IE86051B1 - Resealer of test tubes for clinical analyses fed from ready-to-use containers of sealing tape - Google Patents

Description

Resealer of test tubes for clinical analyses fed from ready-to-use containers of sealing tape Ecocap's S.R.L.

RESEALER OF TEST TUBES FOR CLINICAL ANALYSES FED FROM READY-TO- USE CONTAINERS OF SEALING TAPE.

The present industrial invention relates to an automatic machine designed to reseal test tubes for clinical analysis with aluminium caps obtained from a reel housed in a ready-to-use container. The cap for test tubes has been claimed by the same applicant under Italian patent BO2003A 000542.

Vlfith particular reference to the present state of the art. test tubes containing already analysed samples, without the original sealing cap or stopper, are collected in multiple supports which are hastily packed and placed in special cold storage compartments.

Fluid spillage from the test tubes is prevented solely by precarious coverings wrapped completely round the support. The risk of spillage or leaks in the event of an accident is thus very high, as is the risk of personnel being contaminated by samples.

To overcome such problems, a machine has been devised to reseal test tubes containing already analysed samples.

In a flrst aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for resealing test tubes used for clinical analyses, comprising: sealing tape of hot-melt lacquer coated aluminium; a sealing tape housing comprising: a cassette made up of two half-shells internally incorporating a winding hub which is of plastics, the cassette having a through hole, centrally located, permitting the cassette to be locked in place by means of locking teeth, which are spring operated, the locking teeth being supported by a cassette holder, and the cassette atso having a cavity engaged by a stud that serves together with a support as a positioning guide; and two take-up spools; a sealing tape conveyance device comprising a feed gripper adapted to grip and convey the sealing tape, driven by a cylinder and a cylinder respectively; a sealing tape cutting device adapted to form caps from sealing tape, the sealing tape cutting device comprising a cutting blade. driven by a cylinder; a support for a test tube to be sealed and a gripper for holding the test tube in place; a cap sealing device comprising a heating element adapted to heat seal a cap to a test tube and further comprising a temperature probe; a cap fonning device; a vacuum-operated tube adapted to pick up a cap, driven by a cylinder; and a dual head rigidly connected to the cap sealing device and to the cap forming device. adapted for clockwise and anticlockwise rotation, through 90°, and vertical movement, driven by a cylinder and a cylinder respectively.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a sensor for verifying the presence of a sealed cap on a test tube.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a sensor for verifying the presence of sealing tape in the apparatus.

This solution is useful both in that it allows the test tube container to be handled in complete safety and facilitates subsequent disposal of the test tubes themselves.

The machine uses a heat-sealing process to apply a piece of aluminium foil, which will form the cap, over the mouth of the test tube, causing it to adhere to the edge of the test tube itself to achieve perfect resealing.

Another aim of the invention is to enable the aluminium foil to be fed to the machine rapidly, and in a manner that is easy for any operator, by means of a ready-to-use cassette-type container housing reels of aluminium tape.

This also avoids waste of aluminium tape, which, by its very nature. is difficult to handle.

These and other characteristics wiil now become more apparent upon reading the description of a simple embodiment of the invention, which is given for purely illustrative purposes and does not restrict the scope of this patent.

Reference is made to the appended drawings where: Fig.1.

Shows a front view of the machine.

Fig.2 Shows the machine as viewed from above (layout).

Fig.3 Shows a side view of the machine.

Fig.4 Shows another side view of the machine.

Figs. 5,6,7 Show an enlarged view and a median cross section of the cassette fitted in place on the machine and another, different cross section of the cassette atone.

Fig.8 Shows the cassette fitted on the machine as viewed from the side.

Fig.9 Shows the test tube to be sealed.

With reference to these figures, 1 indicates the reel of aluminium tape, 1' the self- centring and self-locking cassette holder present on the automatic machine, 1" the self- adhesive labei that engages the end of the tape as it comes out of the cassette, 2 the resting surface sewing as a guide for positioning the cassette together with the stud 3. which must engage the cavity 3’ fashioned in the cassette itself. indicates the tape feed gripper driven by cylinder 4’ for gripping and by cylinder 5 for conveying the tape. 6 indicates the vacuum-operated pick-up tube driven by cyiinder 6' in the descent toward the tape. 7 indicates the blade for cutting the tape (1). driven by cylinder 7". which determines the pieces 20 to be used to form the resealing caps.

After picking up a cap (20) the tube (6) rises, while the dual head 8 driven by cylinder 8’ rotates 90° in a clockwise direction to move into the seating position. indicates the test tube to be sealed, supported by an element 10 which holds it in place by means of a gripper 10'; the head (8) is moved vertically downward by cylinder 8" so that it may heat the cap (20) in contact with the test tube. 11 indicates the sealing device rigidly connected in A to the dual head (8), 11' the heating element and 11" the temperature probe.

When the sealing phase is completed the head (8) rises and rotates 90" in an anticlockwise direction to get ready for a new cycle. This rotation enables the forming element 12, rigidly connected in B to the dual head (8). and driven by cylinder 12', to position itself on the test tube (9) and, as it is lowered, to adhere to the cap (20) so as to mould it around the outer surface of the test tube (9). indicates a sensor that checks for the presence of a cap sealed onto the top of the test tube; the cap’s absence will cause the cycle to be repeated; if the check is negative a second time an alarm will be triggered. 14 indicates a second sensor that checks for the presence of the aluminium foil to be fed to the machine. The absence or breakage of the sealing tape will bring the cycle to a stop and trigger an alarm. 15 indicates the two half-shells making up the cassette, which is shaped so as to house on the inside a reel of aluminium tape (1) wound around a plastic hub 16 and two take-up spools indicated by the number 17. The shape of the hole in the centre of the cassette (15) is such as permit the cassette itself to be fitted onto the reel holder (1'), the spring- operated locking teeth 18 are compressed on entry. facilitated by the shape of the central hole of the cassette, and once the latter has been fitted they expand to lock the cassette containing the reel in place. Correct fitting of the cassette is assured by the stud (3) which, by engaging the cavity (3'), ensures that the cassette is correctly positioned on the machine.

The reel contained in the cassette is of a length such as to enable approximately 16000 test tubes to be sealed with an equal number of individual pieces. The machine counts up to 15000 cycles before giving a warning that the reel is about to run out. On reaching 16900 cycles the machine will stop and request the operator to replace the cassette.

In practice the construction details, dimensions, materials, shape and other aspects of the invention may vary without departing from the scope of the present industrial patent; in fact. the invention thus conceived lends itself to numerous adaptations and variants, all falling within the realm of the inventive concept.

Claims (7)

1. ) An apparatus for resealing test tubes used for clinical analyses, comprising: sealing tape (1) of hot-melt lacquer coated aluminium; a sealing tape housing comprising: a cassette made up of two half-shells (15) internally incorporating a winding hub (16) which is of plastics, the cassette having a through hole, centrally located, permitting the cassette to be locked in place by means of locking teeth (18), which are spring. operated, the locking teeth being supported by a cassette holder (1'). and the cassette also having a cavity (3') engaged by a stud (3) that serves together with a support (2) as a positioning guide; and two take-up spools (17); a sealing tape conveyance device comprising a feed gripper (4) adapted to grip and convey the sealing tape (1), driven by a cylinder (4') and a cylinder (5) respectively; a sealing tape cutting device adapted to form caps from sealing tape. the sealing tape cutting device comprising a cutting biade (7). driven by a cylinder (7'); a support (10) for a test tube (9) to be sealed and a gripper (10’) for holding the test tube (9) in place; a cap sealing device comprising a heating element (11') adapted to heat seal a cap (20) to a test tube (9) and further comprising a temperature probe (11"); a cap forming device; a vacuum~operated tube (6) adapted to pick up a cap (20). driven by a cylinder (6’); and a dual head (8) rigidly connected to the cap sealing device and to the cap forming device, adapted for clockwise and anticlockwise rotation. through 90'’. and vertical movement. driven by a cylinder (8') and a cylinder (8") respectively.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a sensor (13) for verifying the presence of a sealed cap (20) on a test tube (9).

3. An apparatus as claimed in either one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sensor (14) for verifying the presence of sealing tape (1) in the apparatus.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the assembled reel ( 1) is UV treated.

5. An apparatus for resealing test tubes used for clinical analyses substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

6. A method of resealing test tubes used for clinical analyses using an apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: conveying sealing tape; cutting the sealing tape to form caps; sealing a cap to a test tube; and forming the cap against the test tube.

7. A method of resealing test tubes used for clinical analyses substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.