Gas-heated laboratory annealing assembly for inoculation eyelets has optical sensor signalling completion of annealing process

摘要

A rotating assembly automatically anneals laboratory inoculation eyelets. The assembly has fixed optical sensors (14) detecting occupancy or vacancy of the socket holders. The automatically-controlled turntable moves under power to present each eyelet in turn to a gas flame. The assembly especially has an annealing sensor (18) which detects a visible electromagnetic emission from the eyelet (12) in the gas flame (6). The control unit emits an acoustic and/or optical warning signal if an annealing signal is not emitted within a pre-determined time lapse or a pre-determined maximum time lapse. An another embodiment, the control system emits no signal until the annealing sensor (18) detects the requisite emission. The sensor (18) detects emissions from within a limited zone located directly under the locknut (13) which retains the eyelet (12) and associated stem in the holder. The holder (11) is held at an angle of between 7[deg] and 11[deg] to the vertical. The optical sensors (14) also detect direction of rotation and are protected by a heat shield (19). The turntable has an optical display (24, 25) indicating which socket has an annealed and cooled inoculation eyelet. The assembly is used in association with a laboratory gas burner (1) also linked to the control system.