Patent ID: 9606025
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: G01N

Claim:
1. A sample feeding apparatus comprising: a frame; a sample tube unit including a base, a sample tube holder supported by the base, and a sample tube including an opening, and that is supported by the sample tube holder; a first piston-cylinder apparatus coupled to the sample tube unit and configured to move the sample tube unit between a first position and a second position; a second piston-cylinder apparatus that is coupled to the first piston-cylinder apparatus by a coupling section, and that is configured to move both the sample tube unit and the first piston-cylinder apparatus between different positions; a housing coupled to the frame and including a housing opening, the housing including an inner space that can house at least portions of the sample tube holder and the sample tube; a control unit including a computer that is configured to control at least one of the first piston-cylinder apparatus and the second piston-cylinder apparatus to move the sample tube unit between different positions relative to the housing, wherein the first position of the sample tube unit corresponds to a position in which the sample tube and sample tube holder are not enclosed by the housing, and the second position of the sample tube unit corresponds to a position in which the sample tube and sample tube holder are enclosed by the housing, and the base of the sample tube unit is configured to seal the opening of the housing as the sample tube unit is in the second position, and wherein the computer is configured to control the first piston-cylinder apparatus as the sample tube unit is in the second position such that the base of the sample tube unit is applied against the housing with an amount of pressure.