The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 2026
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2021
Azenta Us, Inc., Burlington, MA (US);
Hans Harzl, Manchester, GB;
Richard Laight, Lindley, GB;
Sofia P. Maria, Didsbury, GB;
Robert Gee, Preston, GB;
Azenta US, Inc., Burlington, MA (US);
Abstract
In a hand-held capper/decapper device, cap drivers in an array are driven by an array of rotary motors that drive the cap drivers in forward and reverse rotary directions to cap and decap caps from threaded receptacles. A common linear drive drives ejector pins through the centers of cap drivers to eject caps from the cap drivers. Single button operation is enabled by a controller that responds to press and release of a control button to alternate between decap and cap functions. The cap function finishes with ejection by extension of an ejector pin. An ejector button may also be provided for ejection without rotation of cap drivers. The cap drivers float against compression springs that apply axial force to the cap drivers. Ejection of the caps is staggered to reduce force required. Replaceable cap drivers designed to corresponded to cap designs are supported in a removable cartridge that is retained on a hand-held housing by magnets.