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

Claim 17:
18. A method for automatically closing a sample vessel, the method comprising:
i. providing a closure cap stack formed from a plurality of closure caps, respective ones of the plurality of closure caps having a convex outer side and a concave inner side, wherein the convex outer side of an uppermost closure cap is engaged with the concave inner side of a closure cap located directly below the uppermost closure cap in the closure cap stack;
ii. grasping the uppermost closure cap of the closure cap stack using a closure gripper by (a) inserting a centering piece of the closure gripper into the concave inner side of the uppermost closure cap until the centering piece engages the concave inner side and (b) moving a clamping jaw from a release position to a holding position in which the clamping jaw engages the convex outer side of the uppermost cap to clamp the uppermost closure cap between the clamping jaw and the centering piece;
iii. transferring the uppermost closure cap from the closure cap stack to the sample vessel to be closed using the closure gripper;
iv. inserting the uppermost closure cap into the opening to be closed of the sample vessel, and pressing the uppermost closure cap into the opening using the centering piece; and
v. removing the closure gripper from the uppermost closure cap placed in the opening of the sample vessel.