Patent ID: 8580574
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: B01F,B01L,B03C,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for removing a contamination limiting element from a distal end of at least one fluid transfer tube, the fluid transfer tube comprising a conduit having an outer transverse dimension, and the contamination limiting element comprising a conduit having an inner transverse dimension and an outer transverse dimension, wherein the outer transverse dimension of at least a portion of the contamination limiting element is larger than the outer transverse dimension of the distal end of the fluid transfer tube, and wherein the distal end of the fluid transfer tube is adapted to be inserted into the contamination limiting element to removably secure the contamination limiting element to the distal end of the fluid transfer tube, the method comprising: moving the fluid transfer tube and contamination limiting element in a first, generally axial direction with respect to the fluid transfer tube into a stripper hole formed in a stripper plate; inserting the contamination limiting element between resilient, flexible tangs disposed in opposed relation with respect to each other, wherein opposed ends of the tangs are spaced apart by a distance that is less than the outer transverse dimension of the contamination limiting element, continuing movement of the fluid transfer tube and the contamination limiting element in the first direction between the opposed ends of the tangs, thereby causing the tangs to flex in the first direction and engage opposed sides of the contamination limiting element; moving the fluid transfer tube in a second, generally axial direction opposite the first direction, wherein the flexed tangs engaged with opposed sides of the contamination limiting element prevent the contamination limiting element from moving in the second direction, thereby pulling the contamination limiting element off the fluid transfer tube as the fluid transfer tube is moved in the second direction; moving the fluid transfer tube and a contamination limiting element subsequently placed thereon in the first generally axial direction into the stripper hole; contacting the contamination limiting element previously removed from the fluid transfer tube and disposed between the deflected tangs; continuing movement of the fluid transfer tube and the subsequent contamination limiting element in the first direction to push the previously removed contamination limiting element out of the space between the tangs and thereby inserting the subsequent contamination limiting element in the space between the tangs deflected in the first direction; and withdrawing the fluid transfer tube from the stripper hole by moving the fluid transfer tube in the second, generally axial direction, wherein the deflected tangs prevent the subsequent contamination limiting element from being withdrawn from the stripper hole, thereby pulling the subsequent contamination limiting element off the fluid transfer tube as the fluid transfer tube is withdrawn from the stripper hole.