Patent ID: 12239976

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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.1depicts an analyzer with vial autoloader system100. The system100includes an analyzer102and an autoloader104positioned on a base106. 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 autoloader104is adjacent the analyzer102and is configured to manipulate sample vials112to allow automatic batch processing. A vial handling mechanism within the autoloader104(e.g., carousel110) allows retention of several sample vials112and sequential tests to be run without operator involvement. Typical tests take 5-30 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 system100to run batches of tests unattended is very attractive.

In an example, the autoloader104sequentially delivers vials112via the carousel110and a lifter500(FIGS.5A and5B) to a carriage assembly of the analyzer102(e.g., carriage assembly502;FIGS.5A and5C). The illustrated carriage assembly502of the analyzer102includes a vial retainer504that holds each vial112securely by the cap112b(and optional support protrusion512that provide additional support to a lower surface of the vial). Upon loading the vial112into the carriage assembly, the carriage assembly is moved (along with the loaded vial112) into an interior portion of the analyzer102. This motion causes a fixed needle within the interior portion of the analyzer102to puncture a septum with the cap112bof the vial112, allowing air exchange to measure the overall moisture in the vial112. 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 analyzer102, extracting the needle and returning the vial112to a position outside the analyzer102for removal by the autoloader104and return to the carousel. Finished samples are disposed of, with the possibility of recycling the sample vial, cap, and septum.

The autoloader104holds a plurality of vials112in vial transport stations (16vial transport stations in the illustrated embodiment). In the autoloader104depicted inFIG.1, each vial transport station include a respective radial slot in a carousel110(e.g., slot300;FIG.3A). The carousel110is supported above an inner deck108of the autoloader104. In one example, the inner deck108provides 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 station120or disposal station124). In accordance with this example, the inner deck108forms part of the vial transport station where the inner deck108is present to engage a lower surface of a vial.

The vials112are loaded into respective slots of the carousel110through an opening116in a cover114(when the cover is closed). The cover114limits access to a batch of vials112while the analyzer102/autoloader104are running to eliminate the possibility that vials would be removed or relocated in the carousel110. If the cover114is opened, the electronics402(seeFIG.4A) check that vials are loaded in “active” positions and oriented correctly when subsequently closed.

The autoloader104includes one or more processing stations. In an example, the autoloader104includes a loading station120, a vial detection station122, and a vial disposal station124. The loading station120is a station for use in automatically loading vials112into the analyzer102for analysis and receiving analyzed vials112after analysis. The loading station120is positioned above a vial lifter500(FIG.5A-C) adjacent the analyzer102. The inner deck108includes an opening through which the vial lifter500raises and lower a vial carrier support406(FIGS.5A and5B).

The vial detection station122is a station that detects whether a vial is present at a particular location in the carousel110. In the illustrated embodiment, the vial detection station122is positioned below the opening116when the cover114is closed such that vials can be detected and registered to a particular location in the carousel110when a user places a vial through the opening116into the carousel. The vial disposal station124is a station that disposes of vials. The vial disposal station124is positioned in an area to facilitate disposal, e.g., on an opposite side of the carousel110from the loading station120.

FIG.2Adepicts one example of a vial112in a vertical orientation than may be used with the autoloader104and analyzer106. The vial112includes a vial body112aand a vial cap112b. The illustrated vial112has a height of 2.87 inches and a diameter of 1.08 inches.FIG.2Bdepicts the vial112in a horizontal orientation in which a side of the vial112faces a lower surface. Other vials having other dimensions may also be used with the system. In an example, the vial112is maintained in the horizontal orientation at all times to distribute the sample for heating and exposure to air flow.

FIGS.3A-3Cdepict the carousel110removed from the autoloader104. The carousel110includes slots300for receiving the vials112. In the illustrated embodiment, each slot300is a rectangular opening that extends completely though the carousel110and is longer (e.g., 2.953 inches) than the height of the vial112and wider (e.g., 1.110-1.120 inches) than the width of the vial112such that the carousel110does not support the lower side of the vial112when positioned horizontally within the slot300. Rather, the vial is supported by the surface that is below the carousel110when the carousel110is positioned within the autoloader104(i.e., the inner deck108or other surfaces in the same plane as the inner deck such as the vial carrier support406(FIG.4) in the loading station120and a trap door in the vial disposal station124). Each slot300has a depth that is sized to produce rolling movement of the vial112and to horizontally constrain the vial112within the slot300as the carousel110rotates (e.g., a thickness of 0.67 inches for a 1.08 inch diameter vial). Nominally, the vials112are free to rotate, rolling on the deck108(and over the vial carrier support406and the trap door) as the carousel110rotates—each slot urging its respective vial112in a radially horizontal direction. In an example, each slot300includes at least one side that is angled inward (e.g., by approximately 15 degrees) from bottom to top of the carousel110to reregister the vial112within the slot300as the vial is returned to the carousel110after analysis.

FIG.4Adepicts the autoloader104with the carousel110removed. The inner deck108include an opening for a drive hub400, which supports the carousel110above the inner deck with a small amount of clearance (e.g., approximately 0.1 inches) and rotates the carousel110to reposition the vials112on the surface of the inner deck108. Electronics402within the autoloader104communicate with electronics (not shown) within the analyzer102to control the drive hub and, thereby, the carousel110to selectively position the vials112for loading into the analyzer102and for disposal.

The inner deck108also includes an opening404that, in the illustrated embodiment, is sized and positioned to sequentially correspond with individual slots300of the carousel110as the carousel110is rotated by the hub400. A vial carrier support406in accordance with the illustrated embodiment is sized and positioned to fit within the opening404and support a vial112when a respective slot300passes over the opening404with the vial carrier support406in an upper position. In other embodiments, e.g., where the carousel includes cradles that fully supports the vials (e.g., cradle622;FIG.6B), the opening in the inner deck108may be expanded or the inner deck may be eliminated.

The deck108additionally includes an opening for disposing of the vial in the disposal station124. In one example, the vial detecting station122also includes an opening for receiving a sensor for sensing a vial112. In another example, the sensor is positioned below the deck108without the need for an opening.

FIGS.4B and4Cdepict a top view and a side view of the autoloader104with the cover114in a closed position that is useful for describing vial detection. In an example, a user manually inserts a vial112though an opening116in the cover114into a slot300within the carousel110. A sensor422positioned in the vial detection station122, which is below the opening116, senses the presence of the inserted vial122, which is communicated to the electronics402of the autoloader104for storage and tracking that vial in that particular slot within the carousel. A loading position label424is positioned on the inner deck108to provide the user with information regarding the proper positioning of the vial112within the carousel110.

In one example, the sensor422is 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 cap112bof the vial112being adjacent the sensor422. Since the inductive sensor detects the presence of metal, the vial must be loaded with the cap112bin the correct orientation to register. If it is loaded backwards, the carousel slot will be considered empty, and the lifter500will not try to lower it into the carriage assembly502of the analyzer102.

In use, the vial detection station122is used to perform one or more of the following: (1.) 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), (2) verify presence and proper return orientation after the vial has been analyzed and returned to the carousel, and (3.) check the presence or absence of vials in each slot in the carousel when the main access cover116has been opened and then closed. To check the presence or absence of vials in each slot after the cover114has been opened and closed, the electronics402perform a complete rotation of the carousel with each slot300passing over the vial detection station.

FIG.4Ddepicts a top perspective view andFIGS.4E and4Fdepict side perspective views of the autoloader104with the cover removed that is useful for describing vial disposal. In an example, the electronics402rotate a vial112within the carousel110for disposal to a vial disposal station124. The vial disposal station124includes a trap door440rather than the deck108below the opening300in the carousel110.

FIG.4Edepicts the trap door440in the closed position andFIG.4Fdepicts the trap door440in the open position. When the trap door440is closed, the top surface of the trap door440acts as an extension of the deck108and the vial112is maintained within the carousel. When the trap door440is open, the trap door440moves out of the way, creating an opening442through which the vial112falls. A collection bin (not shown) may be positioned adjacent the opening442to catch the vials112for disposal.

In one example, a vial112is 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.

FIGS.5A-5Cdepict a vial lifter500that raises and lowers the vial carrier support406. A sample vial112is moved into a carriage assembly502of the analyzer102by the vial lifter500, which is driven by a linear actuator. The vial lifter500is positioned and configured such that the carriage assembly502can slide into the analyzer102(“vial sample analysis position”) and out of the analyzer102(“vial loading position”) in a horizontal direction514both when the vial carrier support406is in a raised position above the carriage assembly502and when the vial carrier support406is in a lowered position below the carriage assembly502.

The opening404in the deck108enables the vial112to roll onto the vial carrier support406when the respective slot300aligns with the opening404. A specified vial can be delivered to the vial carrier support406by rotating the carousel110such that the respective slot300in the carousel110aligns with the deck opening404. When the carousel110is rotated, the vial carrier support406is in a raised position, to support the vials112as their respective slots300pass over the opening404in the deck108. The carousel110can rotate continuously, and vials will simply roll over the vial carrier support406. Once the desired vial has been aligned with the opening404, the vial carrier support406is lowered by the vial lifter500to position the vial112in the carriage assembly502of the analyzer102.

The carriage assembly502includes a vial retainer504, a beam508, and a door510. The beam508supports the door510on one side of the carriage assembly502to enable the lifter500to raise/lower the vial carrier support406though an interior of the carriage assembly502while the carriage assembly is in the carriage loading position. The door510has a pair of protrusion512aand512b. The vial retainer504supports one end of the vial112(e.g., by gripping the cap112b) and the pair of protrusions512aand512bsupport the other end of the vial112. The illustrated vial carrier support406includes an extension506to provide addition vial support area. The extension506is sized and positioned to pass between the pair of protrusions512aand512bas the vial carrier support406to raised and lowered.

In operation, to load a vial, the analyzer102slides the carriage assembly502out of an interior portion of the analyzer102into a carriage loading position while the vial carrier support406is raised and supporting a vial112. As the vial carrier support406is lowered from the raised position and passes through a central portion of carriage assembly502, while in the carriage loading position, the vial112is lifted off the vial carrier support406and supported by the vial retainer504and the protrusions512aand512b. With the vial carrier support406below the carriage assembly502, the analyzer102slides the carriage assembly502into the interior portion of the analyzer102for processing and analysis. After the sample within the vial112is analyzed, the process is reversed with the carriage assembly sliding out and the vial carrier support406rising though the central portion of the carriage assembly502to lift the vial off of the protrusions512aand512band return the vial to the entrance of the opening404and its position within the carousel112. The carousel then rotates to bring a subsequent vial into position for loading.

In the illustrated example, the lifter500moves the carrier support at an angle with respect to the analyzer102such that the vial112(in particular, the cap112b) moves toward the vial retainer504of the carriage assembly502as it is lowered. A chamfer surface520assists with guiding the vial112into the vial retainer504to axially register the vial in the correct position within the carriage assembly502. The chamfer surface520may have an angle of between 5 and 20 degrees from vertical. The angled chamfer surface520in combination with the lifter angle assist with engaging the vial to the retainer504. 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 vial112is delivered to the carriage assembly502of the analyzer102and constrained in the retainer504, the vial is pushed onto a needle as it is drawn into the analyzer102and withdrawn from the needle as it is pushed out of the analyzer102. Surfaces on the retainer504engage the cap112bof the vial112at the top of the cap, and the bottom edge of the cap, so that the cap112bis constrained during both opening and closing motions of the carriage assembly502.

The carousel110is driven by a motor with an encoder to keep track of position. An optical sensor may be used to detect notches in the carousel110in order to find the absolute position of the carousel at power up.

The carousel110is removable by the operator, e.g., to enable changing to another carousel that accommodates a different vial size, and to access the analyzer102and autoloader104for calibration or other maintenance. The slots300are sized to allow for the tolerances in vial sizes, but clearance is limited to control the vial position.

FIGS.6A and6Bdepict another example of an autoloader604. The autoloader604includes a carousel610that has multiple cradles622(14in the illustrated embodiment). The carousel610is positioned above a deck608having an opening620through with a lifter500can move a vial carrier support626. The cradles622extend from a central portion of the carousel in pairs (e.g., cradle622and cradle630). Each cradle622includes multiple tines624(four tines624a-din the illustrated embodiment). The vial carrier support626is configured as a skeletal lifter that includes multiple projections626(three projections626a-cin the illustrated embodiment). Each projection626is sized and positioned to extend through clearance slots between adjacent tines624of the cradle622. For example, projection626ais sized and positioned to extend between tine624aand tine624b.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS.6A and6B, each cradle622includes multiple tines with each tine shaped as a slotted vee that carries respective vials112without rolling. A vial112is 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 inFIGS.6A and6B. The vial in location4can be lifted clear of the carousel610, and the carousel rotated clockwise (CW) to an adjacent clear area, so it can be lowered to the carriage. Similarly, a vial in location5can be lifted clear of the carousel610, 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 inFIGS.7A-Eand8. In this configuration, a carousel706has vee-shaped recesses, with a pusher700that extended so that a vial112is moved out of the carousel706to engage a vial carrier support704of a lifter. The illustrated vial carrier support704includes a stopper708that registers the vial112at a proper location on the vial carrier support704. The carousel706may be formed out of sheet metal.

InFIGS.7A-Ea sequence of motions are shown for a carousel706that supports the vials112in vee-shaped recesses802. InFIG.7A, the pusher700moves a vial112on the carousel706radially toward the vial carrier support704of the lifter, which is aligned with the carousel position. InFIG.7B, the pusher700continues to push the vial112onto the vial carrier support704until it reaches a stopper708, which registers the vial112on the vial carrier support704. InFIG.7C, the lifter lowers the vial below the carousel on the vial carrier support704into a carriage assembly of the analyzer102for analysis and the pusher is moved to the opposite side of the vial. After analysis, inFIG.7D, the lifter raises the vial on the vial carrier support704out of the carriage assembly of the analyzer102and back to the level of the carousel706. InFIG.7E, the pusher700(now on the opposite side of the vial) moves the vial112radially from the vial carrier support704back onto the carousel706.

FIG.9depicts a “Ferris wheel” in which vials112are 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 6-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, 12 o'clock).

FIG.10shows 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.

FIGS.11A and11Billustrate the use of a barcode1100(e.g., an 8-digit barcode) to recognize and confirm that the correct samples are loaded. The barcode1100may be positioned on the top face1102of the cap112b. The barcode can be laser-etched into the cap112b. 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 cap112bincludes a septum1204that is pierced by a needle (not shown) of the analyzer102during analysis of the sample within the vial112.

Among other features, the present disclosure describes:A vertical axis carousel that supports a set of vials for delivery to an analyzer that includes examples allowing vials to rotate. Other examples inhibit rolling where it is not desirable.A vertical lifter mechanism that delivers vials to an analyzer, along with fixed camming surfaces that ensure proper axial alignment of the sample vials and engagement with the analyzer.A loading slot position is defined, with a sensor to detect when a vial with metal cap has been loaded in a specific position and is oriented correctly.A pre-test purging algorithm is provided for samples that are sensitive to dwell time in an autosampler.A cover is provided with an interlock, to determine when it is opened. Opening the cover during testing indicates that samples could be disturbed and initiates an integrity check.A horizontal axis carousel positioned over the analyzer, enabling a smaller footprint.

FIGS.12and13are functional block diagrams illustrating general-purpose computer hardware platforms configured to implement the functional examples described with respect toFIGS.1-11as discussed above.

Specifically,FIG.12illustrates an example network or host computer platform1200, as may be used to implement for implementing a server. Specifically,FIG.13depicts an example computer1300with user interface elements, as may be used to implement a personal computer or other type of workstation or terminal device, although the computer1300ofFIG.13may 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.12) includes a data communication interface for packet data communication. The server computer also includes a central processing unit (CPU)1202, in the form of circuitry forming one or more processors, for executing program instructions. The server platform hardware typically includes an internal communication bus1206, program and/or data storage1216,1218, and1220for 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 inFIG.12, the computer system includes a video display unit1210, (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device1212(e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device1214(e.g., a mouse), each of which communicate via an input/output device (I/O)1208. 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 interface1304, CPU1302, main memory1316and1318, one or more mass storage devices1320for storing user data and the various executable programs, an internal communication bus1306, and an input/output device (I/O)1308(seeFIG.13).

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 toFIGS.12and13), 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 toFIGS.12and13), 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 analyzer102or the autoloader104.

FIG.14depicts a flow chart1400of 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 analyzer102and the autoloader104described 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 block1402, the autoloader detects a vial within the autoloader. In an example, electronics402detect a vial positioned within an opening of the carousel110by sensing a cap of the vial (e.g., with a sensor such as a Hall effect sensor). The electronics402may detect the vial above the sensor and store its location in memory when it is positioned within that opening.

At block1404, 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 electronics402of the autoloader104rotate the vial carousel110with respect to the lifter500to align a first transport station of the vial carousel with a loading location120of a vial carrier support. In another example, electronics of the autoloader604rotates the carousel610with respect to the lifter500to align a first transport station with a vial carrier support.

At block1406, 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 electronics402raise the vial carrier support to the raised position prior to rotating the vial carousel110to 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 vial112when the vial carousel110rotates 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 electronics402raise the vial carrier support to the raised position after rotating the vial carousel110to align the first transport station of the vial carousel with the loading location. This results in the vial carrier support lifting the vial112out of the cradle supporting the vial112.

At block1408, 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 carousel610such as illustrated inFIG.6B, when a vial112is positioned in the vial cradle622, the electronics402will rotate the vial carousel a few degrees clockwise to remove the cradle622from the path of the vial carrier support when it is being lowered. For an adjacent cradle630, the electronics402will rotate the vial carousel a few degrees counterclockwise to remove the cradle622from the path of the vial carrier support when it is being lowered

At block1410, the autoloader lowers the vial carrier support from the raised position to the lowered position. In examples where the autoloader rotates the vial carousel (block1408), 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 block1412, the carriage assembly closes and the analyzer analyzes the sample within the vial. At block1414, the carriage assembly opens. After the carriage assembly opens, at block1416, 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 block1418, the vial is disposed of. In an example, the vial112is disposed of by rotating the carousel110to move the vial112to a vial disposal station124and opening a trap door440below the vial112in 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 door440.

Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. 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 10 percent or 10 degrees). For example, orientation terms such as horizontal and vertical are intended to encompass a range of directions, e.g., plus or minus 10 degrees, surrounding the horizontal and the vertical orientations, respectively.

The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow. That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and the prosecution history that follows and to encompass all structural and functional equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirement of sections 101, 102, or 105 of the patent Act, nor should they be interpreted in such a way. Any unintended embracement of such subject matter is hereby disclaimed.

Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.

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.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it is to be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention.