METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING INTERLOCKED CAP AND RECEPTACLE

• US 20190001324A1
• Filed: 09/11/2018
• Published: 01/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: KNIGHT, Byron J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,292,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/02 Adapting objects or devices to another
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 : capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 : with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 : Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 : Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 : with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50855 : using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/523 : with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 : for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/00 : Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0207 : characterised by material, e.g. composition, physical features
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/34 : Trays or like shallow containers B65D81/3813 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/36 : with moulded compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/50 : Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, preformed openings, e.g. tearable strips or plastic plugs B65D53/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2539/003 : provided with sealing flanges or ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0017 : Injection-molded plastic closures for "Champagne"- or "Sekt"-type bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0029 : Plastic closures other than those covered by groups B65D39/0011 - B65D39/0023
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00287 : movable lid/cover for sample or reaction tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6091 : Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 : with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

An apparatus for separating an interlocked cap and receptacle comprises a top wall and a cap removal station. The cap removal station comprises an opening, a raised collar for engaging and releasing interlocking elements of the cap and receptacle, and tabs on a side of the top wall opposite the raised collar for retaining the receptacle within the opening when the cap is separated from the receptacle. A method for separating an interlocked cap and receptacle comprises moving the cap and receptacle in a first direction into a cap removal station, contacting interlocking elements of the cap and receptacle with a raised collar to thereby release the interlocking elements, retaining the receptacle within the cap removal station; and with the interlocking elements released and the receptacle retained within the cap removal station, moving the cap in a second direction opposite the first direction to separate the cap from the receptacle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for separating a cap from a receptacle with which the cap is interlockingly engaged, the apparatus comprising:

a top wall; and

one or more cap removal stations, each cap removal station comprising;

an opening formed through the top wall;

a raised collar adjacent to the opening and configured to engage interlocking elements of a receptacle and interlocked cap inserted into the opening to release the interlocking elements and thereby permit the receptacle and cap to be separated from each other; and

two or more tabs adjacent to the opening on a side of the top wall opposite the raised collar, wherein the tabs are configured to retain the receptacle within the opening when the cap is separated from the receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base extending about a perimeter of the top wall in supporting cooperation with the top wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the raised collar circumscribes the opening.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the opening is circular in shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of the cap removal stations.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cap removal stations are arranged in aligned rows and columns.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an integrally molded plastic piece.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two or more tabs are resilient and are angled inwardly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the two or more tabs comprise one or more pairs of opposed tabs, and wherein a maximum distance between distal ends of each pair of opposed tabs is less than the width of the opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the two or more tabs comprise at least four resilient tabs disposed at equiangularly spaced positions around the opening.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interlocking elements comprise one or more locking arms of the cap interlockingly engaged with a portion of the receptacle to secure the cap to the receptacle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the raised collar projects with respect to the top wall from a base of the collar to a tip of the collar, and the raised collar has an outer surface that is angled way from the opening from the tip of the raised collar to the base of the raised collar, and wherein the one or more locking arms of the cap engage the outer surface of the raised collar as the receptacle and interlocked cap are inserted into the opening to thereby disengage the one or more locking arms from the receptacle.

13. A method for separating a cap from a receptacle with which the cap is interlockingly engaged, the method comprising:

(a) moving the interlocked cap and receptacle in a first direction into an opening of a cap removal station;

(b) during step (a), contacting interlocking elements of the receptacle and interlocked cap with a raised collar adjacent to the opening to thereby release the interlocking elements;

(c) retaining the receptacle within the opening of the cap removal station; and

(d) with the interlocking elements released and the receptacle retained within the opening of the cap removal station, moving the cap in a second direction opposite the first direction to separate the cap from the receptacle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the raised collar circumscribes the opening.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the opening is circular in shape.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the cap is moved in the first and second directions by an automated receptacle transport mechanism engaged with the cap.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the automated receptacle transport mechanism is a pick-and-place robot.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the automated receptacle transport mechanism is a pipettor.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the receptacle includes an opening with a laterally-projecting lip at least partially surrounding the opening and the cap includes one or more locking arms interlockingly engaged with the lip of the receptacle to secure the cap to the receptacle, wherein the raised collar has an outer surface that is angled away from the opening from a tip of the raised collar to a base of the collar, and wherein step (b) comprises:

(b)(1) contacting the one or more locking arms of the cap with the outer surface of the raised collar, and continuing to move the one or more locking arms along the angled outer surface of the raised collar while moving the interlocked cap and receptacle in the first direction, thereby pushing the one or more locking arms outwardly and out of locking engagement with the lip of the receptacle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the receptacle includes a laterally-extending flange disposed at a spaced-apart position with respect to the lip, and wherein step (c) comprises:

(c)(1) during step (b) contacting two or more resilient tabs of the cap removal station with the laterally-extending flange, wherein the two or more resilient tabs at least partially surround the opening and are angled inwardly so that a distance between distal ends of the resilient tabs is less than the width of the opening; and

(c)(2) moving the interlocked cap and receptacle in the first direction until the lip contacts the tip of the raised collar, wherein the lip of the receptacle is spaced apart from the laterally-extending flange of the receptacle by a distance generally corresponding to the distance between the tip of the raised collar and distal ends of the resilient tabs, so that when the lip of the receptacle contacts the tip of the raised collar, the laterally-extending flange clears the distal ends of the resilient tabs, the resilient tabs move back toward undeflected positions thereof, and the receptacle is then secured within the cap removal station with the resilient tabs and the raised collar of the cap removal station disposed between the lip and the laterally extending flange of the receptacle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the two or more resilient tabs comprise at least four resilient tabs disposed at equiangularly spaced positions around the opening.