초록

Disclosed herein is a tube loading system suitable for rapidly loading, handing, manipulation and storing large numbers of tubes.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tube loading system, which comprises: a first layer of tubes in an array, wherein each tube comprises a top, a bottom, one or more walls, and an inner surface;a plate comprising a base having a plate inner surface and a plate outer surface, a first set of plate projections extending from the pl

1. A tube loading system, which comprises: a first layer of tubes in an array, wherein each tube comprises a top, a bottom, one or more walls, and an inner surface;a plate comprising a base having a plate inner surface and a plate outer surface, a first set of plate projections extending from the plate inner surface, and a second set of projections extending from the plate outer surface, wherein:each projection in the first set of the plate projections includes one or more surfaces in effective contact with an inner surface of a tube in the first layer, andthe first set of plate projections positions tubes of the first layer in the array; anda second layer of tubes in stacked connection with the outer surface of the base, wherein each projection of the second set of plate projections is in effective connection with the bottom of two or more tubes in the second layer of tubes. 2. The system according to claim 1, which comprises two or more layers of tubes and a plate in effective connection with each of the layers of tubes. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein each projection of the first set of plate projections is isolated from other projections in the first set of plate projections, and further wherein each projection of the second set of plate projections is isolated from other projections in the second set of plate projections. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a sidewall and a base perimeter wherein the sidewall extends from the inner surface of the base and surrounds the base perimeter. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the plate sidewall is in effective contact with a wall of a tube located on the perimeter of the array, and further wherein the plate sidewall includes one or more curved portions and wherein each curved portion has a radius of curvature that can accommodate the radius of curvature of a circular cross section tube. 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein each projection in the second set of plate projections includes one or more curved surfaces having a radius of curvature that can accommodate the radius curvature of a circular cross section tube. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: each projection in the second set of plate projections comprises one or more surfaces and a terminus opposite the base, andthe one or more surfaces taper as they extend from the base to the terminus. 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the terminus of each projection is flat. 9. The system according to claim 7, wherein each projection is conical. 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each projection comprises three or more axial edges, and wherein the surfaces between the edges are curved. 11. The system according to claim 1, which comprises a tray that includes a tray base having a tray inner surface and a tray outer surface, and a first set of tray projections extending from the inner surface of the tray base, wherein: each of the tray projections is in effective contact with the bottom of two or more tubes in the layer of tubes, andthe tray projections position the tubes in the array. 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein one or more of the trays is between one or more layers of tubes. 13. The system according to claim 11, wherein: each tray projection in the first set of tray projections comprises one or more surfaces and a terminus opposite the tray base, andthe one or more surfaces taper as they extend from the tray base to the terminus. 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein each tray projection is conical. 15. The system according to claim 13, wherein each tray projection comprises three or more axial edge and the surfaces between the edges are curved. 16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the plate, the tray or both the plate and tray comprise a cellulosic material. 17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the plate, the tray or both the plate and tray comprise a plastic. 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the plastic is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene teraphthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylenefluoroethylene, polystyrene, high-density polystyrene, acrylnitrile butadiene styrene copolymers, and bio-plastics. 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the plastic is recycled PET or bio-PET. 20. The system according to claim 11, wherein the plate, the tray or the plate and tray are thermoformed. 21. The system according to claim 1, wherein a tube is a vial. 22. The system according to claim 1, wherein a tube is a container.