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US 4,713,974 AGranted
Autosampler
AssigneeVarian Associates, Inc./Scientific Systems, Inc.
InventorStanley A. Stone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved microprocessor-controlled autosampler for use in liquid chromatography is shown. The autosampler is fully programmable by the operator and capable of performing complex sample preparation routines. A spring-loaded sample needle is employed to ensure that the needle makes contact with the bottom of the sample vial as required, for example, when handling extremely small samples. A hollow vial lifter serves as the receptacle for waste wash solvent eliminating the need for a special waste receptacle mechanism. Other improved features include a plurality of interchangeable, codable sample racks, a four-way valve in the syringe line enabling rapid priming/purging of the hydraulics, and as improved vial stabilizer design.
Claims19
An autosampler for use in liquid chromatography comprising:
- carousel means for holding at least one vial rack having a plurality of recesses for receiving liquid-containing vials;
- a fixed needle assembly for withrawing liquid from said vial;
- vial lifter means in vertical alignment with said fixed needle assembly for lifting individual vials out of said vial recesses and impaling said vials on said needle assembly;
- means for moving said carousel to align said vial recesses with said vial lifter means;
- said needle assembly comprising a sample needle having a limited range of vertical travel such that the needle will move upward when it contacts the bottom of a vial being lifted.
2 more elements
An autosampler for use in liquid chromatography comprising:
- carousel means for holding at least one vial rack having a plurality of recesses for receiving liquid-containing vials;
- a fixed needle assembly for withdrawing liquid from said vials;
- vial lifter means in vertical alignment with said fixed needle assembly for lifting from below individual vials out of said vial recesses through apertures in the bottoms of said vial recesses and impaling said vials on said needle assembly;
- means for rotating and translating said carousel to align said vial recesses with said vial lifter means;
- said vial lifter means being adapted to receive waste wash solvent discharged from said needle;
- means for disposing of said waste wash solvent received by said vial lifter.
3 more elements
In an autosampler for use in liquid chromatography comprising:
- carousel means for holding at least one vial rack having a plurality of recesses for receiving liquid-containing vials;
- a fixed needle assembly comprising a needle for withrawing liquid from said vial;
- vial lifter means in vertical alignment with said fixed needle assembly for lifting from below individual vials out of said vial recesses through apertures in the bottoms of said vial recesses and impaling said vials on said needle assembly;
- means for moving said carousel to align said vial recesses with said vial lifter means;
- vial stabilizer means having a central aperture allowing the passage of said needle, which engages the top of a vial being lifted from said vial recess before said vial leaves said recess and which moves upward with said vial as it is lifted out of said vial recess and impaled on said needle assembly applying a substantially constant downward force on said vial top while they are engaged.
2 more elements
An autosampler for use in liquid chromatography comprising:
- carousel means for holding a plurality of vial racks having a plurality of recesses for receiving liquid-containing vials, said liquid containing vials being adapted to be covered by septa;
- a fixed needle assembly comprising concentric inner and outer needles, said inner needle for withrawing liquid from and discharging liquid to said vial and said outer needle for venting head space of said vials to the atmosphere and for flowing pressurized gas;
- vial lifter means in vertical alignment with said fixed needle assembly for lifting from below individual vials out of said vial recesses through apertures in the bottoms of said vial recesses and impaling said vials on said needle assembly, said vial lifter being adapted to receive liquid waste discharged from said inner needle;
- means for moving said carousel to align said vial recesses with said vial lifter means, and to move said carousel away from alignment with said vial lifter;
- vial stabilizer means having a central aperture allowing the passage of said needle, which engages the top of a vial being lifted from said vial recess before said vial leaves said recess and which moves upward with said vial as it is lifted out of said vial recess and impaled on said needle assembly applying a substantially constant downward force on said vial top while they are engaged;
- said inner needle having a spring-loaded limited range of vertical travel such that said inner needle will move upward when it engages the bottom of a vial being lifted.
3 more elements
An autosampler for use in liquid chromatography comprising:
- carousel means for holding at least one vial rack having a plurality of recesses for receiving liquid-containing vials;
- a fixed needle assembly for withdrawing liquid from said vials;
- vial lifter means in vertical alignment with said fixed needle assembly for lifting from below individual vials out of said vial recesses through apertures in the bottom of said vial recesses and impaling said vials on said needle assembly;
- means for moving said carousel to align said vial recesses with said vial lifter means;
- vial stabilizer means for engaging the tops of said individual vials as they are lifted out of said vial recesses, said vial stabilizer means being adapted to travel upward with said individual vials after engaging the tops of said vials;
- and, means for detecting the absence of a vial in a vial recess comprising means for detecting that said vial stabilizer has not engaged the top of a vial when said vial lifter is being elevated.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.