Patent ID: 7217391

Claim:
A rotary incubation station of an automated analyzer, comprising: a. a platform; b. a generally circular ring-shaped outside rotary wheel having a plurality of nesting locations for washing and reading vessels; c. means for positioning said outside rotary wheel on said platform, allowing said outside rotary wheel to rotate; d. a generally circular disc-shaped inside rotary wheel having a plurality of nesting locations for incubation and storage of said vessels; e. means for positioning said inside rotary wheel on said platform inside said outside rotary wheel, allowing said inside rotary wheel to rotate; f. first spur gear mechanism for rotating said outside rotary wheel including a plurality of spur gear teeth on the inner periphery of the outside rotary wheel, wherein the first spur gear means allows accurate control of the rotation of said outside rotary wheel; g. second spur gear mechanism for rotating said inside rotary wheel independent of the rotation of said outside rotary wheel, the second spur gear mechanism comprising a plurality of spur gear teeth on the outer periphery of the inside rotary wheel and allowing accurate control of the rotation of said inside rotary wheel; and h. two pick and place assemblies assembly for transferring said vessels between the inside rotary wheel and outside rotary wheel.