# US 7,743,976 B2 · Method for labeling sample containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,976 B2 - Document ID: US7743976B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/040,536 - Filed: 2005-01-21 - Published: 2005-09-29 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 1998-02-13 - Assignees: PerkinElmer Singapore PTE Ltd. - Inventors: Ronny Knepple; Hubert Riegger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743976B2 ## CPC - B44C 1/228: {by laser radiation} - B01L 3/5453: {for test tubes} - B44C 1/225: {by engraving} - B41M 5/0047: {by ink-jet printing} - B41M 5/007: {on glass, ceramic, tiles, concrete, stones, etc.} - B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)} - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) ## Abstract A method of providing sample containers with an automatically readable identification for an analysis device, in which the sample container may be heated to an operating temperature for analysis. It is the object of the invention to improve the identification of sample containers in a manner that the sample contained in the sample container is not contaminated by the constituents of the identification agent during analysis. The object of the invention is solved in that the identification is applied at an elevated temperature above the operating temperature. By the method according to the invention, volatile constituents of the identification agent are advantageous evaporated so that when using the sample container during operating temperature of the analysis device, the sample to be analyzed is no longer contaminated by the exhaling constituents of the identification agent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for labeling a sample container for retaining a sample for analysis, the method comprising: providing a sample container, the sample container being previously completely manufactured and being usable for holding a sample for analysis within the container at a sample analysis temperature higher than a room temperature; elevating a temperature of the sample container to an elevated temperature above the sample analysis temperature of the sample container; applying, after said elevating step, an ink having volatile constituents as a marking for providing information of the sample on a surface of the sample container; and evaporating volatile constituents of the marking agent as a result of the elevated temperature of the sample container and degassing these volatile constituents to prevent contamination of the sample to be received within the sample container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of applying the marking agent on the surface of the container comprises applying a bar code on the surface of the container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of applying the marking agent on the surface of the container comprises applying numerals or letters on the surface of the container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of applying the marking agent on the surface of the container comprises applying symbols on the surface of the container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elevated temperature is between 300° C. and 600° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the elevated temperature is approximately 500° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising cooling the container after the step of applying the marking agent. ### Claim 8 A method for labeling a sample container for retaining a sample for analysis, the method comprising: providing a sample container, the sample container being previously completely manufactured and being usable for holding a sample for analysis within the container at a sample analysis temperature higher than a room temperature; applying an ink having volatile constituents as a marking for providing information of the sample on a surface of the sample container; elevating, before a sample is received within the sample container, a temperature of the sample container to an elevated temperature above the sample analysis temperature of the sample container; and evaporating volatile constituents of the marking agent as a result of the elevated temperature of the sample container and degassing these volatile constituents to prevent contamination of the sample to be received within the sample container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the step of applying the marking agent on the surface of the container comprises applying a bar code on the surface of the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the step of applying the marking agent on the surface of the container comprises applying numerals or letters on the surface of the container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the step of applying the marking agent on the surface of the container comprises applying symbols on the surface of the container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the elevated temperature is between 300° C. and 600° C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the elevated temperature is approximately 500° C. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising cooling the container after the marking agent is evaporated.