Inventors:
Christopher F. Carney - Wilmington DE, US
Fred L. Ferguson - Wilmington DE, US
John R. Reader - Newark DE, US
Weidong Liu - West Chester PA, US
Jay A. Crosby - Newark DE, US
Assignee:
TA Instruments-Waters, LLC - New Castle DE
International Classification:
G01N 2520
G05B 1904
B25J 1500
US Classification:
422 64, 422 51, 422 63, 422 67, 422100, 31856822, 700255, 901 33, 901 38
Abstract:
The invention relates to an automatic sampler device. According to one aspect, the automatic sampler includes a cell having a sample platform and a reference platform; a sample tray; and a sample arm. The sample tray has wells into which sample pans and reference pans are inserted. The geometry of the automatic sampler device permits the sample platform, the reference platform, and the wells in the sample tray to be accessed by the sample arm along a common arc. According to another aspect, the automatic sampler device includes a sample tray with wells, a sample arm, and a gripper device. The gripper device has gripping fingers. The gripping fingers open or close in a manner that tends to center objects grasped by the gripper device. According to another aspect, the automatic sampler device includes a sample tray with wells, a sample arm, and a gripper device. The sample arm has an optical sensor and an electrical sensor.