Patent ID: 8647594

Claim:
A plate handler system for a sampling device with a drawtube comprising: a vertical actuation system configured to couple to the sampling device and adjust a vertical distance between the drawtube and a sample tray; a horizontal linkage system coupled to the vertical actuation system and configured to positions the sample tray in a horizontal plane, comprising: a base arm that rotates about a base arm joint, the base arm joint of the horizontal linkage system is coupled to the vertical actuation system and the base arm joint is concentric with a vertical actuation axis of the vertical actuation system; and a sample arm that receives the sample tray and that rotates about a sample arm joint coupled to the base arm, the sample arm joint is coupled to a distal portion of the base arm; and a drive system comprising a first drive motor that is coupled to the base arm and a second drive motor that is coupled to the sample arm, wherein the drive system is configured to independently rotate the base arm and the sample arm into a first configuration to position any a first sample of the sample tray between the drawtube and the sample arm and configured to independently rotate the base arm and the sample arm from the first configuration directly into a second configuration to position a second sample of the sample tray between the drawtube and the sample arm.