Delivering samples to and controlling analytical instruments

• US 20070196236A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Richter
• Original Assignee: Daniel Richter
• Inventors: Richter, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,824,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0481 Pneumatic tube conveyors; Tube mails; "Rohrpost"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A control system for a bank of analytical instruments operates the instruments as a group rather than singly. The system includes an autoloader at a sample preparation station into which an individual loads sample vials of unknown material. A second autoloader provides sample vials of known material that can be used to calibrate instruments. A computer controls the autoloader and a conveyor system to deliver a selected one of the vials to a selected instrument. The conveyor system includes a group of distributors, typically in series, to deliver a vial to any one of a large group of instruments. The conveyor system is preferably a pneumatic system includes a receiver and technique for slowing the vials down when they approach the receiver. The receiver is positioned to deliver the vial to an autoinjector of the instrument. A computer monitors and communicates with the analytical instrument to obtain inputs to control components of the system.

Claims

1. A system for transporting samples to and operating a bank of analytical instruments at least some of which include an automatic injector for delivering a liquid sample from a vial into the instrument, comprising a conveyor including an inlet at a station and an outlet at selected ones of the autoinjectors, an autoloader at the station for holding sample vials and presenting a selected one of the vials to the conveyor inlet for delivery to a selected one of the autoinjectors and at least one computer communicating with at least some of the instruments and using information from the instrument as an input for controlling operation of the autoloader and conveyor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the conveyor provides the capability of transporting vials from the autoloader to the instruments and of transporting vials from the instruments to a receptacle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the instruments each comprise a communication port for communicating with an external device, the computer having a communication link for connection to the communication port.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the system provides a series of elements for holding samples of unknown composition and a series of elements for holding samples of known composition and the controller periodically selects samples of known composition for delivery to the conveyor for calibrating at least one of the instruments.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the autoloader provides the elements for holding the samples of unknown composition and further comprising a second autoloader for holding the samples of known composition.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the conveyor comprises a pneumatic conveyor using a gas as a propulsion fluid, the pneumatic conveyor comprising a plurality of distributors in series having at least one conduit connected at one end and a multiplicity of conduits at an opposite end, the conduits connecting each of the instruments to an upstream distributor so the computer can direct sample vials from the autoloader to each instrument.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the conveyor comprises a receiver in the conduits adjacent the conveyor outlets, the receiver including a gate having a shoulder for stopping the vial at a location adjacent the instrument.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the conveyor comprises a sensor upstream of the receiver for detecting the passage of a vial and deenergizing the pneumatic conveyor.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the station comprises a sample preparation station where liquids are taken from a container and placed in a vial and the vials are loaded into the autoinjector.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the instruments includes a data output device and the computer includes a communication link with the data output device for monitoring operation of the instruments.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer has the capability of conducting quality control operations on the instruments and delivering a signal in response to the quality control operations.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the conveyor is a pneumatic conveyor and the outlet comprises a receiver for receiving a vial adjacent an end of the pneumatic conveyor, comprising

a tubular housing having an axis in a direction of movement of the vial;

a gate having an edge, the gate being biased for movement between a first position outside a path of movement of the vial toward a second position where the edge is inclined to the path of movement so an incoming vial contacts the edge and moves the gate toward the first position; and

a motor for moving the gate from the second position to the first position.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the autoloader comprises

a base having an upstanding wall providing a series of horizontally and vertically spaced first openings for receiving the vials;

a manifold inside the wall providing at least one second opening aligning with, and being in vial transferring relation to, different ones of the first openings in different positions of the manifold; and

a motor causing relative movement between the base and the manifold between a plurality of positions for aligning the at least one second opening to a selected one of the first openings.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the conveyor is a pneumatic conveyor including at least one distributor for receiving and distributing a series of sample vials, comprising

a housing having an inlet sleeve rotatably receiving an inlet conduit and a planar bottom wall having a plurality of outlets in a circular path for connection to a plurality of outlet conduits;

a rotatable article director in the housing having a rotatable disc providing a flat bottom abutting the planar bottom wall and providing an opening registering with the circular path, the inlet conduit being connected to the planar bottom wall around the opening for directing vials entering through the inlet opening to a selected one of the outlets in response to the rotational position of the disc;

a seal operative between the flat bottom of the rotatable disc and the planar bottom wall preventing leakage between the disc and the bottom wall; and

a motor for rotating the rotatable article director in response to a command.

15. A method of operating a bank of analytical instruments at least some of which include an automatic injector for delivering a liquid sample from a vial into the instrument, comprising accumulating sample vials at a station, conveying a series of vials in seriatim from the station to the instruments with a conveyor in response to a condition of the instrument, conveying the series of vials from the instrument to a receptacle with a conveyor at the end of each test, monitoring the instruments with a computer, controlling the conveyor with the computer in response to inputs from the instruments and delivering sample vials from the station to the conveyor in response to inputs from the instruments.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the station is a sample preparation station.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the vials are conveyed toward the instrument at a time when the instrument is ready to conduct a test on the vial.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the condition of the instrument comprises the capability of the instrument.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the condition of the instrument comprises the operability of the instrument.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein a determination is made of the condition of the sample vial at the end of the test and conveying the sample vial to one of a plurality of receptacles in response to the condition of the sample.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the condition of the sample is a measure of the normality of the test run on the sample.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the condition of the sample is that the sample is a calibration sample.

23. An autoloader for receiving and launching a selected one of a series of vials, comprising

a base having an upstanding wall providing a series of horizontally and vertically spaced first openings for receiving the vials;

a manifold inside the wall providing at least one second opening aligning with, and being in vial transferring relation to, different ones of the first openings in different positions of the manifold; and

a motor causing relative movement between the base and the manifold between a plurality of positions for aligning the at least one second opening to a selected one of the first openings.

24. The autoloader of claim 23 wherein the wall is a cylindrical wall.

25. The autoloader of claim 23 wherein the manifold provides a plurality of second openings aligning with, and being in vial transferring relation to, a plurality of first openings in different positions of the manifold;

a plurality of trap doors normally preventing vial transfer between the first and second openings and a system to open only one of the trap doors to allow a selected one of the a vials to pass from the movable base into the manifold.

26. The autoloader of claim 25 wherein the first openings are in a first pattern including a series of spaced apart vertical rows and the second openings are in a second pattern including a single vertical row and the motor rotates the manifold between a plurality of positions aligning the vertical row of second openings with selected ones of the vertical rows of the first openings.

27. A receiver for receiving a vial adjacent an end of a pneumatic conveyor system, comprising

a tubular housing having an axis in a direction of movement of the vial;

a gate having an edge, the gate being biased for movement between a first position outside a path of movement of the vial toward a second position where the edge is inclined to the path of movement so an incoming vial contacts the edge and moves the gate toward the first position; and

a motor for moving the gate from the second position to the first position.

28. The receiver of claim 27 wherein the gate comprises a shoulder for abutting and stopping the vial in the second gate position.

29. A distributor for receiving and distributing a series of sample vials, comprising

a housing having an inlet sleeve rotatably receiving an inlet conduit and a planar bottom wall having a plurality of outlets in a circular path for connection to a plurality of outlet conduits;

a rotatable article director in the housing having a rotatable disc providing a flat bottom abutting the planar bottom wall and providing an opening registering with the circular path, the inlet conduit being connected to the planar bottom wall around the opening for directing vials entering through the inlet opening to a selected one of the outlets in response to the rotational position of the disc;

a seal operative between the flat bottom of the rotatable disc and the planar bottom wall preventing leakage between the disc and the bottom wall; and

a motor for rotating the rotatable article director in response to a command.

30. The distributor of claim 29 wherein the seal comprises a spring biasing the rotatable disc against the bottom wall.