U.S. patent application number 11/859107 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for applying covers to openings of a plurality of containers.
This patent application is currently assigned to JOHN ALAN CHESTERS. Invention is credited to John Alan Chesters, Samuel Joseph Vaughan.
Application Number | 20080072536 11/859107 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39243689 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080072536 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chesters; John Alan ; et
al. |
March 27, 2008 |
APPLYING COVERS TO OPENINGS OF A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS
Abstract
A system includes a plurality of cover members (52) and an
arrangement (104) for positioning the plurality of cover members
on, or adjacent, openings of a plurality of containers (12). The
system further includes an arrangement (106) for exerting a force
substantially simultaneously on the plurality of cover members such
that each of the cover members contacts a portion of its respective
container adjacent the opening, the cover member becoming attached
to the container and thereby acting as a cover for the
container.
Inventors: |
Chesters; John Alan;
(Shropshire, GB) ; Vaughan; Samuel Joseph;
(Beechfields Way, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET, 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
CHESTERS; JOHN ALAN
SHROPSHIRE
GB
|
Family ID: |
39243689 |
Appl. No.: |
11/859107 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60846334 |
Sep 22, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/285 ;
53/167 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 7/2871 20130101;
B65B 7/285 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/285 ;
53/167 |
International
Class: |
B65B 7/28 20060101
B65B007/28; B65B 17/00 20060101 B65B017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2006 |
GB |
0618799.1 |
Claims
1. A system adapted to apply covers to openings of a plurality of
containers, the system including: a plurality of cover members; an
arrangement for positioning the plurality of cover members on, or
adjacent, openings of the respective plurality of containers, and
an arrangement for exerting a force substantially simultaneously on
the plurality of cover members such that each of the cover members
contacts a portion of its respective container adjacent the
opening, the cover member becoming attached to the container and
thereby acting as a cover for the container.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cover members are
deformable, the force exerted on the cover members being such that
a said cover member becomes deformed around the opening of the
container.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is
substantially flat and formed of an open cell foam that has no
memory.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cover members are
provided with an adhesive suitable for adhering to at least a
portion of the container.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cover
members are initially provided connected together in a form of a
sheet, with the cover members being configured to separate from
each other upon application of force.
6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the sheet includes a
plurality of cuts/tear lines such that at least an adjacent pair of
the cover members are initially held together at least one point
before the application of force.
7. A system according to claim 5, wherein the cover members on the
sheet are divided into a formation that generally corresponds to an
arrangement of the openings of the containers in a rack.
8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the cover members are in
a grid formation.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement for
positioning the cover members includes a surface including a
plurality of bores or apertures.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein an area of one of the
cover members is substantially equal to or greater than the area of
the opening of the container and the area of the bore/aperture,
such that when the portion of the container including the opening
is positioned within the bore/aperture, at least one edge of the
cover member deforms towards an outer surface of the container.
11. A system according to claim 10, wherein at least one surface of
the cover members includes an adhesive and the at least one edge of
the cover member is deformed to adhere against an outer surface of
the container.
12. A system according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement for
exerting a force forces an inner/central portion of the deformable
cover member into contact with a lip around the opening of the
container.
13. A system according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement for
exerting a force forces an inner/central portion of the deformable
cover member into contact with an inner surface of the
container.
14. A system according to claim 9, wherein the arrangement for
exerting a force includes a plurality of members moveable relative
to the arrangement for positioning the cover members.
15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the members are movable
relative to the surface such that a portion of a said member
maintains contact with a said cover member after it has been
applied to the container whilst the surface is moved away, thereby
assisting with preventing the cover member from being accidentally
removed from the container.
16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the containers comprise
sample tubes.
17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement for
positioning the plurality of cover members and the arrangement for
exerting a force are part of a manually portable device that, in
use, is positioned above a precision/archive rack.
18. Apparatus adapted to apply covers to openings of a plurality of
containers, the apparatus including: an arrangement configured to,
in use, position a plurality of cover members on, or adjacent,
openings of the respective plurality of containers, and an
arrangement configured to, in use, substantially simultaneously
exert a force on the plurality of cover members such that each of
the cover members contacts a portion of its respective container
adjacent the opening, the cover member becoming attached to the
container and thereby acting as a cover for the container.
19. A sheet including a plurality of container cover members, the
cover members configured to separate from each other upon
application of force by apparatus according to claim 18.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/846,334 filed on Sep.
22, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to applying covers to openings
of a plurality of containers.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] Containers such as sample tubes are widely used in
laboratory environments. The caps are removed from the sample tubes
manually or, more frequently, using automated systems in order to
access their contents. Afterwards, the replacement of the cap has
to be performed manually in the majority of laboratories, and the
original cap, or a new one, is often not replaced, or put on,
immediately. This means that after a series of laboratory
operations, e.g. diagnostic tests, there can be several hundred
sample tubes left without caps. Preformed plastic covers, trays or
other similar sized racks may be used to cover these racks
temporarily until recapping, but these can easily be displaced
accidentally, e.g. if the tubes or the racks are knocked over, thus
causing a spillage risk of contaminated biological material. Such
temporary coverings can also lead to a risk of cross-contamination
between samples should material land on them and then be displaced
into another sample container (unless the cover is sterilised
between each use, which is unlikely in a busy laboratory). This
could lead to incorrect/misleading results and possible
misdiagnosis implications.
[0004] The samples have to be recapped individually as 10 to 15%
will require retesting or further tests due to the results
produced. The chances are that tubes in the centre of a sample tube
rack will need to be re-accessed as much as those on the edges. The
tubes may then be stored for 3 to 14 days in refrigerators before
disposal, which again requires individual capping to stop one tube
ripping the top off another and causing a biological spillage
hazard. After use, the tubes are tipped into large waste containers
for incineration as biological waste.
[0005] Leaving the content of sample tubes open to the environment
can have health and safety implications, even if a temporary cover
is used, as the staff are still exposed to aerosols from a large
number of potentially dangerous samples for long periods before
and/or while recapping the samples. Manual recapping also requires
the operator to touch possibly contaminated tops and sample tubes
that could leave residual potential hazardous material on gloves,
laboratory coats or coveralls for transfer elsewhere. This exposure
of the samples to environment can also affect the results of any
subsequent tests involving the contents due to evaporation of the
liquid portion, which increases the concentration of the
constituents. This may lead to misleading results with possible
misdiagnosis implications.
[0006] As mentioned above, conventionally, the sample tubes caps
are replaced manually. This can be very time consuming when there
are many opened sample tubes. Further, the process can be
relatively costly because it takes up a large amount of unskilled
staff time during normal hours and even more costly during out of
hours shift periods because it takes up a large amount of the time
of skilled laboratory staff. Additional health and safety issues
can arise due to the continuous recapping of large numbers of
samples as this has caused an increase in repetitive strain
injuries in laboratory staff. Also, according to health and safety
rules, the operation should be performed whilst wearing disposable
gloves, but this makes it difficult due to the screw or push top
type sample tubes rubbing or chaffing fingers, meaning that gloves
are sometimes not used.
[0007] Robotic equipment has been developed to automate the process
of individually recapping the samples using heat sealed plastic or
foil. However, such equipment is only financially viable in
extremely large laboratories as it expensive in terms of purchase
cost maintenance and the consumable running costs. Such equipment
also rarely has a backup system for downtime periods. The equipment
may require processing time that will impede and reduce the
throughput of other, more urgent processing functions and is, at
the moment, a most mechanically difficult and fragile process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Embodiments of the present invention are intended to address
at least some of the problems associated with the conventional
methods discussed above. Some embodiments provide a cost effective,
robust semi-automated procedure that is fast and maintains the
quality of the sample. Embodiments can remove the need for a human
operator to directly touch samples, thereby reducing the health and
safety risks and can increase the efficiency of staff by freeing
them for other work.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention there
is provided a system adapted to apply covers to openings of a
plurality of containers, the system including:
[0010] a plurality of cover members;
[0011] an arrangement for positioning the plurality of cover
members on, or adjacent, openings of the respective plurality of
containers, and
[0012] an arrangement for exerting a force substantially
simultaneously on the plurality of cover members such that each of
the cover members contacts a portion of its respective container
adjacent the opening, the cover member becoming attached to the
container and thereby acting as a cover for the container.
[0013] The cover members may be deformable. The force exerted on
the cover members may be such that the cover member becomes
deformed around the opening of the container. This deformation may
at least partially attach the cover member to the container. The
deformable cover member may be substantially flat. The deformable
member may be formed of an at least semi-resilient material such as
medical devices approved (ISO 10993) PVC standard inert and
non-absorbent foam, or a specialised antibacterial foam in
circumstances that require it.
[0014] Additionally or alternatively, the cover members may be
provided with an adhesive suitable for adhering to at least a
portion of the container.
[0015] The plurality of cover members may be initially provided
connected together (e.g. in a form of a sheet), with the cover
members being configured to separate from each other upon the
application of force. The sheet may include a plurality of
cuts/tear lines such that at least an adjacent pair of the cover
members are initially held together at least one point before the
application of force. The sheet may divide the cover members into a
formation that generally corresponds to an arrangement of the
openings of the containers in a rack. For example, the cover
members may be in a grid (e.g. square or rectangular) formation.
The sheet may be formed of an open cell foam that has no
memory.
[0016] The arrangement for positioning the cover members may
include a surface including a plurality of bores or apertures. In
use, the cover members may be (temporarily) connected to the
surface before the means for exerting a force is activated. Each of
the bores/apertures may be dimensioned (e.g. be of sufficient
diameter) so as to accommodate at least a portion of one of the
plurality of containers that includes its opening. The area of one
of the cover members may be substantially equal to or greater than
the area of the opening of the container (and the area of the
bore/aperture). Thus, when the portion of the container including
the opening is positioned within the bore or aperture, at least one
edge of the deformable cover member can deform towards an outer
surface of the container (and may bring the at least one edge into
contact with the outer surface). The arrangement for exerting a
force may force an inner/central portion of the deformable cover
member into contact with a lip around the opening of the container
(and/or an inner surface of the container).
[0017] The arrangement for exerting a force may further include a
plurality of members moveable relative to the arrangement for
positioning the cover members, e.g. by means of a cam arrangement.
In one embodiment there are a pair of cams. One of the cams may be
located at a point about one third along a length of the surface
from one end and the other cam being located at a point about one
third along the length of the surface from the other end. Smaller
units may require a single cam in a central position. The members
may be movable relative to the surface such that a portion of a
said projection maintains contact with the applied cover member
whilst the surface is moved away, thereby assisting with preventing
the cover member from being accidentally removed from the
container.
[0018] The containers may be generally cylindrical in shape. The
opening of a said container may be located at an end of the
container. The containers may comprise sample tubes, which may be
screw top (for receiving a threaded closing member) or an open top
(for receiving a plug type closing member) type of tube. The
containers may be held in position by a rack, such as a
precision/archive rack. The arrangement for positioning the
plurality of cover members and the arrangement for exerting a force
can be part of a portable device that, in use, is positioned above
the rack. The portable device can include a set of legs that
position the arrangement for positioning the plurality of cover
members above the rack. The legs may be formed so as to engage with
edges of the rack, thereby assisting with alignment of the portable
device with the rack. The means for exerting a force comprises a
pair of handles disposed adjacent opposite ends of the surface.
[0019] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided apparatus adapted to apply covers to openings of a
plurality of containers, the apparatus including:
[0020] an arrangement configured to, in use, position a plurality
of cover members on, or adjacent, openings of the respective
plurality of containers, and
[0021] an arrangement configured to, in use, substantially
simultaneously exert a force on the plurality of cover members such
that each of the cover members contacts a portion of its respective
container adjacent the opening, the cover member becoming attached
to the container and thereby acting as a cover for the
container.
[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a method of applying covers to openings of a plurality
of containers, the method including:
[0023] securing the plurality of containers in position;
[0024] positioning a respective plurality of cover members on, or
adjacent, openings of the plurality of containers, and
[0025] exerting a force substantially simultaneously on the
plurality of cover members such that each of the cover members
contacts a portion of its respective container adjacent the
opening, the cover member becoming attached to the container and
thereby acting as a cover for the container.
[0026] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a sheet including a plurality of container cover members
substantially as described herein, wherein the container cover
members of the sheet are configured to separate from each other
upon application of force.
[0027] According to yet another aspect of the invention there is
provided a container cover including a deformable member that, in
use, is deformed by force around an opening of a container such
that the deformed member acts as a cover for the container.
[0028] According to a further aspect of the invention there is
provided a kit including a rack for holding a plurality of
containers and a system for applying covers to openings of a
plurality of containers substantially as described herein. The kit
may further include a plurality of the containers.
[0029] Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to
any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the
following description. Although illustrative embodiments of the
invention are described in detail herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to those precise embodiments. As such, many
modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners
skilled in this art. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a
particular feature described either individually or as part of an
embodiment can be combined with other individually described
features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features
and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Thus,
the invention extends to such specific combinations not already
described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way
of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described,
reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a system for
applying covers onto a plurality of sample tubes, along with sample
tubes held in a rack and a sheet including a plurality of
deformable cover members;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 details part of the sheet of FIG. 1, and
[0034] FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate schematically the system in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a precision/archive rack
10 for sample tubes. Such racks are widely available commercially
and in the example the rack comprises a rectangular block having an
array of blind bores 11 arranged in a grid-like formation. The
diameter of each bore 11 is such that a sample tube 12 can be
securely held within it without significant lateral movement. In
the example there are 3.times.17 bores, but it will be appreciated
that other configurations are possible. Further, racks having other
arrangements (possibly non-regular) of formations (not necessarily
bores/recesses) for securely holding sample tubes in position could
be used.
[0036] FIG. 1 also shows a cover-applying apparatus 100. The
apparatus includes four legs/supports 102, each leg being located
adjacent a corner of a generally rectangular lower member 104. Each
leg 102 is L-shaped in cross section. The material used for the
majority of the components of the apparatus 100 is toughened PVC,
but it will be understood that any other material (e.g. plastic or
metal) could be used. The apparatus 100 is relatively lightweight
and can be easily positioned precisely by a human user.
[0037] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the lower surface of the member
102 is recessed 105 with low sidewalls 201 extending along its side
edges, but not across its ends. The end portions 107A, 107B of the
lower member 104 extend beyond the adjacent pairs of legs. Arranged
over the lower surface of the member 104 is an array of apertures
202 of circular cross-section that lead from the lower surface
through to the upper surface of the member 104. The diameter of
each aperture is normally set slightly larger than that of the
tube. In the example, the apertures 202 are arranged in a
3.times.17 grid formation that corresponds with the grid of bores
11 in the sample tube rack 11, but, again, it will be understood
that this arrangement is exemplary only and that other arrangements
of apertures could be provided (e.g. a 6.times.60 grid) to
correspond with any particular rack that is intended to be used in
conjunction with the apparatus 100. Further, the apparatus 100 may
be varied in size and configuration for use with a bespoke archive
precision rack, e.g. ones configured to hold anywhere between
around 50 to 150 sample tubes, or for use in conjunction with
alternative types of racks produced by alternative
manufacturers.
[0038] The apparatus 100 may be designed to ensure there is
sufficient room for the tube to be placed in the rack easily
(either manually or mechanically) such that the tube can be fully
sealed without aerosol or leakage afterwards. The apparatus 100 may
also be designed with the intention of maximising the rack and
number of samples for optimum yield from the foam covers (described
below) by minimising the spaces between the tube, thereby
maximising storage refrigerated archive storage areas and
increasing energy efficiency.
[0039] Returning to FIG. 1, it can be seen that a pair of the legs
102 disposed at each end of the apparatus 100 extend above the
lower member 104 to form a handle portion 106. In the example, the
member 104, handles 106 and legs 102 are integral, but it will be
appreciated that these parts could be separate components that are
fitted together.
[0040] A first rectangular vertical bar 108A is connected to a
first side surface of the lower member 104, at a point around one
third of the way along from the nearest end (the left hand end in
the Figure). A second bar 108B is also connected to a corresponding
location on the opposite side surface. A third bar 108C is
connected to the first side surface, at a point around one third of
the way along from the opposite end. A fourth bar 108D is connected
to a corresponding location on the opposite side surface (right
hand in the Figure).
[0041] Located on top of the upper surface of the lower member 104
is a rectangular plate 114. Lateral movement of the plate 114 is
limited by contact with portions of the two handles and the four
bars 108A-108D. The lower surface of the plate 114 is provided with
a plurality of depending cylindrical projections (not visible in
FIG. 1, but shown as 203 in FIGS. 2 and 4A-4C). These projections
are arranged in a 3.times.17 grid formation so as to correspond
with the array of apertures 202 in the lower member 104. The
diameters of the cylindrical projections 203 are normally at least
slightly less than the diameters of the apertures 202 to allow the
projections to move inside the apertures. Contact between the
projections 203 and the apertures 202 also limits lateral movement
of the plate 114.
[0042] Extending between the corresponding pair of vertical bars
108A, 108B is a first cylinder 110A. The cylinder 110A is pivotally
connected to each of the bars by means of an off-centre pivot pin
112. A rectangular handle portion 113A extends outwardly from the
radial surface of the cylinder, the handle being located about
halfway across the cylinder. A similar second cylinder 1108 is
rotatably connected between the other pair 108C, 108D of vertical
bars by means of off-centre pivot pins 112. The second cylinder
110B also includes a similar handle portion. There may be
projections (not shown) on the upper surface of plate 114 to limit
rotational movement of the handles 113A, 113B.
[0043] The thickness of the plate 114 is such that it has some
freedom to move in the vertical plane between the upper surface of
the member 104 and the two cylinders 110A, 110B. A set of biasing
devices, such as springs (not visible), bias the plate 114 upwards
and away from the upper surface of member 104, unless sufficient
downward force is exerted to overcome the bias. Further, the
freedom of movement of the plate 114 is such that the projections
401 will not normally be able to move entirely out of the apertures
202 without at least some of the other components of the apparatus
being removed. Having the first and second cylinders 110A, 110B
connected to the other components of the apparatus 100 by means of
off-centre pivot pins means that the cylinders can act as cams
that, when rotated, apply pressure to (or remove pressure from) the
upper surface of the moveable plate 114, as will be described
below.
[0044] FIG. 1 also shows a sheet 50 of deformable material. In the
example, the deformable material is medical standard inert foam,
although it will be understood that other suitable materials, such
as or an antibacterial foam could be used. The sheet in the example
has a uniform thickness of around 3.5 mm, but it will be understood
that material of different thickness (e.g. between 2 and 5 mm)
could be used. In one specific example, the foam used is a
polyethylene foam having the following characteristics: Density: 33
Kg/m.sup.3; Tensile strength: 280 Kpa lengthwise, 180 Kpa
crosswise; Elongation values: 120% lengthwise, 100% crosswise;
Compressive strength: 10% deflection: 13 Kpa, 25% deflection: 32
Kpa, 50% deflection: 90 Kpa; Compression set (22 h charge,
23.degree. C., 25% deflection): 5 h after discharge=21%, 24 h after
discharge=13%; Temperature range: -80-+100.degree. C.; Water
absorption: <1% volume after 7 days. The material used will
normally be approved for use in medical devices, e.g. comply with
ISO 10993. The thickness of the foam is chosen such that when the
covers it forms are pressed around the outer surfaces of the tubes,
as will be described below, it is not too thick so as to cause
jamming of the tubes within the apertures 202 when they are
ejected. In some embodiments, the sheet may be formed of a
non-woven, open cell foam, which has no memory. It has been found
that the use of this type of foam assists with sealing the sample
tubes, as will be described below. An alternative would be to use
an adhesive foil (e.g. tin).
[0045] A die-cast machine is used to form cuts/lines/perforations
in the sheet so as to define a plurality of deformable cover
members 52. The deformable members are all generally square shaped
and have the same dimensions. In the example, each square is about
20 mm.times.18 mm, which is suitable for use with the widely used
standard primary sample tubes having a diameter of between 13 mm
and 16.5 mm, but it will be understood that the shape and size of
the members could be selected to correspond to any set of sample
tubes or other type of container that is to be used with the
apparatus.
[0046] A portion of the sheet 50 is detailed in FIG. 3. Each square
52 is partially defined by four lines 301 around its perimeter. At
each of the four corners of the square the line is interrupted by a
small portion 302 of the sheet material so that the squares are all
connected together. However, the amount of material in each portion
302 is such that each square can be readily removed from its
neighbour(s) upon the application of force. It will be understood
that the arrangement of FIG. 3 is only one example of how the sheet
can be configured to free/separate the deformable members upon the
application of force, e.g. connecting portions could be provided at
other locations around the perimeter of each square.
[0047] The sheet illustrated is divided into a grid of 3.times.17
squares to correspond with the sample tubes 12 in the rack 10 and
the apertures 202/projections 203 of the apparatus, but it will be
appreciated that variations are possible. For example, all the
deformable members defined by a single sheet need not be of the
same size and shape if the apparatus is to be used in conjunction
with a rack that is configured to hold containers of different
sizes/shapes. It will be seen that at the two ends of the sheet
there are rectangular portions 303. These portions are not intended
to be used as covers for sample tubes, but help keep the sheet in
position within the recessed lower surface of the lower member 104,
between a pair of the legs 102, as will be described below.
[0048] An adhesive can be provided on at least one surface of the
sheet 50. Typically a protective sheet/liner (e.g. white
siliconised paper) or the like can be used to cover the adhesive
until it is needed. The adhesive may be provided on the protective
sheet initially. Although the adhesive should not come into contact
with the contented if held upright in the rack, a synthetic,
non-animal based adhesive is preferred because this is less likely
to interfere with the contents of the sample tube because in the
event that it does come into contact with the tube content. Animal
based products may add to or interfere with the constituents under
analysis such as hormonal or enzyme analysis. In one embodiment,
the adhesive comprises modified acrylic.
[0049] The design of the apparatus is normally determined by the
dimension(s) of the sample tubes (which will usually all be of
substantially uniform height) and the number of tubes that are to
be used in conjunction with it. This number will usually be between
50 (the number at which recapping manually is considered to become
excessive) and 150 (the number of tubes that is thought to be the
maximum that can easily be handled by the example apparatus being
described). A reverse engineering process may be used to design the
apparatus where a sample tube rack is designed first with the
intention of maximising and optimising its area to include the
greatest number of tubes possible without compromising the
following criteria: [0050] The clearance between the tubes is
sufficient for the manual/robotic loading of the racks and manual
recapping if it is found necessary to retest samples if they have
to be replaced in the original rack for tracking purposes. [0051]
The spacing between the tubes should be sufficient such that,
during operation of the apparatus, there will be a sufficient
amount of the foam 50 (or similar material) that can wrap around
onto the outer surface of a sample tube to ensure substantially
complete resealing to avoid spillage risk, as will be described
below.
[0052] A die cast cutter can then be used to produce sheet 50/cover
members 52 of appropriate dimensions and the apparatus 100 can
again be reverse engineered to ensure that its application is
successful.
[0053] The design process can also accommodate proprietary or
ready-made racks already used in laboratories (although such racks
may require larger areas of refrigerator space and therefore be
more costly/inefficient). The racks will normally be ones that are
able to hold the tubes steady vertically and have sufficient
clearance for the foam to seal around the opening of the sample
tube as will be described below. Such racks may require larger
amounts of foam to be used.
[0054] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional drawing through portions of the
rack 10, sample tubes 12, sheet 50 and apparatus 100. In the
Figure, the sheet 50 has been located on the lower surface of the
lower member 104. This is typically achieved by turning the
apparatus 100 upside down and placing the sheet onto the surface.
At this point, any protective sheet can be removed to expose the
adhesive on the sheet 50. A temporary fixing means, such as clips
attached to the ends of the sheet 50 and member 104, may be used to
keep the sheet in place whilst the apparatus is turned back
upright. As can be seen, the handles 113A, 113B are positioned so
that the biasing devices (not shown) can push the moveable plate
114 upwards, leaving a gap between the lower surface of the plate
114 and the upper surface of the member 104. The bottom surfaces of
the projections 203 are substantially aligned with the tops of the
apertures 202.
[0055] The apparatus 100 with the attached sheet 50 is then
positioned over the rack 10 containing the sample tubes 12. The
L-shaped legs 102 of the apparatus can help with aligning the
apparatus with the rack as they are designed to slidably engage
with the corners of the rack. The apparatus is then lowered so that
the upper, open ends of the sample tubes can come into contact with
the exposed surface of the sheet 50. This position is illustrated
in FIG. 4B. Pressing the apparatus down by applying pressure to
handles 106 leads to the upper portions of the sample tubes
becoming accommodated within the apertures 202 of the lower member
104. This insertion of a sample tube can cause the corresponding
foam square 52 to be pushed upwards towards the lower surfaces of
the projection 203. Contact between the square and the inner
surface of member 104 that forms the aperture 202 can fold the
edges of the square downwards, ideally bringing the edges into
contact with the outer surface of the sample tube and may secure
the items together. Such contact can close the foam square around
the open end of the sample tube. This movement can also at least
partially separate the square from the rest of the sheet 50 by
breaking portions 302.
[0056] In practice, there can be some slight difference in timing
between when the various foam squares are forced onto the sample
tubes, but to the user it will appear that the force is being
exerted on all the cover members/containers simultaneously. This
application of pressure normally fully separates the squares from
each other and brings the lower adhesive-containing/coated surface
of the squares into firm contact with the rims of the open ends of
the sample tubes. The contact with the adhesive helps securely fix
the squares around the sample tubes. The deformation of the square
may be such that a central portion 401 of the square is pressed
inside the sample tube. It will be appreciated that in alternative
embodiments the squares may be formed of a more rigid material and
are not deformed, with the adhesive alone acting to attach the
square to the sample tube. In another version the material used for
the cover member is appropriately formed as a stopper that
partially fits inside the tube, or is sufficiently deformable so
that the adhesive is not necessary.
[0057] Next, downward pressure on handles 106 ceases to be applied
and the cylinder handles 113A, 113B are rotated to the positions
shown in FIG. 4C. This causes the cylinders 110A, 110B to press
down on the upper surface of plate 114 so that bottom portions of
the projections 203 extend into/through the apertures 202 (as the
lower surface of plate 114 contacts the upper surface of member
104). Also, the apparatus, including member 104, can now be moved
upwards and away from the squares 52, which are attached to the
tubes 12. The projections 203 can continue to maintain contact with
the tubes 12 in the rack 10 whilst the member 104 moves upwards to
help prevent upward travel of the tubes (which could happen due to
adherence between the foam and the inner surfaces of member 104
that form apertures 202), thereby reducing or eliminating
spillage.
[0058] The apparatus 100 can then be raised fully away from the
sample tubes/rack, as shown in FIG. 4D. Most laboratories will
utilise every space in the rack, especially if it is robotically
loaded, but any squares that were located above a position in the
rack not containing a sample tube may either be still attached to
the apparatus (if contact with the portions of the sheet connected
to the edges of the lower member 104 is maintained), or may have
simply fallen onto the side of one of the adjacent sample tubes and
can be easily removed. The tubes in the rack to which foam squares
have been applied by the apparatus are effectively stopped and can
be safely removed for further use, storage or disposal.
[0059] The apparatus described herein allows covers to be rapidly
applied to several sample tubes substantially simultaneously using
a simple series of operations and is much quicker than the
conventional method of manually capping one sample tube at a time.
The apparatus can be formed of inexpensive and widely available
materials and does not require complex mechanical components that
are liable to break down. It will be understood that the apparatus
could be adapted for use with containers other than sample tubes.
Although several circular components (e.g. the cylindrical
projections 203) are shown in the example, it will be understood
that the shapes of such components need not necessarily correspond
to the shape of the openings of the containers to be stopped. It is
also possible that a single component could be forced down onto a
plurality of containers instead of having one projection 203 per
container 12 as in the illustrated example. Also, mechanisms other
than a cam can be used to force a component of the apparatus onto
the deformable members, e.g. a spring-bound mechanism that is
activated by hand-pressure. Although a benefit of the apparatus
detailed above is that it is easy/inexpensive to manufacture, the
skilled person will understand that a mechanically driven or more
automated version of the apparatus is envisaged if required by a
laboratory and that mechanical/motorised components could be
incorporated, e.g. for applying pressure to the deformable
members.
* * * * *