Patent ID: 8220137

Claim:
An apparatus for removing caps from tubular specimen container supported on a carrier and blocked by a grasping device including grasping arms actuated by driving means, comprising a head assembly which is movable above a container of variable height along the vertical axis thereof in coordination with an optical counter and a control unit, said head assembly having a cap receiving cavity with an upper abutment surface for matching the upper surface of the cap of containers of variable size, wherein said head assembly is provided with a rotor and a motor for driving the rotor, the rotor having radial passing holes for radially guiding sharpened members between a rest position and a catch position of the cap of the container, the rotor driving the rotation of the sharpened members catching the cap with respect to the container fixed in a vertical position by the grasping arms of a fixed frame, and a waste chute for a removed cap.