Capping and de-capping apparatus and a method of operating such an apparatus
US11802033B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 3, 2022 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2035/0405
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
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 the tubes. The apparatus comprises a rack support for supporting the 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 the rack support and the head unit relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper with or from a cap of at least one tube, and a drive system for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper, wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap to the tube and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap from said tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.