| 摘要 |
<p>An automatic sample feeder system (10) for handling suspended samples is disclosed, and is particularly useful in connection with a sedimentation particle size analyzer. The system is capable of dispersing a particulate sample into suspension without preliminary sample preparation, maintaining a sample in suspension at the time of delivery of the sample to an analyzer, consistently delivering an acceptable concentration of a suspended sample, and cleaning and flushing its components between samples to avoid contamination. In the disclosed embodiment, sample beakers are arrayed on a rotatable tray (12), and a sample preparation and delivery assembly (15) consisting of an ultrasonic probe (80), a stirrer blade (75), and a dip tube (85) are indexed into position over the beakers (14) in a preprogrammed sequence, and lowered into the beaker (14) for preparation and withdrawal of the sample. The components are rinsed by directing clear liquid back through the dip tube (85) onto the rotating stirrer blade (75), scattering the liquid.</p> |
