Recovery of components from solid support devices

摘要

Recovery apparatus for recovering radio frequency tags from solid support devices in the form of cans ( 2 ) which include such tags and also resin on which chemical compounds are synthesized includes a stack of cans ( 2 ) which are fed into the apparatus wherein they are received within a port ( 28 ) of a rotating disc ( 26 ). The disc rotates to a position adjacent to a magnet 32 and blade ( 34 ). In this position, the magnet attracts the radio frequency device so that it is raised upwardly towards the lid end of the can, whereafter the blade ( 34 ) is able to slice through the lower end of the can to open it, whereupon the solid support resin falls out of the can into a receptacle ( 36 ). The disc continues to move until the remains of the can are over a receptacle ( 40 ), whereupon the magnetic force is released so the tag falls into receptacle ( 40 ) from which it may be retrieved, for re-use.