Vial capper/decapper for use with a liquid transfer system
Inventors
Jones, Lloyd A. • Blevins, Timothy R. • Gabel, Robert A. • Hoffmann, Thomas
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9052299-B2
Publication Date
2015-06-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A liquid transfer system is disclosed including a transport path that transports a plurality of vials through the liquid transfer system. Each of the plurality of vials has a cap that forms a seal with an open-ended vial body. The liquid transfer system is comprised of a vial capper/decapper assembly that is positioned adjacent to the transport path and includes a plurality of rotatable spindles. Each spindle has a rotatable shaft and a first projection supported by the shaft. The first projection also includes a cam surface that engages a cap of a vial so as to breach the seal and open the vial. The plurality of spindles is rotated simultaneously to simultaneously breach the seals and open the caps of the plurality of vials.
Core Innovation
The invention is an automated liquid sample transfer system with a transport path for transporting a plurality of vials through the system, where each vial has an open-ended vial body and a cap connected to the vial body to form a seal. Adjacent the transport path, a vial capper/decapper assembly engages the caps and includes a plurality of rotatable spindles, each with a rotatable shaft and a first projection with a cam surface configured to engage a respective cap so as to breach the seal and open the cap relative to the vial body upon rotation.
A key feature is that the plurality of rotatable spindles is configured to rotate simultaneously to simultaneously breach the seals and open the caps of the plurality of vials. In corresponding embodiments, the caps are then handled by a rotating arm assembly positioned adjacent the transport path and opposite the spindles, which engages the opened caps and retracts the opened caps away from the vial bodies.
In further automated liquid sample transfer embodiments, the system includes a load module, an unload module, and a transfer module positioned between the load and unload modules. The vials contain a biological fluid, and the system is described as processing different vial types, including vials with locking tabs and tamper-evident features.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides four independent claims: clm-00001, clm-00016, clm-00028, and clm-00035. Across these independent claims, the core coverage centers on a vial capper/decapper assembly with rotatable spindles whose projections and cam surfaces breach cap-vial seals and open caps, with simultaneous operation for multiple vials, and in some claims a separate rotating arm assembly that retracts opened caps away from the vial bodies. The automated sample transfer claims further include system modules and biological-fluid use, and the method claim covers the corresponding aligning and simultaneous rotation sequence.
Simultaneous spindle cam-surface decapping on sealed vials
A liquid transfer system with a transport path transports a plurality of vials, where each vial has an open-ended vial body and a cap connected to form a seal, and a vial capper/decapper assembly positioned adjacent the transport path includes a plurality of rotatable spindles whose first projections with cam surfaces breach the seals and open the caps upon rotation, wherein the plurality of rotatable spindles is configured to rotate simultaneously to simultaneously breach the seals and open the caps of the plurality of vials.
Rotating arm retraction of opened caps away from vial bodies
A liquid transfer system with a transport path and at least one spindle positioned adjacent the transport path having a rotatable shaft, a first projection supported by the shaft, and a cam surface configured to engage a respective cap so as to breach the seal and open the cap upon rotation of the spindle, and a rotating arm assembly positioned adjacent the transport path and opposite the spindle, where the rotating arm assembly is configured to engage the opened caps and to retract the opened caps away from the vial body.
Automated liquid transfer modules with sealed biological fluid vials and simultaneous decapping
An automated liquid sample transfer system with a transport path for transporting a plurality of vials, each having an open-ended vial body containing a biological fluid and a cap connected to form a seal, comprising a load module, an unload module, a transfer module positioned between the load and unload modules, and a vial capper/decapper assembly adjacent the transport path with a plurality of rotatable spindles whose first projections with cam surfaces breach the seal and open caps relative to the vial body upon rotation, wherein the plurality of rotatable spindles is configured to rotate simultaneously to simultaneously breach the seals and open the caps of the plurality of vials.
Aligning and simultaneously rotating spindle projections to open caps
A method of capping/decapping a plurality of vials comprising aligning the plurality of vials with a plurality of rotatable spindles, simultaneously rotating the plurality of rotatable spindles such that the first projection of each breaches the seals, and continuing the simultaneous rotation such that the cam surface of each rotatable spindle opens the caps of the plurality of vials.
Overall, the independent claims cover breaching and opening caps using spindle-supported projections and cam surfaces adjacent a transport path, with simultaneous spindle rotation for multiple vials, a rotating arm assembly that engages opened caps and retracts them away from the vial bodies, an automated liquid sample transfer architecture with load, transfer, and unload modules for vials containing biological fluid, and the corresponding aligning and simultaneously rotating method steps.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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