| 摘要 |
There have been several attempts to provide automatic stopper removing apparatus for automatically removing stoppers from otherwise closed containers. One such attempt has resulted in the necessity of connecting the stopper to its associated container to prevent it being lost. Alternatively, piercing devices have been proposed which severely pierce the stopper. Such devices cannot be used with stoppers made of relatively tough materials, and often have to be forcibly removed from the stopper. Described herein is a stopper remover (40) for automatically removing a stopper (10) in a container (14). The remover (40) comprises container gripping means (30, 32, 34) for gripping the container and stopper gripping means (40) for gripping the stopper (10). The stopper gripping means (40) is rotated about an axis by a motor (44) while it grips the stopper (10). The remover features an annular ring (64) having a plurality of spikes (70) terminating in points (72) extending from its inner surface (66), the spikes (70) being generally disposed on the ring (64) so as to be non-radially aligned. The result is that the spikes (70) positively grip the stopper (10) only when rotated in the one direction, and slip off the stopper (10) when rotated in an opposite direction. |
