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CELL-DYN
®
3200 System Operator’s Manual
13-19
9140181H—October 2001
Section 13
Sample Loader
Sample Loader Operation
Prior to activating the Sample Loader, racks containing tubes to be processed
should be placed on the load side of the Sample Loader (refer to Figure 13.8).
Sample Loader Cycle
The following sequence is a basic description of the events that occur from the time
that the instrument is turned ON through the complete processing cycle. During the
cycle, the number of tube racks is monitored by optical interrupt sensors located on
the Transport Mechanisms.
NOTE:
The Sample Loader can operate with any number of racks, the minimum
being one.
1. The Sample Loader is initialized each time the instrument is turned ON, each
time the instrument is re-initialized, and each time it completes a cycle (at
least one rack has moved through the Mixing and Aspiration Stations and no
more racks are detected on the load side).
2. When the Sample Loader has been initialized and is in the READY state, the
message
READY
is displayed in the Status Box.
3. When the
[START LOADER]
key in the
RUN
screen is pressed, the Sample
Loader pushes the rack(s) on the load side closest to the Analyzer.
a. As the rack advances, the sensor at Mixing Station 1 searches for a tube.
b. Even if there are no tubes present in the rack, the Transport Mechanism
continues to move the rack under the Tower Cover until a sample tube is
sensed in Mixing Station 1.
c. If a sample tube is detected, the mixing and vent/aspiration mechanisms
will process the sample.
4. The Mixing Head moves down, picks up the tube, and begins mixing it.
5. The sample is mixed by 135° rotation in both Mixing Stations for
approximately 40 seconds. The total mixing time for each sample is
approximately 80 seconds.
NOTE:
Tubes with more than three layers of labels on them or with label
flaps sticking out can cause problems for the Mixing Assembly.
The assembly may not be able to pick the tube up because the labels
cause the tube to stick to the rack. The assembly may also have
trouble fitting the tube back into the rack for the same reason.