Patent ID: 7873143

Claim:
A sample cell insertion and removal apparatus, in combination with a sample cell, for an x-ray analysis instrument, the apparatus comprising: a horizontally sliding frame; and a sample cell carriage movably mounted to the sliding frame, the sample cell carriage including an area to hold a sample cell; wherein upon sliding into and out of the instrument, the sample cell carriage is moved horizontally and vertically into and out of an analysis position; wherein the sample cell comprises: an outer body forming a sample reservoir therein; a directional fill valve disposed in an upper end of the outer body and forming an upper end of the sample reservoir, the fill valve for accepting a sample during filling, and preventing sample leakage while providing venting after filling; and a film covering a lower edge of the outer body, and forming a bottom end of the sample reservoir, the film for presenting the sample to an analysis focal spot of the x-ray analysis instrument.