Bruker Biospin Ag

Kurt Himmelsbach

Beat Grossniklaus

Bent Grossniklaus

Michael Fey

Remo Anton Hochstrasser

Franco Sestito

Hansjörg Tschirky

A sample frame () for preparing a plurality of sample vessels (), in particular sample tubes, having a plurality of retainers, in each of which a sample vessel () is situated, is characterized in that the sample vessels () each have a cap (), which is put over the open end of the sample vessel (), the cap () having a drilled hole (), through which the interior of the sample vessel () is accessible, the sample frame () has a removable cover plate (), whose bottom side faces toward the caps () of the sample vessels () in the put-on state of the cover plate (), and the cover plate () has an approximately funnel-shaped depression () on the top side for each retainer, in whose center a through opening () through the cover plate () is provided, the through opening () aligning with the drilled hole () of a cap () of a sample vessel () retained underneath when the cover plate () is put on. The sample frame according to the invention eases the closure of sample vessels, which have a cap with hole, in the context of an automated sample preparation.

Sample frame for preparation of a plurality of sample vessels, in particular NMR sample tubes

Holder for sample containers

A sample holder for fixing and transporting a sample vial () within an NMR configuration comprising an outer shell () and a continuous hollow space disposed inside the outer shell () and extending along its axis for receiving the sample vial, is characterized in that a clamping device that can be switched on and off and a switching element () are provided inside the hollow space, wherein, in the activated state, the clamping device fixes a sample vial () that is introduced into the sample holder, the switching element () can be operated from the outside, and the clamping device can be deactivated using the switching element () such that, in the deactivated state, the sample vial () inserted into- or removed from the sample holder is not fixed. Such a sample holder may be used to realize an automatic supply device for changing NMR sample vials which has a very compact structure and can be mounted using little space.

Sample holder for holding and transporting a sample vial within an NMR apparatus and automatic supply device for the automated exchange of NMR sample vials and method of operation thereof

A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer for investigating a liquid sample in a sample tube, in particular a glass sample tube (), has a sample bushing () surrounding the sample tube having a bore into which one end of the sample tube is inserted with tight fit. The sample bushing () is preferably substantially cylindrical and the bore extends along the cylindrical axis. The NMR spectrometer has a gripping device () for handling the sample bushing (), the gripping device () having at least three gripping fingers (), and the outer periphery of the sample bushing () has at least one groove () into which the gripping fingers () can engage to press onto the two outer edges of the groove () when the gripping device () is closed. The cooperation between the groove and the gripping device permits fully automated, precise handling of the samples.

NMR spectrometer with gripping device for handling a sample bushing with outer groove

Growing community of inventors

Fehraltdorf, Switzerland

Kurt Himmelsbach