Decapping of screw cap test tubes
AssigneeHelix Limited
InventorsDavid Wong, Stinson Lamb, Anthuan Cruz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Decapping system and methods of performing a decapping process for screw cap test tubes. In an embodiment, a method comprises loading a test tube rack in a rack holder that holds the test tube rack stationary, where the test tube rack holds the screw cap test tubes aligned in a row. The method further comprises clamping the row of the screw cap test tubes between a pair of jaw members of a row clamp, where clamp surfaces of the jaw members apply a force to opposing sides of the row of the screw cap test tubes. The method further comprises successively contacting screw caps of the screw cap test tubes in the row with a rotating bit of a decapper tool to spin the screw caps in a loosening direction.
Claims20
A method of performing a decapping process for screw cap test tubes each comprising a screw cap having threads configured to engage with threads of a threaded test tube, the method comprising:
- loading a test tube rack in a rack holder of a retention apparatus that holds the test tube rack stationary, wherein the test tube rack holds the screw cap test tubes aligned in a row;
- clamping the row of the screw cap test tubes between a pair of jaw members of a row clamp of the retention apparatus, wherein clamp surfaces of the jaw members apply a force to opposing sides of the row of the screw cap test tubes, and wherein the retention apparatus holds the test tube rack at an angle of about 30-45 degrees relative to a vertical plane;
- and
- successively contacting screw caps of the screw cap test tubes in the row with a rotating bit of a decapper tool to spin the screw caps in a loosening direction, wherein
- successively contacting the screw caps comprises contacting each screw cap of the screw caps with the rotating bit at a non-zero angle relative to a spin axis of the screw cap.
A method of performing a decapping process for screw cap test tubes each comprising a screw cap having threads configured to engage with threads of a threaded test tube, the method comprising:
- loading a test tube rack in a rack holder of a retention apparatus that holds the test tube rack stationary, wherein the test tube rack holds the screw cap test tubes aligned in a row;
- clamping the row of the screw cap test tubes between a pair of jaw members of a row clamp of the retention apparatus, wherein the jaw members include clamp surfaces that contact opposing sides of the row of the screw cap test tubes, and wherein the retention apparatus holds the test tube rack at an angle of about 30-45 degrees relative to a vertical plane;
- and
- moving a decapper tool along a process path while the jaw members immobilize the screw cap test tubes;
- wherein along the process path, a rotating bit of the decapper tool successively contacts each screw cap of the screw cap test tubes in the row at a non-zero angle to a spin axis of the screw cap to impart an unscrewing rotation to the screw cap.
A decapping system, comprising:
- a retention apparatus configured to receive a test tube rack that holds screw cap test tubes aligned in a row, the retention apparatus comprising:
- a row clamp comprising a pair of jaw members having clamp surfaces configured to contact opposing sides of the row of the screw cap test tubes;
- and
- a decapper tool comprising a rotating bit configured to successively contact screw caps of the screw cap test tubes in the row to spin the screw caps in a loosening direction, wherein
- the retention apparatus is configured to hold the test tube rack at an angle of about 30-45 degrees relative to a vertical plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.