An automated sample changer, controlled by gas fluidic circuitry, integrated with a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer provides a means for sequentially transferring samples to and from such spectrometer without an attendant to control such transfer. Such a changer comprises a means for holding a series of samples, a robot arm cooperating with such holding means and disposed in alignment with the sample receiving tube of an NMR spectrometer, a gas fluidic circuit to sense the required action, and a second gas fluidic circuit integrated therewith to provide the energy to make the transfer.
In order to take NMR-spectrograms, it is necessary that the spins of the sample be arranged in a homogeneous magnetic field. For that purpose, NMR-spectrometers have a magnet arrangement (2) in the magnetic field of which is arranged a sampling head (5). When the spin-lattice-relaxation time T.sub.1 of substances to be examined lies in the range of hours, the spectrometer is unusable for hours due to the necessary prepolarization of the sample. The invention is aimed at solving this problem. A sample magazine (11) is arranged in the magnetic field generated by the magnet arrangement (2). It offers the possibility of exposing a larger number of samples to the magnetic field of the magnet (2) while simultaneously carrying out measurements. Since measurements of samples having long spin-lattice-relaxation times T.sub.1 require a considerable time, the capacity of a magazine arranged in the magnetic field is sufficient to ensure a practically continuous operation of the spectrometer, even when samples with long T.sub.1 are analysed. The design of the sample magazine (11) as a rotatable drum (21) arranged in the bore ( 1) of a cryomagnet is particularly appropriate for cryomagnets.
Apparatus and method for sequential provision of a series of similarly configured objects to and from a proximal location such as a device for testing those objects. The objects are provided in a gravity-fed ramp to an open cylindrical container provided with a centrally pivoting rotatable drum. The drum is provided with an indentation configured to receive only one of the objects at a time. The drum is rotatably disposed in the open cylinder about a central pivot to rotatably move the indentation between a first position of the open cylinder at the foot of the walled ramp and a second position of the open cylinder. At the second position, the open cylinder is provided with a drop tube. At the second position, the received object drops into the drop tube and thence into a supply tube that communicates at one of its ends to gravity feed the object to the proximal location where the object is to be utilized. After the received object has been dropped at the second position into the drop tube, but before another such object can be received, the drum is rotated from the second position back to the first position wherein the indentation is at the foot of the ramp. The used object is ejected, by an appropriate force, from the proximal location back into the supply tube and thence to another container for disposed or used objects.
An automatic liquid sample changer for use with a magnetic resonance spectrometer and having separate upper and lower openings in a sample container guide tube to allow a sample container to pass into an analysis area from a superior positioned storage rack, and then subsequently from analysis area into an inferior positioned storage rack, and wherein gravity acts as the means for transporting a sample container through the system. Air bearing or other supports which do not frictionally engage sample container are used to delocalize spin wobble of sample container within sample container guide tube. The first, also acting as a spin drive is proximal to open end of sample container. The second is proximal to the closed end of sample container. A unitary means for sealing, rotor and vortex plug device enhances spectra, aids in reducing wobble and maintains a proper seal of sample container. Economical as well as reliability characteristics are realized as mechanical parts have been minimized and both ejection air and mechanical arms are eliminated.
An adapter is provided for a device which is used to pick up and transport objects. The device has a number of fingers which extend from a hollow piston. The adapter has an engaging portion which is inserted into the piston; a stopping piece for preventing the engaging piece from being inserted too far into the piston; and a receiving piece which has a cavity for receiving an object. The receiving piece and stopping piece each have openings which allow the fingers to pass through and grip the object while in the cavity.
A queue of samples for NMR analysis is disposed within a thermally isolate NMR magnet bore and distal elements of the queue approach thermal equilibrium concurrently with NMR analysis of a sample within the sensitive volume. In one embodiment, a sequence of NMR sample cells within a barrel coaxial with a vertical bore NMR spectrometer are maintained at a selected temperature by a heated gas and the queue of sample cells advances to the analytic position under gravity when the lowest sample cell is displaced from the queue in response to an end-of-analysis signal generated by said spectrometer.
