| 摘要 |
<p>Inter alia, in a system for installing, from a supply of disposable probe tips, one such probe tip on a probe sample by an automated fluid analyzer system and for removing the tip after each use to allow a fresh tip to be installed, a mechanism for making a fresh supply of tips (12) available in a carrier tray (10) and for receiving and disposing of empty carrier trays (10). Multiple probe tip trays (10), each having a base (14), a lid (16) and holding an array of tips (12) are stacked within a chute (22) of the mechanism. A pair of arms (24) are swung up from a substantially vertical position to a horizontal position beneath the chute (22). An associated latch (48) engages the lid of the lowermost tray (10) within the chute (22) while tray guides (40), which hold the trays (10) within the chute (22), separate to release the lowermost tray (10) onto the pair of arms (24). A delivery rack (32) associated with the analyzer system receives the lowermost tray base (14) from the pair of arms (24) by engaging the tray base (14) with a pair of clips. The rack (32) then removes the base (14), and the probes thereon, to the analyzer system. The pair of arms (24) meanwhile lower and dump the lid (16) into a waste receptacle or disposal chute. The delivery rack (32) thereafter returns and empty base (14) to the parallel arms (24), which similarly dump the empty base into the waste receptacle or disposal chute. The cycle is repeated by removing the next tray from the chute. <IMAGE></p> |
