Powered decapping tool to remove a cap from a bottle or vial
AssigneeChromatography Research Supplies, Inc.
InventorsGlenn E. Thomas, Paul T. Scherer, Joseph L. Hallock, Edward B. Alcorn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a powered decapping tool used to remove a cap from a bottle or vial. The powered tool has a vertical housing portion which the user holds to activate the decapping action. The decapping action results form a motor causing a plunger to move downward, thereby initially closing a plurality of jaws and continuing downward to cooperate with the jaws to remove the cap from the bottle or vial. Means may be provided to adjust the starting point of the decapping cycle or the plunger upper limit as well as the finishing point of the decapping cycle or the plunger lower limit.
Claims20
A powered decapping tool, comprising:
- a. a housing comprising a motor therein, said motor including a pulse disk on a motor powered shaft;
- b. a plunger movable by said motor between a start position, an intermediate position , and a stop position;
- c. a plurality of jaws extending from said housing, each of said plurality of jaws having an upper opening portion and a lower decapping portion with an arcuate plunger slide area therebetween;
- said lower decapping portion having a cap retainer;
- said plurality of jaws and said plunger being in an abutting relationship to pivot said jaws to an open position when said plunger is at said start position, to pivot said jaws to a closed position when said plunger is at said intermediate position and to retain said jaws in said closed position while said plunger moves to said stop position;
- and,
- d. a pulse sensor, where said motor powered shaft will rotate until said pulse sensor has detected a selected number of pulses from said pulse disk to move said piston from said start to said stop position, said selected number of pulses being adjustable.
A powered decapping tool, comprising:
- a housing containing a motor therein, said housing having a trigger switch, a rocker switch, and a reset switch;
- said housing containing a circuit board having a controller operably connected thereto, said trigger switch, said rocker switch, and said reset switch being operably connected to said controller;
- said motor includes a pulse disk on a motor powered shaft and where said tool includes a pulse sensor, said motor powered shaft being operably connected through a speed reduction system and a plunger lead screw to a plunger movable between a start position with a value of “x” counts, an intermediate position, and a stop position having a value of “y” counts;
- where, by operation of said trigger switch and said motor thereby, said controller will cause said motor powered shaft to rotate until said pulse sensor has detected a first selected number of pulses with a value of “y-x” counts from said pulse disk to move said piston from said start to said stop position, unless a stall condition is detected, and when said first selected number of pulses has been detected or said stall condition is detected, said motor powered shaft will rotate to return said piston to said start position;
- a plurality of jaws extending from said housing, each of said plurality of jaws having an upper opening portion and a lower decapping portion with an arcuate plunger slide area therebetween;
- said lower decapping portion having a cap retainer;
- said plurality of jaws and said plunger being in an abutting relationship to pivot said jaws to an open position when said plunger is at said start position, to pivot said jaws to a closed position when said plunger is at said intermediate position, and to retain said jaws in said closed position while said plunger
- moves to said stop position;
- and, where, when said tool is in a decap mode, said rocker switch can be pressed to adjust said stop position and said value of “y” counts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.