Patent ID: 7947225

Claim:
An automated test tube cap removal apparatus comprising: a cap remover having a cap removing position for a test tube which contains a specimen; a test tube rack which has a plurality of insertion holes for holding a plurality of capped test tubes upright in a row and loads the test tubes into the cap removing position; a clamping mechanism which is disposed in the cap removing position and clamps the plurality of test tubes in the test tube rack; and a cap removal unit disposed in the cap removing position and configured to move upward to remove caps from some of a plurality of test tubes held in every other of the plurality of insertion holes in a manner such that the caps are simultaneously supported by engagement and then move upward to remove caps from the remaining test tubes in a manner such that the caps are simultaneously supported by engagement, the cap removal unit including a pair of engaging members which are arranged at every other intervals of the plurality of insertion holes and are capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the caps and laterally clamping each cap when advanced, a lift mechanism which raises the pair of engaging members while alternately moving the engaging members upward, thereby removing the cap from each test tube, and a cap guide member which separates the cap from the engaging members and guides the cap for dropping when the engaging members retract from the cap after the cap removal, wherein the clamping mechanism is provided with a shutter, capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the test tubes in the test tube rack, and is configured to advance in association with an operation to clamp each test tube and cover an opening of each uncapped test tube by means of the shutter.