BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to a decapper for removing a cap from a laboratory sample container and to an apparatus comprising such a decapper.

In laboratories some types of instruments and/or analysis require closed laboratory sample containers such as sample tubes to be opened before laboratory samples are pretreated and/or analyzed. Therefore, such instruments may have a decapper to remove a cap from the container.

Therefore, there is a need for a decapper having improved properties than the decappers of the prior art.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a decapper for removing a cap from a laboratory sample container is presented. The decapper can comprise a cap gripper comprising at least two gripping jaws. At least one of the at least two gripping jaws can be displaceable between a holding position and a release position in a radial direction. In the holding position, the at least two gripping jaws can hold the cap. In the release position, the cap can be released by the at least two gripping jaws. The decapper can also comprise a guidance. The guidance can be configured to limit a movement of the cap in the radial direction caused by the displacement of the one gripping jaw from its holding position into its release position. The guidance can be separate from the gripping jaws.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus is presented. The apparatus can comprise a decapper as described above and a cap receiver. The cap receiver can be rotatable between a receiver position and a storage position around a receiver axis. In the receiver position, the decapper and the cap receiver can be arranged such that the cap receiver receives the released cap from the decapper. In the storage position, the cap receiver can allow removal of the cap from the laboratory sample container.

Accordingly, it is a feature of the embodiments of the present disclosure to provide a decapper having improved properties than the decappers of the prior art. Other features of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent in light of the description of the disclosure embodied herein.

