container 55 into the connection point 57A, 57B, the locking segment 59 is pivoted and the locking tooth 60 is pulled out of the bore 50.

Of course, embodiments of Umfüllvorrichtungen are possible in which a plurality of working containers can be filled in parallel. For this purpose, however, correspondingly many through openings must be formed in the housing per container to be filled in parallel.

As in FIG. 6 1, a transfer device 61 according to the invention can additionally be equipped with a chamber 62 for a desiccant and / or with a gas connection 63 and / or with a closure sealing device 64, symbolically represented by an adhesive seal roller. The lockable chamber 62 serves to receive a desiccant 68, for example, when the transfer device 61 is connected to a reservoir 65 containing a hygroscopic substance. With the gas connection 63, for example, a connected working container 66 can be gassed before or during filling with substance, so that the substance can absorb no humidity during filling and before closing the working container 66. Both the gas port 63 and the chamber 62 are secured by means of a gas-permeable membrane 69 against the ingress of substance. The closure sealing device 64 is connected directly to the transfer device 61 and designed so that the working container 66 is immediately moved to the closure sealing device 64 subsequent to the filling, where the container mouth can be closed in a conventional manner with a lid or adhesive.

FIG. 7 shows a transfer device 71 with a housing 72 which is connected to a reservoir 73. A closure member 77 with a connection point 79 is mounted linearly displaceable in a guide, not shown, of the housing 72. The connection point 79 is essentially a bore. So that a working container 76 can be held permanently in the connection point 79, the closure part 77 has a spring element 80 in the form of a spring clip, by means of which spring element 80 the filling opening of the working container 76 pressed against the housing 72, or the working container 76 can be clamped.

Like in the FIG. 7 represented, thereby a play-free contact between the housing 72 and the filling opening of the working container 76 is obtained. As soon as the filling opening corresponds to the passage 74 formed in the housing 72, substance can be transferred. After completion of the transfer operation, the closure member 77 can be moved linearly in the closed position, wherein the filling opening of the working container 76 in the region of a closure device 78 with stopper 75 passes. These Closure device 78 essentially consists of a bore 82 formed in the housing 72 and a piston 81 guided loosely therein. As shown schematically, the stopper 75 is pressed into the filling opening by means of the piston 81. Preferably, the closure plug 75 to the bore 82 a slight frictional engagement, so that the closure plug 75 is moved only by the force of the piston 81 in the direction of the filling opening and does not fall, for example, by the gravitational force in the filling opening. Once the filling opening is provided with the sealing plug, the spring element 80 can be released, and the filled and sealed working container 76 can be removed from the connection point 79.

In particular, further embodiments are conceivable, which include the subject invention, for example, when the transfer device in an automated version is part of a larger device.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

71, 61, 51, 31, 21, 1

Transfer filling

72, 52, 32, 22, 2

casing

3

coupling agent

73, 65, 53, 33, 23, 4

reservoir

79, 57A, 57B, 39, 29, 5

junction

76, 66, 55, 36, 24, 6

working container

77, 56, 37, 27, 7

closing part

28.8

guide

9

sealing ring

74, 54, 30, 20, 10

Through opening

11

attack

12

bellows

14

locking bolt

15

stamp

16

Federation

58, 17

feather

50, 18

drilling

25

muzzle

26

flange

38

cam

41

cylindrical bore

42

breakthrough

45

Verschlussteilnut

46

control groove

48

neck

49

Work container adapter

59

lock segment

60

ratchet

62

chamber

63

gas connection

64

Closure sealing device

68

desiccant

69

membrane

75

sealing plug

78

closure device

80

spring element

81

piston

82

drilling

Claims (14)

1. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) comprising a housing (2, 22, 32, 52, 72) which is connected to a storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) either with a fixed connection or with coupling means (3) that is formed on the housing (2, 22, 32, 52, 72), further comprising at least one passage opening (10, 20, 30, 54, 74) formed on the housing (2, 22, 32, 52, 72), as well as a shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77) that is movably connected to the housing (2, 22, 32, 52, 72) and serves to close the passage opening (10, 20, 30, 54, 74), characterized in that the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77) comprises at least one connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79) for at least one working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) and is rotatable or slidable relative to the housing (2, 22, 32, 52, 72) between at least one open position and at least one closed position, wherein in the closed position, the passage opening (10, 20, 30, 54, 74) is closed off by the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77), and in the open position the interior space of the storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) is connected by way of the passage opening (10, 20, 30, 54, 74) to the interior space of the working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) which is seated in the at least one connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79).
2. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) comprises a connector port locking device which inseparably locks the seating connection of the working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) in the at least one connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79) when the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77) is in the open position.
3. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) comprises shutter locking device which immobilizes the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77) in the closed position when no working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) is connected to the at least one connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79).
4. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to claim 3, characterized in that the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77) comprises at least two connector ports (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79) and that the swivel angle or the sliding path of the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77) can be set free by the shutter locking device only as far as there are connector ports (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79) occupied by working reservoirs (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) following each other in an uninterrupted sequence.
5. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) can be non-releasably connected to the coupling means (3) or that the transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) comprises a storage container lock which serves to lock up the coupling means.
6. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79) comprises as a means of connection to a working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) and/or the coupling means (3) comprises as a means of connection to a storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) a screw connection, a bayonet coupling connection, a snap engagement connection, or a plug-in connection.
7. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79) is of a standardized design, or that a working reservoir adapter (49) is provided for connecting a non-standard working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) to the connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79).
8. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a chamber (62) or a connector port for an exchangeable chamber (62) is formed in the housing (2, 22, 32, 52, 72) and that this chamber is designed to be filled with a desiccant.
9. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a gas connector port (63) is arranged in the housing (2, 22, 32, 52, 72).
10. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) comprises a closure seal device (64) serving to affix a seal on a fill opening of the filled working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) and/or a closure device (78) serving to put a stopper plug (75) on a fill opening of the filled working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76).
11. Transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the at least one connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79) comprises a spring element (80), whereby a working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) which has been set into the connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79) can be held under tension against the housing (2, 22, 32, 52, 72).
12. Method of transferring a substance from a storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) into a working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76), characterized by the steps

    - that a storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) is connected to the coupling means (3) of a transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) according to one of the claims 1 to 11;

    - that at least one working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) is connected to the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77) by way of the at least one connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79);

    - that by sliding or swiveling the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77), the passage opening (10, 20, 30, 54, 74) is opened and the containers connected to the transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71) are brought into a transfer position, so that as a result of gravity, substance will flow from the storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) into the working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76);

    - that after the working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) has been filled, the passage opening (10, 20, 30, 54, 74) is closed again by the shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77); and

    - that the working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) is closed by means of a closure device (78) and/or sealed by means of a closure-sealing device (64) and/or the working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) is released from the connector port (5, 29, 39, 57A, 57B, 79).
13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that after the storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) and at least one working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) have been connected to the transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71), and before the passage opening (10, 20, 30, 54, 74) is opened, the working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) is connected to a chamber (63) by sliding or swiveling a shutter (7, 27, 37, 56, 77).
14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that after the storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) and at least one working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) have been connected to the transfer device (1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71), the gaseous medium which is present in the storage container (4, 23, 33, 53, 65, 73) and/or in the working reservoir (6, 24, 36, 55, 66, 76) is replaced by introducing an inert protective gas through a gas connector port (63).

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