AUTOMATIC SAMPLING ARRANGEMENT

摘要

In automatic sampling arrangements for supplying liquid samples to analytical instruments, it is convenient to have the samples in open bottles (21) in circular ranks (16), (17) in a turntable (1) indexed in rotation under a sampling mechanism (27). It is desirable to maintain the turntable horizontal while being inserted into a compartment (4) containing the sampling mechanism and a turntable drive assembly (24). Also, for easy operation, it is desirable that the turntable need not be registered accurately in the compartment. The arrangement is constructed so that the turntable is inserted, via an aperture (6) into the compartment in a direction perpendicular to its axis of rotation. The turntable is located by three bearing surfaces (29), (31) and (24) which engage the circumference of the turntable, the driving assembly (24) being one of the bearing surfaces and also engaging the circumference to rotate the turntable. One of the bearing surfaces (31) is movable from a first position in which it engages the circumference to a second position clear of the aperture to allow insertion or withdrawal of the turntable.