# US 9,039,342 B2 · Crucible shuttle assembly and method of operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,342 B2 - Document ID: US9039342B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/611,855 - Filed: 2012-09-12 - Published: 2013-01-03 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2007-04-12 - Assignees: Leco Corporation - Applicants: Gordon C. Ford - Inventors: Gordon C. Ford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039342B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - B65G 47/907: {with at least two picking-up heads} - F27B 17/02: specially designed for laboratory use - F27D 3/00: Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge - F27D 2099/0015: {Induction heating} - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - F27B: FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS - F27D: DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A crucible handling shuttle includes a pair of opposed dual crucible-gripping arms mounted on a rotatable head and moves between an induction furnace pedestal and a crucible loading station, such that one pair of arms pick up a crucible loaded with a preweighed sample, the shuttle moves to the induction furnace, where the other pair of arms grip and remove a spent crucible. The shutter head then rotates to deposit the new sample-holding crucible onto the pedestal and subsequently moves out of the furnace area to a sample disposal chute positioned between the crucible loading station and the furnace, whereupon the spent crucible is dropped for disposal. The shuttle head is then rotated and moved to the loading station to pick up a new crucible. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shuttle assembly for loading and unloading crucibles between a crucible loading station and a pedestal of an analytical furnace associated with an analyzer comprising: a shuttle including a pair of opposed crucible-gripping arms for simultaneously gripping crucibles on opposite sides of an axis of rotation, and actuators which open and close said gripping arms to selectively grip and release crucibles, wherein said shuttle positions said pairs of crucible-gripping arms in an outward non-facing direction; said shuttle including a head for rotatably supporting said arms; and a linear drive coupled to said shuttle for moving said head and gripping arms between a crucible-holding pedestal of said furnace and a loading station providing sample-holding crucibles for introduction into the furnace, wherein said shuttle includes a carriage to which said head is mounted and said linear drive includes a drive screw coupled to said carriage for moving said carriage between a furnace and a crucible loading station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said linear drive also moves said shuttle to a discharge chute for dispensing spent crucibles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly as defined in claim 1 and further including a mechanism for selectively raising and lowering said pairs of gripping arms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said system moves crucibles between at least three spaced-apart positions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotary head rotates in a horizontal plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly as defined in claim 1 and further including tapered vertically movable actuators movably coupled to each of said pairs of crucible-gripping arms for selectively opening and closing said arms. ### Claim 7 A shuttle assembly for loading and unloading crucibles between a crucible loading station and a pedestal of an analytical furnace associated with an analyzer comprising: a shuttle including a pair of opposed crucible-gripping arms for simultaneously gripping crucibles on opposite sides of an axis of rotation, and actuators which open and close said gripping arms to selectively grip and release crucibles, wherein said shuttle positions said pairs of crucible-gripping arms in an outward non-facing direction; said shuttle including a head for rotatably supporting said arms; and a linear drive coupled to said shuttle for moving said head and gripping arms between a crucible-holding pedestal of said furnace and a loading station providing sample-holding crucibles for introduction into the furnace wherein said shuttle includes a carriage to which said head is mounted and said linear drive is coupled to said carriage for moving said carriage between a furnace and a crucible loading station. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said linear drive also moves said shuttle to a discharge chute for dispensing spent crucibles.