Apparatus and methods for dispensing sample holders

摘要

An apparatus and methods for dispensing sample holders for use in an automated sample analyzer is disclosed herein. The apparatus for dispensing sample holders includes a rotating carousel for housing stack of sample holders. Stacks of sample holders from the rotating carousel are fed into a chute where sample holders contact a set of rotating members having helical threads thereon. The helically threaded rotating members engage the sample containers and separate each sample holder from the remaining sample holders in the stack by rotation of the helically threaded rotating members. The sample holder can then be transferred for use in an automated sample analyzer.

主权项

1. A device for releasing a cuvette from a stack of cuvettes releasably joined to one another, said device comprising:
a support member for receiving a said stack of said releasably joined cuvettes; a first releasing member comprising a taper and a second releasing member, said first releasing member comprising a first helical thread and said second releasing member comprising a second helical thread, each of said first releasing member and said second releasing member having a first end and a second end, said support member being positioned to introduce the stack of said releasably joined cuvettes least between said first releasing member and said second releasing member, wherein the widest part of the first releasing member is the first end or the second end of the first releasing member and wherein said first and second releasing members rotate and cooperate thereby releasing one of said releasably joined cuvettes from said stack of cuvettes.