Patent ID: 6489169
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for feeding containers sitting in a rack, having a left side and a right side and a tab on each of said right and left sides, into an instrument, said instrument comprising a sample handler comprising an infeed having a first walking beam mechanism, an outfeed having a first set of right and left side walls from which said rack may be suspended by said tabs and a second walking beam mechanism comprising a movable tray having a second set of right and left side walls from which said rack may be suspended by said tabs and a first pair of detents on opposite side walls of said first and second set of side walls, and a cross-feed adjacent said infeed and outfeed,inputting said rack into said infeed, transferring said rack from said infeed to a first position on said cross-feed using said first walking beam mechanism, transporting said rack on said cross-feed from said first position adjacent said infeed to a second position on said cross-feed adjacent said outfeed, and activating said second walking beam mechanism to move a portion of said tray above said cross-feed to capture said rack within said side walls of said tray.