Test sample changer
First Claim
1. Apparatus for selectively presenting a standardized object into an environment and at a precise location, comprisinga removable cassette rotatable about an axis and having a plurality of positions each operable to receive, radially to said axis, one of said standardized objects therein;
- receiver means for selectively receiving one of said standardized objects from said cassette, disposed radially outward of and substantially below said cassette, and includingguide means having a single-object aperture for retaining said standardized objects within said cassette,object elevator means for selectively vertically moving said received standardized object into said receiver means, andposition securing means for positionally locating and securing said standardized object within said receiver means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sample changer for precise positioning of a selected sample from a plurality of samples stored on a removable annular sample file. The samples comprising a rectangular dimensioned object is radially removed from the annular cassette and precisely positioned at a predetermined location for testing. Upon completion of the desired testing, the sample is replaced into the cassette which is repositioned and a subsequently selected sample is accordingly extracted and positioned for testing. Furthermore, the present invention includes a combination of elements which act together to detect and dislodge samples which may become temporarily stuck or jammed in the mechanism, reducing the need for operator intervention. Furthermore, the annular cassette is removable from the sample changing mechanism and includes a concentric locking ring which selectively retains all samples within the cassette or permits the removal of all samples. The sample changer mechanism includes a stationary arcuate slide retainer wherein the slides released by the annular locking ring are retained within the cassette mechanism until selectively positioned and lowered into the mechanism for testing.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. Apparatus for selectively presenting a standardized object into an environment and at a precise location, comprising
a removable cassette rotatable about an axis and having a plurality of positions each operable to receive, radially to said axis, one of said standardized objects therein; receiver means for selectively receiving one of said standardized objects from said cassette, disposed radially outward of and substantially below said cassette, and including guide means having a single-object aperture for retaining said standardized objects within said cassette, object elevator means for selectively vertically moving said received standardized object into said receiver means, and position securing means for positionally locating and securing said standardized object within said receiver means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Specification