Fusion system and method of performing sample fusion therewith
AssigneeSpectris Canada Inc.
InventorsPierre BOUCHARD, Julien BOISCLAIR
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The fusion system can have a furnace having a fusion area, and at least one heating element; an agitation mechanism operable to removably receive a sample holder at the fusion area, and to agitate the sample holder; and a handling mechanism having a base located outside the fusion area, a support operable to removably receiving the sample holder, the handling mechanism operable to move the support into and out from the fusion area, to place the sample holder onto the agitation mechanism, and to pick the sample holder from the agitation mechanism.
Claims22
A method of fusing samples in a furnace, the method comprising:
- putting samples into a sample holder;
- putting the sample holder onto a support of a handling mechanism;
- with the handling mechanism, moving the support with the sample holder into a fusion area of the furnace, engaging the sample holder with an agitation mechanism at the fusion area, and moving the support out from the fusion area;
- with the agitation mechanism, agitating the sample holder;
- fusing the samples at the fusion area;
- and
- subsequently to said agitating and said fusing, with the handling mechanism, disengaging the sample holder from the agitation mechanism and moving the sample holder with the samples out from the fusion area.
9-13. (canceled)
A fusion system, comprising:
- a furnace having a fusion area, and a heating element;
- an agitation mechanism at the fusion area, the agitation mechanism operable to receive a sample holder and to agitate the received sample holder;
- a handling mechanism having a base located outside the fusion area, a support operable to receive the sample holder, the handling mechanism operable to engage the sample holder with the agitation mechanism, to disengage the sample holder from the agitation mechanism, and to move the support into and out from the fusion area.
(canceled)
A sample holder for use with a fusion system, the sample holder having an elongated body extending generally in a plane and having a first face opposite a second face relative the plane, a first set of sockets formed in the second face, the first set of sockets being interspaced from one another along the length of the elongated body, a second set of sockets formed in the second face, the second set of sockets being interspaced from one another, and interspersed with the sockets of the first set, along the length of the elongated body, and a plurality of container receptors defined across the plane, the container receptors receiving corresponding containers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.