Patent ID: 8217655

Claim:
A transport device for conveying an object between an input point, where the object is inserted into and removed from the transport device, and a supply point where the object is supplied to a room temperature tube of a cryostat, the object containing an NMR measuring sample and a sample holder, the input point being both horizontally and vertically spaced apart from the supply point, the device comprising: a first transport container disposed at the input point for receiving the object; a first transfer device disposed between the input point and a first transfer point for conveying said first transport container from the input point to the first transfer point; a vertically disposed transport tube for pneumatically conveying the object to be transported within that transport tube from the first transfer point at a lower end of said transport tube, to a second transfer point at an upper end of said transport tube; a second transport container disposed at the second transfer point for receiving the object; and a second transfer device disposed between the second transfer point and the supply point for conveying said second transport container between the second transfer point and the supply point.