Back to results
US 5,490,321 AGranted
Apparatus and method for removing a stopper
AssigneeOlympus Optical Co., Ltd.
InventorHiroyuki Kaneko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for removing a stopper from a material holding container. A container holder is provided for immovably holding a stopper-fitted material holding container in place. While the material holding container is held by the container holder, the fitted stopper is grasped by claw members. The grasping claw members are driven by a linear drive source and swinging motion drive source. The fitted stopper is removed from the material holding container, while applying a pull-up force and twist force to the fitted stopper.
Claims15
A stopper removing device for removing a sealing stopper fitted in a material holding container, comprising:
- a device body;
- container holding means, provided on the device body, for immovably holding a material holding container in place;
- a movable member, movable in an upward and a downward direction over the container holding means;
- grasping means, swingably attached by a link mechanism to the movable member, for grasping a sealing stopper;
- linear drive means for driving the movable member in the upward direction with the sealing stopper grasped by the grasping means, and for imparting a pull-up force to the sealing stopper;
- and
- swinging motion drive means for swinging the grasping means with the sealing stopper grasped by the grasping means and for imparting a twist force to the sealing stopper;
- said grasping means comprising:
- support members swingably attached by the link mechanism to the movable member;
- a support mounted to the support members and which is elastically displaceable in the downward direction;
- chucking claw members having claws at respective forward end portions thereof, said claws being engageable with the sealing stopper and said claw members being pivotable at respective intermediate positions thereof on lower end portions of the support members, the claws at the forward end portions of said chucking claw members being openable and closable;
- urging means, provided on a back side of the chucking claw members, for elastically urging the chucking claw members in a direction in which the claws at the forward end portions of the chucking claw members are closed;
- and
- drive means, provided on the support, for driving the chucking claw members in a direction in which the claws at the forward end portions of the chucking claw members are opened against an urging force of the urging means.
11 more elements
A stopper removing device for removing a sealing stopper fitted in a material holding container, comprising:
- a device body;
- container holding means, provided on the device body, for immovably holding a material holding container in place;
- a movable member movable in an upward direction and a downward direction over the container holding means;
- grasping means, swingably attached by a link mechanism to the movable member, for grasping the sealing stopper;
- linear drive means for driving the movable member in the upward direction with the sealing stopper grasped by the grasping means, and for imparting a pull-up force to the sealing stopper;
- and
- swinging motion drive means for swinging the grasping means with the sealing stopper grasped by the grasping means and for imparting a twist force to the sealing stopper;
- said movable member comprising:
- a movable base provided on the device body, said movable base being movable in an up direction and a down direction and said movable base being driven by the linear drive means in an up and a down direction;
- and
- a horizontal moving base provided on a lower surface side of the movable base, the horizontal moving base being horizontally driven in a predetermined direction.
8 more elements
A stopper removing device for removing a sealing stopper fitted in a material holding container, comprising:
- a device body;
- container holding means, provided on the device body, for immovably holding the material holding container in place;
- a movable member movable in one of an upward and a downward direction over the container holding means;
- grasping means, swingably attached by a link mechanism to the movable member, for grasping the sealing stopper;
- linear drive means for driving the movable member in the upward direction with the sealing stopper grasped by the grasping means, and for imparting a pull-up force to the sealing stopper;
- and
- swinging motion drive means for swinging the grasping means with the sealing stopper grasped by the grasping means and for imparting a twist force to the sealing stopper;
- said linear drive means comprising:
- guide shaft means having a threaded portion and provided relative to the device body such that the guide shaft means is freely rotatable with an axis of the guide shaft means set in an up and down direction;
- movable cylinder means engaged with the threaded portion of the guide shaft means and attached to the movable member;
- and
- a drive source for rotating the guide shaft means to allow the movable member to be driven in the up and down direction.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.