Patent ID: 7019526

Claim:
A nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus comprising: a magnet which produces a magnetic field for applying to a nuclear resonance sample; a nuclear magnetic resonance probe positioned within a bore of said magnet, a sample passageway extended via said probe, said passageway comprising a sample exchange region; a sample holder, which holds and loads the sample into said probe; and a sample catcher mounted onto the sample passageway within the exchange region latching said sample holder being ejected from said probe for sample removal or reloading, said sample catcher comprising: a first cylindrical body having a cylindrical bore therein and a slot extending through a wall thereof, and a latch mechanism disposed within said slot and comprising an arm, a mechanical pivot turning said arm within said slot, and a limit pin, which limits a rotational range of said arm, said arm is moved towards said sample holder under a force of gravity traversing said slot into the sample passageway when the sample holder is ejected to the sample exchange region.