Chromatography column stand

1. A method for conducting maintenance on a chromatography column ( 1 ; 51 ), said column comprising a column tube ( 32 ), a top end cell ( 20 ) and a bottom end cell ( 26 ), where during chromatography said column tube ( 32 ) is secured between said top end cell ( 20 ) and said bottom end cell ( 26 ), said method comprising the step of rotating, in situ, at least the top end cell ( 20 ) 180 degrees around a horizontal axis before maintenance is conducted to the top end cell ( 20 ).

2. The method for conducting maintenance on the chromatography column ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said top end cell ( 20 ) being secured to rotatable upper fastening means ( 12 ) on a stand ( 2 ), said method comprising the steps of:

a) releasing the bottom end cell ( 26 ) and the column tube ( 32 ) from the top end cell ( 20 );

b) lowering the bottom end cell ( 26 ) and the column tube ( 32 );

c) rotating the top end cell ( 20 ) 180 degrees around a horizontal axis; and

d) conducting maintenance to the top end cell ( 20 ).

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

a) removing the column tube ( 32 ); and

b) conducting maintenance to the bottom end cell ( 26 ).

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising raising the bottom end cell ( 26 ) before conducting maintenance to it.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising rotating the bottom end cell ( 26 ) during the maintenance.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromatography column ( 51 ) is secured to rotatable upper fastening means ( 12 ) on a stand ( 2 ), said method comprising the steps of:

a) releasing the bottom end cell ( 26 ) from the top end cell ( 20 ) and the column tube ( 32 );

b) lowering the bottom end cell ( 26 );

c) conducting maintenance to the bottom end cell ( 26 );

d) raising the bottom end cell ( 26 ) and securing it to the column tube ( 32 ) and the top end cell ( 20 );

e) rotating the chromatography column ( 51 ) 180 degrees around a horizontal axis;

f) releasing the top end cell ( 20 ) from the bottom end cell ( 26 ) and the column tube ( 32 );

g) lowering the top end cell ( 20 ); and

h) conducting maintenance to the top end cell ( 20 ).

7. The method for conducting maintenance on the chromatography column ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said top end cell ( 20 ) being secured to rotatable upper fastening means ( 12 ) on a stand ( 2 ), said method comprising the steps of:

a) releasing the bottom end cell ( 26 ) from the top end cell ( 20 ) and the column tube ( 32 );

b) lowering the bottom end cell ( 26 );

c) conducting maintenance to the bottom end cell ( 26 );

d) raising the bottom end cell ( 26 ) against the column tube ( 32 );

e) releasing the column tube ( 32 ) form the top end cell ( 20 );

lowering the bottom end cell ( 26 ) together with the column tube ( 32 );

g) rotating the top end cell ( 20 ) 180 degrees around a horizontal axis; and

h) conducting maintenance to the top end cell ( 20 ).