Patent ID: 11860178
Assignee: ABBOTT AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS GMBH
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 0:
1. A system for automatically closing a sample vessel, the system comprising:
a closure gripper to grasp an uppermost closure cap of a plurality of closure caps in a closure cap stack, transfer the uppermost closure cap to the sample vessel to be closed, and insert the uppermost closure cap into an opening of the sample vessel, respective ones of the plurality of closure caps having a convex outer side and a concave inner side, the plurality of closure caps arranged in the closure cap stack such that the convex outer side of the uppermost closure cap is engaged with the concave inner side of a lower closure cap located directedly below the uppermost closure cap in the closure cap stack, wherein the closure gripper includes:
a centering piece that is insertable into the uppermost closure cap and engageable with the concave inner side of the uppermost closure cap; and
a clamping jaw that is moveable between a release position and a holding position, wherein, when the clamping jaw is in the holding position, the clamping jaw engages the convex outer side of the uppermost closure cap to clamp the uppermost closure cap between the clamping jaw and the centering piece.