Patent Description:
Examples of the present invention relate generally to autoloaders and, more specifically, to an autoloader for vials to be used with an analyzer such as a moisture analyzer.

Analyzers such as moisture analyzers are used to analyze the contents of samples. Often, the samples are placed in respective vials and inserted into an analyzer for analysis. In some implementations, the vials are manually loaded into the analyzer for analysis one vial at a time. The document titled "Arizona Instrument COMPUTRAC VAPOR PRO(TM) MOISTURE ANALYZER USER MANUAL" published on <NUM> July <NUM> discloses a moisture analyser with a carriage system that loads a single vial horizontally in the analyser. If there are a lot of vials it is labor intensive to load a vial, monitor the analyzer for completion, remove the vial, and load/remove each subsequent vial.

Autoloaders for loading vials into an analyzer. According to the present invention, the analyzer has a carriage assembly configured to load and unload each of the vials into the analyzer in a horizontal orientation. In accordance with the present invention, the autoloader includes a lifter, a deck, a vial carousel above the deck, and a controller coupled to the lifter and the vial carousel. The lifter has a vial carrier support, the lifter configured to move the vial carrier support between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein, when the device is connected to the analyzer, the raised position is above the carriage assembly and the lowered position is below the carriage assembly. The deck has a lower surface and an upper surface and includes an opening extending from the lower surface to the upper surface, the opening positioned and sized to accommodate the vial carrier support of the lifter when moving between the lowered position and the raised position. The vial carousel has vial transport stations, where each vial transport station is configured to receive a vial in a horizontal orientation and is arranged to transport the received vial to a loading location for the vial carrier support as the vial carousel rotates.

In one implementation, the vial carrier support is initially positioned in the raised position (and serves as a base for vials in vial transport stations passing over the opening). In accordance with this implementation, the controller rotates the vial carousel to align a transport station with the loading location for the vial carrier support and lowers the vial carrier support from the raised position to the lowered position, wherein, when the device is connected to the analyzer, the carriage assembly engages the first vial and disengages the first vial from the vial carrier support for loading into the analyzer. In accordance with this implementation, as the carousel rotates, the vials may roll within their respective vial transport stations on the surface of the deck (and over the vial carrier support in the raised position).

In another implementation, the controller rotates the vial carousel to align a transport station (configured as a cradle that supports the vial) with the loading location for the vial carrier support, raises the vial carrier support to the raised position to engage a first vial in the first transport station, rotates the vial carousel to move the transport station out of the way, and lowers the vial carrier support from the raised position to the lowered position, wherein, when the device is connected to the analyzer, the carriage assembly engages the first vial and disengages the first vial from the vial carrier support for loading into the analyzer. In accordance with this implementation, as the carousel rotates, the vials may be fully supported by the cradle such that they do not engage the surface of the deck or roll.

For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the drawings various examples of the present invention. A letter designation may be added to reference numbers for multiple elements of the same or similar type. When referring to the elements collectively or a non-specific one of the elements the letter designation may be omitted. In the drawings:.

Autoloaders are devices that can automatically load multiple vials sequentially into an analyzer for analysis without human intervention after an initial loading process. A technician may initially place the vials into the autoloader and then the autoloader sequentially loads vials into the analyzer and removes the vials from the analyzer. Thus, after the initial placement, the technician is free to perform other activities.

<FIG> depicts an analyzer with vial autoloader system <NUM>. The system <NUM> includes an analyzer <NUM> and an autoloader <NUM> positioned on a base <NUM>. A suitable analyzer is a Vapor Pro XL moisture analyzer available from Brookfield of Middleboro, Massachusetts. Although a moisture analyzer is depicted and described herein, other types of analyzers for analyzing samples within vials may be used with the autoloaders described herein.

The autoloader <NUM> is adjacent the analyzer <NUM> and is configured to manipulate sample vials <NUM> to allow automatic batch processing. A vial handling mechanism within the autoloader <NUM> (e.g., carousel <NUM>) allows retention of several sample vials <NUM> and sequential tests to be run without operator involvement. Typical tests take <NUM>-<NUM> minutes and the duration of tests is not always fixed (e.g., may be dependent on the sample, quantity, and end conditions), so the ability of the system <NUM> to run batches of tests unattended is very attractive.

In an example, the autoloader <NUM> sequentially delivers vials <NUM> via the carousel <NUM> and a lifter <NUM> (<FIG>) to a carriage assembly of the analyzer <NUM> (e.g., carriage assembly <NUM>; <FIG>). The illustrated carriage assembly <NUM> of the analyzer <NUM> includes a vial retainer <NUM> that holds each vial <NUM> securely by the cap 112b (and optional support protrusion <NUM> that provide additional support to a lower surface of the vial). Upon loading the vial <NUM> into the carriage assembly, the carriage assembly is moved (along with the loaded vial <NUM>) into an interior portion of the analyzer <NUM>. This motion causes a fixed needle within the interior portion of the analyzer <NUM> to puncture a septum with the cap 112b of the vial <NUM>, allowing air exchange to measure the overall moisture in the vial <NUM>. The interior portion additionally includes a heater (not shown), which heats the vial and sample to release water that is absorbed by the sample. Once the test cycle is finished, the carriage assembly moves the hot vial out of the analyzer <NUM>, extracting the needle and returning the vial <NUM> to a position outside the analyzer <NUM> for removal by the autoloader <NUM> and return to the carousel. Finished samples are disposed of, with the possibility of recycling the sample vial, cap, and septum.

The autoloader <NUM> holds a plurality of vials <NUM> in vial transport stations (<NUM> vial transport stations in the illustrated embodiment). In the autoloader <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, each vial transport station include a respective radial slot in a carousel <NUM> (e.g., slot <NUM>; <FIG>). The carousel <NUM> is supported above an inner deck <NUM> of the autoloader <NUM>. In one example, the inner deck <NUM> provides support from below to the vials positioned within the slots when the slots are not above a processing station where the vial may be removed from the autoloader (e.g., at loading station <NUM> or disposal station <NUM>). In accordance with this example, the inner deck <NUM> forms part of the vial transport station where the inner deck <NUM> is present to engage a lower surface of a vial.

The vials <NUM> are loaded into respective slots of the carousel <NUM> through an opening <NUM> in a cover <NUM> (when the cover is closed). The cover <NUM> limits access to a batch of vials <NUM> while the analyzer <NUM>/autoloader <NUM> are running to eliminate the possibility that vials would be removed or relocated in the carousel <NUM>. If the cover <NUM> is opened, the electronics <NUM> (see <FIG>) check that vials are loaded in "active" positions and oriented correctly when subsequently closed.

The autoloader <NUM> includes one or more processing stations. In an example, the autoloader <NUM> includes a loading station <NUM>, a vial detection station <NUM>, and a vial disposal station <NUM>. The loading station <NUM> is a station for use in automatically loading vials <NUM> into the analyzer <NUM> for analysis and receiving analyzed vials <NUM> after analysis. The loading station <NUM> is positioned above a vial lifter <NUM> (<FIG>) adjacent the analyzer <NUM>. The inner deck <NUM> includes an opening through which the vial lifter <NUM> raises and lower a vial carrier support <NUM> (<FIG>).

The vial detection station <NUM> is a station that detects whether a vial is present at a particular location in the carousel <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the vial detection station <NUM> is positioned below the opening <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is closed such that vials can be detected and registered to a particular location in the carousel <NUM> when a user places a vial through the opening <NUM> into the carousel. The vial disposal station <NUM> is a station that disposes of vials. The vial disposal station <NUM> is positioned in an area to facilitate disposal, e.g., on an opposite side of the carousel <NUM> from the loading station <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts one example of a vial <NUM> in a vertical orientation than may be used with the autoloader <NUM> and analyzer <NUM>. The vial <NUM> includes a vial body 112a and a vial cap 112b. The illustrated vial <NUM> has a height of <NUM> and a diameter of <NUM>. <FIG> depicts the vial <NUM> in a horizontal orientation in which a side of the vial <NUM> faces a lower surface. Other vials having other dimensions may also be used with the system. In an example, the vial <NUM> is maintained in the horizontal orientation at all times to distribute the sample for heating and exposure to air flow.

<FIG> depict the carousel <NUM> removed from the autoloader <NUM>. The carousel <NUM> includes slots <NUM> for receiving the vials <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, each slot <NUM> is a rectangular opening that extends completely though the carousel <NUM> and is longer (e.g., <NUM>) than the height of the vial <NUM> and wider (e.g., <NUM> - <NUM>) than the width of the vial <NUM> such that the carousel <NUM> does not support the lower side of the vial <NUM> when positioned horizontally within the slot <NUM>. Rather, the vial is supported by the surface that is below the carousel <NUM> when the carousel <NUM> is positioned within the autoloader <NUM> (i.e., the inner deck <NUM> or other surfaces in the same plane as the inner deck such as the vial carrier support <NUM> (<FIG>) in the loading station <NUM> and a trap door in the vial disposal station <NUM>). Each slot <NUM> has a depth that is sized to produce rolling movement of the vial <NUM> and to horizontally constrain the vial <NUM> within the slot <NUM> as the carousel <NUM> rotates (e.g., a thickness of <NUM> for a <NUM> diameter vial). Nominally, the vials <NUM> are free to rotate, rolling on the deck <NUM> (and over the vial carrier support <NUM> and the trap door) as the carousel <NUM> rotates - each slot urging its respective vial <NUM> in a radially horizontal direction. In an example, each slot <NUM> includes at least one side that is angled inward (e.g., by approximately <NUM> degrees) from bottom to top of the carousel <NUM> to reregister the vial <NUM> within the slot <NUM> as the vial is returned to the carousel <NUM> after analysis.

<FIG> depicts the autoloader <NUM> with the carousel <NUM> removed. The inner deck <NUM> include an opening for a drive hub <NUM>, which supports the carousel <NUM> above the inner deck with a small amount of clearance (e.g., approximately <NUM>) and rotates the carousel <NUM> to reposition the vials <NUM> on the surface of the inner deck <NUM>. Electronics <NUM> within the autoloader <NUM> communicate with electronics (not shown) within the analyzer <NUM> to control the drive hub and, thereby, the carousel <NUM> to selectively position the vials <NUM> for loading into the analyzer <NUM> and for disposal.

The inner deck <NUM> also includes an opening <NUM> that, in the illustrated embodiment, is sized and positioned to sequentially correspond with individual slots <NUM> of the carousel <NUM> as the carousel <NUM> is rotated by the hub <NUM>. A vial carrier support <NUM> in accordance with the illustrated embodiment is sized and positioned to fit within the opening <NUM> and support a vial <NUM> when a respective slot <NUM> passes over the opening <NUM> with the vial carrier support <NUM> in an upper position. In other embodiments, e.g., where the carousel includes cradles that fully supports the vials (e.g., cradle <NUM>; <FIG>), the opening in the inner deck <NUM> may be expanded or the inner deck may be eliminated.

The deck <NUM> additionally includes an opening for disposing of the vial in the disposal station <NUM>. In one example, the vial detecting station <NUM> also includes an opening for receiving a sensor for sensing a vial <NUM>. In another example, the sensor is positioned below the deck <NUM> without the need for an opening.

<FIG> depict a top view and a side view of the autoloader <NUM> with the cover <NUM> in a closed position that is useful for describing vial detection. In an example, a user manually inserts a vial <NUM> though an opening <NUM> in the cover <NUM> into a slot <NUM> within the carousel <NUM>. A sensor <NUM> positioned in the vial detection station <NUM>, which is below the opening <NUM>, senses the presence of the inserted vial <NUM>, which is communicated to the electronics <NUM> of the autoloader <NUM> for storage and tracking that vial in that particular slot within the carousel. A loading position label <NUM> is positioned on the inner deck <NUM> to provide the user with information regarding the proper positioning of the vial <NUM> within the carousel <NUM>.

In one example, the sensor <NUM> is an inductive sensor (e.g., a Hall effect sensor) configured to sense a change in the electromagnetic field surrounding the sensor due to a metallic cap 112b of the vial <NUM> being adjacent the sensor <NUM>. Since the inductive sensor detects the presence of metal, the vial must be loaded with the cap 112b in the correct orientation to register. If it is loaded backwards, the carousel slot will be considered empty, and the lifter <NUM> will not try to lower it into the carriage assembly <NUM> of the analyzer <NUM>.

In use, the vial detection station <NUM> is used to perform one or more of the following: (<NUM>. ) verify presence and proper orientation when a vial is loaded into the carousel, e.g., after the user is prompted by the software of the autoloader via a display screen (not shown), (<NUM>) verify presence and proper return orientation after the vial has been analyzed and returned to the carousel, and (<NUM>. ) check the presence or absence of vials in each slot in the carousel when the main access cover <NUM> has been opened and then closed. To check the presence or absence of vials in each slot after the cover <NUM> has been opened and closed, the electronics <NUM> perform a complete rotation of the carousel with each slot <NUM> passing over the vial detection station.

<FIG> depicts a top perspective view and <FIG> depict side perspective views of the autoloader <NUM> with the cover removed that is useful for describing vial disposal. In an example, the electronics <NUM> rotate a vial <NUM> within the carousel <NUM> for disposal to a vial disposal station <NUM>. The vial disposal station <NUM> includes a trap door <NUM> rather than the deck <NUM> below the opening <NUM> in the carousel <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts the trap door <NUM> in the closed position and <FIG> depicts the trap door <NUM> in the open position. When the trap door <NUM> is closed, the top surface of the trap door <NUM> acts as an extension of the deck <NUM> and the vial <NUM> is maintained within the carousel. When the trap door <NUM> is open, the trap door <NUM> moves out of the way, creating an opening <NUM> through which the vial <NUM> falls. A collection bin (not shown) may be positioned adjacent the opening <NUM> to catch the vials <NUM> for disposal.

In one example, a vial <NUM> is removed from the carousel in response to operation input via a user interface (UI; not shown) with each vial unloaded automatically after processing. This allows the system to run continuously with new vials loaded into the vacated space without the operator having to review the data to see which vials remaining in the carousel have already been processed.

<FIG> depict a vial lifter <NUM> that raises and lowers the vial carrier support <NUM>. A sample vial <NUM> is moved into a carriage assembly <NUM> of the analyzer <NUM> by the vial lifter <NUM>, which is driven by a linear actuator. The vial lifter <NUM> is positioned and configured such that the carriage assembly <NUM> can slide into the analyzer <NUM> ("vial sample analysis position") and out of the analyzer <NUM> ("vial loading position") in a horizontal direction both when the vial carrier support <NUM> is in a raised position above the carriage assembly <NUM> and when the vial carrier support <NUM> is in a lowered position below the carriage assembly <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> in the deck <NUM> enables the vial <NUM> to roll onto the vial carrier support <NUM> when the respective slot <NUM> aligns with the opening <NUM>. A specified vial can be delivered to the vial carrier support <NUM> by rotating the carousel <NUM> such that the respective slot <NUM> in the carousel <NUM> aligns with the deck opening <NUM>. When the carousel <NUM> is rotated, the vial carrier support <NUM> is in a raised position, to support the vials <NUM> as their respective slots <NUM> pass over the opening <NUM> in the deck <NUM>. The carousel <NUM> can rotate continuously, and vials will simply roll over the vial carrier support <NUM>. Once the desired vial has been aligned with the opening <NUM>, the vial carrier support <NUM> is lowered by the vial lifter <NUM> to position the vial <NUM> in the carriage assembly <NUM> of the analyzer <NUM>.

The carriage assembly <NUM> includes a vial retainer <NUM>, a beam <NUM>, and a door <NUM>. The beam <NUM> supports the door <NUM> on one side of the carriage assembly <NUM> to enable the lifter <NUM> to raise/lower the vial carrier support <NUM> through an interior of the carriage assembly <NUM> while the carriage assembly is in the carriage loading position. The door <NUM> has a pair of protrusion 512a and 512b. The vial retainer <NUM> supports one end of the vial <NUM> (e.g., by gripping the cap 112b) and the pair of protrusions 512a and 512b support the other end of the vial <NUM>. The illustrated vial carrier support <NUM> includes an extension <NUM> to provide addition vial support area. The extension <NUM> is sized and positioned to pass between the pair of protrusions 512a and 512b as the vial carrier support <NUM> is raised and lowered.

In operation, to load a vial, the analyzer <NUM> slides the carriage assembly <NUM> out of an interior portion of the analyzer <NUM> into a carriage loading position while the vial carrier support <NUM> is raised and supporting a vial <NUM>. As the vial carrier support <NUM> is lowered from the raised position and passes through a central portion of carriage assembly <NUM>, while in the carriage loading position, the vial <NUM> is lifted off the vial carrier support <NUM> and supported by the vial retainer <NUM> and the protrusions 512a and 512b. With the vial carrier support <NUM> below the carriage assembly <NUM>, the analyzer <NUM> slides the carriage assembly <NUM> into the interior portion of the analyzer <NUM> for processing and analysis. After the sample within the vial <NUM> is analyzed, the process is reversed with the carriage assembly sliding out and the vial carrier support <NUM> rising though the central portion of the carriage assembly <NUM> to lift the vial off of the protrusions 512a and 512b and return the vial to the entrance of the opening <NUM> and its position within the carousel <NUM>. The carousel then rotates to bring a subsequent vial into position for loading.

In the illustrated example, the lifter <NUM> moves the carrier support at an angle with respect to the analyzer <NUM> such that the vial <NUM> (in particular, the cap 112b) moves toward the vial retainer <NUM> of the carriage assembly <NUM> as it is lowered. A chamfer surface <NUM> assists with guiding the vial <NUM> into the vial retainer <NUM> to axially register the vial in the correct position within the carriage assembly <NUM>. The chamfer surface <NUM> may have an angle of between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees from vertical. The angled chamfer surface <NUM> in combination with the lifter angle assist with engaging the vial to the retainer <NUM>. Use of a passive surface enable the elimination of an active "pusher" to register the vials. Additional control axis can improve latitude of the carousel system so that a wider range of vial lengths can be accommodated with the same carousel.

After a vial <NUM> is delivered to the carriage assembly <NUM> of the analyzer <NUM> and constrained in the retainer <NUM>, the vial is pushed onto a needle as it is drawn into the analyzer <NUM> and withdrawn from the needle as it is pushed out of the analyzer <NUM>. Surfaces on the retainer <NUM> engage the cap 112b of the vial <NUM> at the top of the cap, and the bottom edge of the cap, so that the cap 112b is constrained during both opening and closing motions of the carriage assembly <NUM>.

The carousel <NUM> is driven by a motor with an encoder to keep track of position. An optical sensor may be used to detect notches in the carousel <NUM> in order to find the absolute position of the carousel at power up.

The carousel <NUM> is removable by the operator, e.g., to enable changing to another carousel that accommodates a different vial size, and to access the analyzer <NUM> and autoloader <NUM> for calibration or other maintenance. The slots <NUM> are sized to allow for the tolerances in vial sizes, but clearance is limited to control the vial position.

<FIG> depict another example of an autoloader <NUM>. The autoloader <NUM> includes a carousel <NUM> that has multiple cradles <NUM> (<NUM> in the illustrated embodiment). The carousel <NUM> is positioned above a deck <NUM> having an opening <NUM> through with a lifter <NUM> can move a vial carrier support <NUM>. The cradles <NUM> extend from a central portion of the carousel in pairs (e.g., cradle <NUM> and cradle <NUM>). Each cradle <NUM> includes multiple tines <NUM> (four tines 624a-d in the illustrated embodiment). The vial carrier support <NUM> is configured as a skeletal lifter that includes multiple projections <NUM> (three projections 626a-c in the illustrated embodiment). Each projection <NUM> is sized and positioned to extend through clearance slots between adjacent tines <NUM> of the cradle <NUM>. For example, projection 626a is sized and positioned to extend between tine 624a and tine 624b.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, each cradle <NUM> includes multiple tines with each tine shaped as a slotted vee that carries respective vials <NUM> without rolling. A vial <NUM> is removed from its cradle by a skeletal lifter, which can overlap the support for the vial, by moving through the clearance slots. This is visible in the detailed views in <FIG>. The vial in location <NUM> can be lifted clear of the carousel <NUM>, and the carousel rotated clockwise (CW) to an adjacent clear area, so it can be lowered to the carriage. Similarly, a vial in location <NUM> can be lifted clear of the carousel <NUM>, and the carousel rotated counter-clockwise (CCW) to an adjacent clear area, so it can be lowered to the carriage assembly.

An alternative geometry in which vials are not rotated is shown in <FIG>. In this configuration, a carousel <NUM> has vee-shaped recesses, with a pusher <NUM> that extended so that a vial <NUM> is moved out of the carousel <NUM> to engage a vial carrier support <NUM> of a lifter. The illustrated vial carrier support <NUM> includes a stopper <NUM> that registers the vial <NUM> at a proper location on the vial carrier support <NUM>. The carousel <NUM> may be formed out of sheet metal.

In <FIG> a sequence of motions are shown for a carousel <NUM> that supports the vials <NUM> in vee-shaped recesses <NUM>. In <FIG>, the pusher <NUM> moves a vial <NUM> on the carousel <NUM> radially toward the vial carrier support <NUM> of the lifter, which is aligned with the carousel position. In <FIG>, the pusher <NUM> continues to push the vial <NUM> onto the vial carrier support <NUM> until it reaches a stopper <NUM>, which registers the vial <NUM> on the vial carrier support <NUM>. In <FIG>, the lifter lowers the vial below the carousel on the vial carrier support <NUM> into a carriage assembly of the analyzer <NUM> for analysis and the pusher is moved to the opposite side of the vial. After analysis, in <FIG>, the lifter raises the vial on the vial carrier support <NUM> out of the carriage assembly of the analyzer <NUM> and back to the level of the carousel <NUM>. In <FIG>, the pusher <NUM> (now on the opposite side of the vial) moves the vial <NUM> radially from the vial carrier support <NUM> back onto the carousel <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a "Ferris wheel" in which vials <NUM> are rotated about a horizontal axis. The outer guiding features are fixed, and an inner wheel with vanes or slots drives the vials clockwise. The footprint of the overall system is reduced. The illustrated design is loaded from the side, orienting the carriage of the analyzer to operate front-to-back to enable an autosampler to be loaded from the front. The analyzer may be positioned at the bottom of the wheel (e.g., at <NUM>-o'clock). This design can be inverted, with the moving part shifted to the periphery with vanes or slots that extend to the axis. In this case, the inner guiding portion would be fixed, with provisions for the lifter and ejection. The lifter could then be located at the top of the wheel (e.g., <NUM> o'clock).

<FIG> shows an alternate means of retaining vials in a diagonal tray or magazine. The vials are fed by gravity into an indexer, which separates the vials and delivers vials individually in the order in which they were loaded. This is a one-way system, vials are released from the system for disposal. In other words, there is no recirculation. A reciprocating plate feeds a single vial, controlling the delivery of vials to the lifter. The feed plate reciprocates to move the vial to the lifer, and then to release the vials after testing.

<FIG> illustrate the use of a barcode <NUM> (e.g., an <NUM>-digit barcode) to recognize and confirm that the correct samples are loaded. The barcode <NUM> may be positioned on the top face <NUM> of the cap 112b. The barcode can be laser-etched into the cap 112b. This allows a simple barcode reader to be used. The operator can re-use caps; with the encoded number used to track a specific sample and correlated to actual sample information. The illustrated cap 112b includes a septum <NUM> that is pierced by a needle (not shown) of the analyzer <NUM> during analysis of the sample within the vial <NUM>.

Among other features, the present disclosure describes:.

<FIG> are functional block diagrams illustrating general-purpose computer hardware platforms configured to implement the functional examples described with respect to <FIG> as discussed above.

Specifically, <FIG> illustrates an example network or host computer platform <NUM>, as may be used to implement for implementing a server. Specifically, <FIG> depicts an example computer <NUM> with user interface elements, as may be used to implement a personal computer or other type of workstation or terminal device, although the computer <NUM> of <FIG> may also act as a server if appropriately programmed. It is believed that those skilled in the art are familiar with the structure, programming, and general operation of such computer equipment and as a result the drawings should be self-explanatory.

Hardware of an example server computer (<FIG>) includes a data communication interface for packet data communication. The server computer also includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, in the form of circuitry forming one or more processors, for executing program instructions. The server platform hardware typically includes an internal communication bus <NUM>, program and/or data storage <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for various programs and data files to be processed and/or communicated by the server computer, although the server computer often receives programming and data via network communications. In one example, as shown in <FIG>, the computer system includes a video display unit <NUM>, (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device <NUM> (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device <NUM> (e.g., a mouse), each of which communicate via an input/output device (I/O) <NUM>. The hardware elements, operating systems and programming languages of such server computers are conventional in nature, and it is presumed that those skilled in the art are adequately familiar therewith. Of course, the server functions may be implemented in a distributed fashion on a number of similar hardware platforms, to distribute the processing load.

Hardware of a computer type user terminal device, such as a PC or tablet computer, similarly includes a data communication interface <NUM>, CPU <NUM>, main memory <NUM> and <NUM>, one or more mass storage devices <NUM> for storing user data and the various executable programs, an internal communication bus <NUM>, and an input/output device (I/O) <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Aspects of the methods for image projection mapping, as outlined above, may be embodied in programming in general purpose computer hardware platforms (such as described above with respect to <FIG>), e.g., in the form of software, firmware, or microcode executable by a networked computer system such as a server or gateway, and/or a programmable nodal device. Program aspects of the technology may be thought of as "products" or "articles of manufacture" typically in the form of executable code and/or associated data that is carried on or embodied in a type of machine readable medium. "Storage" type media include any or all of the tangible memory of the computers, processors or the like, or associated modules thereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives and the like, which may provide non-transitory storage at any time for the software programming. All or portions of the software may at times be communicated through the Internet or various other telecommunication networks. Such communications, for example, may enable loading of the software, from one computer or processor into another. Thus, another type of media that may bear the software elements includes optical, electrical, and electromagnetic waves, such as used across physical interfaces between local devices, through wired and optical landline networks and over various air-links. The physical elements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, optical links, or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software. As used herein, unless restricted to one or more of "non-transitory," "tangible" or "storage" media, terms such as computer or machine "readable medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.

Aspects of the methods for image projection mapping, as outlined above, may be embodied in programming in general purpose computer hardware platforms (such as described above with respect to <FIG>), e.g., in the form of software, firmware, or microcode executable by a networked computer system such as a server or gateway, and/or a programmable nodal device, program aspects of the technology may be thought of as "products" or "articles of manufacture" typically in the form of executable code and/or associated data that is carried on or embodied in a type of machine readable medium. "storage" type media include any or all of the tangible memory of the computers, processors or the like, or associated modules thereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives and the like, which may provide non-transitory storage at any time for the software programming. All or portions of the software may at times be communicated through the Internet or various other telecommunication networks. such communications, for example, may enable loading of the software, from one computer or processor into another. Thus, another type of media that may bear the software elements includes optical, electrical, and electromagnetic waves, such as used across physical interfaces between local devices, through wired and optical landline networks and over various air-links. The physical elements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, optical links, or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software. As used herein, unless restricted to one or more of "non-transitory," "tangible" or "storage" media, terms such as computer or machine "readable medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.

Hence, a machine-readable medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, a tangible storage medium, a carrier wave medium or physical transmission medium. Non-transitory storage media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as any of the storage devices in any computer(s) or the like. It may also include storage media such as dynamic memory, for example, the main memory of a machine or computer platform. Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that include a bus within a computer system. Carrier-wave transmission media can take the form of electric or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and light-based data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media therefore include for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storage medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read programming code and/or data. many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution.

Program instructions may include a software or firmware implementation encoded in any desired language. programming instructions, when embodied in machine readable medium accessible to a processor of a computer system or device, render computer system or device into a special-purpose machine that is customized to perform the operations specified in the program performed by electronics of the analyzer <NUM> or the autoloader <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a flow chart <NUM> of example methods for sequentially loading vials into an analyzer, where the analyzer having a carriage assembly configured to load and unload each of the vials into the analyzer in a horizontal orientation. Although the steps are described with reference to the analyzer <NUM> and the autoloader <NUM> described herein, other implementations of the steps described, for other types of devices, will be understood by one of skill in the art from the description herein. One or more of the steps shown and described may be performed simultaneously, in a series, in an order other than shown and described, or in conjunction with additional steps. Some steps may be omitted or, in some applications, repeated.

At block <NUM>, the autoloader detects a vial within the autoloader. In an example, electronics <NUM> detect a vial positioned within an opening of the carousel <NUM> by sensing a cap of the vial (e.g., with a sensor such as a Hall effect sensor). The electronics <NUM> may detect the vial above the sensor and store its location in memory when it is positioned within that opening.

At block <NUM>, the autoloader rotates the vial carousel with respect to a lifter having a vial carrier support to align a first transport station of the vial carousel with a loading location of a vial carrier support. In one example, the electronics <NUM> of the autoloader <NUM> rotate the vial carousel <NUM> with respect to the lifter <NUM> to align a first transport station of the vial carousel with a loading location <NUM> of a vial carrier support. In another example, electronics of the autoloader <NUM> rotates the carousel <NUM> with respect to the lifter <NUM> to align a first transport station with a vial carrier support.

At block <NUM>, the autoloader raises the vial carrier support to a raised position to engage a first vial in a first transport station of the vial carousel. In one example, the electronics <NUM> raise the vial carrier support to the raised position prior to rotating the vial carousel <NUM> to align the first transport station of the vial carousel with the loading location. This results in the vial carrier support supporting the lower surface of the vial <NUM> when the vial carousel <NUM> rotates to align the first transport station of the vial carousel with the loading location.

In another example, where vial carousel includes cradles that fully support the vials, the electronics <NUM> raise the vial carrier support to the raised position after rotating the vial carousel <NUM> to align the first transport station of the vial carousel with the loading location. This results in the vial carrier support lifting the vial <NUM> out of the cradle supporting the vial <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the autoloader optionally rotates the vial carousel while the vial carrier support is in a raised position to remove the plurality of tines from the loading location for the vial carrier support. In examples where the vial carousel includes cradles that fully support the vials, the vial carousel is rotated to move the vial cradle out of the way to enable the vial carrier support to be lowered without interference from the cradles. For a vial carousel <NUM> such as illustrated in <FIG>, when a vial <NUM> is positioned in the vial cradle <NUM>, the electronics <NUM> will rotate the vial carousel a few degrees clockwise to remove the cradle <NUM> from the path of the vial carrier support when it is being lowered. For an adjacent cradle <NUM>, the electronics <NUM> will rotate the vial carousel a few degrees counterclockwise to remove the cradle <NUM> from the path of the vial carrier support when it is being lowered.

At block <NUM>, the autoloader lowers the vial carrier support from the raised position to the lowered position. In examples where the autoloader rotates the vial carousel (block <NUM>), the autoloader lowers the vial carrier support after the cradle is moved out of the way. As the vial carrier support is lowered, it passes through the carriage assembly, which engages the vial and disengages the vial from the vial carrier support. In an example, the lift lowers the vial at an angle toward the analyzer.

At block <NUM>, the carriage assembly closes and the analyzer analyzes the sample within the vial. At block <NUM>, the carriage assembly opens. After the carriage assembly opens, at block <NUM>, the vial carrier support is raised to return the vial back to the vial carousel. In examples where the vial carousel includes cradles that fully support the vials, the vial carousel is rotated to move the vial cradle under the vial after the vial carrier support is fully raised. The vial carrier support is then lowered to return the vial to the cradle.

At block <NUM>, the vial is disposed of. In an example, the vial <NUM> is disposed of by rotating the carousel <NUM> to move the vial <NUM> to a vial disposal station <NUM> and opening a trap door <NUM> below the vial <NUM> in the vial disposal station. A collection container (not shown) may be positioned adjacent the trap door to collect the vial after is falls through the opening created by opening the trap door <NUM>.

They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is ordinary in the art to which they pertain (e.g., plus or minus <NUM> percent or <NUM> degrees). For example, orientation terms such as horizontal and vertical are intended to encompass a range of directions, e.g., plus or minus <NUM> degrees, surrounding the horizontal and the vertical orientations, respectively.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein, relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by "a" or "an" does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various examples for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed examples require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. rather, as the following claims reflect, the subject matter to be protected lies in less than all features of any single disclosed example. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claim 1:
A device for sequentially loading vials (<NUM>) into an analyzer (<NUM>), the analyzer (<NUM>) having a carriage assembly (<NUM>) configured to load and unload each of the vials (<NUM>) into the analyzer (<NUM>) in a horizontal orientation, the device comprising:
- a lifter (<NUM>) having a vial carrier support (<NUM>), the lifter (<NUM>) configured to move the vial carrier support (<NUM>) between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein, when the device is connected to the analyzer (<NUM>), the raised position is above the carriage assembly (<NUM>) and the lowered position is below the carriage assembly (<NUM>);
- a deck (<NUM>) having a lower surface and an upper surface, the deck (<NUM>) having an opening (<NUM>) extending from the lower surface to the upper surface, the opening (<NUM>) positioned and sized to accommodate the vial carrier support (<NUM>) of the lifter (<NUM>) when moving between the lowered position and the raised position;
- a vial carousel (<NUM>, <NUM>) above the deck (<NUM>) having a plurality of vial transport stations, each vial transport station configured to receive a vial in a horizontal orientation and arranged to transport the received vial to a loading location (<NUM>) for the vial carrier support (<NUM>) as the vial carousel (<NUM>/<NUM>) rotates; and
- a controller coupled to the lifter (<NUM>) and the vial carousel (<NUM>/<NUM>), the controller configured to:
- rotate the vial carousel (<NUM>/<NUM>) to align a first transport station with the loading location (<NUM>) for the vial carrier support;
- raise the vial carrier support (<NUM>) to the raised position to engage a first vial in the first transport station; and
- lower the vial carrier support (<NUM>) from the raised position to the lowered position, wherein, when the device is connected to the analyzer (<NUM>), the carriage assembly (<NUM>) engages the first vial and disengages the first vial from the vial carrier support (<NUM>) for loading into the analyzer (<NUM>) .