Abstract: A gripper assembly (20) includes a cylinder (22), a deformable gripping portion (210), a piston (24), and an ejector (260). The gripper assembly is suitable for picking and placing a vessel (10) by gripping a gripped portion (102) of the vessel. The gripping portion extends from adjacent an end of the cylinder. The gripping portion has a spring-like property that allows deformation as the vessel is engaged thereby holding the vessel. The piston is slidably disposed inside the cylinder. The ejector includes a head portion (270) adjacent a first end of the ejector and a plunger portion (26) adjacent a second end of the ejector. The head portion of the ejector is slidably disposed inside the cylinder separately from the piston. The plunger of the ejector is partially disposed within the deformable gripping portion for engaging the vessel. The gripper assembly may be used to align an analyzer instrument (800).

Abstract: A gripper assembly (20) includes a cylinder (22), a deformable gripping portion (210), a piston (24), and an ejector (260). The gripper assembly is suitable for picking and placing a vessel (10) by gripping a gripped portion (102) of the vessel. The gripping portion extends from adjacent an end of the cylinder. The gripping portion has a spring-like property that allows deformation as the vessel is engaged thereby holding the vessel. The piston is slidably disposed inside the cylinder. The ejector includes a head portion (270) adjacent a first end of the ejector and a plunger portion (26) adjacent a second end of the ejector. The head portion of the ejector is slidably disposed inside the cylinder separately from the piston. The plunger of the ejector is partially disposed within the deformable gripping portion for engaging the vessel. The gripper assembly may be used to align an analyzer instrument (800).

Abstract: A gripper assembly (20) includes a cylinder (22), a deformable gripping portion (210), a piston (24), and an ejector (260). The gripper assembly is suitable for picking and placing a vessel (10) by gripping a gripped portion (102) of the vessel. The gripping portion extends from adjacent an end of the cylinder. The gripping portion has a spring-like property that allows deformation as the vessel is engaged thereby holding the vessel. The piston is slidably disposed inside the cylinder. The ejector includes a head portion (270) adjacent a first end of the ejector and a plunger portion (26) adjacent a second end of the ejector. The head portion of the ejector is slidably disposed inside the cylinder separately from the piston. The plunger of the ejector is partially disposed within the deformable gripping portion for engaging the vessel. The gripper assembly may be used to align an analyzer instrument (800).

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for joining, by axial movement, inner and outer metal pieces having different hardnesses. The method involves forming the harder piece to have a radial groove in its juncture surface. The harder piece has leading and trailing portions on either side of the radial groove. The leading portion is dimensioned to permit it to slide with respect to the softer piece and the trailing portion is dimensioned for swaging interference with the softer piece. Relative male-female axial movement is imparted to the pieces, thereby urging the junction surface of the softer piece along the leading portion of the harder piece until the softer piece engages the trailing portion of the harder piece. Relative axial force is applied for continued axial movement whereby the softer piece is forced past the groove such that swaging interference causes a portion of the softer piece to be upset into the groove, thereby creating a permanent joint between the pieces.