Centrifuge with removable rotor and device for axial immobilization of the rotor on the drive shaft

A centrifuge comprising:

• a drive shaft having a central axis, said drive shaft including
• a female element, and
• a free end;
• a rotor which is axially received on said drive shaft and moved axially along said drive shaft to a mounted position where said rotor is mounted for rotation with said drive shaft;
• an immobilization means for axially immobilizing said drive shaft with respect to said rotor when said rotor is in the mounted position, said immobilization means including
• a male element movably mounted to rotor,
• a spring means for urging said male element into engagement with said female element when said rotor is in the mounted position, and
• an unlocking means actuatable from outside of said rotor for moving said male element out from engagement with female element against the urging of said spring means when said rotor is in the mounted position;
• and
• a guide means for automatically pivoting said rotor about the axis of said drive shaft from any arbitrary angular position as said rotor is received on said drive shaft to an angular locking position as said rotor is moved along said drive shaft to the mounted position where said male element is urged into said female element by said spring means, said guide means including
• a first guide on said free end of said drive shaft,
• a second guide which is integral with said rotor and which is complementary to said first guide and interacts therewith.