Sample container spring check apparatus

An apparatus for measuring an angle (α) between a longitudinal axis of a sample container inserted into an opening of a sample container carrier and a reference ray, the apparatus comprising:

• a first accelerometer being fixable to the sample container and being adapted to generate a number of first accelerometer signals (S1x, S1y, S1z) being dependent on the orientation of the sample container,
• a second accelerometer being fixable to the sample container carrier and being adapted to generate a number of second accelerometer signals (S2x, S2y, S2z) being dependent on the orientation of the sample container carrier,
• a calculation unit being coupled to the first accelerometer and being coupled to the second accelerometer and being adapted to calculate the angle (α) depending on the number of first accelerometer signals (S1x, S1y, S1z) and depending on the number of second accelerometer signals (S2x, S2y, S2z), and
• a reference sample container, wherein the first accelerometer is fixed to the reference sample container,
• wherein the sample container carrier comprises a spring device being inserted into the opening of the sample container carrier and being adapted to fix the sample container being inserted into the opening by applying a spring force to the inserted sample container, and
• wherein the calculation unit is adapted to check the function of the spring device depending on the calculated angle (α).