Patent ID: 6253807
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for extracting a liquid sample from a sample container into an aliquot tube, the container having a lid including a flexible flange for covering an opening of said container, the lid further including an opening sealed by a twist-off closure, the apparatus comprising:a) a means for grasping said container;b) a first robotic arm having a rotating grip, said grip being adapted for gripping and disengaging said twist-off closure, and thereby un-sealing said container;c) a second robotic arm having a first grasping means for grasping said un-sealed container and a second grasping means for grasping an aliquot tube, said second robotic arm being adapted to maintain said aliquot tube in an inverted position above the opening of said container;d) said second robotic arm further being rotatable whereby said aliquot tube and said container may be rotated simultaneously to invert said container and right said aliquot tube;e) said first and second grasping means on said second robotic arm being adapted to be moved towards each other for biasing said aliquot tube and/or said container against each other whereby said flexible flange of said lid is forced to bend and, thereby, expel a volume of said liquid into said aliquot tube;f) a means for separating said container and said aliquot tube;g) a means for sealing the opening on said container lid; and,h) a means for conveying said aliquot tube to a location for conducting any required tests on the extracted sample.