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AssigneeTechnicon Instruments Corporation
InventorsJames A. Mawhirt, Luigi Cantatore, Joseph E. DiFlora, William J. C. McCandless, Marvin Trieb
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The automatic sampling system includes a test apparatus for testing specific characteristics of a fluid withdrawn from a closed test tube. Stoppered test tubes are continuously and automatically delivered to the test apparatus by a conveyor system that includes a continuous linkage of test tube holders. The test tube holders have the capability of pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis of the test tube holders, and tilting movement wherein a longitudinal axis of one test tube holder tilts with respect to the longitudinal axis of another test tube holder in the linkage. The compound pivotal and tilting movement capability of the test tube holders in the linkage enable the linkage to be stacked in a fan-fold or Z-fold arrangement because of the flexible characteristics of the linkage. The linkage also has the capability of having one or more test tube holders tilted together at a group with respect to other test tube holders. Thus, the basis for a mixing operation of specific test tube holders is achieved. The conveyor system can be incorporated as a module of the test apparatus. An aspiration head for withdrawing fluid from individual stoppered test tubes in successive fashion as they are delivered by the conveyor system is also a modular addition to the test apparatus.
A conveyor system for transporting test tubes to a sampling location of a test apparatus comprising,
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.