Methods for the selective uncapping of gel cards

Abstract

The invention relates to a station for uncovering a receptacle comprising a body in which a plurality of adjacent holes, initially sealed by a cover, are formed. The station comprises at least one cutting member for making at least one cut in the cover between two adjacent holes, so as to form at least one cover portion closing off at least one of the holes of the receptacle, i.e., the selected hole; and at least one heating gripping device which is arranged so as to heat and remove said cover portion, thereby opening the selected hole.

Claims

1. A method for uncovering a receptacle including a body in which several adjacent holes initially sealed by a cover are formed, in which: at least one cut is made in the cover between two adjacent holes while maintaining the body as a unitary part so as to form at least one cover portion covering at least one of the holes of the receptacle, at least one of the holes of the receptacle being a selected hole covered by a selected cover portion; the selected cover portion is heated so as to be unglued from the body; the selected cover portion is removed from the body, the selected hole being thereby opened.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: several cover portions are formed in the cover, said cover portions covering some of the holes, amongst which a plurality of holes are selected holes, said cover portions are heated so as to unglue them from the body, said cover portions are removed from the body, the selected holes being thereby opened.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected holes are ionized after being opened.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying that the selected holes have been correctly opened.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said several cover portions are formed simultaneously in the cover, by a plurality of coaxial and equidistant blades or saws that are rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis orthogonal to a direction of movement of the receptacle, are positioned axially in a vertical plane passing between two adjacent holes of the receptacle, and are arranged so that an axial distance between two adjacent blades or saws is equal to a distance between adjacent holes of the receptacle.

6. The method of claim 1, where the selected cover portion is expelled after being removed from the body.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one cut is made in the cover between adjacent holes without dividing the body into multiple parts.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, after the selected cover portion is removed from the body, the body remains a unitary part.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein after an entirety of the cover is removed from the body, the remains a unitary part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood, and the advantages thereof will better appear, upon reading the following detailed description of one embodiment shown non-limitingly. The description refers to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of a receptacle, i.e., an empty gel card including six reaction holes aligned in a single row, designed to be used with the uncovering station according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an uncovering station according to the invention, and illustrates the step during which the cover of the gel card of FIG. 1 is cut;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the uncovering station of FIG. 2, before the cutting operation of the cover, at the end of which six cover portions have been formed;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the uncovering station of FIG. 3, after the operation for forming the cover portions, three gripping devices being brought into the working position so as to keep the three cover portions covering the three selected holes;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the opening of the three selected holes;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates the raising of the three gripping devices and the removal of the three cover portions;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates the step during which it is verified that the selected holes have been correctly opened;

(9) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of one of the gripping devices in the idle position;

(10) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of one of the gripping devices in the working position; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of one of the gripping devices, the movement of which has not been allowed by the selection mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) The receptacle 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plastic body 12 in which several reaction holes 14 are formed, in this case six holes referenced 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3, 14.sub.4, 14.sub.5, 14.sub.6, which are adjacent and positioned in a single row. Each of the holes contains a reagent R that may be identical to or different from the reagent contained in the neighboring hole, Such a receptacle is well known and is generally called a gel card.

(13) In reference to FIG. 1, one can see that the holes 14 emerge in an upper wall 12a of the gel card. These holes 14 therefore have openings 16 formed in the upper wall 12a of the gel card, said openings 16 initially being covered by a cover 18. In this example, the cover 18 consists of a thin strip of aluminum that is heat-sealed to the upper wall 12a of the body 12 of the gel card 10, for example using a heat-sealing film or a glue. The distance d between holes corresponds to the distance between the axes of symmetry of two adjacent holes.

(14) As shown in this FIG. 1, the thickness of the gel card 10 is substantially smaller than its other two dimensions.

(15) In light of FIGS. 2 to 7, an uncovering station 100 according to the invention will be described that is designed to open one or more holes 14 of the gel card 10 previously described. An uncovering method, also according to the invention, implemented by the station 100 will also be described.

(16) In this example, the uncovering station 100 includes a housing 102 from which two horizontal arms 104 extend. Each of said two arms is provided with a longitudinal slot 106, the two slots 106 being designed to receive the edges of an intake tray 108. In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be understood that the intake tray 108 can slide in a horizontal plane while being guided in translation by the slots 106.

(17) FIG. 2 corresponds to a moment where, the empty gel card 10 having previously been inserted into the recess 110, one begins to move the tray 108 horizontally toward the housing 102, in the direction symbolized by the arrow F1.

(18) One of the ends of the intake tray 108 comprises a recess 110 designed to receive a receptacle, and in particular the gel card 10 of FIG. 1. More specifically, the gel card 10 is positioned in the recess 110 such that the upper wall 12a and the cover 18 emerge above the horizontal plane of the intake tray 108.

(19) Furthermore, the uncovering station 100 includes a plurality of cutting members 112 which in this case are made up of five small circular saws 112 provided with sharp teeth 113. The saws 112 are coaxial and equidistant. They are rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis A orthogonal to the direction of movement F1 of the tray 108.

(20) Each of the saws 112 is positioned axially (relative to the axis A) in a vertical plane passing between two adjacent holes of the gel card. The axial distance between two adjacent saws is substantially equal to the distance d between holes. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the saws are positioned above the gel card.

(21) Each of the five saws 112 is designed to produce a cut in the cover 18 of the gel card 10 between two adjacent holes, during the movement of the tray 108 toward the housing 102. As better seen in FIG. 3, the saws 112 therefore make it possible to simultaneously form six cover portions 120.sub.1, 120.sub.2, 120.sub.3, 120.sub.4, 120.sub.5, 120.sub.6 separated from one another, each of said cover portions covering one of the holes 14 of the gel card 10.

(22) Furthermore, in order to avoid the risk of pushing back of the material making up the cover, which would tend to stiffen the cover, it is preferable to cut the cover while removing the material. To that end, the direction of rotation S of the saws is preferably opposite the direction of movement F1 of the tray 108 toward the housing 102.

(23) Preferably, the saws are positioned such that the ends of the sharp teeth 113 come into contact with the plastic upper wall 12a of the body of the gel cards 10. To avoid the formation of plastic shavings, the teeth advantageously have pointed ends.

(24) After the cutting operation, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the tray 108 is moved in the direction referenced F2 so as to position the gel card 10 in the housing 102.

(25) FIGS. 4 and 5 will now be used to describe how the uncovering operation is carried out.

(26) In this example, a decision is made to open the holes 14.sub.1, 14.sub.3 and 14.sub.4. This choice is completely arbitrary and, of course, it may be decided to open only one of the holes or any other combination of holes.

(27) The holes 14.sub.1, 14.sub.3 and 14.sub.4 that one wishes to open are called the selected holes These selected holes 14.sub.1, 14.sub.3 and 14.sub.4 are therefore covered by the cover portions referenced 120.sub.1, 120.sub.3 and 120.sub.4.

(28) According to the invention, the uncovering station 100 includes a plurality of heating gripping devices 130, each of said devices being arranged to be able to heat and remove a cover portion.

(29) In this example, the heating gripping devices assume the form of studs that can be moved vertically, independently of one another, but not necessarily simultaneously. In the case at hand, the station includes six studs that are positioned across from each of the holes 14 of the gel card 10, and therefore across from each of the cover portions.

(30) Each stud 130 has an idle position, as well as a working position in which said stud is made to bear against a cover portion, i.e., here bearing against the upper wall 12a of the body 12 of the gel card 10.

(31) As will be seen below, the studs are heated beforehand before being brought into the working position.

(32) In the example of FIG. 4, the heating studs 130.sub.1, 130.sub.3 and 130.sub.4 are positioned vertically along the arrow F3 to be made to bear respectively against cover portions 120.sub.1, 120.sub.3 and 120.sub.4.

(33) The heat given off by the heating studs 130.sub.1, 130.sub.3 and 130.sub.4 causes the heat-sealing film or the glue positioned between the cover portions and the upper wall 12a of the body of the gel card to melt, following which the cover portions 120.sub.1, 120.sub.3 and 120.sub.4 come unglued from the gel card. The selected holes 14.sub.1, 14.sub.3 and 14.sub.4 have thus been opened (uncovered).

(34) In this example, the cover portions are removed by bringing the heating studs 130.sub.1, 130.sub.3 and 130.sub.4 back toward their idle position, in other words by moving vertically in the direction symbolized by the arrow F4 (opposite the arrow F3) of FIG. 5. It has been observed that the cover portions are carried away by the studs when the latter rise. However, it is preferable, but not essential, to provide heating studs with means 134 for gripping the cover portions, said means for example being able to assume the form of small claws or tips 134.

(35) After the uncovering operation, it is desirable to discharge the cover portions 120.sub.1, 120.sub.3 and 120.sub.4 that may have remained attached to the heating studs 130.sub.1, 130.sub.3 and 130.sub.4. To that end, the station according to the invention includes several discharge members for expelling the cover portions gripped by the heating stud. In the case at hand, the station includes six discharge members made up of six rods referenced 132.sub.1, 132.sub.2, 132.sub.3, 132.sub.4, 132.sub.5 and 132.sub.6. These rods are fixed to the housing 102 and are positioned such that the gripping devices (the studs) slide around said rods. As will be understood using FIGS. 4 and 6, the rods are completely housed in the heating studs when the latter are in their working position, and protrude when the heating studs are brought back to the idle position. Thus, when the heating studs 130.sub.1, 130.sub.3 and 130.sub.4 rise, the rods 132.sub.1, 132.sub.3 and 132.sub.4 expel the cover portions 120.sub.1, 120.sub.3 and 120.sub.4 which, in this example, next fall into a collection tub 133.

(36) After the uncovering operation, the tray 108 is moved so as to bring the gel card 10 near means 140 for verifying whether the selected holes 14.sub.1, 14.sub.3 and 14.sub.4 have been correctly opened. In this example, these means are made up of a set of optical sensors that are arranged to be positioned above the upper wall. These sensors are capable of detecting the absence of metal cover portions and therefore the opening of the selected holes. It is, however, possible to provide non-optical verification means.

(37) Furthermore, the station includes at least one ionizer 150 for ionizing the selected holes, after they are opened, in order to eliminate the electrostatic charges that may be contained in the holes.

(38) In reference now to FIGS. 8 to 10, an embodiment of the selection mechanism 200 according to the invention will be described that makes it possible to select the gripping devices (studs) 130 needing to be moved to their working position, as well as the movement device 300 making it possible to move the gripping devices (studs) 130 between their idle position and their working position.

(39) FIG. 8 shows one of the heating studs 130 in the idle position, according to a view in a vertical cutting plane parallel to the direction of movement of the tray 108.

(40) In the idle position, the heating stud 130 is in contact with a heating baseplate 160 that is fixed to the housing 102. This heating baseplate for example includes electrical resistances making it possible to keep it at a substantially constant temperature.

(41) In this example, the heating step 130 therefore does not include internal heating means. In other words, the heating stud 130 captures the heat energy when it is in the idle position.

(42) The heating baseplate 160 is configured such that the heating stud can be brought quickly to a temperature of approximately 200 C. To that end, the heating stud will preferably be made from a material such as bronze, or any other material that is a good conductor while having a good friction coefficient.

(43) As already mentioned above, the heating stud 130 (130.sub.1, 130.sub.2) is mounted sliding around the rod 132 (132.sub.1, 132.sub.2), the latter being fixed to the frame 102.

(44) This stud 132 is moved vertically using the movement device 300, which includes a vertically movable plate 302, the lower end of which bears a compression spring 304. The latter exerts pressure against a horizontal bearing surface 131 (131.sub.1, 131.sub.2) belonging to a radial extension 131 (131.sub.1, 131.sub.2) of the heating stud 130.

(45) When the vertical axis 302 is moved vertically toward the gel card, which is symbolized by the arrow F5 in FIG. 9, the spring 304 exerts pressure on the bearing surface 131, which results in vertically moving this stud toward the gel card 10, in the direction indicated by the arrow F6, in order to bring it into its working position in which it is in contact with the cover portion 120.

(46) The selection mechanism includes several fingers 202 (202.sub.1, 202.sub.2) that are transversely movable relative to the direction of movement of the studs 130, between a retracted position and a deployed position. More specifically, in this example, there are as many moving fingers as there are heating studs.

(47) FIGS. 8 to 10 show that the movement of the fingers 202 (202.sub.1, 202.sub.2), in this case a horizontal translation, is done using an electromagnet 204 (204.sub.1, 204.sub.2) connected to the finger using a rod 206 (206.sub.1, 206.sub.2).

(48) The stud 130 includes a horizontal stop surface 133 (133.sub.1, 133.sub.2) designed to cooperate with the finger 202 (202.sub.1, 202.sub.2) when the latter is in its deployed position, as shown in FIG. 10.

(49) Thus, when the finger is in the retracted position, as is the case in FIG. 9, the stud 130.sub.1, which is then a selected stud, may be brought into the working position by vertical movement of the plate 302, the finger 202.sub.1 not opposing the movement of said stud.

(50) However, when the finger 202.sub.2 is in the deployed position, as is the case in FIG. 10, the stop surface 133.sub.2 of the stud 130.sub.2 comes in contact with the finger 202.sub.2 during movement of the plate 302. This results in blocking the movement of the stud 130.sub.2, which is therefore not selected, and subsequently preventing it from being brought into the working position.

(51) In the example of FIGS. 8 to 10, the movement of the plate 302 causes simultaneous movement of all of the studs during the uncovering operation. However, only the studs for which the associated finger is in the retracted position (the selected studs) are brought into the working position. In other words, it is understood that the selection mechanism makes it possible to prevent the movement of the studs that are not selected.

(52) It will therefore be understood that the invention allows selective opening of the holes of the gel card, automatically.

(53) The embodiments or examples described in the present description are provided as an illustration and non-limitingly, one skilled in the art easily being able, in light of this description, to modify these embodiments or example embodiments, or to consider others, while remaining within the scope of the invention.

(54) Furthermore, the different features of these embodiments or examples may be used alone or in combination with each other. When they are combined, these features may be combined as described above or differently, the invention not being limited to the specific combinations described herein. In particular, unless otherwise specified, a feature described in relation with one embodiment or example may be applied similarly to another embodiment or example.