Sample loading apparatus

Claim 2

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: an at least partly circular stationary loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a sole transfer position; and means for transferring a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position from the sample carousel to the loading tray and simultaneously transferring a sample carrying sector from the loading tray to the transfer position on the sample carousel.

Claim 3

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes means for supporting and rotating the plurality of locations in the sample carousel.

Claim 4

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the transferring means comprises a transfer member for removably securing sectors positioned on the circular stationary loading tray and a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position on the sample carousel to the transfer member; and means for elevating the transfer member with respect to the circular stationary loading tray and sample carousel and rotating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray.

Claim 5

An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the sample carousel locations each include carousel support members adapted to receive and support sample carrying sectors, the carousel support members defining spaces therebetween, the loading tray locations each including tray support members adapted to receive and support the sample carrying sectors, such tray support members defining spaces therebetween, and the transfer member includes arms smaller than such sample carousel spaces and such loading tray spaces, and the elevating and rotating means includes means for elevating the arms through said spaces to a position above the sample carrying sectors installed on the sample carousel.

Claim 6

An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the means for elevating and rotating the transfer member includes a pneumatic piston, a cylinder adapted to receive the piston, and a seal therebetween.

Claim 7

An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the means for elevating and rotating the transfer member includes means for pressurizing and depressurizing the cylinder.

Claim 8

An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the sample carrying sectors include recesses formed therein and the loading tray platforms and sample carousel platforms, supporting the sectors, each include projections adapted to be received by such recesses.

Claim 9

An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the apparatus includes means for indexing the rotation of the transfer member relative to the loading tray.

Claim 10

An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein transfer member rotation simultaneously increments sample carrying sectors one loading position, transfers a sample carrying sector from the loading tray to the transfer position on the sample carousel, and transfers a sample carrying sector from the sample carousel at the transfer position to the loading tray.

Claim 11

An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the transfer member is normally below the loading tray and the sample carousel.

Claim 12

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: an at least partly circular stationary loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining the sole transfer position; means for supporting and rotating the sample carousel; a transfer member comprising means for removably securing sample carrying sectors positioned on the loading tray and a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position on the sample carousel to the transfer member; and means for elevating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray and sample carousel and rotating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray.

Claim 13

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: an at least partly circular stationary loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining the sole transfer position; means for supporting and rotating the sample carousel; a transfer member comprising means for removably securing sample carrying sectors positioned on the loading tray and a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position on the sample carousel to the transfer member; and means for elevating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray and sample carousel and rotating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray.

Claim 14

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: an at least partly circular stationary loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray, and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a sole transfer position; means for supporting and rotating the sample carousel; a transfer member including a plurality of arms extending therefrom, the arms including means for carrying sample sectors on such arms; means for indexing the arms in a plurality of index positions with respect to the plurality of positions included in the loading tray and with the transfer position; and means for supporting the transfer member with the arms in a first horizontal position beneath the plurality of locations in the loading tray and the transfer position, for elevating the transfer member from the first horizontal position to a second horizontal position with the arms above the loading tray plurality of locations and the transfer position, for rotating the transfer member from one index position to a next index position, and for lowering the transfer member to the first horizontal position.

Claim 15

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: an at least partly circular stationary loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray, and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a sole transfer position; means for supporting and rotating the sample carousel; a transfer member including a plurality of arms extending therefrom, the arms including means for carrying sample sectors on such arms; means for indexing the arms in a plurality of index positions with respect to the plurality of positions included in the loading tray and with the transfer position; and means for supporting the transfer member with the arms in a first horizontal position beneath the plurality of locations in the loading tray and the transfer position, for elevating the transfer member from the first horizontal position to a second horizontal position with the arms above the loading tray plurality of locations and the transfer position, for rotating the transfer member from one index position to a next index position, and for lowering the transfer member to the first horizontal position.

Claim 16

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: a loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a rotatable sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a transfer position; means for transferring a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position from the sample carousel to the loading tray and simultaneously transferring a sample carrying sector from the loading tray to the transfer position on the sample carousel; and the sample carousel defining a horizontal carousel plane, and the loading tray defining a horizontal loading tray plane, the horizontal loading tray plane and the sample horizontal carousel plane being different.

Claim 17

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: a loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a rotatable sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a transfer position; means for transferring a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position from the sample carousel to the loading tray and simultaneously transferring a sample carrying sector from the loading tray to the transfer position on the sample carousel; and the sample carousel defining a horizontal carousel plane, and the loading tray defining a horizontal loading tray plane, the horizontal loading tray plane and the sample horizontal carousel plane being different.

Claim 18

An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the horizontal carousel plane is below the horizontal loading tray plane.

Claim 19

An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the transfer means defines a horizontal transfer plane, the transfer plane being below the horizontal carousel plane.

Claim 20

An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the loading tray is stationary and includes an incomplete portion of an at least partly circular periphery, the incomplete circular periphery defining the transfer position, such position extending over the horizontal carousel plane.

Claim 21

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: a loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a transfer position; and means for transferring a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position from the sample carousel to the loading tray and simultaneously transferring a sample carrying sector from the loading tray to the transfer position on the sample carousel; the transferring means includes a transfer member comprising means for removably securing sectors positioned on the loading tray and a sector positioned at the transfer position to the transfer member, and means for elevating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray and sample carousel and rotating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray; the sample carousel locations each include carousel support members adapted to receive and support the sample carrying sectors, the carousel support members defining spaces therebetween, the loading tray locations each including tray support members adapted to receive and support the sample carrying sectors, such tray support members defining spaces therebetween, and the transfer member includes arms smaller than such sample carousel spaces and such loading tray spaces, and the elevating and rotating means includes means for elevating the arms through said spaces to a position above the sample carrying sectors installed on the sample carousel; and the means for elevating and rotating the transfer member including a pneumatic piston, a cylinder adapted to receive the piston, and a seal therebetween.

Claim 22

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising: a loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector; a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a transfer position; and means for transferring a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position from the sample carousel to the loading tray and simultaneously transferring a sample carrying sector from the loading tray to the transfer position on the sample carousel; the transferring means includes a transfer member comprising means for removably securing sectors positioned on the loading tray and a sector positioned at the transfer position to the transfer member, and means for elevating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray and sample carousel and rotating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray; the sample carousel locations each include carousel support members adapted to receive and support the sample carrying sectors, the carousel support members defining spaces therebetween, the loading tray locations each including tray support members adapted to receive and support the sample carrying sectors, such tray support members defining spaces therebetween, and the transfer member includes arms smaller than such sample carousel spaces and such loading tray spaces, and the elevating and rotating means includes means for elevating the arms through said spaces to a position above the sample carrying sectors installed on the sample carousel; and the means for elevating and rotating the transfer member including a pneumatic piston, a cylinder adapted to receive the piston, and a seal therebetween.

Claim 23

An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the means for elevating and rotating the transfer member includes means for pressuring and depressurizing the cylinder.