Tube sealer

A device for sealing sample tubes, the device comprising:

• a tool assembly adapted to interface with a rack holding a plurality of sample storage tubes, the tool assembly comprising:
• a mounting member holding a plurality of punches;
• a die plate suspended from the mounting member, the die plate having a plurality of cutting holes, each of the plurality of cutting holes accepting one of the plurality of punches;
• and
• a foil guard between the plurality of punches and the die plate, the foil guard suspended from the mounting member to enable movement of the foil guard towards the mounting member;
• the tool assembly further configured to receive a foil sheet between the foil guard and the die plate;
• and
• an actuator enabling linear movement of the tool assembly,
• linear movement of the tool assembly towards the rack (i) engaging the die plate against the rack, (ii) continuing movement to move the foil guard toward the foil sheet and die plate, and (iii) continuing movement to move the plurality of 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 sample storage tubes in the rack.

A device for sealing sample tubes, the device comprising:

• a tool assembly configured to interface with a rack holding a plurality of sample storage tubes, the tool assembly comprising:
• a mounting member holding a plurality of heated punches;
• a die plate slideably coupled to the mounting member, the die plate having a plurality of cutting holes, each of the plurality of cutting holes accepting one of the plurality of heated punches, and
• a foil guard between the plurality of heated punches and the die plate, the foil guard slideably coupled to the mounting member to enable movement of the guard plate towards the mounting member;
• the tool assembly further configured to receive a foil sheet between the foil guard and the die plate, the foil sheet having a polymer layer facing the die plate;
• and
• an actuator enabling linear movement of the tool assembly,
• when the rack is positioned adjacent to the die plate and the foil sheet is between the foil guard and the die plate, linear movement of the tool assembly towards the rack engages the die plate against the rack, and with the die plate against the rack, linear movement of the tool assembly towards the rack:
• (i) moves the foil guard toward the foil sheet, (ii) punches a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet, and (iii) presses each of the sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality sample storage tubes in the rack, wherein each of the plurality of heated punches welds the polymer layer of each sealing section against the end of the sample storage tube.

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.