JP2008239247A - Cap - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cap which is openable and closable without connecting and disconnecting of the cap itself when it is used for closing a centrifuging tube or a T-flask as an alternative to a conventional cap, and which makes it possible to split or dispense liquid solution stored in them by inserting a nozzle into an opening with the cap opened. <P>SOLUTION: The cap 1 for use in a spout of the centrifuging tube 2 or the T-flask is equipped with a cap body 5 having an opening 7 capable of closely fitting the spout in an airtight manner by threading or insertion, and a lid 6 capable of opening and closing the opening 7 of the cap body 5. Further, the cap 1 is equipped with an elastic biasing means 9 which presses the lid 6 against the opening 7 with predetermined force under the condition that the opening 7 of the cap body 5 is closed by the lid 6, a seal for close contact between the lid 6 and the opening 7, and an operation portion 11 linked with the lid 6 to open and close the lid 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cap used for a centrifuge tube or a T-flask.

  Conventionally, in medical and bio-related operations, centrifuge tubes and T-flasks are frequently used for centrifuging and culturing cells. In order to avoid contamination during handling, centrifuge tubes and T-flasks are equipped with caps at the inlets. And when using a centrifuge tube or T-flask in an automated device, remove the cap using a device that automatically attaches / detaches the cap, inserts a nozzle from the inlet, and automatically dispenses and dispenses the internal solution. is there.

  4 is an overall view showing a state in which the cap 101 is attached to the inlet of the normal centrifuge tube 100, and FIG. 5 is an overall view showing an aspect in which the cap 104 is attached to the inlet of the normal T-flask 102. FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion where the cap 101 is attached to the centrifuge tube 100. These conventional caps 101 have a structure in which a female screw part 107 formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical part of the cap 101 is engaged with a male screw part 106 formed around the inlet 105 of the centrifuge tube 100 and the cap 101 is tightened. Thus, the lid surface 108 of the cap 101 is pressed against the end surface of the charging port 105 to prevent liquid leakage and contamination.

Generally, the cap of a centrifuge tube or a T-flask is a swivel type (see FIG. 4 and Patent Document 1) or an insertion method (see Patent Document 2). In this case, it is difficult to attach and detach the cap stably and reliably. For example, as an automatic cap attaching / detaching device, a device is generally used in which a cap is held using a cap holder having a chuck made of rubber or the like to prevent slipping, and the cap is attached / detached by rotating the cap holder. There is also an automatic attachment / detachment device using an air chuck for attaching / detaching the centrifuge tube cap.
JP 2004-192 A JP 2004-313500 A

  However, in a cap attaching / detaching device that rotates the cap with a cap holder having a rubber chuck, it is necessary to increase the friction force between the chuck of the cap holder and the cap by increasing the chuck holding force in order to securely attach and remove the cap. For this reason, the rubber chuck is damaged, or the cap and the centrifuge tube body are deformed, so that the cap cannot be securely attached or detached.

  Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned situation, the present invention intends to solve the problem by attaching a new cap to the centrifuge tube or T-flask instead of the conventional cap, so that the cap can be opened and closed without removing the cap itself. An object of the present invention is to provide a cap in which a nozzle can be inserted from an opening in an open state and an internal solution can be dispensed and dispensed.

    In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a cap that is attached to the inlet of a centrifuge tube or a T-flask, and includes an opening that can be screwed or fitted into the inlet in an airtight state. A cap body and a lid for opening and closing the opening of the cap body, and further, an elastic biasing means for pressing the lid against the opening with a certain force in a state where the opening of the cap body is closed with the lid, A cap comprising a seal that tightly contacts the lid and the opening, and an operation unit provided in association with the lid to open and close the lid is configured.

  The cap body is provided at one end of the opening of the cap body so as to be capable of rotating and opening with a support shaft parallel to the end surface of the opening, and the torsion spring is provided on the support shaft as the elastic biasing means. Preferably, the support shaft is formed of a torsion bar.

  Here, it is more preferable that the operation portion is a pressing portion that is continuous with the lid beyond the support shaft, and is a mechanism that opens the lid by pushing the pressing portion.

  Moreover, it is also preferable that the operation portion is a locking portion that is continuous with the lid, and a mechanism that opens the lid by pulling the locking portion.

  Furthermore, it is also preferable that the operation unit is a knob that rotates the lid around the axis of the support shaft, and a mechanism that opens the lid by rotating the knob.

  In addition, a pair of guides are provided on both sides of the end surface of the opening of the cap body in parallel with the end surface of the opening, and the lid is slidably opened and closed on both guides. It is also possible to provide an engaging portion for moving the lid along the guide.

  As described above, the cap of the present invention does not require a complicated cap attaching / detaching device as in the prior art, and only opens and closes the lid with respect to the cap body without attaching / detaching the cap to / from the inlet of the centrifuge tube or T flask. Thus, operations such as dispensing and dispensing of the inner solution can be performed reliably, and the lid can be opened and closed under certain conditions at all times, so that it is suitable for automation by an automatic opening and closing device.

  Moreover, it can be used by simply screwing or fitting the cap of the present invention into a commercially available centrifuge tube or a T-flask inlet. That is, as a structure for mounting the cap body of the present invention to the inlet of a centrifuge tube or a T-flask, a conventional swivel-type screwing structure or a fitting structure that fits and closely contacts is adopted. Since the part is opened and closed with a lid, it can be adapted to automation with minimal parts replacement, which is economical.

  Also, even in the case of manual work, the cap attaching / detaching work has been conventionally performed with both hands, but it can be performed instantaneously with one hand, and the work efficiency can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a centrifuge tube 2 fitted with a cap 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of a state in which the cap 1 is opened by a push roller 3 and a nozzle 4 is inserted, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the cap 1. In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a cap body, 6 denotes a lid, 7 denotes an opening, 8 denotes a support shaft, 9 denotes elastic urging means, 10 denotes a seal, and 11 denotes an operation portion. In addition, although this embodiment demonstrates by the example applied mainly to the centrifuge tube 2, the case where it applies to a T flask is the same.

  The cap 1 of the present invention is used by being attached to the inlet 12 of the centrifuge tube 1 or the T-flask as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and is screwed or fitted into the inlet 12 in an airtight state. A cap body 5 having an opening 7 that can be opened, and a lid 6 that opens and closes the opening 7 of the cap body 5, and the lid 7 closes the opening 7 of the cap body 5. An elastic biasing means 9 for pressing the lid 6 against the opening 7 with a certain force, a seal 10 for bringing the lid 6 and the opening 7 into close contact, and a link with the lid 6 for opening and closing the lid 6 are provided. And an operation unit 11.

  In the present embodiment, a male screw portion 13 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inlet 12 of the centrifuge tube 2 and is screwed into the male screw portion 13 on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the cap body 5. 14 is formed. The structure in which the cap body 5 is screwed to the inlet 12 of the centrifuge tube 2 and the cap body 5 is connected to the inlet 12 in an airtight state is the same as the conventional structure. The cap body 5 is formed with an opening 7 communicating with the charging port 12, and the end surface of the opening 7 is a plane perpendicular to the charging port 12.

  The cap 6 is provided at one end of the opening 7 of the cap body 5 so that the lid 6 can be pivoted and opened by a support shaft 8 parallel to the end surface of the opening 7, and as the elastic biasing means 9. A torsion spring is provided on the support shaft 8 so that the lid 6 is pressed against the opening 7 with a constant force. Here, as the elastic urging means 9, the support shaft 8 may be constituted by a torsion bar, and the lid 6 may be pressed against the opening 7 with a constant force. The end face of the opening 7 is provided with an O-ring held in an annular groove as a seal 10 so that the O-ring can be pressed and sealed when the lid 6 is closed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the operation portion 11 is a pressing portion that is continuous with the lid 6 beyond the support shaft 8, and as shown in FIG. This is a mechanism for opening the lid 6 against the elastic biasing force of the torsion spring 9 by being pushed in with the. Here, the push roller 3 constitutes a part of an automatic opening / closing device, is automatically controlled in conjunction with the operation device of the nozzle 4, and is attached to the centrifuge tube 2 attached to the centrifuge tube 2 held upright. The pressing part 11 is pushed downward by the pressing roller 3, the lid 6 is rotated upward to be opened, the nozzle 4 is inserted through the opened opening 7, and the contents are dispensed and dispensed. When the nozzle 4 is removed from the centrifuge tube 2 and a series of operations are completed, and the push roller 3 is moved upward, the lid 6 is brought into close contact with the O-ring 10 of the opening 7 by the elastic biasing force of the torsion spring 9. Then close it.

  The cap 1 according to the present invention is effective not only when used in combination with an automatic opening / closing device but also when dispensing contents by hand. In other words, the centrifuge tube 2 can be grasped with the one hand, and the lid 6 can be opened by pushing the pressing portion 11 downward with the thumb, so that the other hand can take the pipette or the spoid and dispense the contents. can do.

  Further, as a structure for mounting the cap body 5 to the inlet 12 of the centrifuge tube 2, an insertion type fitting structure may be used. Further, the present invention intends to adapt to automation by facilitating the opening and closing by changing only the cap without changing the structure of the centrifuge tube 2 itself. Even if the structure of 12 is changed and the function of the cap body 5 is provided, the same thing can be realized.

  Next, although not shown, another embodiment will be briefly described. First, the operation portion 11 may be a locking portion that is continuous with the lid 6, and the lid 6 may be opened by pulling the locking portion. In that case, the automatic opening / closing device includes a hook portion that can be locked to the locking portion instead of the push roller 3, and pulls the lid 6 to open.

  As still another embodiment, the operation unit 11 may be a knob that rotates the lid 6 around the support shaft 8, and the mechanism may be configured to open the lid 6 by rotating the knob. good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the lid 6 is pivotally opened and closed. However, a mechanism for sliding the lid 6 with respect to the cap body 5 can be employed. That is, a pair of guides are provided on both sides of the end surface of the opening 7 of the cap body 5 in parallel with the end surface of the opening 7, and the lid 6 is slidably opened and closed on both guides. An engaging portion for moving the lid 6 along the guide is provided as the operation portion 11.

  Embodiment which attached the cap of this invention to the centrifuge tube is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view.   It is a front view for explanation of a state where the cap of the present invention attached to the centrifuge tube is opened by pushing the operating portion with a push roller and the nozzle is inserted.   It is a partial expanded sectional view in the state where the cap of the present invention was attached to the centrifuge tube.   The state which attached the cap to the conventional centrifuge tube is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view.   The state which attached the cap to the conventional T flask is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view.   It is a partial expanded sectional view of the state which equipped the conventional centrifuge tube with the cap.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cap 2 Centrifugal tube 3 Push roller 4 Nozzle 5 Cap main body 6 Cover 7 Opening part 8 Support shaft 9 Elastic biasing means (torsion spring)
10 Seal (O-ring)
11 Operation part (Pressing part)
12 Input Port 13 Male Threaded Portion 14 Female Threaded Portion 100 Centrifuge Tube 101 Cap 102 T Flask 104 Cap 105 Input Port 106 Male Threaded Portion 107 Female Threaded Portion 108 Cover Surface

Claims (6)

  A cap attached to an inlet of a centrifuge tube or a T-flask and having an opening that can be screwed or fitted in an airtight state to the inlet, and opening and closing the opening of the cap body An elastic biasing means that presses the lid against the opening with a certain force in a state in which the opening of the cap body is closed with the lid, a seal that tightly contacts the lid and the opening, and the lid A cap comprising: an operating portion provided in association with the lid to open and close the cap.   At the one side end of the opening of the cap body, the lid is provided so as to be able to turn and open with a support shaft parallel to the end face of the opening, and a torsion spring is provided on the support shaft as the elastic biasing means The cap according to claim 1, wherein the spindle is constituted by a torsion bar.   The cap according to claim 2, wherein the operating portion is a pressing portion that is continuous with the lid beyond the support shaft, and is a mechanism that opens the lid by pushing the pressing portion.   The cap according to claim 2, wherein the operation portion is a locking portion that is continuous with the lid, and is a mechanism that opens the lid by pulling the locking portion.   The cap according to claim 2, wherein the operation unit is a knob that rotates the lid around an axis of the support shaft, and is a mechanism that opens the lid by rotating the knob.   A pair of guides are provided on both sides of the end face of the opening of the cap body in parallel with the end face of the opening, and the lid is slidably opened and closed on both guides. The cap according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion for moving the guide along the guide.

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