Patent ID: 6843962

Claim:
Apparatus for handling biological sample containers each having a lid, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor assembly operable to convey containers between a first position and a second position; and a lid handling assembly operable to remove lids from containers being conveyed from the first position to the second position, and to replace the lids onto containers being conveyed from the second position to the first position, the containers being in motion while the lids are removed or replaced, wherein the lid handling assembly comprises: a pair of ramps arranged such that in use the conveyor assembly conveys a container between the pair of ramps from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position, the ramps sloping upward from lower ramp ends facing towards the first position; and a lifting mechanism operable to engage with the lid of a container as the container is conveyed between the pair of ramps from the first position to the second position and to lift the lid onto the ramps, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a pair of rotatable rollers, one located in front of each lower ramp end and each roller having an axis of rotation lying within a plane occupied by the ramp and inclined with respect to a plane in which the containers are conveyed, the rollers operable to grip the lid of a container being conveyed between the pair of ramps from the first position to the second position and to feed to the lid over the lower ramp ends.