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:
Oct. 11, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 13, 2013
Tap Biosystems (Phc) Limited, Hertfordshire, GB;
Justin Michael Owen, Cambridge, GB;
TAP BIOSYSTEMS (PHC) LIMITED, Royston, Hertfordshire, GB;
Abstract
Apparatus () for separating individual sealed tubes () from an array has rack support () for supporting an array of tubes with their upper rims () disposed in a horizontal plane and all sealed with a sealing membrane (), and a punch station () comprising a punch tool () with cutting edge (). Cutting edge () pierces through membrane () from above to separate an individual sealed tube () from the remainder of the membrane. The tool has multiple cutting edges () in a linear array corresponding to a column of a tightly-packed x by y array of tubes in the rack () to simultaneously separate the tubes () of a whole column. The cutting edge () starts piercing membrane () at the corners () of each tube rim and progressively shears through the membrane. Ejector pins () retain the separated tubes within the rack ().