{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9645161","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9645161","title":"Sample inspection automation system","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2012-09-06T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-05-09T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G01N","G01N","G01N","G01N","G01N","G01N","G01N","G01N"],"num_claims":10,"abstract":"There is provided a sample inspection automation system which uses a single holder as its carrier, which can supply empty holders to a distant processing unit on an extended circling path without delay, and which permits continuous operation in case of a failure through detachment of a failed part for example. The system combining a plurality of processing units has an empty holder circling path with a mechanism to circle empty holders across all processing units within the system in unicursal fashion; stoppers for retaining empty holders on the circling path; and a mechanism for controlling the stoppers on the circling path given an empty holder request from a processing unit. The empty holder circling path is made of a plurality of loops each equipped with the stopper. The sample inspection automation system thus configured supplies empty holders efficiently and simplifies system operation through fallback operation."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Sample inspection automation system","description":"There is provided a sample inspection automation system which uses a single holder as its carrier, which can supply empty holders to a distant processing unit on an extended circling path without dela","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9645161","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9645161","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Sample inspection automation system\" (US-9645161). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9645161","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9645161","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9645161","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T10:34:38.528Z"}