Tube capper-decapper for standard tube racks with displaceable cover gripper

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a test tube capping-decapping device comprising: an instrument assembly for switching a cap holder array comprising at least three cap holders between a one-dimensional array of cap holders and a two-dimensional array of cap holders; the instrument assembly is comprised within the test tube capping-decapping device, whereby it is possible to switch the cap holder array comprising at least three cap holders between the one-dimensional array of cap holders and the two-dimensional array of cap holders by a switching action on the cap holder array, whereby it is possible to increase the versatility of the test tube capping-decapping device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] In the field of capping and decapping test tubes held in standard test tube holders, a handheld test tube capping-decapping device is proposed, which has a universal clamp alignment for use with multiple standard test tube holders. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, the automated capping and uncapping of test tubes has become an important technical field due to the increasing use of standardized sizes and formats in fields such as biology and microbiology. In these fields, large numbers of test tubes must typically be capped and uncapped for sample examination. For example, in large-scale testing, human intervention must be minimized during automated sample handling for diagnostic safety and reliability, as well as for efficiency and testing speed. However, also for workplace safety reasons, manual capping and uncapping operations, especially those involving rotational movement for tightening and loosening threaded test tube caps, should be minimized. Frequent repetition of these operations can lead to tendonitis in those performing such capping and uncapping. Therefore, automation has become essential.

[0003] A particularly important step in increasing the use of automated capping-uncapping devices is the introduction of standardization within the field of test tubes and in the field of standardized supports for holding standardized test tubes. Currently, the dominant standard for supports used in biological and microbiological test tubes is the so-called SBS format support according to ANSI SLAS x-2004, where x = 1, 2, ..., 6. Such an SBS support can contain, for example, 96 test tubes designed to securely hold, for example, an array of 8 x 12 wells, but 4 x 6 and 8 x 6 arrays are also commonly used. The advantage of automation is that the test tube positions are predetermined by the standard, and automated equipment can rely on these predetermined positions within manufacturing tolerances.

[0004] There are many types of test tubes suitable for storage on SBS-type racks, and specific problems arise for each type when considering automatic capping and uncapping operations. However, screw cap and click cap types are dominant. This invention relates to the field of automatic capping and uncapping of screw cap type test tubes stored on standardized test tube racks (e.g., SBS-type racks).

[0005] In the field of capping and uncapping test tubes (preferably screw-capped test tubes), a recurring problem is that existing screw-capped test tube capping and uncapping devices, such as the one detailed in WO2014020386, are not universally compatible in terms of the number of test tubes they can handle. Instead, these are fixed to a predetermined support form defined by the number of holes in a particular support (e.g., 8x12), and the existing test tube capping and uncapping devices provide an equal number (here, 8x12) of test tube cap holders to that particular support for capping and uncapping the test tubes arranged in the holes of the particular support form.

[0006] This disclosure aims to provide a creative solution to the general problem of increasing the versatility of prior art tube capping and decapping devices, so as to allow the tube capping and decapping devices according to this disclosure to be used for capping and decapping tubes stored on a wider variety of tube racks, rather than just a single pre-designed tube rack. However, in this invention, the dimensions are specifically and preferably formulated according to the SBS type tube holder standard.

[0007] This disclosure discusses inventive solutions to the aforementioned general problems in the context of SBS-type test tube stents, as will be discussed in more detail below, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the teachings of this disclosure are not limited thereto. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This disclosure and the invention, in a first aspect, relate to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c); the instrument assembly (2) includes the cap holder array (20) arranged on a fixing device (21), wherein, on the fixing device (21), at least a first cap holder (4a) of the at least three cap holders (4a to 4c) is displaceably arranged; the instrument assembly (2) further includes a switch (22) arranged for at least when When the switch (22) is operated, it acts on the first cap holder (4a); wherein the fixing device (21) defines a cap holder displacement plane (214) relative to the cap engagement axis (45) of the cap holder array (20), and wherein, in the cap holder displacement plane (214), when the switch (22) is operated, by the action of the switch (22) on the first cap holder (4a), at least the first cap holder (4a) is displaced (p2, p2') between a corresponding position (p2) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cap holders and a corresponding position (p2') in the two-dimensional array (20b) of the cap holders.

[0009] This disclosure and the invention in a second aspect relate to a cap socket cartridge (3) comprising: a cap holder socket portion retainer (31) including at least one socket support element (32, 33), the at least one socket support element (32, 33) including a plurality of corresponding socket support elements (32a-h, 33a-h) for rotatably supporting a plurality of corresponding cap holder socket portions (47a-h); and a cap ejector (34) displaceable relative to the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) along a cap engagement axis (45) such that, when the cap ejector (34) is displaced away from the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) along the cap engagement axis (45), a corresponding cap held on a corresponding cap socket (42a-h) included on a corresponding cap holder socket portion (47a-h) is ejected by engaging a corresponding cap.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cap socket box (3) is used to connect to the instrument assembly (2), which is used to switch between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c).

[0011] This disclosure and the invention relate, in a third aspect, to a test tube capping-uncapping device (1) comprising an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c). In an embodiment thereto, the test tube capping-uncapping device (1) comprises the instrument assembly according to the first aspect, and further comprises the instrument assembly according to the first aspect and a cap socket box (3) according to the second aspect of this disclosure and the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 Exemplary embodiments of the instrument assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 : An exemplary fixing device used in the present invention; Figure 3 : An exemplary switcher used in this invention; Figure 4 : An exemplary hinge used in this invention; Figure 5 : An embodiment of the instrument assembly including a mirror switcher section for use in the present invention; Figure 6 : An exemplary cover holder for use in the present invention; Figure 7 : An exemplary cover socket box for use in the present invention (front view); Figure 8 : An exemplary cover socket box for use in this invention (rear view); Figure 9 Exemplary handheld test tube capping and uncapping device of the present invention; Figure 10 Complete set of components.

[0013] These drawings are described in detail in the preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings, while preferred, are for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read in conjunction with the specification (e.g., crosshairs, component arrangements, scale, angles, etc.) and should be considered as part of the entire written description of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0014] This disclosure and invention in one aspect (e.g., Figure 1 The present invention relates to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c); the instrument assembly (2) includes the cap holder array (20) arranged on a fixing device (21), wherein, on the fixing device (21), at least the first cap holder (4a) of the at least three cap holders (4a to 4c) is displaceably arranged; the instrument assembly (2) further includes a switch (22) arranged at least for when the switch (22) is operated. The action is applied to the first cap holder (4a); wherein the fixing device (21) defines a cap holder displacement plane (214) relative to the cap engagement axis (45) of the cap holder array (20), and wherein, in the cap holder displacement plane (214), when the switch (22) is operated, at least the first cap holder (4a) is displaced between a corresponding position (p2) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cap holders and a corresponding position (p2') in the two-dimensional array (20b) of the cap holders by the switch (22) (p2, p2'). Preferably, the cap holder is a screw cap holder for engaging screw caps on test tubes including screw caps.

[0015] The inventors constructed the invention disclosed herein based on the following basic observation: In a standardized test tube holder (e.g., a test tube holder in the form of SBS), the holes in the holder for holding test tubes are arranged in a simple geometry with linear one-dimensional rows and columns (e.g., 8 columns and 12 rows of holes for holding test tubes), wherein the centers of the holes are equidistantly spaced.

[0016] Thus, the inventors have creatively recognized that the versatility of a tube capping-uncapping device comprising multiple cap holders arranged in a one-dimensional array and dedicated to, for example, operating on tubes arranged in a one-dimensional alignment in a single row (e.g., within one column of eight columns in an 8×12 SBS tube holder), can also be processed to handle tubes held in a single column of 12 rows of the same 8×12 SBS tube holder with one-dimensional alignment in eight holes; by shifting the number of cap holders no longer intended to interact with tubes held in the tube holder outside the aforementioned one-dimensional array of cap holders, the number of tube cap holders available for engaging tube caps is reduced without reducing the number of tube cap holders present in the capping-uncapping device of the present invention. Therefore, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the structural dimensions of the instrument assembly (2) allow conformity to ANSI standard ANSI SLAS x-2004, where x = 1, 2, 6.

[0017] In its embodiments, the instrument assembly of the present invention is further described in detail, which also allows for adaptation to a smaller number of support holes with a larger hole center-to-center spacing. This is a preferred use of the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention as described in detail below.

[0018] According to the first aspect of this disclosure and invention, the basic concept of the instrument assembly disclosed herein is that, when the switcher (22) is operated, wherein the switcher (22) is arranged to engage at least a first cover holder (4a) of at least three cover holders (4a-4c) held in the instrument assembly (2) of the invention, and then a subgroup (24a) of the corresponding cover holders (4a-4c) including at least the first cover holder (4a) is switched from a corresponding first position (p2) in the one-dimensional array of cover holders to a corresponding second position (p2') outside the one-dimensional array (20a) of cover holders. Through the action of the switcher (22), a two-dimensional array (20b) of cover holders is thus formed.

[0019] For example, as detailed in the example of the 8x12 SBS test tube holder described above, it is desirable to switch between one configuration and another: in one configuration, when any of the included cap holders (4a-4c) are aligned in the one-dimensional array (20a), the test tube capping-uncapping device (1) including the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention (e.g., Figure 9In one configuration, the same capping / uncapping device (1) is aligned to engage 12 test tubes, while in another configuration, the same capping / uncapping device (1) is aligned to engage only 4 or 8 test tubes. The switch (22) does not require engaging more than 4 cap holders (4a-4c) included in the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention to achieve the necessary desired realignment of the cap holders (4a-4c) included in the capping / uncapping device (1) of the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention. However, the conversion from 12 to 6 engaged cap holders requires realignment of 6 cap holders with the original one-dimensional array (20a) of the cap holders. In other configurations, if the eight cap holders aligned in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the instrument assembly (2) are rearranged to engage only six cap holders in order to engage the test tubes held in the 8x6 SBS tube holder of the present invention, then only the displacement of two cap holders is required to form the aforementioned two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders (4a-4c). Therefore, the instrument assembly (2) can achieve a minimized rearrangement of the cap holders (4a-4c) included in the original one-dimensional array (20a) to accommodate different but fewer cap holder engagements.

[0020] Therefore, in the embodiments, this document describes in detail an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20b) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the instrument assembly (2) for switching the cap holder array (20) is arranged to be included in a test tube capping-uncapping device (1), preferably included in a handheld test tube capping-uncapping device (1).

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the operation of the switch (22) is reversible, and the operation of the switch (2s) will also allow the two-dimensional array (20b) of the cover holders (4a-4c) of the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention to be aligned to the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cover holders (4a-4c) of the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention.

[0022] In the instrument assembly (2) (see Figure 2In embodiments thereof, this document describes in detail an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c), wherein the fixing device (21) includes at least a first cap holder displacement guide (211a) for guiding the aforementioned first cap holder (4a) between a corresponding position (p2) in the one-dimensional array (20a) and a corresponding position (p2') in the two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders when the switcher (22) is operated. In a preferred embodiment, the first cap holder displacement guide (211a) is arranged to be coplanar with the aforementioned cap holder displacement plane (214) in the holder (21).

[0023] By providing a displacement guide (211a) for the aforementioned first cap holder (4a), the inventors have observed improvements in the operation of the aforementioned switch (22) and the alignment of the aforementioned first cap holder (4a) within the two-dimensional array (20b). In principle, the displacement guide (211a) can be arranged to guide the aforementioned first cap holder (4a) to have not only a displacement component in the aforementioned cap holder displacement plane (214), but also a displacement component parallel to the aforementioned cap engagement axis (45), as will be discussed below. However, it is preferred that the first cap holder displacement guide (211a) is arranged to be coplanar with the aforementioned cap holder displacement plane (214) in the fixing device (21).

[0024] The problem with the instrument assembly (2) detailed above is that, although the number of remaining cap holders in the one-dimensional array (20a) for engaging the test tubes held in the support is minimized as much as possible, and the support includes fewer support holes in a particular row or column, the remaining second cap holders (4b) and third cap holders (4c) may not necessarily be aligned with the required support holes. Therefore, it is preferable that the second cap holders (4b) and the optional third cap holders (4c) can also be displaced within the aforementioned fixing device (21) for realigning these cap holders as well.

[0025] Therefore, in the preferred embodiment of this instrument assembly (2), it is described in detail herein (see [link]). Figure 2An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c), wherein a fixing device (21) includes at least a second cap holder displacement guide (211b, 211c) arranged in the fixing device (21) coplanar with a cap holder displacement plane (214) to guide at least a second cap holder (4b, 4c) of at least three cap holders (4a to 4c) between a corresponding first position (p3) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a corresponding second position (p3') in the one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders when the switcher (22) is operated.

[0026] Therefore, in another preferred embodiment of this instrument assembly (2), the following is described in detail (see [link to document]). Figure 2 An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a to 4c), wherein a fixing device (21) comprises at least a second cap holder displacement guide (211b) and a third cap holder displacement guide (211c), the second cap holder displacement guide (211b) and the third cap holder... The holder shifting guide (211c) is arranged in the fixing device (21) to be coplanar with the cover holder shifting plane (214) so ​​as to guide the corresponding second and third cover holders (4b, 4c) of the at least three cover holders (4a to 4c) between the corresponding first positions (p3, p4) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cover holders and the corresponding second positions (p3', p4') in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cover holders when the switcher (22) is operated.

[0027] exist Figure 2In the illustrated instrument assembly (2) and exemplary embodiments of the invention, the corresponding displacement guides (211a-c) guide the displacement of the corresponding first cover holder, second cover holder, and third cover holder (4a-4c) in the plane of the fixing device (21), and are also arranged to guide the first cover holder (4a) out of the one-dimensional array of cover holders (20a), and the second displacement guides (211b) and third displacement guides (211c) are arranged to allow the aforementioned second cover holder (4b) and third cover holder (4c) to remain in the aforementioned one-dimensional array of cover holders (20a), while simultaneously displacing and guiding them within the one-dimensional array (20a) to a new position (p 3', p4'). When the displacement guides (211a-c) are arranged in this manner, the instrument assembly (2) allows the cap holders (4a-4c) to be displaced from a plurality of first one-dimensionally arranged test tube holes with a first equidistant hole center spacing in a first support having a predetermined length (l) to a lower number of test tube holes with a second equidistant hole center spacing in a matching second support (displaced from 12 to 8 in the figure), but the second support has a predetermined length (l) that is substantially the same as that of the first support. This is the result of the orthogonal arrangement of the first displacement guide (211a), the second displacement guide (211b), and the third displacement guide (211c) in the aforementioned fixing device (21).

[0028] Those skilled in the art will recognize that when the arrangement of the first displacement guide (211a), the second displacement guide (211b) and the third displacement guide (211c) in the aforementioned fixing device (21) is not orthogonal to each other, the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention is also suitable for rearranging the cap holders (4a-4c) included in the two test tube holders, wherein the predetermined length (1) of each test tube holder is substantially different.

[0029] Similarly, those skilled in the art will recognize, based on general geometric principles, that the final position of the cap holders (4a-4c) can be adjusted by changing the length of one or more of the displacements (p2-p2', p3-p3', p4-p4') of the cap holders (4a-4c) suitable for displacement between test tube supports of substantially the same or different predetermined lengths (l). For example, in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the lengths of displacement (p2-p2', p3-p3', p4-p4') are substantially the same for all cap holders (4a-4c). However, in other embodiments, the length of displacement (p2-p2') of the first cap holder (4a) may differ from the lengths of displacement (p3-p3') of the second cap holder (4b) and displacement (p4-p4') of the third cap holder (4c). Similarly, in Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment, the lengths of the displacement (p3-p3') of the second cover holder (4b) and the displacement (p4-p4') of the third cover holder (4c) are shown to be equal, which is advantageous from a structural point of view, but not mandatory. For example, in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the number of cap holders is reduced from 12 to 8, which increases the equidistant hole spacing of the second support compared to the first support. This increase can be evenly distributed between the second displacement guide (211b) and the third displacement guide (211c) as shown, but according to general geometric principles, it can also be unevenly distributed between the two displacement guides (211b, 211c).

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of this instrument assembly (2), the following is described in detail (see [link to documentation]). Figure 2 An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein cap holder displacement guides (211a-c) are through holes of a fixing device (21) parallel to the cap engagement main axis (45) of the aforementioned cap holder array (20).

[0031] In embodiments of this instrument assembly (2), this document describes in detail (see [link to documentation]). Figure 3 An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) is provided, wherein the switcher (22) comprises a switcher body (222) displaceable between a first position (p1) and a second position (p1') and at least one corresponding shifter (221) engaged by the switcher body (222), wherein when the switcher (22) is operated, the at least one corresponding shifter (221) acts on a corresponding first cap holder (4a) among the at least three cap holders (4a-4c) such that the at least one corresponding shifter (221) transfers the shift (p1, p1') of the switcher body (222) at least to the shift (p2, p2') of the corresponding first cap holder (4a). In one embodiment, the shift (p1, p1') of the switch body (222) is orthogonal to the shift (p2, p2') of the corresponding first cover holder (4a). As discussed further below, advantageously coupling the switch (22) to the corresponding first cover holder (4a) via the corresponding shifter (221) allows a single switch to operate multiple first cover holders (4a) by means of the corresponding shifter (221) for each first cover holder (4a).

[0032] In its embodiments (see) Figure 2 and 3 The fixing device (21) and the switch body (222) include complementary switch body orientation and displacement guides (213a, 213b, 223a, 223b) arranged to align and guide the displacement (p1, p1') of the switch body (222) relative to the fixing device (21). In one embodiment, the corresponding complementary switch body orientation and displacement guide of the fixing device (21) is a recess or through hole (213a, 213b), and the corresponding complementary switch body orientation and displacement guide of the switch body (222) is a pin (223a, 223b).

[0033] In one embodiment, the corresponding shifter (221) includes a corresponding shifter pin (2212) for engaging a corresponding pin guide recess (2222a-d) included in the switcher body (222) such that when the switcher body (222) shifts between positions (p1, p1'), the corresponding shifter pin (2212) shifts along the corresponding pin guide recess (2222a-d), thereby transferring the shift (p1, p1') of the switcher body (222) at least to the shift (p2, p2') of the aforementioned corresponding first cover holder (4a).

[0034] In one embodiment, the corresponding shifter (221) includes an elongated shifter body (2211), wherein on the aforementioned elongated shifter body (2211), a corresponding connector through-hole (2213) is arranged opposite to a corresponding shifter pin (2212); the corresponding connector through-hole (2213) is arranged for connecting a corresponding first cover holder (4a) to the corresponding shifter (221) through the corresponding connector through-hole (2213).

[0035] In one embodiment, the fixing device (21) includes at least one corresponding shifter guide (212a) for guiding the corresponding shifter (221) to perform the shift (p2, p2') when the switcher (22) is operated.

[0036] In embodiments of this instrument assembly (2), this document describes in detail (see [link to documentation]). Figure 4An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders according to the foregoing embodiments, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein a corresponding first cap holder (4a), second cap holder (4b) and third cap holder (4c) are displaceably arranged in a corresponding first cap holder displacement guide (211a), second cap holder displacement guide (211b) and third cap holder displacement guide (211c) and are hingedly connected using a corresponding hinge unit (231), each corresponding cap holder (4a-4c) The switch (22) pivots in the corresponding hinge unit (231), wherein the corresponding first cover holder (4a) is arranged in the corresponding connector through hole (2213) of the corresponding shifter (221), such that when the switch (22) is operated, the corresponding first cover holder (4a), second cover holder (4b) and third cover holder (4c) are shifted between corresponding first positions (p2, p3, p4) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cover holders and corresponding second positions (p2', p3', p4') in the two-dimensional array (20b) of the cover holders by the action of the corresponding shifter (221) on the corresponding first cover holder (4a). In this way, a single shift of the switch (22) can be transferred to all the corresponding cover holders (4a to 4c) in the instrument assembly.

[0037] In one embodiment of this instrument assembly (2), it is described in detail herein (see [link]). Figure 5 An instrument assembly (2) for switching a cover holder array (20) comprising at least three cover holders (4a to 4c) between a one-dimensional cover holder array (20a) and a two-dimensional cover holder array (20b) according to the foregoing embodiments, wherein a fixing device (21) defines a first fixing device surface (21a) and an opposing second fixing device surface (21b), each respective fixing device surface (21a, 21b) being arranged parallel to a cover holder shifting plane (214), and wherein on the respective opposing fixing device surfaces (21a, 21b), respective mirror shifter guides (212a, 212a') are arranged such that the respective mirror shifters (221a, 221a') are each capable of acting on the aforementioned respective first cover holder (4a) and engaging the switcher body (222). By mirroring the aforementioned features of the instrument assembly around the fixing device (21), improved stability and accuracy are obtained, thereby facilitating the ability of the instrument assembly (2) to be automatically tested in the test tube capping-uncapping device (1).

[0038] In its embodiments (see Figure 5In this paper, the instrument assembly (2) is described in detail, wherein the switch body (222) includes a mirrored first switch body element (222a) and a second switch body element (222b) arranged mirrored relative to the respective relative fixed device surfaces (21a, 21b), such that each respective first switch body element (222a) and second switch body element (222b) can be engaged with one of the respective mirror shifters (221a, 221a') for at least converting the shift (p1, p1') of the switch body (222) into the corresponding shift (p2, p2') of the aforementioned respective first cover holder (4a).

[0039] A particular advantage of this instrument assembly (2) and the invention is that the components described in detail above can be readily added to the instrument assembly (2) of the invention, making it compatible, for example, with the instrument assembly (2) of the invention for switching between, for example, 8x12 test tube holders, which can be assembled from the same components as another instrument assembly (2) of the invention for switching between, for example, 4x6 test tube devices. The only requirement is that the number of the first cap holders to be shifted matches the difference in the number of holes between the test tube holder with the highest number of holes and the test tube holder with the lowest number of holes.

[0040] However, the inventors of this invention have been committed to finding a suitable solution to the capper-uncapper (1) problem, in the embodiments of the instrument assembly (2) of this application described in detail (see Figure 4 B), an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cover holders comprising at least three cover holders (4a-4c) according to any prior embodiment, wherein the respective first cover holder (4a), second cover holder (4b) and third cover holder (4c) are displaceably arranged in the fixing device (21) including the respective first cover holder displacement guide (211a), second cover holder displacement guide (211b) and third cover holder displacement guide (20c). In the three-cap holder shift guide (211c), corresponding cap holder groups (24a-d) are formed within the instrument assembly (2). A corresponding shifter (221a) can act on the corresponding cap holder groups (24a-d) to convert the shift (p1, p1') of the switch body (222) into corresponding shifts (p2, p2') of the first cap holder (4a), (p3, p3') of the second cap holder (4b), and (p4, p4') of the third cap holder (4c). In its embodiment, the instrument assembly (2) includes any one of two, three, or four cap holder groups (24a-d). Therefore, complete universality across the SBS bracket form standard can be ensured.

[0041] In the embodiments of this instrument assembly (2), the following is described in detail (see [link to documentation]). Figure 1 An instrument assembly (2) is used to switch between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c), according to any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the switcher (22) is a bidirectional switcher that, when the switcher (22) is operated, allows a corresponding cap holder (4a) of the at least three cap holders (4a to 4c) to be interchangeably switched between a corresponding position (p2, p3, p4) of the aforementioned corresponding cap holder (4a to 4c) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a corresponding position (p2', p3', p4') in the two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders.

[0042] In one embodiment, when the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention is intended to be included in a fixed tube capping / uncapping device (1) capable of using a fixed (electrical) energy source, the switch (22) can be actuated, and the tube capping / uncapping device (1) including the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention can include an actuating device, such as an electric motor. However, when the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention is intended to be included in a handheld tube capping / uncapping device (1) and cannot use a fixed (electrical) energy source, the switch (22) preferably includes a switch handle (224) for allowing the user of the tube capping / uncapping device (1) including the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention to manually operate the aforementioned switch (22), thereby reducing the energy requirements of the power source included in the handheld tube capping / uncapping device (1).

[0043] In a particularly preferred embodiment of this instrument assembly (2), the following is described in detail (see [link to documentation]). Figure 1 and Figure 6 An instrument assembly (2) is used to switch between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders (20b) according to any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the respective cap holders (4a-4c) are individually actuated (41a-41c) to rotate the respective cap holders (4a-4c) individually in use.

[0044] In summary, the advantages of using a separately actuated cap holder have been described in detail in the prior art. Regarding the present invention, the separately actuated cap holder (4) offers significant benefits in providing the desired versatility, because the cap holder 4 (see...) Figure 6It may be equipped with a separately attached actuator (41), which then allows displacement of the cover holder (4) according to the detailed embodiment described above, without limiting the displacement to more than the limits imposed by any displacement guide.

[0045] In embodiments of a separately actuated cap holder (4), the corresponding cap holder (4a-4c) includes a cap socket (42), a cap holder pin (43), and a cap holder actuator (41), the cap holder actuator (41) including an electric motor (411) engaging the cap holder pin (43); the cap holder pin (43) connects the cap holder actuator (41) to the cap socket (42) for converting rotation of the electric motor (411) into rotation of the cap socket (42). Figure 6 In the preferred embodiment shown, the cover holder pin (43) has been divided into two parts, the actuator pin (431) and the insertion pin (432), as discussed further below.

[0046] In the above detailed embodiment of the cap holder (4), and especially the above detailed embodiment of the individually actuated cap holder (4) (see [reference]). Figure 6 In this document, a particularly preferred embodiment is described in detail an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) according to any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the corresponding cap holder (4) comprises: a cap holder actuation portion (46) comprising an actuator pin (431) and a cap holder actuator (41) comprising an electric motor (411), the actuator pin (431) comprising an ... The cover holder (4) is rotatable by the electric motor (411); and the cover holder socket portion (47) includes a socket pin (432) connected to the cover socket (42); the actuator pin (431) and the socket pin (432) each include complementary connecting means (441, 442) for releasably connecting the actuator pin (431) and the socket pin (432) so that the cover holder (4) is formed by the cover holder actuation portion (46) and the cover holder socket portion (47) when connected.

[0047] When the cap holder (4) as detailed above includes an actuator pin (431) and a socket pin (432), the actuator pin and the socket pin each include complementary connecting means (441, 442) for releasably connecting the actuator pin (431) and the socket pin (432), so that when connected, the cap holder (4) is formed by the cap holder actuation portion (46) and the cap holder socket portion (47); when used as a cap holder (4a-4c) in the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention, it solves the unintended complexity caused by displacing the aforementioned first cap holder (4a) from its original position in the one-dimensional array, i.e., due to geometric constraints, the displaced cap holder in principle restricts the access of the test tube capping-uncapping device (1) of the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention from some types of screw caps and test tubes held in a holder having two rows or two columns of adjacent test tube holes.

[0048] The cap holder (4) disclosed above solves the problem by making a portion of the displaced first cap holder (4a) include a removable portion (e.g., cap holder socket portion (47)), which then no longer geometrically restricts the test tube capping-uncapping device (1) including the instrument assembly (2) of the present invention after removal.

[0049] Suitable complementary connection devices (441, 442) for releasably connecting the actuator pin (431) and the socket pin (432) are well known to those skilled in the art, such as pawl locks, screw lock connections, etc., and are not described in further detail in this invention and disclosure.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the complementary connection devices (441, 442) include opposing hinge elements (471, 472), as detailed below (see [link]). Figure 7 A particularly preferred complementary connection device (441, 442) includes a mortise and tenon joint (or tap and hole joint), with one pin (431, 432) forming the mortise (442) and the opposing pin (431, 432) forming the tenon (441). Figure 6 and Figure 7 In this case, the mortise (442) is arranged on the mortise pin (432), while the tenon (441) is arranged on the actuator pin (431), but the reverse is also suitable.

[0051] In the detailed cap holder (4) described above (see above) Figure 6 In the embodiment of the cover holder socket (47) and the instrument assembly (2), the cover holder socket portion (47) further includes a biasing device (48) for biasing the socket pin (432) and the cover socket (42) to align relative to the cover engagement axis (45).

[0052] In the detailed cap holder (4) described above (see above) Figure 6 In the embodiment of the cover holder socket portion (47) and the instrument assembly (2), the first socket pin portion (4321) and the second socket pin portion (4322) are hingedly connected by complementary sliding connection devices (471, 472).

[0053] In the detailed cap holder (4) described above (see above) Figure 6 In the embodiment of the instrument assembly (2), the first pin portion (4321) and the second pin portion (4321) are individually biased (481, 482) relative to the aforementioned cover engagement axis (45).

[0054] In the above-described detailed embodiments of the cover holder (4), particularly the above-described detailed individually actuated cover holder (4), an instrument assembly (2) comprising an array (20) of at least three cover holders (4a to 4c) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cover holders, is described in detail herein, in a particularly preferred embodiment. The cover holder socket portion (47) is rotatably included within a cover socket housing (3). A suitable cover socket housing (3) for use with this instrument assembly (2) and this cover holder (4) is described in detail below (see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 7 and Figure 8 ).

[0055] In one aspect and embodiment of the invention, a cover socket box (3) is described in detail herein, comprising: A cap holder socket portion retainer (31) includes at least one socket support element (32, 33), which includes a plurality of corresponding socket supports (32a-h, 33a-h) for rotatably supporting a plurality of corresponding cap holder socket portions (47a-h); and A cap ejector (34) is displaced relative to the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) along the cap engagement axis (45) to eject the corresponding cap by engaging the cap held in the corresponding cap socket (42a-h) on the corresponding cap holder socket portion (47a-h) when the cap ejector (34) is displaced away from the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) along the cap engagement axis (45).

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cap socket box (3) is used to connect to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array of cap holders (20a-20c) of at least three cap holders. In the following discussion, the cap socket box (3) of the invention is discussed according to this particularly preferred embodiment.

[0057] In an embodiment of the cover socket box (3), a cover socket box (3) is described in detail herein for connection to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cover holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cover holders comprising at least three cover holders (4a-4c), wherein the instrument assembly (2) is any of the embodiments of the instrument assembly described in detail herein.

[0058] In one embodiment, the cap socket box (3) is arranged to be operable after being attached to the handheld test tube capping-uncapping device (1).

[0059] In a preferred embodiment of the cap socket box (3), the cap ejector (34) is slidably attached to the cap holder socket portion retainer (31). Such sliding devices are well known in the art, for example, in Figure 7 In the embodiment shown, opposing through holes (351, 352) are used to receive sliding pegs, wherein one of the through holes (here on the cap ejector (34)) is elongated, and the through hole on the cap socket box (3) is used to hold such sliding pegs.

[0060] In an embodiment of the cover socket box (3) according to any prior embodiment (see...) Figure 8 In this paper, a cover socket box (3) is described in detail for connection to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cover holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cover holders, comprising at least three cover holders (4a to 4c), wherein the socket support (32a to 32h, 33a to 33h) is a through hole included in the at least one socket support element (32, 33); each corresponding through hole is arranged to rotatably carry a corresponding cover holder socket portion (47a to 47h) of the plurality of cover holder socket portions (47a to 47h).

[0061] In an embodiment of the cover socket box (3) according to any prior embodiment (see...) Figure 8In this paper, a cap socket box (3) is described in detail for connection to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20b) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein when the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h) include a first socket pin portion (4321) and a second socket pin portion (4322), the socket support elements (32, 33) include: a first socket support element (32) for rotatably supporting the first socket pin portion (4321) of the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h); and a second socket support element (33) for rotatably supporting the second socket pin portion (4322) of the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h).

[0062] In an embodiment of the cap socket box (3) according to any of the foregoing embodiments, a cap socket box (3) is described in detail herein for connection to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c), wherein the cap ejector (34) includes a cap ejector plate (341) for ejecting the corresponding cap from the corresponding cap socket (42a to 42h) when the cap ejector (34) is displaced along the cap engagement axis (45) away from the cap holder socket portion retainer (31).

[0063] In its embodiments (see Figure 8 In this paper, a cap socket box (3) is described in detail for connection to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c), wherein the cap discharge plate (341) includes a plurality of through holes (341a to 341h) that are matched in number with the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a to 47h). The plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a to 47h) are disposed therethrough, such that the cap ejector plate (341) can engage with a corresponding cap held on a corresponding cap socket (42a to 42h) included in the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a to 47h), and the cap ejector plate (341) can eject the corresponding cap from the corresponding cap socket (42a to 42h) when the cap ejector (34) moves away from the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) along the cap engagement axis (45).

[0064] In embodiments of the cap socket box (3) according to any prior embodiment, a cap socket box (3) is described in detail herein for connection to an instrument assembly (2) comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, wherein at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) engages the cap ejector (34) to allow a user to displace the cap ejector (34) by shifting the at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b). In one embodiment, the cap ejector (34) includes at least one ejector surface (343a, 343b) to allow the at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) to engage the cap ejector (34) to displace the cap ejector (34) away from the cap socket box (3).

[0065] In an embodiment of the cap socket box (3) described herein, a cap socket box (3) is described in detail for connection to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c), wherein the at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) includes a biasing portion (3421a, 3421b) for limiting the displacement of the cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) to a first position where a corresponding cap is not engaged and held on a corresponding cap socket (42a to 42h) and a second position where the corresponding cap is ejected from the corresponding cap socket (42a to 42h), and for subsequently returning the at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) from the second position to the first position.

[0066] In an embodiment (not shown) of the cap socket box (3) according to any of the foregoing embodiments, a cap socket box (3) is described in detail herein for connection to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the cap ejector (34) is actuated.

[0067] In an embodiment of the cover socket box (3) according to any of the foregoing embodiments (see...) Figure 8In this paper, a cover socket box (3) is described in detail for connection to an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cover holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cover holders, comprising at least three cover holders (4a to 4c), wherein the cover holder socket portion retainer (31) comprises a plurality of corresponding sockets (49ab, 49cd, 49ef, 49gh) arranged in the cover holder socket portion retainer (31) to receive, but not engage, the corresponding cover holder actuation portion (46) of the corresponding first cover holder (4a) included in the instrument assembly (2) when the corresponding first cover holder (4a) is aligned with the two-dimensional array (20b) of cover holders.

[0068] In an embodiment of the cap socket box (3) according to any of the foregoing embodiments, a cap socket box (3) is described in detail herein for connection to an instrument assembly (2) comprising a cap holder (20) including at least three cap holders (4a to 4c) that switches between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, wherein for each pair of cap holder socket portions (47a, b), (47c, d), (47c, d), rotatably arranged in the cap socket box (3) 7e, f), (47g, h), the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) includes corresponding receiving portions (49ab, 49cd, 49ef, 49gh) for receiving but not engaging the cap holder actuation portion (46) of the corresponding first cap holder (4a) included in the instrument assembly (2) when the corresponding first cap holder (4a) is aligned in the cap holder two-dimensional array (20b).

[0069] In one embodiment of the cap socket box (3) according to any of the foregoing embodiments, a cap socket box (3) is described in detail herein for connection to an instrument assembly (2) that switches between a one-dimensional array (20a) of multiple cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of multiple cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a to 4c), wherein the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) is arranged within the cap socket box housing (30).

[0070] In another aspect of the invention (see...) Figure 9This article describes in detail a test tube capping-uncapping device (1), which includes an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c).

[0071] In its embodiments, a test tube capping-uncapping device (1) is described in detail, wherein the test tube capping-uncapping device is a handheld test tube capping-uncapping device (1).

[0072] In its embodiments, a test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any of the foregoing embodiments is described in detail, wherein the instrument assembly (2) for switching between a cap holder array (20) comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders is an instrument assembly (2a) according to any of the embodiments detailed herein.

[0073] In its embodiments, a test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any prior embodiment is described in detail, comprising: an instrument assembly (2) according to any embodiment described in detail, for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c); and a cap socket box (3) according to any embodiment described in detail.

[0074] In its embodiments, a test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any prior embodiment is described in detail, wherein the cap socket box (3) is replaceable.

[0075] In its embodiments, a test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any prior embodiment is described in detail, wherein the instrument assembly (2) for switching between a cap holder array (20) comprising at least three cap holders (4a to 4c) between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders is arranged within a device housing (10).

[0076] In one embodiment, a test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any prior embodiment is described in detail, the test tube capping-uncapping device (1) further comprising a controller (15) including a programmable unit for controlling at least one actuation of at least one actuable unit (22, 34, 4, 41, 46) included in the test tube capping-uncapping device (1).

[0077] In its embodiments, a test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any prior embodiment is described in detail, the test tube capping-uncapping device (1) being adapted to be connected to an external power source (16). In its embodiments, the test tube capping-uncapping device (1) of the present invention includes: an internal power source, such as, for example, an internal battery, arranged to be connected to the external power source and storing energy from the external power source; and an indicator (17) for indicating the level of the internal power source.

[0078] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any of the embodiments herein includes a socket (16) for connection to an external power source and a power cord. In its embodiment, the tube capping-uncapping device (1) includes: an internal power source arranged for connection to the external power source via the socket (16) and the power cord and for storing energy from the external power source; and an indicator (17) for indicating the level of the internal power source.

[0079] In another aspect of the invention (see...) Figure 10 In this document, a complete set of components (6) is described in detail, which includes at least a test tube capping-uncapping device (1), which includes an instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) according to any embodiment disclosed herein, and also includes at least one cap socket box (3) according to any embodiment disclosed herein.

[0080] In its implementation, the kit (6) further includes a support (7) for the tube capping-uncapping device (1).

[0081] Summarize Although the invention has been described in detail for illustrative purposes, it should be understood that such details are merely for illustrative purposes and that those skilled in the art can modify them by studying the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims when practicing the claimed subject matter.

[0082] The term "comprising" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The indefinite articles "a" or "an" as used in the claims do not exclude multiple. A single processor or other unit can perform the functions of several means recited in the claims. Reference numerals used in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c); the instrument assembly (2) comprising the cap holder array (20) arranged on a fixing device (21), wherein, On the fixing device (21), at least the first cap holder (4a) of the at least three cap holders (4a-4c) is displaceably arranged; the instrument assembly (2) further includes a switch (22) arranged to act on the first cap holder (4a) when the switch (22) is operated; wherein the fixing device (21) defines a cap holder displacement plane (214) relative to the cap engagement axis (45) of the cap holder array (20), and wherein, in the cap holder displacement plane (214), when the switch (22) is operated, by the action of the switch (22) on the first cap holder (4a), at least the first cap holder (4a) is displaced (p2, p2') between a corresponding position (p2) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cap holders and a corresponding position (p2') in the two-dimensional array (20b) of the cap holders.

2. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 1 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The instrument assembly (2) for switching cap holder array (20) is arranged to be included within the tube capping-uncapping device (1).

3. An instrument assembly (2) according to any one of the preceding claims for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a-4c) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, wherein, The fixing device (21) includes at least a first cover holder displacement guide (211a), which is arranged to be coplanar with the cover holder displacement plane (214) for guiding the first cover holder (4a) between the corresponding position (p2) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cover holders and the corresponding position (p2') in the two-dimensional array (20b) of the cover holders when the switch (22) is operated.

4. An instrument assembly (2) according to any one of the preceding claims for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The fixing device (21) includes at least a second cover holder displacement guide (211b) arranged in the fixing device (21) coplanar with the cover holder displacement plane (214) for guiding at least the second cover holder (4b) of the at least three cover holders (4a-4c) between a corresponding first position (p3) and a corresponding second position (p3') in the one-dimensional array of cover holders (20a) when the switcher (22) is operated.

5. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 4 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The fixing device (21) includes at least a second cover holder displacement guide (211b) and a third cover holder displacement guide (211c), the second cover holder displacement guide (211b) and the third cover holder displacement guide (211c) being arranged in the fixing device (21) to be coplanar with the cover holder displacement plane (214), for guiding the corresponding second cover holder (4b) and third cover holder (4c) of the at least three cover holders (4a-4c) between corresponding first positions (p3, p4) and corresponding second positions (p3', p4') in the one-dimensional array of cover holders (20a) when the switcher (22) is operated.

6. The instrument assembly (2) according to any one of claims 3 to 5 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The cover holder displacement guide (211a-c) is a through hole that passes through the fixing device (21) parallel to the cover engagement axis (45) of the cover holder array (20).

7. An instrument assembly (2) according to any one of the preceding claims for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a-4c) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, wherein, The switch (22) includes a switch handle (224).

8. An instrument assembly (2) according to any one of the preceding claims for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The switcher (22) includes a switcher body (222) and at least one corresponding shifter (221), the switcher body (222) being displaceable between a first position (p1) and a second position (p1'), the at least one corresponding shifter (221) being engaged by the switcher body (222), and when the switcher (22) is operated, the at least one corresponding shifter (221) acts on a corresponding first cover holder (4a) of the at least three cover holders (4a-4c) such that the at least one corresponding shifter (221) transfers the displacement (p1, p1') of the switcher body (222) at least to the displacement (p2, p2') of the corresponding first cover holder (4a).

9. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 8 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The shifts (p1, p1') of the switch body (222) are orthogonal to the shifts (p2, p2') of the corresponding first cover holder (4a).

10. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 8 or 9 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The fixing device (21) and the switch body (222) include complementary switch body orientation displacement guides (213a, 213b, 223a, 223b) arranged to align with and guide the displacement (p1, p1') of the switch body (222) relative to the fixing device (21).

11. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 10 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The corresponding complementary switch body orientation and displacement guide of the fixing device (21) is a recess or through hole (213a, 213b), and the corresponding complementary switch body orientation and displacement guide of the switch body (222) is a pin (223a, 223b).

12. The instrument assembly (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 11 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The corresponding shifter (221) includes a corresponding shifter pin (2212) for engaging a corresponding pin guide recess (2222a-d) included in the switcher body (222) such that when the switcher body (222) shifts between the positions (p1, p1'), the corresponding shifter pin (2212) shifts along the corresponding pin guide recess (2222a-d) to transfer at least the shift (p1, p1') of the switcher body (222) to the shift (p2, p2') of the corresponding first cover holder (4a).

13. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 12 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The corresponding shifter (221) includes an elongated shifter body (2211), wherein a corresponding connector through hole (2213) is arranged opposite to a corresponding shifter pin (2212) on the elongated shifter body (2211); the corresponding connector through hole (2213) is arranged for connecting a corresponding first cover holder (4a) to the corresponding shifter (221) through the corresponding connector through hole (2213).

14. The instrument assembly (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 13 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c). The fixing device (21) includes at least one corresponding shifter guide (212a) for guiding the corresponding shifter (221) to perform the shift (p2, p2') when the switcher (22) is operated.

15. An instrument assembly (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 14 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein a corresponding first cap holder (4a), second cap holder (4b) and third cap holder (4c) are displaceably arranged in a corresponding first cap holder displacement guide (211a), a second cap holder displacement guide (211b) and a third cap holder displacement guide (211c) and are hingedly connected using a corresponding hinge unit (231), each corresponding cap holder (4a-4c) in the... The corresponding hinge unit (231) pivots, and the corresponding first cover holder (4a) is arranged in the corresponding connector through hole (2213) of the corresponding shifter (221) such that when the switcher (22) is operated, the corresponding first cover holder (4a), second cover holder (4b) and third cover holder (4c) are shifted between the corresponding first positions (p2, p3, p4) in the one-dimensional array (20a) of the cover holders and the corresponding second positions (p2', p3', p4') in the two-dimensional array (20b) of the cover holders by the action of the corresponding shifter (221) on the corresponding first cover holder (4a).

16. An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, according to any one of claims 8 to 15, wherein the fixing device (21) defines a first fixing device surface (21a) and an opposing second fixing device surface (21b), each respective fixing device surface (21a, 21b) being arranged parallel to the cap holder shifting plane (214), and wherein on the respective opposing fixing device surfaces (21a, 21b), respective mirror shifter guides (212a, 212a') are arranged such that the respective mirror shifters (221a, 221a') are each capable of acting on the respective first cap holder (4a) and engaging the switcher body (222).

17. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 16 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cover holders comprising at least three cover holders (4a-4c), wherein the switcher body (222) comprises a mirrored first switcher body element (222a) and a second switcher body element (222b), the mirrored first switcher body element (222a) and the second switcher body element (222b) being arranged mirrorally relative to the respective opposing fixing surfaces (21a, 21b) such that each respective first switcher body element (222a) and the second switcher body element (222b) can respectively engage one of the respective mirrored shifters (221a, 221a') for transferring at least a shift (p1, p1') of the switcher body (222) to a corresponding shift (p2, p2') of the respective first cover holder (4a).

18. An instrument assembly (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 17 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein a corresponding first cap holder (4a) is arranged in one of the corresponding first cap holder displacement guides (211a), second cap holder displacement guides (211b) and third cap holder displacement guides (211c) included in the fixing device (21). The second cover holder (4b) and the third cover holder (4c) form corresponding cover holder groups (24a-d) within the instrument assembly (2), and the corresponding shifter (221a) can act on the corresponding cover holder groups (24a-d) to transfer the shift (p1, p1') of the switch body (222) to the corresponding shift (p2, p3, p4, p2', p3', p4') of the first cover holder (4a), the second cover holder (4b) and the third cover holder (4c).

19. The instrument assembly (2) of claim 18 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the instrument assembly (2) comprises any one of two, three or four groups of cap holders (24a-d).

20. An instrument assembly (2) according to any of the preceding claims for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the switcher (22) is a bidirectional switcher that, when operated, allows a corresponding cap holder among the at least three cap holders (4a-4c) to be interchangeably switched between the corresponding position (p2, p3, p4) of the corresponding cap holder (4a-4c) in the one-dimensional array (20a) and the corresponding position (p2', p3', p4') in the two-dimensional array (20b).

21. An instrument assembly (2) according to any of the preceding claims for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the switcher (22) is actuated.

22. An instrument assembly (2) according to any of the preceding claims for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the respective cap holders (4a-4c) are individually actuated (41a-c) for individually rotating the respective cap holders (4a-4c) in use.

23. The instrument assembly (2) of claim 22 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20b) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein each cap holder (4a-4c) comprises a cap socket (42), a cap holder pin (43), and a cap holder actuator (41), the cap holder actuator (41) comprising an electric motor (411) engaging the cap holder pin (43); the cap holder pin (43) connecting the cap holder actuator (41) to the cap socket (42) for transferring rotation of the electric motor (411) to rotation of the cap socket (42).

24. An instrument assembly (2) according to any of the preceding claims for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the respective cap holders (4) comprise: - A cover holder actuation part (46), the cover holder actuation part (46) includes an actuator pin (431) and a cover holder actuator (41), the cover holder actuator (41) includes an electric motor (411), the actuator pin (431) is rotatable by the electric motor (411); as well as - Cover holder socket portion (47), the cover holder socket portion (47) includes a socket pin (432) connected to the cover socket (42); The actuator pin (431) and the socket pin (432) each include complementary connecting devices (441, 442) for releasably connecting the actuator pin (431) and the socket pin (432) so that when connected, the cover holder actuation portion (46) and the cover holder socket portion (47) form the cover holder (4).

25. The instrument assembly (2) of claim 24 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20b) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising an array (20) of at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the cap holder socket portion (47) further comprises a biasing device (48) for biasing the alignment of the socket pin (432) and the cap socket (42) relative to the cap engagement axis (45).

26. The instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a-4c) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the cap holder socket portion (47) includes a first socket pin portion (4321) and a second socket pin portion (4322) hingedly connected by complementary sliding connection devices (471, 472).

27. The instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a-4c) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, according to claim 26, wherein the first pin portion (4321) and the second pin portion (4322) are individually biased (481, 482) relative to the cap engagement axis (45).

28. An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a-4c) comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, wherein the cap holder socket portion (47) is rotatably included within a cap socket housing (3).

29. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 28 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the cap socket box (3) comprises: - A cap holder socket portion retainer (31) comprising at least one socket support element (32, 33), said at least one socket support element (32, 33) comprising a plurality of corresponding socket supports (32a-h, 33a-h) for rotatably supporting a plurality of corresponding cap holder socket portions (47a-h); and - A cap ejector (34) is displaced relative to the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) along the cap engagement axis (45) so that, when the cap ejector (34) is displaced away from the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) along the cap engagement axis (45), it ejects the corresponding cap held on the corresponding cap socket (42a-h) included on the corresponding cap holder socket portion (47a-h) by engaging the corresponding cap.

30. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 29 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein, The cap socket box (3) includes at least three cap holders (4a-4c) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, wherein the socket supports (32a-h, 33a-h) are through holes included in the at least one socket support element (32, 33); each corresponding through hole is arranged to rotatably support a corresponding cap holder socket portion (47a-h) among the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h).

31. An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) according to claim 29 or 30, wherein for the cap socket box (3), the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h) include a first socket pin portion (4321) and a second socket pin portion (4322), and the socket support elements (32, 33) include a first socket support element (32) for rotatably supporting the first socket pin portion (4321) in the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h), and a second socket support element (33) for rotatably supporting the second socket pin portion (4322) in the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h).

32. An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a cap holder array (20) comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, according to any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein the cap ejector (34) comprises a cap ejector plate (341) for ejecting the respective cap from the respective cap socket (42a-h) when the cap ejector (34) is displaced along the cap engagement axis (45) away from the cap holder socket portion retainer (31).

33. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 32 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the cap ejector plate (341) comprises a plurality of through holes (341a-h) matching in number to the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h) disposed therethrough. This allows the cap ejector plate (341) to engage with the corresponding cap held on the corresponding cap socket (42a-h) included in the plurality of cap holder socket portions (47a-h), and to eject the corresponding cap from the corresponding cap socket (42a-h) as the cap ejector (34) moves away from the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) along the cap engagement axis (45).

34. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 32 or 33 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) engages the cap ejector plate (341) to allow a user to shift the cap ejector plate (341) by shifting the at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b).

35. The instrument assembly (2) of claim 34 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) includes a biasing portion (3421a, 3421b) for limiting the displacement of the cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) between a first position in which a corresponding cap is not engaged and held on a corresponding cap socket (42a-h) and a second position in which the corresponding cap is ejected from the corresponding cap socket (42a-h), and subsequently returning the at least one cap ejector shifter (342a, 342b) from the second position to the first position.

36. The instrument assembly (2) according to claim 34 or 35 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders (20b) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein the cap ejector (34) is actuated.

37. An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, according to any one of claims 29 to 36, wherein the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) comprises a plurality of corresponding sockets (49ab, 49cd, 49ef, 49gh) arranged in the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) so as to receive, but not engage, the corresponding cap holder actuation portion (46) of the corresponding first cap holder (4a) included in the instrument assembly (2) when the corresponding first cap holder (4a) is aligned in the two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders.

38. The instrument assembly (2) of claim 37 for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), wherein for each pair of cap holder socket portions (47a, b), (47c, d), (47e, f), (47g, h) rotatably arranged therein, the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) comprises a corresponding receiver (49ab, 49cd, 49ef, 49gh) for receiving, but not engaging, a cap holder actuation portion (46) of the corresponding first cap holder (4a) included in the instrument assembly (2) when the corresponding first cap holder (4a) is aligned in the two-dimensional array (20b) of the cap holders.

39. An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, wherein the cap holder socket portion retainer (31) is arranged within the cap socket housing (30).

40. A test tube capping-uncapping device (1), comprising: An instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c) between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders.

41. The test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to claim 40, wherein, The test tube capping and uncapping device is a handheld test tube capping and uncapping device (1).

42. The test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to claim 40 or 41, wherein, The cover socket box (3) is replaceable.

43. The test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein, The instrument assembly (2) for switching between a one-dimensional array (20a) of cap holders and a two-dimensional array (20b) of cap holders, comprising at least three cap holders (4a-4c), is arranged within the device housing (10).

44. The test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any one of claims 40 to 43 further includes a controller (15), the controller (15) including a programmable unit for controlling at least one actuation of at least one actuable unit (22, 34, 4, 41, 46) included in the test tube capping-uncapping device (1).

45. The test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein, The test tube capping-uncapping device (1) also includes a socket (16) and a power cord for connecting to an external power source.

46. ​​The test tube capping-uncapping device (1) according to claim 45, wherein, The test tube capping-uncapping device (1) includes: an internal power source arranged to be connected to the external power source via the socket (16) and a wire and to store energy from the external power source; and an indicator (17) for indicating the level of the internal power source.

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