# US 2019/0375619 A1 · A Capping And De-Capping Apparatus And A Method Of Operating Such An Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0375619 A1 - Document ID: US20190375619A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/483,294 - Filed: 2018-02-05 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-03 - Assignees: Brooks Automation, Inc. - Applicants: Brooks Automation, Inc. - Inventors: Lars Weber Hovendahl; Michael Nielsen; Stig Christensen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190375619A1 ## CPC - B67B 3/2066: {Details of capping heads (B67B3/2073 takes precedence)} - G01N 35/04: Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} - B65B 3/006: {Related operations, e.g. scoring ampoules} - B65B 7/2835: {applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (for bottles or jars B67B3/20)} - B65B 57/04: and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages - B65B 59/003: {Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material} - B65B 59/04: Machines constructed with readily-detachable units or assemblies, e.g. to facilitate maintenance - B65B 65/006: {Multiple parallel packaging lines} - B67B 3/20: by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (forming threads in situ by resilient deforming means B67B3/16, by rotary capping heads B67B3/18) - B67B 3/208: {Electrical means responsive to the torque applied and acting on motor control means, e.g. strain gauges or power measurement means (B67B3/2093 takes precedence)} - B67B 7/182: {power-operated} - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - G01N 2035/0405: {manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers} - G01N 2035/0418: {Plate elements with several rows of samples} - B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D) - 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) - 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) ## Abstract A capping and de-capping apparatus (100) for capping and de-capping tubes (112) disposed in a tube holding rack (111) having a two-dimensional array of apertures (114) for holding the tubes (112). The apparatus (100) comprises a rack support (110) for supporting the tube holding rack (111), a head unit (120) adapted for carrying a cartridge (152) comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper (122), a drive system (130) for moving the rack support (110) and the head unit (120) relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper (122) with or from a cap (113) of at least one tube (112), and a drive system (140) for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper (122), wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap (113) to the tube (112) and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap (113) from said tube (112). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capping and de-capping apparatus for capping and de-capping tubes disposed in a tube holding rack having a two-dimensional array of apertures for holding said tubes, said apparatus comprising: a rack support for supporting said tube holding rack, a head unit adapted for carrying a cartridge comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper, a drive system for moving said rack support and said head unit relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of said capping and de-capping gripper with or from a cap of at least one tube, and a drive system for rotating said capping and de-capping gripper, wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of said cap to said tube and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of said cap from said tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said head unit comprises a first attachment body and a second attachment body, said cartridge being attached to said second attachment body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cartridge is attached to and detached from said second attachment body by means of automated clamping means arranged on second first attachment body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one apparatus setup means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus setup means comprises a combination of switches arranged on said head unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus setup means comprises a microchip arranged on said cartridge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said capping and de-capping gripper (122) has a through going passage extending along a center axis of the capping and de-capping gripper, and wherein an ejector pin is moveably arranged within said through going passage, said ejector pin being configured to perform a translational movement relative to said capping and de-capping gripper, thereby effecting a release of a cap retained within said capping and de-capping gripper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said ejector pin is attached to said first attachment body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of capping and de-capping grippers so configured that each capping and de-capping gripper may engage and/or disengage a cap independently of the other grippers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to control the operation of said capping and de-capping grippers and/or said ejector pins independently from one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a user interface associated with said control unit and configured to permit a user to decide which capping and de-capping gripper shall engage and/or disengage a tube configured to receive and/or dispose of a cap placed within said rack. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: placing a cartridge onto a rack support, moving a head unit towards said cartridge and rack support by means of a drive system, attaching said cartridge to said head unit, moving said head unit and cartridge from said rack support by means of said drive system, placing a rack onto said rack support, moving said head unit and cartridge towards said rack and rack support by means of said drive system, at least one capping and de-capping gripper, attached to said cartridge, engaging an opposing cap on an opposing test tube placed in a rack on said rack support, and disengaging said cap from said test tube by means of concerted movement of said drive system, moving said head unit away from said rack support, and a simultaneous rotational movement of said gripper unit, said rotational movement being caused by an actuator unit connected to said capping and de-capping gripper, attaching a cap, by means of reversing the above steps, said rotational movement being stopped when a means for sensing a torque registers that a certain threshold torque is exceeded. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: activating apparatus setup means, thereby effecting an apparatus setup tailored to the specific capping and de-capping grippers of said cartridge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 13, wherein activating comprises said cartridge interacting with a combination of switches arranged on said head unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 13, wherein activating comprises a microchip arranged on said cartridge interacting with a control unit of said apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising detaching said cartridge from said head unit by means of the steps of: moving said head unit and cartridge towards said rack support by means of a drive system such that said cartridge rests upon said rack support, detaching said cartridge from said head unit, moving said head unit from said cartridge and said rack support by means of said drive system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said cartridge is attached to and detached from said head unit by means of automated clamping means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 12, wherein caps in contact with a capping and de-capping gripper, but not undergoing a rotation by the actuator unit forming part of such a capping and de-capping gripper, are not removed from their respective test tubes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: releasing a capped tube from a capping and de-capping gripper by moving a first attachment body towards said rack support such that an ejector pin comes into contact with the cap of said tube, disengaging said socket unit from said cap by moving a second attachment body away from said tube, whereby said ejector pin remains in contact with said cap while said socket unit is disengaged from said cap, moving said first attachment body from said rack support, thereby releasing said tube and freeing said capping and de-capping apparatus to perform a new cycle of capping and de-capping. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said first and second attachment bodies are moved by means of a drive system.