Patent ID: 6790413
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for presenting sample racks to an automated analyzer, comprising:a. a sample rack onload section, a sample rack presentation section, and a sample rack offload section; b. said sample rack onload section having an onload queue area, and an onload moving mechanism for moving said sample racks placed on said onload queue area to said sample rack presentation section; c. said sample rack presentation section having a transfer area connected to said onload queue area of said sample rack onload section for receiving said sample racks from said sample rack onload section, a sample presentation area adjacent to said automated analyzer for presenting sample racks for aspiration, and a presentation moving mechanism, movable between said transfer area and said presentation area for moving at least one of said sample racks from said transfer area to said presentation area for a sample aspiration and subsequently moving said at least one of said sample racks from said presentation area back to said transfer area after a sample aspiration, wherein said transfer area can hold a plurality of said sample racks wherein said plurality of sample racks can be presented simultaneously in said presentation area; and d. said sample rack offload section having an offload area connected to said transfer area of said sample rack presentation section for receiving said sample racks from said sample rack presentation section after a sample aspiration, and an offload moving mechanism for moving said sample racks received from said sample rack presentation section to a sample rack offload tray.