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US 10,214,404 B2Granted
Test tube capping and de-capping apparatus
AssigneeCedrex A/S
InventorsStig Christensen, Lars Hovendahl, Michael Gabs Kaagaard Nielsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (100) for automated capping and de-capping of test tubes (112) having an ejector pin (230) system for individualized cap (113) ejection.
Claims15
A capping and de-capping apparatus for capping and de-capping capable tubes disposed in a rack with a two dimensional array of apertures for holding said tubes, said apparatus comprising:
- a rack support for supporting said rack,
- a head unit supporting a two-dimensional array of capping and de-capping grippers, each capping and de-capping gripper including a capping and de-capping socket unit configured to engage and retain a cap, said capping and de-capping grippers being aligned with tube apertures defined by the array in said rack,
- a drive mechanism configured to move the rack support and head unit relatively towards and away from one another, to cause engagement or disengagement of capping and de-capping socket units with or from caps of tubes;
- and
- a drive system configured to rotate capping and de-capping grippers and the capping and de-capping socket units attached thereto, wherein rotation of the capping and de-capping socket units, after engagement of capping and de-capping socket units with caps, causes attachment of the caps to the tubes within the rack when the capping and de-capping grippers rotate in one direction and causes detachment of the caps from the tubes when the capping and de-capping grippers rotate in the opposite direction;
- and wherein
- each capping and de-capping gripper has a throughgoing passage extending through the capping and de-capping gripper and the capping and de-capping socket unit attached thereto,
- an ejector pin is moveably arranged within said throughgoing passage;
- and wherein said ejector pin is configured to perform a translational movement relative to the at least one capping and de-capping gripper and capping and de-capping socket unit attached to said gripper, thereby contacting the cap retained in the socket unit to eject the cap from the socket unit, effecting a release of a cap retained within the capping and de-capping socket unit;
- and
- the drive system includes an actuator attached to each ejector pin at an end of the capping and de-capping gripper opposite to the socket unit to impart rotary motion to each ejector pin about its longitudinal axis, the ejector pin imparting rotational movement to the capping and de-capping socket unit attached to said gripper
- wherein the capping and de-capping gripper comprises an ejector pin guide also having a throughgoing passage,
- wherein said socket unit and said ejector pin guide are so aligned that when said socket unit is attached to said guide, said ejector pin can perform the translational movement within the said guide and said socket unit;
- the ejector pin transferring the rotational movement through said ejector pin guide or to said capping and de-capping socket unit.
11 more elements
A capping and de-capping gripper comprising:
- a capping and de-capping socket unit having a throughgoing passage and capable of engaging and retaining a cap,
- an ejector pin guide also having a throughgoing passage, and
- an ejector pin;
- wherein said socket unit and said ejector pin guide are so aligned that when said socket unit is attached to said guide, said ejector pin can perform a translational movement within said guide and said socket unit, causing the ejector pin to contact the cap retained in the socket unit to eject the cap from the socket unit;
- said capping and de-capping gripper further comprising
- an actuator unit configured to induce a rotational movement in said ejector pin upon actuation,
- said actuator unit comprising an actuator,
- said actuator unit attached to said ejector pin, at an end of the capping and de-capping gripper opposite to the socket unit, and
- the rotational movement of said ejector pin being transferred to said ejector pin guide or to said capping and de-capping socket unit;
- wherein said capping and de-capping socket unit comprises
- a gripper connector detachably connecting to the ejector pin guide to rotate with the ejector pin guide,
- a capping and de-capping socket, and
- a mechanical connection between said gripper connector and said capping and de-capping socket;
- each of said gripper connector, said capping and de-capping socket, and said mechanical connection having a throughgoing passage;
- and wherein
- when the gripper connector, the capping and de-capping socket, and the mechanical connection are assembled to form said capping and de-capping socket unit, the throughgoing passages are so aligned that when said capping and de-capping socket unit is attached to said guide, said ejector pin can perform a translational movement within the said guide and said capping and de-capping socket unit;
- said capping and de-capping socket having an external spring encircling said capping and de-capping socket.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.