Sample loading apparatus

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising:

• an at least partly circular stationary loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector;
• a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining the sole transfer position;
• means for supporting and rotating the sample carousel;
• a transfer member comprising means for removably securing sample carrying sectors positioned on the loading tray and a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position on the sample carousel to the transfer member;
• and
• means for elevating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray and sample carousel and rotating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray.

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising:

• an at least partly circular stationary loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector;
• a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray, and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a sole transfer position;
• means for supporting and rotating the sample carousel;
• a transfer member including a plurality of arms extending therefrom, the arms including means for carrying sample sectors on such arms;
• means for indexing the arms in a plurality of index positions with respect to the plurality of positions included in the loading tray and with the transfer position;
• and
• means for supporting the transfer member with the arms in a first horizontal position beneath the plurality of locations in the loading tray and the transfer position, for elevating the transfer member from the first horizontal position to a second horizontal position with the arms above the loading tray plurality of locations and the transfer position, for rotating the transfer member from one index position to a next index position, and for lowering the transfer member to the first horizontal position.

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising:

• a loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector;
• a rotatable sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a transfer position;
• means for transferring a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position from the sample carousel to the loading tray and simultaneously transferring a sample carrying sector from the loading tray to the transfer position on the sample carousel;
• and
• the sample carousel defining a horizontal carousel plane, and the loading tray defining a horizontal loading tray plane, the horizontal loading tray plane and the sample horizontal carousel plane being different.

A sample loading and unloading apparatus for use with sample carrying sectors each adapted to carry one or more samples, the apparatus comprising:

• a loading tray including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector;
• a sample carousel disposed proximate the loading tray and including a plurality of locations each adapted to receive a sample carrying sector, the portion of the sample carousel proximate the loading tray defining a transfer position;
• and
• means for transferring a sample carrying sector positioned at the transfer position from the sample carousel to the loading tray and simultaneously transferring a sample carrying sector from the loading tray to the transfer position on the sample carousel;
• the transferring means includes a transfer member comprising means for removably securing sectors positioned on the loading tray and a sector positioned at the transfer position to the transfer member, and means for elevating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray and sample carousel and rotating the transfer member with respect to the loading tray;
• the sample carousel locations each include carousel support members adapted to receive and support the sample carrying sectors, the carousel support members defining spaces therebetween, the loading tray locations each including tray support members adapted to receive and support the sample carrying sectors, such tray support members defining spaces therebetween, and the transfer member includes arms smaller than such sample carousel spaces and such loading tray spaces, and the elevating and rotating means includes means for elevating the arms through said spaces to a position above the sample carrying sectors installed on the sample carousel;
• and
• the means for elevating and rotating the transfer member including a pneumatic piston, a cylinder adapted to receive the piston, and a seal therebetween.