Method and gripping device for automatically transferring a sample container from a storing location to an analysis location, and use of said device

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and gripping device for automatically transferring from a storing location to an analysis location a sample container having first and second opposite ends and containing the sample adjacent said second end, and to a use of such a gripping device for submitting this sample to X-ray beams in a diffractometer. The method of the invention comprises gripping in said storing location the container (2) at said first end (3) thereof, the container then occupying a storing position, and bringing the container to a substantially flipped over position for subsequently positioning the container onto said analysis location, and this method comprises reversibly overturning the container while continuously gripping said first end during its transfer, and vice versa. The gripping device of the invention comprises two longitudinal gripping heads (20) ending with jaws (11, 21), one of which is a rotary driving jaw (21) for the container under the control of control means (23) accommodated inside the corresponding driving gripping head (20).