Patent ID: 8801632

Claim:
A meter system, comprising: a supply magazine storing one or more test elements in a stacked manner; a meter having a load cavity; a transport mechanism to transfer the test elements from the supply magazine to the load cavity of the meter, the transport mechanism including a shuttle defining a test element opening in which the test elements are received, the shuttle being configured slide from a first position where the element opening is disposed over the magazine to a second position where the test element opening is disposed over the load cavity, and a stabilizer arm configured to hold the test elements in the test element opening during sliding of the shuttle, the stabilizer arm being configured to push the test elements into the load cavity of the meter when the shuttle is at the second position; the magazine having an outlet opening, and a spring biasing the test elements towards the outlet opening of the magazine; and the stabilizer arm being configured to apply a force against the test elements in the magazine that is less than a force applied against the test elements by the spring of the magazine to facilitate loading of the test elements into the test element opening of the shuttle.