CAP OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM AND AUTOMATIC ANALYZER INCLUDING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A cap opening and closing mechanism comprising:
- a first cap chuck that grips a cap;
a second cap chuck disposed below the first cap chuck; and
a third cap chuck disposed between the first cap chuck and the second cap chuck, whereinthe first cap chuck, the second cap chuck, and the third cap chuck each include at least three support bodies that grip the cap from a plurality of directions, andthe support bodies of the third cap chuck is formed of an elastic material.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic analyzer of the present invention includes: a cap opening and closing mechanism including a plurality of types of support bodies, each being adaptable to a specific type of cap; an information control mechanism for sample containers; a cap opening and closing mechanism that performs uncapping and capping operations based on a sample container identifying process; and an uncapping/capping monitoring mechanism that determines an uncapping or capping operation. The cap opening and closing mechanism is thus configured so as to be capable of performing the uncapping and capping processes for different types of caps. This provides a cap opening and closing mechanism that enables the single cap opening and closing mechanism to perform the uncapping process and the capping process for different types of caps on a transfer path of sample containers in the automatic analyzer.
17 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A cap opening and closing mechanism comprising:
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a first cap chuck that grips a cap; a second cap chuck disposed below the first cap chuck; and a third cap chuck disposed between the first cap chuck and the second cap chuck, wherein the first cap chuck, the second cap chuck, and the third cap chuck each include at least three support bodies that grip the cap from a plurality of directions, and the support bodies of the third cap chuck is formed of an elastic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automatic analyzer having a transfer mechanism that transfers a sample container from which a cap can be removed and on which a cap can be mounted, the automatic analyzer comprising
a cap opening and closing mechanism, the cap opening and closing mechanism including: -
a first cap chuck; a second cap chuck disposed below the first cap chuck; a third cap chuck disposed between the first cap chuck and the second cap chuck; at least three support bodies that grip the cap from a plurality of directions in each of the first cap chuck, the second cap chuck, and the third cap chuck; and a clamp mechanism that controls a cap gripping operation performed by the support bodies. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification