# US 11,897,653 B2 · Apparatus and method for closing a sample container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,653 B2 - Document ID: US11897653B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/606,395 - Filed: 2020-04-22 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-25 - Assignees: Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Applicants: Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Inventors: Christoph Bruggaier; Diana Illichmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897653B2 ## CPC - B65B 7/2821: {applying plugs or threadless stoppers (for bottles or jars B67B1/04)} - B65B 7/2828: {inserting and rotating screw stoppers (for bottles or jars B67B1/06)} - B65B 7/285: {by deformation of the closure} - G01N 35/04: Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} - G01N 2035/0405: {manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract An applicator assembly (100) for closing a sample container (500) with a plug (16) is proposed. The applicator assembly comprises a magazine (102) configured to store a string (10) comprising polymer-based material, an insertion device (104) configured to insert an end piece (12) of the string at least partly into an opening (502) of the sample container (500), and a drive system (106) configured to supply at least a part of the string (10) from the magazine (102) to the insertion device (104). The applicator assembly further comprises a separator (108) configured to separate the end piece (12) from the string, such that the end piece (12) forms a plug (16) closing the sample container (500). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An applicator assembly for closing a sample container with a plug, the applicator assembly comprising: a magazine configured to store a string comprising polymer-based material; an insertion device configured to insert an end piece of the string at least partly into an opening of the sample container; a drive system configured to supply at least a part of the string from the magazine to the insertion device and/or configured to drive at least a part of the insertion device to insert the end piece at least partly into the opening of the sample container; and a separator configured to separate the end piece from the string, such that the end piece forms a plug closing the sample container, wherein the separator is configured to rotate at least a part of the insertion device along a circumferential direction of the end piece to shear off the end piece from the string. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the separator is configured to cut off and/or shear off the end piece from the string to form the plug. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly claim 1, wherein the string comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: a foam material, a closed cell foam material, a compressible material, and a plastic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insertion device is configured to compress at least a part of the end piece to insert the end piece of the string at least partly into the opening of the sample container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insertion device comprises at least one linear motion element configured to translate the end piece of the string along and/or parallel to a longitudinal direction of the end piece to insert the end piece at least partly into the opening of the sample container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insertion device comprises a first rotatable member configured to rotate the end piece of the string along a first circumferential direction of the end piece and to translate the end piece of the string along a longitudinal direction of the end piece to insert the end piece at least partly into the opening of the sample container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The applicator assembly according to claim 6, wherein: the first rotatable member comprises at least two rotatable pins; and the at least two rotatable pins are arranged skew with respect to each other and are separated from each other, such that a guiding compartment for guiding the end piece of the string is formed between the at least two rotatable pins. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The applicator assembly according to claim 7, wherein the at least two rotatable pins are arranged such that at least a part of a lateral surface and/or a tip of each pin contacts at least a part of a later surface of the end piece, such that the end piece is rotated and translated by rotating at least a subset of the at least two pins around a longitudinal axis thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The applicator assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first rotatable member comprises a rotatable funnel for guiding the end piece of the string, wherein the rotatable funnel comprises a conically converging inner thread configured to at least partly contact a lateral surface of the end piece, such that the end piece is rotated and translated by rotating the rotatable funnel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The applicator assembly according to claim 6, wherein: the insertion device comprises a second rotatable member configured to contact at least a part of the string neighboring the end piece of the string; and the second rotatable member is configured to rotate the at least part of the string along a second circumferential direction of the string opposite to the first circumferential direction, such that a rotation of the second rotatable member compensates for a rotation of the end piece induced by a rotation of the first rotatable member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The applicator assembly according to claim 10, wherein the second rotatable member is configured to annularly encompass the at least part of the string neighboring the end piece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The applicator assembly according to claim 10, wherein: the drive system comprises at least one drive wheel configured to roll off at an outer surface of the second rotatable member to rotate the second rotatable member; and the at least one drive wheel is coupled via a flexible coupling with the first rotatable member to rotate the first rotatable member. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: providing an applicator assembly that includes: a magazine configured to store a string comprising polymer-based material; an insertion device configured to insert an end piece of the string at least partly into an opening of the sample container; a drive system configured to supply at least a part of the string from the magazine to the insertion device and/or configured to drive at least a part of the insertion device to insert the end piece at least partly into the opening of the sample container; and a separator configured to separate the end piece from the string, such that the end piece forms a plug closing the sample container, wherein the separator is configured to rotate at least a part of the insertion device along a circumferential direction of the end piece to shear off the end piece from the string; and using the string to close the sample container. ### Claim 14 A method of closing a sample container with an applicator assembly, the method comprising the steps of: inserting, with an insertion device of the applicator assembly, at least a part of an end piece of a string comprising polymer-based material into an opening of the sample container; and separating, with a separator of the applicator system, the end piece from the string, thereby forming a plug closing the opening of the sample container, wherein the separator is configured to rotate at least a part of the insertion device along a circumferential direction of the end piece to shear off the end piece from the string.