Abstract: An apparatus for automatically closing test tubes containing biological material mounted to an automatic test tube conveyor is described, comprising a cap recruiting device (11) adapted to feed a curved channelizer (12) adapted to tip a cap (5) from a configuration with the opening upwards at the inlet of the channelizer (12) to a configuration with the opening downwards at the outlet of the channelizer (12) at a loading surface (13). A horizontal pusher (22) moves the cap (5) from said loading surface (13) to a housing (23) in a channel (14) in which a stem (24) vertically slides and is adapted to move the cap (5) upwards in a test tube closing device (9) comprising a movable head (26) adapted to grip the cap (5) pushed by the stem (24) and to close the open test tube blocked at a working point of the conveyor.

Abstract: There is described an automated laboratory system for handling test tubes containing biological material specimens supported by conveying devices (3) along guide lanes (1, 2), in which motorized conveyor belts (62) run, comprising main lanes (1) and secondary lanes (2) for overtaking the conveying devices (3) and/or routing the conveying devices (3) of the test tubes (4) to the various pre-testing, (19-20), testing (17) and post-testing stations (21).

Abstract: Container gripper comprising a main frame (2) and movable supporting members (7) for gripper fingers (8-9) movable between an open position and a closed position. The container gripper is provided with a finger displacement detecting sensor (20, 21) which is responsive to the instantaneous position of the gripper fingers (8, 9). The finger detecting sensor may consist of a Hall effect assembly (20) formed by a magnet (10) and a Hall effect sensor (4) or of an optical encoder (21).

Abstract: An apparatus for removing caps from tubular containers, including a fixed frame provided with a grasping unit for holding a container in a fixed vertical position and a head assembly which is movable above containers of variable height along the vertical axis thereof. The head assembly has a cap receiving cavity with an upper abutment surface for matching the upper surface of the cap of containers of variable size and is provided with a plurality of movable sharpened elements for catching the cap of the container when received in said cavity. There are provided a first driving unit for moving the sharpened elements towards the cap of the container to catch it and a second driving unit for moving the sharpened elements in at least one further direction to remove the cap from the container.

Abstract: A specimen container carrier for a conveyor in a laboratory automation system which includes a circular body driven by the conveyor and container holding elements arranged in the circular body, the container holding elements being maintained in a container holding position by respective elastic elements and are connected to each other by synchronization elements forcing the specimen container to remain coaxially positioned with respect to the circular body.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a specimen container from a departure support to a container which includes a gripper supporting frame and a container gripper selectively movable with respect to the frame between an upper position and lower position in which gripper fingers of the container gripper are able to catch a container in a departure support or to leave the container in a container carrier. The apparatus further includes a gripper blocking element movable between a work position, in which said gripper blocking element stops the movement of the container gripper towards the lower position in an intermediate position between the upper and lower positions, and a rest position in which the gripper blocking element allows the container gripper to reach the lower position sliding along the lateral surface of the container.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus is described, which is suitable for the withdrawal of portions of biological material from a parent test tube (1), mobile in a conveyor (6) of a test tube transport plant by means of transport devices (8) of single test tubes, to be loaded in one or more child test tubes (2) countermarked beforehand with suitable identification means and to be sent to different biological material analysis instruments interfaced to said transport plant.

Abstract: A container carrier turning device for a specimen container provided with an ID barcode and inserted into a carrier made advancing by a conveyor belt. The turning device includes a carrier stopping arrangement for rotatably engaging a lateral surface of the carrier to stop the advancing movement of the carrier while leaving it free to rotate around the container axis, and a carrier pressing arrangement for rotatably engaging an upper surface of the carrier. An elastic arrangement forces the carrier pressing arrangement to a carrier engaging position. An idle bearing, opposite to the carrier stopping arrangement, facilitates the carrier rotation. An RFID antenna is associated with the carrier turning device to identify a container carrier tag.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automated bench (2) for loading/unloading test tubes (1) by means of a test-tube (1) handling device (4) between multi-location racks (3) arranged according to parallel rows (40) lying on said bench (2) and transport devices (5) for transporting individual test tubes (1) that are movable on an automatic conveyor (6) of test tubes (1). Said bench (2) comprises means (14) for transferring multi-location racks (3) towards a test tubes load/unload position (16) and an ordered succession of pistons (17) that is selectively mobile between a lowered rest position and a raised stop position of the rack (3) positioned on the bench (2) so as to stop the rack (3) in successive positions with the rows (40) of the rack (3) occupying in succession said load/unload position (16) of bench (2). A sensor (20) of the bench (2) detects the presence of test tubes (1) in every single row (40) of rack (3) in load/unload position (16).

Abstract: An apparatus is described for identifying the patient and marking the laboratory test tubes associated with said patient during the sampling of biological material to be analysed, comprising a high-security portable hardware device (1) for processing and storing the patient's data, a device (2) for reading said portable hardware device and for the biometric identification of the patient, a personal computer (4) interacting with an operator and connected to a computer network for exchanging data by means of an application software with a remote means (3) for storing data. Said apparatus also includes a computerised test tube labelling unit (5) comprising a printer (8) for printing bar codes on labels (7) able to receive print commands from said personal computer (4) following a comparison between expected and detected test tubes housed in a positioning and identification device (9) supported by said labelling unit (5).

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically closing test tubes containing biological material mounted to an automatic test tube conveyor is described, comprising a cap recruiting device (11) adapted to feed a curved channelizer (12) adapted to tip a cap (5) from a configuration with the opening upwards at the inlet of the channelizer (12) to a configuration with the opening downwards at the outlet of the channelizer (12) at a loading surface (13). A horizontal pusher (22) moves the cap (5) from said loading surface (13) to a housing (23) in a channel (14) in which a stem (24) vertically slides and is adapted to move the cap (5) upwards in a test tube closing device (9) comprising a movable head (26) adapted to grip the cap (5) pushed by the stem (24) and to close the open test tube blocked at a working point of the conveyor.

Abstract: Container gripper comprising a main frame (2) and movable supporting members (7) for gripper fingers (8-9) movable between an open position and a closed position. The container gripper is provided with a finger displacement detecting sensor (20, 21) which is responsive to the instantaneous position of the gripper fingers (8, 9). The finger detecting sensor may consist of a Hall effect assembly (20) formed by a magnet (10) and a Hall effect sensor (4) or of an optical encoder (21).

Abstract: It is described an apparatus for transferring a specimen container (2) from a departure support to a container carrier (20). The apparatus comprises 5 a gripper supporting frame (6) and a container gripper (3) selectively movable with respect to said frame (6) between an upper position (101) and a lower position (103) in which gripper fingers (8) of the container gripper (3) are able to catch a container (2) in a departure support or to leave the container in a container carrier (20). The apparatus further comprises gripper 10 blocking means (9) movable between a work position, in which said blocking means (9) stop the movement of the container gripper (3) towards the lower position (103) in an intermediate position (102) between said upper and lower positions (101, 103), and a rest position in which said gripper blocking means (9) allow the container gripper (3) to reach the lower 15 position (103) sliding along the lateral surface of the container (2).

Abstract: It is described an apparatus for removing caps (1) from tubular containers (2), comprising a fixed frame (11) provided with grasping means (8) for holding a container (2) in a fixed vertical position and a head assembly (4) which is movable above containers of variable height along the vertical axis thereof. The head assembly (4) has a cap receiving cavity (15) with an upper abutment surface (65) for matching the upper surface of the cap of containers of variable size and is provided with a plurality of movable sharpened means (17) for catching the cap of the container when received in said cavity (15). There are provided first driving means (18) for moving said sharpened means (17) towards the cap of the container to catch it and second driving means (13, 14) for moving the sharpened means (17) in at least one further direction to remove the cap (1) from the container (2).

Abstract: It is described a container carrier turning device for a specimen container (2) provided with an ID barcode (5) and inserted into a carrier (3) made advancing by a conveyor belt (4). The turning device comprises carrier stopping means (10) for rotatably engaging a lateral surface (21) of said carrier (3) to stop the advancing movement of the carrier while leaving it free to rotate around the container axis and carrier pressing means (14) for rotatably engaging an upper surface (20) of said carrier (3). Elastic means (12) force said carrier pressing means to a carrier engaging position. There are provided first pneumatic means (11) for moving said carrier stopping means (10) to a carrier stopping position and second pneumatic means (15) for moving said carrier pressing means (14) to a carrier disengaging position against the action of said elastic means (12). An idle bearing (16), opposite to the carrier stopping means (10), facilitates the carrier rotation.

Abstract: It is described a specimen container carrier for conveyor in laboratory automation systems, comprising a circular body driven by said conveyor and container holding means (12) arranged in said circular body (3, 5). Said container holding means (12) are kept in a container holding position by respective elastic means (14) and are connected to each other by synchronization means (9) forcing the specimen container (2) to remain coaxially positioned with respect to the circular body (3, 5).

Abstract: It is described an apparatus for removing a flexible film seal (12) from a tubular specimen container (3), comprising a vertical mounting shaft (5) upon which is mounted a holding member (6) for a head assembly (9) having a cavity (13) and pinch means (14, 15). There is provided driving means for causing coupling motion of said head assembly (9) and said specimen container (3) towards each other to receive the seal (12) into said cavity (13), then operating said pinch means for pinching the flexible film seal (12), and finally causing removing motions of said head assembly (9) and said specimen container (3) away from each other to remove the flexible film seal (12) from the head of the specimen container (3).