Bruker Instruments, Inc.

Kevin D Lilly

David G Cory

A sample changer for a spectrometer of the type having a generally vertical sample loading air shaft in which an upflowing air stream is present. The sample changer includes a support for positioning at the spectrometer and a carriage movably supported by the support which carriage has an array of generally vertical passages extending entirely through the carriage, those passages being adapted to contain sample holders. The sample changer also includes an actuator for moving the carriage relative to the support to position each passage over the air shaft so that that passage becomes an extension of the air shaft whereby the sample holder in that shaft may be buoyed up and supported in its passage by the air stream from the airshaft. Provision is also made for releasing the sample holder from the carriage passage that is located directly over the air shaft so that that sample holder may be moved from its passage down into the air shaft and raised up and returned to its passage solely under the control of the air stream in the air shaft thereby enabling the sample changer to be slaved to the spectrometer.

Sample changer for NMR spectrometers

Apparatus and method for sequential provision of a series of similarly configured objects to and from a proximal location such as a device for testing those objects. The objects are provided in a gravity-fed stack to a changer that includes a container, a holder slidably disposed in that container and configured to hold a limited number (such as one) of the objects, and a mover or driver for transporting the holder repeatedly between first and second positions within the container. In the first position, the holder is disposed under the stack of objects being fed to receive one of those objects. In the other position, the holder is positioned to gravity feed the object to the proximal location where the object is to be utilized. The holder can be configured with a single space, or with double parallel spaces, each of which can receive one object. For a holder having only one such space, the second position is also utilized to permit ejection of the used object, by an appropriate force, from the proximal location. For a holder having two such spaces, the first position is utilized for such ejection, so that receipt of another one of the objects can take place while or even before the fed object is so ejected.

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Framingham, MA, United States of America

Kevin D Lilly