Patent ID: 8312781

Claim:
A system for preparing a plurality of sample vessels or sample tubes, the system comprising: a sample frame defining a plurality of retainers, each retainer structured and dimensioned to accept one sample vessel; a plurality of caps, each cap constituting an individual structure which is not attached to other caps, each cap further being structured and dimensioned for individual placement over an open end of one single sample vessel, each cap having a drilled hole through which an interior of the sample vessel is accessible; a plurality of closure beads, each bead structured and dimensioned to plug said drilled hole, thereby closing said cap; and a cover plate structured to cooperate with said sample frame in a removable manner, said cover plate having a bottom side which faces towards said caps of the sample vessels in a put-on state of said cover plate, a top side of said cover plate having one funnel-shaped depression for each retainer, each said depression having a central hole extending through the cover plate, each funnel-shaped depression tapering inwardly in a downward direction away from said upper side, wherein each said central hole aligns with said drilled hole of a respective cap of a sample vessel, said central holes being sufficiently large as to permit passage of said closure beads, wherein said cover plate comprises cams on a bottom side thereof which engage on said cap of each sample vessel to align that sample vessel.