US 4,535,585 AGranted

Cap removal device for a cellular sample treatment apparatus

AssigneeBiomatics Inc.

InventorIvan Gardos

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Abstract

A cap removal device is provided for a cellular sample treatment apparatus. The device avoids the necessity to manually remove a cap and allows an automated sequence of steps to be carried out. The device is utilized in an apparatus for treating samples of cellular materials wherein the samples are contained in a stack of sample holders and fit in a stack holding tube, open at the top with a removable cap. A transfer tube having a bottom opening to fit on the top of the stack holding tube is provided and has a drive system to move the stack from the stack holding tube to the transfer tube. The improvement includes a fork attached to the drive system for the stack removal, and a button or grooved member on the cap for engagement by the fork so that when the drive system moves upwards it lifts the cap with it.

Claims3

Dependent claims

In an apparatus for treating samples of cellular materials wherein the samples are contained in a plurality of sample holders joined together to form a stack,

the apparatus including at least one stack holding tube, open at the top, having a removable cap,
positioning means to move the stack holding tube between a treatment position and a cap removal position,
a transfer tube having a bottom opening positioned in the treatment position above the stack holding tube, and means to move the stack from the stack holding tube to the transfer tube,
the improvement of a cap removable device comprising
a fork means attached to the means to move the stack from the stack holding tube to the transfer tube,
fork mating means on the removable cap, the fork means engaging the fork mating means when the means to move the stack is at a predetermined position, and the stack holding tube is moved to the cap removal position, and the cap is lifted when the means to move the stack is raised.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.