TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates, on the one hand, to a system and, on the other hand, also to a method for automatically closing sample vessels, in particular sample vessels having medical laboratory samples.

BACKGROUND

Background Information

In laboratory analysis technology, it is typical for laboratory samples obtained in a decentralized manner to be transferred in sample vessels provided especially for this purpose to a central analytic laboratory. So as not to contaminate the samples or lose them due to spilling, after the samples are taken and decanted into the sample vessels, the latter are closed, generally with matching closure caps, which seal the openings of the sample vessels. For example, in the field of medical laboratory samples, the sample taking, for example, taking blood samples, typically takes place in medical practices or hospitals. These medical samples are typically decanted in this case into tubular sample vessels made of plastic, more rarely still made of glass, the sample vessels are closed, and then transferred to a medical analytic laboratory.

In the analytic laboratory, the corresponding samples are presently predominantly processed in a completely automated manner. Depending on which parameters are to be determined with respect to the laboratory sample, one or more measurements are carried out using one or also multiple automated measuring devices. The transportation of the laboratory samples to and between the measuring devices presently also predominantly takes place fully automatically. In order that the samples contained in the initially closed sample vessels can be analyzed and examined, firstly the closure, the cover or the cap, is to be removed from the respective sample vessel. An automated process is frequently also used for this opening of the sample vessels, also referred to in laboratory jargon as “de-capping”. A device can be used for this purpose, for example, as described in DE 199 11 349 A1.

After the samples have passed through all specified assays in the analytic laboratory, they generally still have to be stored for a specified period of time to be stored for possible later examinations, for example, for verifying a determined value or also for determining further analysis values requested later by the client. Such a storage of the samples typically takes place in this case in the original sample vessels, which are stored in a sample archive. If the laboratory samples are sensitive or perishable samples, such a sample archive can thus be, for example, cooled or monitored in another manner with respect to the storage conditions.

In order that the samples are not contaminated or impaired in another manner during the storage, the sample vessels are again closed using a closure, a cap or a cover, to form a seal before the storage in the sample archive, a procedure which is also referred to as “recapping” in the laboratory jargon. This procedure is preferably also carried out automatically, wherein there are different approaches. Sometimes, the closures, using which the sample vessel was originally closed upon arrival in the analysis laboratory, are used for closing the sample vessels. However, such a procedure is logistically complex, since the association of the cover with the sample vessel has to be maintained over the entire process. The automatic handling of sample covers, using which the sample vessels were originally closed, is also comparatively complex. This is because the closures of the sample vessels are of differing nature, and thus these can be screw plugs, press-in plugs or push-in plugs, and other types of closures for this purpose.

A device is described in CN 201432271 Y, using which blood sample vessels can be automatically closed and provided with plugs. In this device, an array of vessels is supplied to a voluminous unit, which supplies plugs for closing the vessels via a conveyor system to the openings and presses the plugs therein. This known device has the problem that it occupies a comparatively large amount of space, in particular the management and handling of the closure caps is bulky, and only sample vessels of uniform dimensioning can be closed using this device. However, in the everyday activity of an analysis laboratory, generally greatly differing sample vessels are handled, for example, tubular sample vessels in a medical analytic laboratory, which in particular have different removal openings to be reclosed, in particular those having different diameters. The handling of a reclosure of such varied sample vessels is not automatically possible using the previously known system.

SUMMARY

It is accordingly the object of the invention to specify here a system for automatically closing sample vessels, in particular sample vessels having medical laboratory samples, and also a method for this purpose, using which an automated closure of sample vessels, preferably of differing constructions, is possible in a space-saving manner, in particular a secure closure for a subsequent archiving of the samples.

This object is achieved with respect to a system by such a system for automatically closing sample vessels, in particular sample vessels having medical laboratory samples, comprising i. a plurality of identically formed, stackable closure caps, which have a convex outer side and a concave inner side and are stacked in at least one closure cap stack in such a way that an upper closure cap in the closure cap stack bears with its convex outer side on the concave inner side of a lower closure cap located directly underneath in the closure cap stack, ii. a closure gripper for grasping an uppermost closure cap from the at least one closure cap stack, for transferring the grasped closure cap to the sample vessel to be closed, and for introducing the grasped closure cap into an opening of the sample vessel for the sealed closure of the opening, wherein the closure gripper has a centering piece, which is insertable into a closure cap in such a way that it bears on the concave inner side of the closure cap. Advantageous refinements of such a system include that the closure caps are formed from a film by forming. The closure caps each have an outwardly facing collar on an edge terminating an open end of the concave inner side, and the centering piece has a stop surface, on which the collar bears when the centering piece is inserted into the concave inner side of the closure cap. The closure gripper has at least one clamping part movable between a release position and a holding position, in which it presses a grasped closure cap from the outer side against the centering piece and clamps it. The system may include two diametrically opposing clamping parts. The system further includes holding means for the fixing holding of the sample vessel in a working position.

The system further includes at least one magazine for holding at least two closure cap stacks, which is displaceable in such a way that alternately one closure cap stack provided in the magazine is movable into a supply position, from which an uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack moved into the supply position can be moved into a working region of the closure gripper. The system may further include a vertical supply tube having a first and a second end, which is arranged having a first, lower end in the region of the magazine in such a way that a closure cap stack positioned accordingly by displacement of the magazine can be introduced into the supply tube, and which discharges at a second end in the working region of the closure gripper. A lifting means for vertically raising the at least one closure cap stack may be provided in the system. An isolation means for isolating closure caps, in particular an uppermost closure cap, from the remaining closure caps of the closure cap stack may also be provided. The closure caps have a tapering, in particular stepped, diameter proceeding from a first rear end toward a second front end, which is inserted into the opening to be closed during the closing of the sample vessel. A method according to the invention which achieves this object comprises the following steps: i. providing at least one closure cap stack formed from a plurality of identically formed, stackable closure caps, which have a convex outer side and a concave inner side, wherein an upper closure cap bears with its convex outer side on the concave inner side of a closure cap located directly underneath in the closure cap stack; ii. grasping an uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack using a closure gripper having a centering piece, wherein the centering piece is inserted into the concave inner side of the uppermost closure cap until it bears on the inner side; iii. transferring the grasped closure cap from the closure cap stack to the sample vessel to be closed using the closure gripper; iv. inserting the closure cap into and fixing the closure cap in the opening to be closed of the sample vessel, wherein the closure cap is pressed into the opening using the centering piece; and v. removing the closure gripper from the closure cap placed in the opening of the sample vessel. Advantageous refinements of this method include that the closure cap stack is raised until the uppermost closure cap in the closure cap stack is arranged in a transfer position in a working region of the closure gripper. The method further includes that the uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack is detached from the closure cap stack and isolated before the grasping using the closure gripper.

The system according to the invention for automatically closing sample vessels, in particular sample vessels having medical laboratory samples, is distinguished by the following components essential to the invention:

It contains a plurality of identically formed, stackable closure caps, which have a convex outer side and a concave inner side. The closure caps are stacked in at least one closure cap stack in such a way that an upper closure cap in the closure cap stack bears with its convex outer side on the concave inner side of a lower closure cap located directly underneath in the closure cap stack.

Furthermore, it contains a closure gripper for grasping an uppermost closure cap from the at least one closure cap stack, for transferring the grasped closure cap to the sample vessel to be closed, and for introducing the grasped closure cap into an opening of the sample vessel for the sealed closure thereof. In this case the closure gripper furthermore has a centering piece, which is insertable into a closure cap in such a way that it bears on the concave inner side of the closure cap.

The formation of the closure cap in a stackable manner having convex outer side and concave inner side and the aggregation of the closure caps to form a closure cap stack results in a particularly space-saving stockpiling of closure caps, which can be grasped with the aid of the closure gripper for closing sample vessels, transferred thereto, and introduced into the respective opening thereof for the sealed closure thereof. A space-saving structural form is thus enabled, and closure caps can be stockpiled in a large number and automatically processed without interrupting the operation.

The closure caps are in particular not the original closure caps, using which the sample vessels having the samples contained therein were closed as they were supplied to the analytic laboratory. Rather, separate closure caps are stocked here, which are stocked for the reclosure of the sample vessels. This measure in particular has the result that the closure caps may be formed in the stackable manner as indicated, so that they are to be stockpiled in a space-saving manner. The stackable design having in particular the concave inner side of the closure cap furthermore enables the interaction with the centering piece of the closure gripper, with the aid of which, when it protrudes therein while bearing on the concave inner side of the closure cap, the closure cap can be pressed into the opening to be closed of the sample vessel for secure closing and sealing. Due to this automated and securely guided procedure during the closing of the sample vessels, the surroundings, in particular the system for automatic closing of the sample vessel, are additionally prevented from coming into contact and being contaminated with the content of the sample vessel, i.e., the actual sample. Damage to the sample vessels during the closing with the closure cap is also prevented.

The closure can be formed from a film material by forming, particular stretching or deep-drawing. The film material can in particular be a plastic. The material thickness of this film, i.e., its thickness, is usually dimensioned in this case so that the closure cap formed therefrom is sufficiently dimensionally stable with the lowest possible wall thickness at the same time. A low wall thickness enables even more compact stacking of the closure caps in the closure cap stack and generally results in a lower material consumption and thus in lower costs of the closure cap, which is used in practice as a mass-produced product. It also results in a certain flexibility of the closure caps thus formed, which is also advantageous for the sealed closure of openings of sample vessels.

According to one advantageous refinement of the system according to the invention, the closure cap can have an outwardly facing collar on an edge terminating an open end of the concave inner side and the centering piece can have a stop surface, on which the collar bears when the centering piece is inserted into the concave inner side of the closure cap. On the one hand, this solution provides a stop delimiting the position of the closure cap on the centering piece, on the other hand, it permits a good force transfer from the centering piece to the closure cap when the latter is pressed using the closure gripper for the sealed closure of the sample vessel into the opening thereof.

According to a further advantageous refinement of the invention, the closure gripper can have at least one clamping part, which is movable between a release position and a holding position, in which it presses a grasped closure cap from the outer side against the centering piece and clamps it. Using such a clamping part, the closure gripper can securely hold and clamp a closure cap guided on the centering piece, to then finally detach it from the closure cap stack and guide it to the sample vessel to be closed and introduce it there into the opening to be closed. The closure gripper particularly advantageously has not only one, but rather two diametrically opposing clamping parts. A symmetrical and secure grasping and holding of a closure cap is thus ensured. The clamping parts can be implemented, for example, in the form of clamping jaws.

The system according to the invention can furthermore advantageously have holding means for fixing holding of the sample vessel in a working position. A working position means the position in the system here in which the closure gripper supplies the closure cap and inserts and presses it into the opening of the sample vessel to close it. The holding means, for example, holding bars, holding grippers, or the like are used in this case for the purpose of securely holding the sample vessel, so that it does not threaten to tilt or fall over, for example, or even only changes the position, during the process of the insertion of the closure cap into the opening to be closed. The holding means can in this case also apply an aligning action at the same time, so that the sample vessel is correctly oriented for a supply of the closure gripper having the closure cap arranged thereon.

In order that the system can operate as long as possible and can automatically close as many sample vessels as possible without the necessity of an external engagement, it can have a magazine, in which at least two closure cap stacks are accommodated. This magazine is then displaceable in such a manner that alternately one of the closure cap stacks provided in the magazine is movable into a supply position, from which an uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack moved into the supply position is movable into a working region of the closure gripper. Such a magazine can be designed, for example, as a revolver magazine, i.e., as a cylindrical body rotatable around a central axis of rotation having multiple receptacle shafts arranged distributed around the central axis of rotation for closure cap stacks.

If the system has a magazine holding at least two closure cap stacks, it can thus furthermore advantageously have a vertical supply tube, which has a first and a second end and which is arranged having a first, lower end in the region of the magazine so that a closure cap stack positioned accordingly by displacement of the magazine can be introduced into the supply tube. This supply tube then discharges at a second end into the working region of the closure gripper. The supply tube thus forms a section of a conveyor line here, via which a closure cap stack can be conveyed here in the vertical direction proceeding from the magazine in the direction of the working position of the closure gripper, in which the latter can grasp an uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack and carry it along. This construction enables a vertical separation between a magazine region, in which the closure caps are stockpiled in stacks, and the working region of the closure gripper. This in turn favors a compact construction of the overall system and/or a device integrated into the system.

Furthermore, the system can advantageously have lifting means for vertically raising the at least one closure cap stack. Such lifting means ensure that even with decreasing stack height, an uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack is always positioned ready to be removed in corresponding vertical position for the closure gripper. Such lifting means can be implemented, for example, in the form of a spike or a rod or another lifting part engaging from below on the lowermost closure cap in the closure cap stack, which is displaceable upward in the vertical direction and via this presses the closure cap stack upward in a guide. Closure cap stacks can also be transferred from a magazine into the supply tube using such a lifting means.

Furthermore, isolating means can advantageously be provided in the system for isolating closure caps, in particular an uppermost closure cap, from the remaining closure caps of the closure cap stack. Such an isolation of closure caps from the closure cap stack, in particular the uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack, facilitates grasping individual closure caps using the closure gripper and handling them further for closing of the sample vessel.

In the system according to the invention, the closure caps are particularly advantageously formed proceeding from a first rear end toward a second front end, which front end is inserted into the opening to be closed during the closing of the sample vessel, having a tapering, in particular stepped diameter. If this diameter is tapered in a stepped manner, it can be formed in particular in different cylinder sections arranged like steps. An embodiment as described above makes the closure caps for closing openings of different diameters suitable for the closing thereof. If the opening diameter is small, a region of the closure cap facing toward the front end having smaller diameter engages with the opening, if the diameter is larger, the closure cap will be pressed farther into the opening until a section located closer to the rear end having larger diameter bears on the wall surrounding the opening, and thus seals the opening closed.

As already mentioned, furthermore a method for automatically closing sample vessels, in particular sample vessels having medical laboratory samples, is specified by the invention, which comprises the following steps:providing at least one closure cap stack formed from a plurality of identically formed, stackable closure caps, which have a convex outer side and a concave inner side, wherein an upper closure cap bears with its convex outer side on the concave inner side of a lower closure cap located directly underneath in the closure cap stack;grasping an uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack using a closure gripper having a centering piece, wherein the centering piece is inserted into the concave inner side of the uppermost closure cap, until it bears on the inner side, in particular over its entire circumference;transferring the grasped closure cap from the closure cap stack to the sample vessel to be closed using the closure gripper;inserting the closure cap into and fixing the closure cap in the opening to be closed of the sample vessel, wherein the closure cap is pressed into the opening using the centering piece;releasing the closure gripper from the closure cap placed in the opening of the sample vessel.

This method is executed in particular using the system according to the invention and enables automatic closing of sample vessels using a system and/or a device in a compact arrangement.

In the method, the closure cap stack can advantageously be raised until the uppermost closure cap in the closure cap stack is arranged in a transfer position into a working region of the closure gripper. This transfer position can be exactly defined with respect to the vertical and horizontal location, so that the uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack always comes to rest in this position when the closure cap stack is raised accordingly. This enables an exact and simple transfer of the uppermost closure cap from the closure cap stack to the closure gripper, which can then transfer it grasped exactly aligned to the sample vessel to be closed and can close the sample vessel using it.

In the method according to the invention, the uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack is advantageously detached and isolated from the closure cap stack before the grasping using the closure gripper. The already isolated closure cap can thus be grasped using the closure gripper without the closure gripper itself having to apply a corresponding force for isolating the closure cap, which would result in the hazard that the closure cap does not bear in the exact position on the closure cap, but rather slips or tilts and with thus no longer be correctly positioned for exact closing of the sample vessels.

