Search

US-20260126463-A1 - BIOPROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE

US20260126463A1US 20260126463 A1US20260126463 A1US 20260126463A1US-20260126463-A1

Abstract

Described herein are automated capping and de-capping systems and methods of use thereof. Automated capping and de-capping systems include a rack-support unit operable to support at least two types of a rack, a head unit comprising a plurality of cap-drivers, and a drive system. Each rack is operable to support a plurality of tubes having caps, the caps being a first cap type or a second cap type. The second cap type is different than the first cap type. The cap-drivers include a first interface portion operable to engage with the first cap type and a second interface portion operable to engage with the second cap type. The drive system is for moving the rack-support unit and the head unit relative to each other to facilitate engagement between the cap-drivers and the caps of the tubes to cap or de-cap the tubes.

Inventors

  • Michael Easton
  • Itisha Deokar
  • Jonathan Wilson
  • Siddharth Singh Chauhan
  • Lars Weber-Hovendahl
  • Stig Christensen

Assignees

  • NALGE NUNC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
  • Life Technologies Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251105

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An automated capping and de-capping system comprising: a rack-support unit operable to support at least two types of a rack, each rack operable to support a plurality of tubes having caps, the caps being a first cap type or a second cap type, the second cap type different than the first cap type; a head unit comprising a plurality of cap-drivers, the cap-drivers including a first interface portion operable to engage with the first cap type and a second interface portion operable to engage with the second cap type; and a drive system for moving the rack-support unit and the head unit relative to each other to facilitate engagement between the cap-drivers and the caps of the tubes to cap or de-cap the tubes.
  2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cap-drivers includes 96 cap-drivers.
  3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first interface portion is operable to interlock with the first cap type, and wherein the second interface portion is operable to interlock with the second cap type.
  4. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first cap type includes an annular wall and a plurality of ribs extending along an inner surface of the annular wall, and wherein the second cap type includes a square socket.
  5. 5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the caps of the plurality of tubes includes more than two types of caps.
  6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes are spaced along the rack in a grid pattern, a honeycomb pattern, or a diagonal pattern.
  7. 7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least two types of racks include a rack operable to support 96 tubes, a rack operable to support 48 tubes, a rack operable to support 24 tubes, a rack operable to support 12 tubes, and a rack operable to support 6 tubes.
  8. 8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of cap-drivers includes 96 cap-drivers, and wherein each cap-driver can cap or de-cap each of the plurality of tube cap types placed in the rack, the rack operable to support 6 tubes, the rack operable to support 12 tubes, the rack operable to support 24 tubes, the rack operable to support 48 tubes, or the rack operable to support 96 tubes.
  9. 9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein each rack includes a plurality of slots, each slot configured to support one tube.
  10. 10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein each cap-driver can cap or de-cap each of the plurality of tube cap types placed in the rack, the rack operable to support up to 6 tubes, the rack operable to support up to 12 tubes, the rack operable to support up to 24 tubes, the rack operable to support up to 48 tubes, or the rack operable to support up to 96 tubes.
  11. 11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein when the rack is operable to support 96 tubes, each cap-driver aligns directly above one tube in the rack.
  12. 12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein when the rack is operable to support 48 tubes, half of the cap-drivers align directly above one tube in the rack, and the other half of the cap-drivers align directly with gaps in the rack, the gaps defined between the tubes in the rack.
  13. 13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cap-drivers in the head unit can detect and identify different types of tube caps.
  14. 14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cap-drivers are housed on a cassette head.
  15. 15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein engagement between the cap-drivers and the caps of the tubes to cap or de-cap the tubes includes rotation of the cap-drivers and the caps.
  16. 16 . An automated capping and de-capping system comprising: a rack-support unit operable to support: a first rack operable to support a first plurality of tubes having caps, the caps being a first cap type or a second cap type, the second cap type different than the first cap type, and a second rack operable to support a second plurality of tubes having caps, the caps being the first cap type or the second cap type the second plurality of tubes including less tubes that the first plurality of tubes; a head unit comprising a plurality of cap-drivers, the cap-drivers operable to engage with the first cap type and the second cap type; and a drive system for moving the rack-support unit and the head unit relative to each other to facilitate engagement between the cap-drivers and the caps of the tubes to cap or de-cap the tubes.
  17. 17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first rack is operable to support 96 tubes, 48 tubes, 24tubes, 12 tubes, or 6 tubes.
  18. 18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second rack is operable to support 96 tubes, 48 tubes, 24 tubes, 12 tubes, or 6 tubes.
  19. 19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the cap-drivers are operable to interlock with the first cap type and the second cap type.
  20. 20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first cap type includes an annular wall and a plurality of ribs extending along an inner surface of the annular wall, and wherein the second cap type includes a square socket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present Non-Provisional application claims priority to the previously filed and currently pending U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/716,447 having a filing date of Nov. 5, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure pertains to automated capping and de-capping systems for use with laboratory tubes having different types of tube caps. BACKGROUND Equipment for capping and de-capping tubes are generally known in laboratory settings. The equipment can receive a rack with multiple tubes and can quickly and accurately cap or de-cap the tubes. Each piece of equipment is compatible with one type of tube cap and one arrangement of tubes. Different manufacturers produce various cap types having different geometries and grip patterns. As one non-limiting embodiment, a first cap type can include a square drive socket, and a second cap type can include a rounded drive socket with vertical ribs on an outer wall. Tubes having the first cap type can only be capped and de-capped by equipment having a corresponding first driver shaped to engage the square drive socket, and tubes having the second cap type can only be capped and de-capped by equipment having a corresponding second driver shaped to engage the ribs on the outer wall. Additionally, equipment can cap and de-cap one specific number of tubes in a specific arrangement. As one non-limiting embodiments, a first rack can support 96 tubes in a grid pattern, and a second rack can support 48 tubes in a diagonal pattern. Tubes in the first rack can only be capped and de-capped by equipment having drivers in the same arrangement as the first rack, and tubes can only be capped and de-capped by equipment having drivers in the same arrangement as the second rack. Equipment does not exist that can cap and de-cap tubes in the first rack and the second rack, with the tubes having the first cap type and the second cap type. More generally, equipment does not exist that can cap and de-cap tubes in racks having different number of tubes in different arrangements, with the tubes having different types of caps. As such, laboratories often have different equipment for capping and de-capping tubes with different tube caps and in different arrangements. SUMMARY One embodiment described herein is an automated capping and de-capping system including a rack-support unit operable to support at least two types of a rack, a head unit including a plurality of cap-drivers, and a drive system. Each rack is operable to support a plurality of tubes having caps, the caps being a first cap type or a second cap type. The second cap type is different than the first cap type. The cap-drivers include a first interface portion operable to engage with the first cap type and a second interface portion operable to engage with the second cap type. The drive system is for moving the rack-support unit and the head unit relative to each other to facilitate engagement between the cap-drivers and the caps of the tubes to cap or de-cap the tubes. In one aspect, the at least two types of racks include a rack operable to support 96 tubes, a rack operable to support 48 tubes, a rack operable to support 24 tubes, a rack operable to support 12 tubes, and a rack operable to support 6 tubes. In another aspect, the first interface portion is operable to interlock with the first cap type. In another aspect, the second interface portion is operable to interlock with the second cap type. In another aspect, the first cap type includes an annular wall and a plurality of ribs extending along an inner surface of the annular wall. In another aspect, the second cap type includes a square socket. In another aspect, the caps of the plurality of tubes includes more than two types of caps. In another aspect, the plurality of tubes are spaced along the rack in a grid pattern, a honeycomb pattern, or a diagonal pattern. In another aspect, the plurality of cap-drivers includes 96 cap-drivers. In another aspect, the plurality of cap-drivers includes 96 cap-drivers, and wherein each cap-driver can cap or de-cap each of the plurality of tube cap types placed in the rack, the rack operable to support 6 tubes, the rack operable to support 12 tubes, the rack operable to support 24 tubes, the rack operable to support 48 tubes, or the rack operable to support 96 tubes. In another aspect, each rack includes a plurality of slots, each slot configured to support one tube. In another aspect, each cap-driver can cap or de-cap each of the plurality of tube cap types placed in the rack, the rack operable to support up to 6 tubes, the rack operable to support up to 12 tubes, the rack operable to support up to 24 tubes, the rack operable to support up to 48 tubes, or the rack operable to support up to 96 tubes. In another aspect, when the rack is operable to support 96 tubes, each cap-driver aligns directly above one tube in the rack.