Patent classifications
B67B7/182
Automated bit exchange method and apparatus for laboratory sample tube capping and decapping machines
A laboratory capper, decapper or combination capper/decapper includes a deck containing with a nest designed to hold an SBS-formatted tube storage rack, and a bit exchange magazine assembly containing one or more sets of adapter bits. The adapter bits are mounted on and unloaded from motor driven fittings, and are exchanged in order to cap or decap laboratory sample tubes or vials that have different head configurations. The bit exchange magazine assembly enables the bit to be exchanged robotically.
Sample preparation system with rotatable gripper
A rotatable gripper grips and turns a container cap. When locked, a collet clamp engages the cap, and when unlocked, the clamp releases the cap. The collet clamp is elongate with a first and second ends. The first end has a substantially rigid section. The second end has a gripper section with a substantially cylindrical recess that expands in width to hold the cap when the clamp is moved from locked to unlocked. Between the rigid and gripper sections is a clamping section. An outside surface of the clamping section is conical with a width increasing towards the gripper section. Sliding a ring on the conical clamping section deforms it into the locked position, constricting the recess tightly onto a container cap. When unlocked, the recess widens, permitting the cap to be removed from the recess.
Combined cork and twist cap remover
A hand-held container opener for providing a convenient way to open both containers with a twist-off cap and containers with a cork-stopper which includes a caliper clamp assembly mounted within a first open end of a housing and which is driven by a motor to initially clamp and subsequently twist off a cap on a container and which includes a second open end portion that includes a corkscrew driven by the motor or gas injection device for penetrating a cork for either twisting the cork from the container using the corkscrew or forcing the cork from the container using pressurized gas.
Automated Bit Exchange for Laboratory Sample Tube Capping and Decapping Machines
A laboratory capper, decapper or combination capper/decapper includes a deck containing with a nest designed to hold an SBS-formatted tube storage rack, and a bit exchange magazine assembly containing one or more sets of adapter bits. The adapter bits are mounted on and unloaded from motor driven fittings, and are exchanged in order to cap or decap laboratory sample tubes or vials that have different head configurations. The bit exchange magazine assembly enables the bit to be exchanged robotically.
SYRINGE FILLING AND PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR HOSPITAL PHARMACIES
A semi-automated system (100) suitable for use in a hospital setting for filling patient-specific liquid medication prescriptions from bulk medicine containers (104) into oral/enteral syringes (S) for administration on a just-in-time basis. The system enables hospital pharmacists to simplify and streamline their task, increasing the number of prescriptions that can be filled in a day, improving patient safety and care by minimizing medication errors and the consequences that ensue.
Self-actuating mechanically-biased container restraint
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.
Capping And De-Capping Apparatus And A Method Of Operating Such An Apparatus
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.
Test Tube Capping And De-Capping Apparatus
An apparatus for automated capping and de-capping of test tubes having an ejector pin system for individualized cap ejection.
Electric Jar Opener
The present invention discloses an electric jar opener comprising a housing; a first clamping jaw group; a second clamping jaw group; a movement mechanism. The first clamping jaw group comprises two oppositely-disposed mutually facing first clamping jaws for clamping a can body, the second clamping jaw group comprises two oppositely-disposed mutually facing second clamping jaws for clamping and screwing a lid; the movement mechanism comprises a motor and a differential with two outputs; a first output of the differential is in transmission connection to the first clamping jaws and a second output thereof is in transmission connection to the second clamping jaws. By use of the differential, the first output of the differential is in transmission connection to the first clamping jaws and the second output thereof is in transmission connection to the second clamping jaws, so that the whole machine operates in a balanced and stable manner.
CAP ROTATING EQUIPMENT
A cap rotating equipment includes a power rotating shaft, a cap rotating housing and a cap fixing device. The cap rotating housing is connected to the power rotating shaft, and the cap rotating housing includes an opening. The cap fixing device is installed in the opening of the cap rotating housing and is used to clamp a cap of a bottle.