Apparatus for removing caps closing laboratory sample containers and laboratory automation system

Abstract

To provide an apparatus for removing a cap closing a sample container for an inspection room, and an inspection room automation system comprising a device for enabling highly reliable operation.SOLUTION: Provided is an apparatus 100 for removing a cap 1 closing a sample container 2 for an inspection room, the apparatus 100 comprising a cap gripper 3 being configured to grip the cap 1 to be removed and to remove the cap from the sample container 2 for the inspection room; a displaceable chute 4 comprising a cap inlet 5; a linear guide defining a linear trajectory, where the displaceable chute 4 is mechanically coupled to the linear guide such that the displaceable chute is displaceable along the linear trajectory; and a drive device being configured to cause displacement of the displaceable chute 4 along the linear trajectory to a dropping position DP, where in the dropping position DP, the removed cap 1 being gripped by the cap gripper 3 is at least partially inserted into the cap inlet 5 of the displaceable chute 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and laboratory automation system for removing caps enclosing laboratory sample containers. Summary of the Invention

[0002] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for removing caps closing laboratory sample containers and a laboratory automation system comprising the device that allows reliable operation.

[0003] The device is configured to remove a cap enclosing a laboratory sample container, which typically contains a liquid sample, such as a blood sample.

[0004] The apparatus includes a cap gripper configured to grip a cap to be removed and to remove the gripped cap from the laboratory sample container. To remove the cap, the cap gripper can apply any suitable force to the gripped cap while the laboratory sample container is secured. The cap gripper can apply a rotational force and / or a lateral force to the cap to remove the cap. The laboratory sample container is typically embodied as a laboratory sample tube having a circular cross section. The cap typically includes a cap head and a cap body, the cap head having a diameter larger than the cap body. The cap head typically has a diameter larger than the diameter of the laboratory sample container, and the cap body has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the laboratory sample container. Typically, the cap body is inserted into the laboratory sample container, and the cap head is gripped by the cap gripper to remove the cap body from the laboratory sample container. Related prior art has also been referenced so far.

[0005] The apparatus further includes a displaceable chute having a cap inlet configured to receive the removed cap.

[0006] The device further comprises a linear guide which in particular defines a strictly linear trajectory, and the displaceable chute is mechanically coupled to the linear guide in such a way that the displaceable chute is displaceable along the linear trajectory, or in particular displaces only along the linear trajectory.

[0007] The apparatus further includes a drive configured to move the displaceable chute along a linear trajectory to a drop position where the removed cap, still gripped by the cap gripper, is at least partially inserted into a cap inlet of the displaceable chute. When the cap is released by the cap gripper, the released cap drops through the cap inlet into the chute and is then guided toward the cap tray.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the linear trajectory forms an angle with respect to the horizontal plane ranging from 38 to 42 degrees. In particular, this angle is exactly 40 degrees. This angle was determined by spatial survey to ensure that the gripped caps do not collide with the chute.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the drive device is configured to displace the displaceable chute along a linear trajectory between a drop position and an idle position, wherein in the idle position the displaceable chute does not restrict the rotation and / or linear movement of the cap gripper.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the cap inlet is formed by an opening in an upper plate of the displaceable chute, the upper plate extending horizontally in the direction of movement of the displaceable chute.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the displaceable chute comprises in particular a closed pipe, the top plate being arranged at the upper end of the pipe.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cap tray, a displaceable chute, in particular a pipe, comprising a cap outlet, the displaceable chute or pipe guiding the removed caps released by the cap gripper from / through the cap inlet along the pipe towards the cap outlet into the cap tray.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the drive device comprises a teeth bar mounted in / on a linear guide, the displaceable chute being mechanically fixed to the teeth bar.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the drive device comprises an electric motor and a gear engaged with the teeth bar, the gear being driven by the electric motor, which may be mechanically fixed to a frame of the device such that rotation of the gear causes the teeth bar, and therefore the displaceable chute, to move along a linear trajectory relative to the frame.

[0015] Laboratory automation systems are configured to automatically process laboratory samples contained in laboratory sample containers. The samples are typically bodily fluids such as blood, urine, etc. The laboratory sample containers are typically closed with caps when provided to the laboratory automation system.

[0016] A laboratory automation system comprises an apparatus as described above and at least one laboratory station operatively coupled to the apparatus and configured to automatically process / analyze samples.

[0017] According to one embodiment, at least one laboratory station is a pre-analytical station, an analytical station, or a post-analytical station.

[0018] The pre-analysis station may be configured to perform any type of pre-treatment of samples, sample vessels, and / or sample vessel carriers.

[0019] The analysis station may be configured to use the sample or a portion of the sample and reagents to generate a measurement signal that indicates whether an analyte is present and, if so, its concentration.

[0020] The post-analysis station may be configured to perform any type of post-processing of the samples, sample vessels, and / or sample vessel carriers.

[0021] The pre-analysis station, analytical station, and / or post-analysis station may comprise at least one of a recapping station, an aliquot station, a centrifugation station, a storage station, a pipetting station, a sorting station, a tube type identification station, a sample quality determination station, an add-on buffer station, a liquid level detection station, and a sealing / desealing station.

[0022] The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the drawings which show, in a schematic manner, embodiments of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for removing a cap closing a laboratory sample container. [Figure 2] 1 is another perspective view of an apparatus for removing a cap closing a laboratory sample container; [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of a displaceable chute and corresponding drive of the device for removing caps closing laboratory sample containers of FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a highly schematic block diagram of a laboratory automation system including an apparatus for removing caps enclosing the laboratory sample containers of FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] 4 is a highly schematic block diagram of a laboratory automation system 1000 for automatically processing a sample 15 contained in a laboratory sample container 2. When the laboratory sample container 2 is provided to the laboratory automation system 1000, it is closed by a cap 1.

[0025] The laboratory automation system 1000 comprises an apparatus 100 for removing a cap 1 closing a laboratory sample container 2, and a laboratory station 1001 configured to automatically process a sample 15 contained in the laboratory sample container 2. The cap 1 is removed from the laboratory sample container 2 and then placed in a cap tray 11, and the sample container 2 without the cap 1 is transported to the laboratory station 1001 for further processing.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device 100 for removing a cap 1 which, in a drop position DP, closes a laboratory sample container 2 .

[0027] The apparatus 100 comprises a cap gripper 3 configured to grip a cap 1 to be removed and to remove the gripped cap 1 from a laboratory sample container 2. The cap gripper 3 may be configured to rotate the gripped cap 1 about a vertical axis and may further be configured to move the gripped cap 1 vertically while the laboratory sample container 2 is fixed in its position by a laboratory sample container gripping / handling device 17. As shown, the laboratory sample container 2 is no longer gripped by the laboratory sample container gripping / handling device 17, i.e., the cap 1 has already been successfully removed from the laboratory sample container 2.

[0028] The apparatus 100 further comprises a displaceable chute 4 (see FIG. 3 ) comprising a cap inlet 5 and a linear guide 6 defining a linear track 7, the displaceable chute 4 being mechanically coupled to the linear guide 6 such that the displaceable chute 4 is displaceable only along the linear track 7. In other words, rotation of the displaceable chute 4 is prevented by the linear guide 6.

[0029] The apparatus 100 further comprises a drive device 8 configured to move the displaceable chute 4 along a linear trajectory 7 to a drop position DP, at which the removed cap 1 gripped by the cap gripper 3 is partially or fully inserted into the cap inlet 5 of the displaceable chute 4 (see Figure 1).

[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, the linear trajectory 7 forms an angle α of 40 degrees with the horizontal plane.

[0031] The drive device 8 is configured to displace the displaceable chute 4 along a linear trajectory 7 between a drop position DP and an idle position IP (see Figure 2), in which the displaceable chute 4 does not restrict any movement of the cap gripper 3.

[0032] 3, the cap inlet 5 is formed by an opening in the top plate 16 of the displaceable chute 4. The top plate 16 extends horizontally in the direction of movement of the displaceable chute 4.

[0033] The displaceable chute 4 comprises a closed pipe 9 , and a top plate 16 is arranged at the upper end of the pipe 9 .

[0034] The apparatus 100 comprises a cap tray 11, a displaceable chute 4 comprises a cap outlet 10, and a pipe 9 guides the removed caps 1 released by the cap gripper 3 from the cap inlet 5 along the pipe 9 towards the cap outlet 10 into the cap tray 11.

[0035] The drive device 8 has a teeth bar 12 mounted in / on a linear guide 6, and the displaceable chute 4 is mechanically fixed to the teeth bar 12. The drive device 8 comprises an electric motor 13 and a gear 14 that engages with the teeth bar 12, and the gear 14 is driven by the electric motor 13 to move the displaceable chute 4 linearly along the linear track 7.

[0036] The present invention solves problems during the uncapping process, particularly related to sticky rubber caps 1 and caps 1 not being properly guided into the cap tray 11. Further leakage and contamination of the laboratory automation system 1000 can be prevented. Loss of the caps 1 is prevented because the caps 1 are at least partially inserted into the cap inlet 5 and are completely enclosed by the displaceable chute 4. Furthermore, the risk of splashing is significantly reduced. During opening of the cap gripper 3, the caps 1 peel off towards the pipe 9 and cannot adhere to the gripper fingers of the cap gripper 3.

Claims

1. A device (100) for removing a cap (1) closing a laboratory sample container (2), comprising: a cap gripper (3) configured to grip a cap (1) to be removed and to remove the gripped cap (1) from the laboratory sample container (2); a displaceable chute (4) with a cap inlet (5); a linear guide (6) defining a linear track (7), the displaceable chute (4) being mechanically coupled to the linear guide (6) such that the displaceable chute (4) is displaceable along the linear track (7); a drive (8) configured to displace the displaceable chute (4) along the linear path (7) to a drop position (DP), in which the removed cap (1) gripped by the cap gripper (3) is at least partially inserted into the cap inlet (5) of the displaceable chute (4); The device (100) is characterized in that the linear track (7) forms an angle (α) with the horizontal plane ranging from 38 degrees to 42 degrees.

2. 2. The device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive device (8) is configured to displace the displaceable chute (4) along the linear path (7) between the drop position (DP) and an idle position (IP), and in the idle position (IP), the displaceable chute (4) does not restrict the movement of the cap gripper (3).

3. 3. The device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cap inlet (5) is formed by an opening in an upper plate (16) of the displaceable chute (4), the upper plate (16) extending horizontally in the direction of movement of the displaceable chute (4).

4. 4. The device (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the displaceable chute (4) comprises a pipe (9) and the top plate (16) is arranged at the upper end of the pipe (9).

5. The device comprises a cap tray (11), 5. The apparatus (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the displaceable chute (4) comprises a cap outlet (10), and the displaceable chute (4) guides the removed caps (1) released by the cap gripper (3) from the cap inlet (5) along the pipe (9) towards the cap outlet (10) into the cap tray (11).

6. The device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drive device (8) comprises a teeth bar (12) attached to the linear guide (6), and the displaceable chute (4) is mechanically fixed to the teeth bar (12).

7. The device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive device (8) comprises an electric motor (13) and a gear (14) engaging with the teeth bar (12), the gear (14) being driven by the electric motor (13).

8. A laboratory automation system (1000) for automatically processing samples (15) contained in laboratory sample containers (2), comprising: When the laboratory sample container (2) is provided to the laboratory automation system (1000), it is closed with a cap (1), and the laboratory automation system (1000) An apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, at least one laboratory station (1001) configured to automatically process said samples (15); A laboratory automation system (1000) comprising:

9. 9. The laboratory automation system (1000) of claim 8, wherein said at least one laboratory station (1001) is a pre-analytical station, an analytical station, or a post-analytical station.

Images