Automatic apparatus for analyzing metals

An automatic apparatus for loading and feeding crucibles to and removing crucibles from a combustion furnace in which metals are burned for analyzing them, said apparatus comprising:

• means for automatically transporting crucibles one at a time to a sample weighing position where they can have a sample placed therein;
• a sampling weighing means at said sample weighing position;
• a storage means adjacent said weighing position for automatically storing crucibles containing samples therein, said storage means having a carrying trough for holding a line of crucibles and having an upstream end for receiving crucibles one by one from said weighing means, a stop at the downstream end of said carrying trough against which a crucible moved along said trough to said downstream end abuts for being blocked against further movement, said stop being movable into and out of engagement with the crucible at the downstream end of said carrying trough for permitting the crucible at the downstream end of said trough to be taken out of the trough, and a means for transporting crucibles along said trough consisting of a pusher reciprocally movable along said trough, pusher driving means for moving said pusher for pushing crucibles one at a time from said sample weighing position along said trough and having means for discontinuing the pushing action of said pusher when a crucible being pushed engages said stop or a crucible preceding a crucible which has been stopped by said stop;
• means for taking crucibles out of said weighing position one at a time and placing them on said upstream end of said trough;
• means adjacent the downstream end of said trough for taking crucibles out of the downstream end of said trough one by one;
• means for automatically taking crucibles from said taking out means and introducing them into a combustion furnace and removing said crucibles from the combustion furnace;
• and
• means for automatically dumping crucibles removed from the combustion furnace after the completion of analysis.