System for automated legacy drill cutting samples digitization

A modular system for automated digital recording of a plurality of legacy drill cutting samples, the system comprising:

• the plurality of legacy drill cutting samples, wherein each legacy drill cutting sample is a geological sample previously collected during a drilling operation, packaged in a legacy storage container, and archived for future research;
• a central processing unit (CPU);
• at least one robotic arm operably coupled to the CPU;
• a plurality of stations operably coupled to the CPU;
• and
• a conveyor configured to transport the plurality of legacy drill cutting samples between the plurality of stations;
• wherein the plurality of stations comprise:
• a sample extractor for removing the legacy drill cutting sample from the legacy storage container, the sample extractor comprising:
• a sample tray comprising a holding groove;
• and
• a first funnel situated over the sample tray,
• wherein, for each legacy drill cutting sample of the plurality of legacy drill cutting samples, the sample extractor is configured to:
• receive, by the at least one robotic arm, the legacy storage container from the conveyor;
• open, by the at least one robotic arm, the legacy storage container over the first funnel such that the legacy drill cutting sample is transferred from the legacy storage container to the sample tray via the first funnel;
• transport, by the at least one robotic arm, the sample tray to the conveyor, wherein the at least one robotic arm uses the holding groove to transport the sample tray;
• a sample digitizer for digitally recording the legacy drill cutting sample, the sample digitizer comprising:
• one or more stands situated to receive the sample tray from the conveyor,
• wherein each of the one or more stands comprises one or more measuring sensors,
• wherein, for each legacy drill cutting sample of the plurality of legacy drill cutting samples, the sample digitizer is configured to:
• receive, by the one or more stands, the sample tray from the conveyor;
• perform a plurality of measurements on the legacy drill cutting sample using the one or more measuring sensors to obtain a plurality of measurement values,
• wherein the one or more stands comprise a retractable stand configured to adjust a distance between the sample tray and each of the one or more measuring sensors such that each of the one or more measuring sensors is at an optimum position to perform the plurality of measurements;
• record the plurality of measurement values into a database operably coupled to the CPU;
• and
• transport, by the at least one robotic arm, the sample tray to the conveyor, wherein the at least one robotic arm uses the holding groove to transport the sample tray;
• and
• a sample packager for preparing the legacy drill cutting sample for long-term storage, the sample packager comprising:
• a long-term sample package configured to store the legacy drill cutting sample,
• a second funnel situated over the long-term sample package, and
• a long-term sample box configured to store a plurality of long-term sample packages,
• wherein, for each legacy drill cutting sample of the plurality of legacy drill cutting samples, the sample packager is configured to:
• receive, by the at least one robotic arm, the sample tray from the conveyor;
• overturn, by the at least one robotic arm, the sample tray over the second funnel such that the legacy drill cutting sample is transferred from the sample tray to the long-term sample package via the second funnel;
• affix, by the at least one robotic arm, an identifying label onto the long-term sample package;
• and
• transport, by the at least one robotic arm, the long-term sample package to the long-term sample box.