Tube sealer
AssigneeBrooks Automation, Inc.
InventorBeat Reuteler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for sealing sample tubes comprises a tool assembly configured to interface with a rack holding a plurality of sample storage tubes, the tool assembly holding a plurality of punches and a die plate including a plurality of cutting holes, with each of the plurality of cutting holes accepting one of the plurality of punches. The tool assembly receives a foil sheet between the punches and the die plate. The device includes an actuator enabling linear movement of the tool assembly. Linear movement of the tool assembly towards the rack engages the die plate against the rack and punches the punches through the cutting holes of the die plate to punch a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet and to press and seal each of the sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality of sample storage tubes in the rack.
Claims15
A method of sealing sample tubes, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a tool assembly above a rack, the rack holding a plurality of sample storage tubes;
- moving the tool assembly towards the rack, the moving engaging a die plate of the tool assembly against the rack;
- punching a plurality of heated punches through a foil sheet and corresponding cutting holes in the die plate to punch a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet;
- with the plurality of punches, pressing each of the plurality of sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality of sample storage tubes to seal a top end of each of the sample storage tubes with the sealing section.
A method of sealing sample tubes, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a tool assembly above a rack, the rack holding a plurality of sample storage tubes;
- moving the tool assembly towards the rack, the moving engaging a die plate of the tool assembly against the rack;
- with the die plate engaging the rack, moving a foil guard of the tool assembly toward a foil sheet positioned between the die plate and the foil guard;
- punching a plurality of punches of the tool assembly through the foil sheet and corresponding cutting holes in the die plate to punch a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet;
- and
- with the plurality of punches, pressing each of the plurality of sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality of sample storage tubes to seal a top end of each of the sample storage tubes with the sealing section.
A method of sealing sample tubes, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a tool assembly above a rack, the rack holding a plurality of sample storage tubes;
- moving the tool assembly towards the rack, the moving engaging a die plate of the tool assembly against the rack;
- with the die plate engaging the rack, moving a foil guard of the tool assembly toward a foil sheet positioned between the die plate and the foil guard, the foil sheet including a polymer layer facing the die plate;
- and
- punching a plurality of heated punches through the foil sheet and corresponding cutting holes in the die plate to punch a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet;
- with the plurality of heated punches, pressing the polymer layer of each of the plurality of sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality of sample storage tubes to seal a top end of each of the sample storage tubes with the sealing section by welding the polymer layer of each sealing section to the top end of each of the sample storage tubes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.