Device for releasably holding an elongated object in a predetermined orientation and system for transporting an elongated object disposed in a predetermined orientation

1. A device for releasably securing an elongated object in a predetermined orientation with respect to the device, the device comprising:

a gripping element configured for circumferential expansion and contraction;

an actuator element coupled to the gripping element and configured to effect circumferential expansion of the gripping element, upon operation of the actuator element, to an expanded configuration able to receive an end of the elongated object;

a locking mechanism coupled to the actuator element and configured to lock the actuator element in a position holding the gripping element in the expanded configuration; and

a lock release mechanism configured to be triggered by an elongated object inserted into the device to release the locking mechanism, wherein the gripping element is circumferentially biased so as to cause the gripping element to circumferentially contract around the received end of the elongated object upon release of the locking mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a base and wherein the actuator element comprises an actuator ring rotatably mounted within a portion of the base such that partial rotation of the actuator ring with respect to the base in a first direction causes circumferential expansion of the gripping element and circumferential contraction of the gripping element causes partial rotation of the actuator ring with respect to the base in a second direction opposite the first direction.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the gripping element comprises a torsion spring having coils defining a circumference of the gripping element, a first end fixed to the base, and a second end fixed to the actuator ring, wherein the coils are configured to circumferentially expand against a bias of the torsion spring when the actuator ring is rotated in the first direction with respect to the base to move the second end angularly in the first direction with respect to the first end, and the coils are configured to contract when the bias of the torsion spring moves the second end and the actuator ring angularly in the second direction with respect to the first end and the base.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the torsion spring is at least partially disposed with an opening formed at the center of the actuator ring.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a spring plate with at least two lock pins protruding therefrom and a spring constructed and arranged to bias the spring plate toward the actuator element; and

wherein the actuator element comprises pin recesses formed in a side of the actuator element facing the spring plate, and corresponding in number with the number of lock pins protruding from the spring plate,

wherein the lock pins are moved into alignment with the pin recesses when operation of the actuator element causes circumferential expansion of the gripping element to the expanded configuration and the spring moves the spring plate toward the actuator element and pushes the lock pins into the pin recesses to rotationally lock the actuator element with respect to the spring plate.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the lock release mechanism comprises a release pin protruding from the spring plate and constructed and arranged to be contacted by an elongated object inserted into the device and so as to push the spring plate against the bias of the spring away from the actuator element until the lock pins of the spring plate are withdrawn from the pin recesses of the actuator element.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a circular base having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion includes an upper radial flange and a lower radial flange and a core disposed between the upper and lower radial flanges, wherein the core has a smaller diameter than either of the upper and lower radial flanges.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the base is configured to cooperate with a conveyor mechanism to transport the device and a container held thereby along the conveyor mechanism.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the device further includes an outer ring disposed on the base so as to be rotatable with respect to the base about a central axis of the circular base.

10. The device of 9 , wherein the outer ring is made from a magnetic or magnetically-responsive material.

11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an automatic identification element encoded with an identifying code so that the device or an object carried thereby can be automatically identified in an automated process or instrument in which the device is employed.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the automatic identification element comprises an RFID tag.

13. A system for transporting an elongated object disposed in a predetermined orientation, the system comprising:

a) a holding device for releasably securing an elongated object in a predetermined orientation with respect to the holding device, the holding device comprising:

1) a gripping element configured for circumferential expansion and contraction;

2) an actuator element coupled to the gripping element and configured to effect circumferential expansion of the gripping element, upon operation of the actuator element, to an expanded configuration able to receive an end of the elongated object;

3) a locking mechanism coupled to the actuator element and configured to lock the actuator element in a position holding the gripping element in the expanded configuration; and

4) a lock release mechanism configured to be triggered by an elongated object inserted into the holding device to release the locking mechanism, wherein the gripping element is circumferentially biased so as to cause the gripping element to circumferentially contract around the received end of the elongated object upon release of the locking mechanism; and

b) a conveyor platform configured to support and convey the holding device.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the holding device comprises a base having a lower collar extending laterally therefrom, and the conveyor platform comprises a track having a side wall with a retainer flange extending laterally therefrom, wherein the retainer flange extends over the lower collar when the holding device is supported on the conveyor platform.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the base of the holding device has an upper collar extending laterally therefrom at a spaced apart position above the lower collar, and wherein the retainer flange extends laterally between the lower collar and the upper collar when the holding device is supported on the conveyor platform.

16. The system claim 14 , wherein the actuator element of the holding device comprises an actuator ring rotatably mounted within a portion of the base such that partial rotation of the actuator ring with respect to the base in a first direction causes circumferential expansion of the gripping element and circumferential contraction of the gripping element causes partial rotation of the actuator ring with respect to the base in a second direction opposite the first direction.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the gripping element of the holding device comprises a torsion spring having coils defining a circumference of the gripping element, a first end fixed to the base, and a second end fixed to the actuator ring, wherein the coils are configured to circumferentially expand against a bias of the torsion spring when the actuator ring is rotated in the first direction with respect to the base to move the second end angularly in the first direction with respect to the first end, and the coils are configured to contract when the bias of the torsion spring moves the second end and the actuator ring angularly in the second direction with respect to the first end and the base.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the torsion spring is at least partially disposed with an opening formed at the center of the actuator ring.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the base of the holding device is circular and wherein the holding device further includes an outer ring disposed on the base so as to be rotatable with respect to the base about a central axis of the circular base.

20. The system of 19 , wherein the outer ring is made from a magnetic or magnetically-responsive material.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the conveyor platform includes a movable belt on which the holding device is supported and which is configured to convey the holding device.

22. The system of claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism of the holding device comprises a spring plate with at least two lock pins protruding therefrom and a spring constructed and arranged to bias the spring plate toward the actuator element; and

wherein the actuator element comprises pin recesses formed in a side of the actuator element facing the spring plate, and corresponding in number with the number of lock pins protruding from the spring plate,

wherein the lock pins are moved into alignment with the pin recesses when operation of the actuator element causes circumferential expansion of the gripping element to the expanded configuration and the spring moves the spring plate toward the actuator element and pushes the lock pins into the pin recesses to rotationally lock the actuator element with respect to the spring plate.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the release mechanism of the holding device comprises a release pin protruding from the spring plate and constructed and arranged to be contacted by an elongated object inserted into the holding device and so as to push the spring plate against the bias of the spring away from the actuator element until the lock pins of the spring plate are withdrawn from the pin recesses of the actuator element.

24. The system of claim 13 , wherein the holding device further comprises an automatic identification element encoded with an identifying code so that the holding device or an object carried thereby can be automatically identified in an automated process or instrument in which the holding device is employed.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the automatic identification element of the holding device comprises an RFID tag.