Abstract: A unique cap for an automatic test tube recapper is presented. The cap has a conical body with an upper top flange and lower sections for inserting into standard test tubes. The middle section directly under the upper top flange is about 13 mm in diameter. A bottom section under the middle section has a diameter of about 16 mm. The cap has a rounded bottom. The middle and lower sections have diameters similar to the diameters of most common test tubes. One or more nipples with notches cutout are located inside the conical body. The notches grip the lower part of a hammer drive during the driving process but release the hammer drive once the cap has been seated inside the test tube.

Abstract: A unique cap for an automatic test tube recapper is presented. The cap has a conical body with an upper top flange and lower sections for inserting into standard test tubes. The middle section directly under the upper top flange is about 13 mm in diameter. A bottom section under the middle section has a diameter of about 16 mm. The cap has a rounded bottom. The middle and lower sections have diameters similar to the diameters of most common test tubes. One or more nipples with notches cutout are located inside the conical body. The notches grip the lower part of a hammer drive during the driving process but release the hammer drive once the cap has been seated inside the test tube.

Abstract: An automatic decapping device for test tubes is capable of decapping 20 or more test tubes pre-loaded onto a round carousel. A small motor drives three offset cams. The first offset cam pushes a decap/eject arm over the cap of a tube. The cam and associated drive arms and brackets move a needle down and into the cap. The decap arm and needle are then raised and pull the cap upward and back, removing the cap. An ejection lever then removes the cap from the needle and the cap is fed down a disposal chute. A second offset cam simultaneously moves a support arm onto the lower part of the vertical tube to support the tube as the decapping occurs. As the decap/eject and support arms return to their home positions a third offset cam drives the carousel to position the next tube in front of the decap/eject and support arms and the cycle begins again. A one-way spring ratchet positioning mechanism allows for the incremental positioning of each tube in proper position for each decapping cycle.