A system and method for a self-actuating, mechanically-biased container restraint. The system requires no computer-aided control or timing, nor is any external power source needed, other than the force exerted as a container is inserted into the restraint. The system relies upon an assembly including mechanically-biased pivoting levers, each of which has a horizontal element and a vertical element. All actuation occurs as the base of an inserted container comes into contact with the upper surface of the horizontal elements of multiple pivoted levers positioned at the base of a channel adapted to serve as a guide for the inserted tube. The levers are biased in this elevated position by mechanical means, such as a spring. As the inserted tube presses the horizontal members downward, the top portions of the vertical members are pivoted inward toward the container's exterior. Friction pads situated upon the interior surface of each vertical element are brought into contact with the exterior of the container, thereby gripping it. This gripping action holds the container with sufficient friction to permit the removal or attachment of a screw cap. Further embodiments of the invention include a mechanically biased platform supporting the channel and the pivoting levers. This base is biased and positioned to permit the channel and the pivoting lever assembly to be translated downward against the force biasing the platform and translate through the body of the container restraint. This further advancement of container, the channel and the lever assembly cause the pivoting levers to assume fully engaged gripping positions, and brings the vertical elements of the levers (and flexible friction pads upon them) into full upright positions. In this position the friction pads apply a maximum static friction force to the exterior of the container.

A lid opening component, a lid opening device, and a suction system are disclosed. The suction system includes the lid opening device and a suction assembly, wherein the lid opening device includes a positioning assembly and a lid opening assembly having the lid opening components, and the lid opening component includes a needle holder, a plurality of unpowered needles, and a drive part. The suction system identifies the locations of a container and its lids through the positioning assembly of the lid opening device, opens the container's lids by fitting the unpowered needles of the lid opening components in with the surfaces of the container's lids and rotating the lid opening components of the lid opening assembly, and by moving the suction assembly to the openings of the container, draws out the content in the container through the suction assembly.

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.

In one embodiment, a method for dispensing a filled container comprises removing a single container from a stack of containers within a chassis, filling the single container with filtered water within the chassis, sealing the single container within the chassis, and dispensing the single container from the chassis. In another embodiment, a system for dispensing a filled container comprises a chassis, a stack of containers within the chassis, and an automated mechanism within the chassis to remove a single container from the stack of containers, fill the single container with filtered water, seal the single container, and dispense the single container from the chassis.

An apparatus for automated capping and de-capping of test tubes having an ejector pin system for individualized cap ejection.

Provided are an automatic sampling device and method and, more specifically, are an automatic sampling device and method which automatically remove a lid when collecting a sample in order to analyze the state of a chemical solution (medicinal fluid) and which automatically reverse a sample collection container so that the container can be used after being washed with ultrapure water, and thus the device prevents medicinal fluid contamination caused by the sample collection container, lid, adjacent objects in contact therewith, or space during sampling, without being affected by outside conditions during the sampling, prevents safety accidents such as errors or risk caused by manual work, and is improved so as to increase the reliability of sampling.

Apparatus for removing a cap closing a laboratory sample container, the apparatus comprising a cap gripper being adapted to grip a cap to be removed and being adapted to remove the cap being gripped from the laboratory sample container, a displaceable chute comprising a cap inlet, a linear guide defining a linear trajectory, wherein the displaceable chute is mechanically coupled to the linear guide such that the displaceable chute is displaceable along the linear trajectory, and a drive being adapted to cause a displacement of the displaceable chute along the linear trajectory to a dropping position, wherein in the dropping position the removed cap being gripped by the cap gripper is at least partially inserted into the cap inlet of the displaceable chute.

Described is an apparatus for filling food containers, including: a filling device for filling a food container including a neck through which the food product can be filled and a cap to cover the neck, wherein the filling device is configured to remove the cap and to fill the food container through the neck, a food container label printing device configured to print at least one label for the at least one food container; a user interface, configured at least to start the filling device; and a support for supporting at least the food container.

An apparatus (100) for automated capping and de-capping of test tubes (112) having an ejector pin (230) system for individualized cap (113) ejection.

A capping and de-capping apparatus (100) for capping and de-capping tubes (112) disposed in a tube holding rack (111) having a two-dimensional array of apertures (114) for holding the tubes (112). The apparatus (100) comprises a rack support (110) for supporting the tube holding rack (111), a head unit (120) adapted for carrying a cartridge (152) comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper (122), a drive system (130) for moving the rack support (110) and the head unit (120) relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper (122) with or from a cap (113) of at least one tube (112), and a drive system (140) for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper (122), wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap (113) to the tube (112) and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap (113) from said tube (112).