Tube joining device

A tube joining device that fuses an end of a first tube and an end of a second tube in an aseptic condition, comprising:

• a housing comprising:
• a cassette storage area configured to receive a cassette, the cassette comprising a plurality of metal plates stored therein;
• a cassette insertion opening disposed in the housing adjacent the cassette storage area, the cassette insertion opening configured to allow detachable mounting of the cassette with the cassette storage area;
• a clamp that is configured to hold a portion of the first tube relative to a portion of the second tube inside the housing;
• a linear actuator disposed in the housing, the linear actuator comprising:
• a guide bar extending from a first end of the linear actuator to a second end of the linear actuator;
• and
• a body that is configured to slide in a linear direction along the guide bar;
• a first push block attached to the body configured to contact a selected metal plate of the plurality of metal plates when the body is disposed at a point adjacent the first end and when the cassette is detachably mounted with the cassette storage area, and move the selected metal plate from the cassette to a first position set a first distance from the cassette as the body slides a first time to a first point disposed between the first end and the second end;
• and
• a second push block attached to the body configured to contact the selected metal plate after the body returns from the first point to the point adjacent the first end and move the selected metal plate from the first position to a second position a second distance from the cassette as the body second slides a second time to the first point disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

A method of fusing an end of a first tube and an end of a second tube in an aseptic condition, the method comprising:

• providing a tube joining device comprising:
• a plurality of wafers;
• a cassette that stores the plurality of wafers;
• means for heating a selected wafer of the plurality of wafers;
• a housing in which the first tube and the second tube are set;
• a cassette mounting portion to which the cassette that stores the plurality of wafers is detachably mounted;
• a control unit for controlling operation of the tube joining device;
• a moving body which is configured to move along a guide bar to transport said selected wafer linearly in a delivery direction;
• a plurality of sensors in electrical communication with said control unit and configured to detect a position of said moving body along the delivery direction;
• a first pusher member coupled to the moving body configured to perform forward movement and backward movement along the delivery direction and to deliver the selected wafer to a first position that is set between a take-out position at which the selected wafer is taken out from the cassette and a stand-by position;
• and
• a second pusher member coupled to the moving body configured to perform forward movement and backward movement along the delivery direction, the second pusher member being connected with the first pusher member such that the first and second pusher members move together during forward and backward movement along the delivery direction, and the second pusher member delivers the selected wafer from the first position to the stand-by position,
• wherein an operation of delivering the selected wafer by the first pusher member is capable of being switched to an operation of delivering the selected wafer by the second pusher member in synchronization with forward movement and backward movement of the first pusher member and the second pusher member;
• heating the selected wafer while the selected wafer is in the stand-by position;
• and
• moving the selected wafer from the stand-by position to a fusing position after heating the selected wafer, wherein, in the fusing position, the selected wafer is disposed in contact with the first tube and the second tube.