A rotary plate (1) of a centrifuge (2) having a pivoting plate (3) mounted thereon is provided, to carry out a rotational and/or pivoting movement of the pivoting plate (3) relative to the rotary plate (1). This allows the rotary plate (1) to be drivable by a drive (5) rotationally decoupled from the rotary plate (1).

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

Centrifuge rotor comprising a rotor assembly adapted for centrifugal rotation around a rotation centre axis, with a plurality of centrifuge tube beds, each with a longitudinal axis, wherein each centrifuge tube bed comprises a tubular cavity which is defined by a cavity sidewall and a cavity bottom which together act as a bearing surface for the outer surface of a centrifuge tube when received in said centrifuge tube bed, wherein at least one of the plurality of cavity bottoms comprises at least one extraction aperture, which connects the tubular cavity to the exterior of the rotor assembly, preferably wherein at least one closure device is removably fastened to the rotor assembly to seal each of the at least one extraction apertures in an airtight manner.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

A centrifugal processing unit for directing the movement of substances within a sample processing cartridge having a rotor for receiving the sample processing cartridge, a rotor drive to create a centrifugal force, the centrifugal processing unit having a pivot accommodation and a fix accommodation for receiving the sample processing cartridge that are arranged on the rotor, where each pivot accommodation being adapted to allow a free pivoting motion of the received sample processing cartridge about a respective pivot axis, and each pivot axis being orthogonal to the rotor axis to the respective force vector of the centrifugal force.

A centrifuge has a hollow shell and a rotor supported by the shell. A motor is coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor relative to the shell. Plural receptacles are formed in the rotor and respective tube holders are pivotably mounted in respective receptacles in a vertical orientation. The tube holders hold one or more test tubes containing material to be centrifuged, and the tube holders pivot within their receptacles to a horizontal orientation under the influence of spinning the rotor. The rotor can be formed with a top surface into which the receptacles are established, with the tube holders (and test tubes) being substantially completely below the top surface in the horizontal orientation to reduce friction with the air while spinning.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

A piston for centrifugation according to an embodiment may comprise: a piston body including an inner body surface; a valve including an outer valve surface and a recess part; and an inner sealing part which is positioned at the recess part, is in contact with the inner body surface, is configured to space the outer valve surface apart from the inner body surface, and is configured to, at the time of centrifugation, seal a gap between the inner body surface and the outer valve surface.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.