Patent ID: 7053373

Claim:
A tablet holding wheel for a spectrometer comprising: (a) a tablet wheel base having a plurality of transmission openings therein arranged in a circular pattern around a central axis of the base, the base rotatable about its central axis; (b) grippers adjacent to each of the transmission openings that are movable inwardly and outwardly over the transmission openings such that the grippers when moved inwardly can engage a tablet over each transmission opening; and (c) a cam ring mounted to the tablet wheel base and rotatable with respect to the base about the central axis of the base in two opposite rotational directions, the cam ring being operatively engaged with the grippers to move the grippers outwardly in one direction of rotation of the cam ring and to move the grippers inwardly in the other direction of rotation of the cam ring, whereby the grippers can engage and hold tablets over the transmission openings.