Automated Capping and De-Capping Solutions
Picture of Capper / De-capper
Automated capping and de-capping of containers is a critical process for many lab environments to ensure sample integrity. The team at Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) have recently developed a capping and de-capping solution that can automate an entire process, eliminating mistakes and a manual process that can be time consuming, tedious and capable of causing repetitive motion injuries.
Designed to improve efficiency, the capper/de-capper can be used as a stand-alone instrument or be simply integrated into a fully automated laboratory environment. The capper/de-capper uses a pneumatic gripping technique to deliver enough torque to reliably apply and remove screw caps from your containers/tubes and then stores the caps for later retrieval. The gripper can adapt meaning different adapters for different container sizes is not necessary. The capper/de-capper rotates the sample to scan either a 1D or 2D barcode. Once the sample is returned it then rotates and scans the barcode again and retrieves the correct cap to the sample.
The capper/de-capper uses a precisely determined torque value for optimal sealing quality thereby minimising sample evaporation and maximising the integrity of your valuable samples.
Technology used within the capper/de-capper includes Siemens and SMC control gear combined with a Keyence barcode scanner. We have also installed Keyence light curtains for safety purposes. The capper/de-capper has also been developed with configuration and diagnosis software in mind for easy maintenance.
AST are the global specialists for SiLA driver development and have linked many standard lab bench equipment to Deft using the SiLA 2 communications protocol. The capper/de-capper is the latest addition to our growing library.
Our SiLA drivers are then developed as a combination of SiLA features, allowing for greater code reuse. This also allows us to use devices with minimal (potentially none at all) changes to the application. Along with being user-friendly this has the potential to reduce the learning curve for using new devices.
Picture of Capper and Decapper on the HyveTM lab automation platform
The capper/de-capper was recently deployed on the HyveTM cobot platform for a client we work closely with. HyveTM, a dedicated, autonomous, automation system employing a collaborative Techman robot at its heart has been designed to discover advancements in formulation chemistry and subsequent testing in laboratory environments. HyveTM has been purposed for the complete automation of lab processes around stability testing in the cosmetics and consumer goods production environment. HyveTM is unique in the turnkey, laboratory automation marketplace with its collaborative robot and extreme modularity offering a paradigm shift in flexibility for analytical lab process automation. The HyveTM can be used as a stand-alone system or can operate together in a Beehive-like architecture to form a production line or multiple testing set-up.
Its unique and patented modular concept allows it to be adapted and redeployed easily so as your requirements change and a new process is developed, the HyveTM can change with it!
The Hyve platform is especially suited to complex processes and is being applied to many hitherto unautomated processes in laboratory and cosmetics environments. Some examples of where HyveTM can be deployed include; cosmetics in-vitro SPF-factor testing, hair-care testing such as forced degradation studies, photostability, creaming and difficult sample preparation for HPLC and GC analytics.
https://www.appliedst.co.uk/hyve
For more information on the product range or our company, please call our Applied Scientific Technologies team today on 01642 717550, visit our website www.appliedst.co.uk or alternatively email us at sales@appliedst.co.uk.
Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) is an emerging spin-out company founded in 2017 based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire. Founded by two directors from Applied Integration UK Ltd, a company celebrating its 15th working anniversary. AST are innovative specialists in robotics, automated control systems and hardware integration in the laboratory, chemical, pharmaceutical, physical and life science arenas supporting your laboratory digitalisation and automation journey.