Method and apparatus for transporting sample plates between chambers of a mass spectrometer
US9214323B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 2014 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J49/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A sample plate handling system for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a sample plate for supporting samples for analysis. A first sample plate receiver is positioned in a first chamber. First and second sample plate receivers are positioned in a second chamber. A first gate valve isolates the first and second chambers when closed and allows transfer of sample plates between the first sample plate receiver in the first chamber and one of the first and second sample plate receivers in the second chamber when the first gate valve is open. A first linear extender pushes a sample plate from the first sample plate receiver in the first chamber to the first sample plate receiver positioned in the second chamber, and then retracts a second sample plate from the second sample plate receiver positioned in the second chamber and transports the second sample plate to the first sample plate receiver in the first chamber. A first sample plate receiver is positioned in a third chamber. A second gate valve isolates the third chamber from the second chamber when closed and allows transfer of sample plates between the first sample plate receiver in the third chamber and one of the first and…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.