Loader device for an automatic furnace in space

Abstract

A loader device for an automatic space treatment furnace having a longitudinal axis and means for driving the furnace in guided translation along said longitudinal axis. The loader device is disposed in the vicinity of the furnace and comprises both a cartridge-carrying carousel fitted with a set of cartridge holders removably receiving sealed closed cartridges each designed to contain a sample for treatment in said space furnace, the cartridges being disposed in the carousel parallel to its axis of rotation, and a control mechanism for imparting indexed rotary drive to the cartridge holders. The carousel is itself mounted relative to the furnace in such a manner that its axis of rotation forms a predetermined angle a relative to the longitudinal axis of the furnace, and each cartridge holder of the carousel co-operates with a tilting mechanism to enable each cartridge to take up a working position in which the axis of the cartridge is tilted through said predetermined angle .alpha. relative to the axis of rotation of the carousel so as to be aligned with the axis of the furnace.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.