Sample collator device with samples gathered on pins

A collator device for samples comprising a revolving carousel that includes:

• sample storage means;
• sample selection means;
• sample transport means;
• and
• motor means,
• wherein hole-containing samples are removed from said storage means by said sample selection means and gathered in collated sequence on pins attached to said transport means which is moved around said carousel by said motor means, and wherein further, said storage means comprises a plurality of sample storage bins;
• said sample selection means includes suction means for gripping and removing samples from said bins, and wherein still further, said transport means includes revolving means which moves said pins between bins in sequence about said carousel, said movement being coordinated with sample selection means by timing means so that samples are removed from said bins and released by said suction means after said pins have entered the holes in said samples.

A collator device for samples comprising a revolving carousel that includes:

• sample storage means;
• sample selection means;
• sample transport means;
• and
• motor means
• wherein samples are removed from said storage means by said sample selection means and gathered in collated sequence by said transport means which is moved around said carousel by said motor means;
• wherein said storage means comprises a plurality of sample storage bins;
• said sample selection means includes suction means for gripping and removing samples from said bins, and said transport means comprises sample holding means attached to revolving means which moves said holding means between said bins in sequence about said carousel, said movement being coordinated with said sample selection means by timing means so that samples are removed from said bins and released by said suction means into said holding means;
• wherein said sample selection means comprises suction cups mounted on the ends of arms rotatably mounted adjacent to said bins from which the cups remove samples, said arms pivoting from a first location at which a vacuum applied to said cups permits them to withdraw samples from the bins to a second location at which the vacuum is released, allowing the samples to be received by said holding means;
• wherein said transport means comprises trolleys mounted on, and guided about said carousel by a track, said trolleys being connected to a power transmission chain which moves said trolleys on said track, said trolleys including means for holding collated sample thereon, and
• wherein said holding means comprises a cantilevered pin extending from said trolleys, and said samples include a hole therein adapted to receive said pin.

A collator device for samples comprising a revolving carousel that includes:

• sample storage means comprising a plurality of sample storage bins;
• sample selection means comprising suction cups mounted on the ends of arms rotatably mounted adjacent to said bins from which they remove samples, said selection means pivoting from a first location at which a vacuum applied to said cups permits them to withdraw samples from the bins, to a second location in which the vacuum is released and the samples are disengaged from said cups;
• sample transport means comprising trolleys mounted on, and guided about said carousel by a track, said trolleys being connected to a power transmission chain which moves said trolleys on said track, said trolleys including means for holding collated samples thereon;
• timing means for coordinating the application and release of said vacuum to said cups, and the movement of said arms, relative to the position of said trolleys, and
• motor means for operating said chain and said timing means, and wherein said track comprises two spaced-apart rails, and said trolleys include an articulated frame on which is mounted spaced-apart grip means for said rails, grip means for said one rail being urged toward grip means for the other rail by the force of spring means, said force holding said trolleys securely to said rail.

A collator device for hole-containing samples comprising a revolving carousel that includes a plurality of sample storage bins;

• sample selection means comprising suction cups mounted on the ends of the arms rotatably mounted adjacent to said bins from which they remove samples, said selection means pivoting from a first location at which a vacuum applied to said cups permits them to withdrawn samples from the bins, to a second location in which the vacuum is released and the samples are disengaged from said cups;
• sample transport means comprising trolleys mounted on, and guided about said carousel by a track, said trolleys being connected to a power transmission chain which moves said trolleys on said track, said trolleys having pins attached thereto for holding collated samples thereon;
• timing means for coordinating the application and release of said vacuum to said cups, and the movement of said arms, relative to the position of said trolleys, and
• motor means for operating said chain and said timing means.