Chromatography Forum

Chemstation version 06.03
HP5980 series II, version 2.00
HP 7673A Turret
HP 18594A (7673A controller)
HP 18596A 100 vial Autosampler tray/Gripper arm

Our university has recently obtained a 2nd hand turret, tray and controller and after connecting it to our 5890GC I cannot get the gripper arm to place the vial in the turret. The turret appears to work fine.

The gripper finds the vial from the tray, then tries to deliver it to the turret. However the gripper dispenses the vial approx 6cm to the left and 6cm in front of the turret. The gripper returns the vial to the tray and repeats the same action and then an error is flagged.

I have tried the turret in both Front and Back positions (changing the controller and GC accordingly) but the gripper always lowers the vial in front and to the left of the turret.

Is the gripper faulty or can I align it manually using software or brute force!

Any ideas welcomed

It sounds like you already know to turn off the control box power when swapping the cable from front injector to rear injector, and know that the injector faces one way for front position and rotated 90 degrees for the rear position.

I would think if the arm guide rods were dirty, inhibiting movement, that you'd get a red error message. Those guide rods are not lubed, just cleaned with a wipe and alcohol, after removing the two end screws of the arm from underneath, then unscrewing the arm covers (note how it all comes apart, so you can get it together.

When that same arm was used with a 1050 HPLC, there were instructions on how to align it with the 21-position tray. Our computer was stoooopid, so we had to do this about every two years, apparently it would forget. We also had to break a little of the auosampler housing away so the arm wouldn't hit that. You could try to call Agilent at 800-227-9770 for free telephone help, but realize that your tray/arm/autosampler are likely techically out of support, so it might depend upon who they assign to speak with you. If you have a decent relationship with your local Agilent tech engineer, he/she may know. when I get to work I'll see if there's anything in my 7673 operating and service manuals.

I used this type of autosampler over 10 years ago (different lab, different country), but I almost sure I did the "teaching" procedure.

During that process tray arm takes vial, goes to the "insert vial into turret" position, but does not lower the vial, instead it stops and unblocks the mechanics allowing to turn the arm left and right - so the arm can be positioned right above the well in the turret. Then the position is memorised.

Of course I can not remember how it was done and the manual I found on the internet does not mention it. Try to look for this in the manual You (hopefuly) have.

Thanks for the previous posts.

Unfortunately I dont have a manual. Looked online for one without success at chem.agilent.

Reluctant to call Agilent engineer at £160 per hour if I can fix it myself.

FYI, one of the controller controller starts blinking red twice after the first attempt of the gripper arm.

The arm appears to be fully controlled i.e at no point does it appear to unlock the mechanics to allow manual adjustment. When it reaches what it thinks is the turret position, it lowers the vial (as there is no turret to dislodge the vial from the gripper arm) and then raises and returns the vial and tries again once more.

Could Chemstation 6.03 be too advanced for the Turret/Controller config?. Also Forgot to mention that the computer is Windows NT.

Lee

I was using a 5890 on A.06.03 myself yesterday, but my control box and injector are "B" versions; that computer is Windows 95. On this unit when I start ChemStation I get a "window" when loading that says the "A" version of autosampler is not supported - so I click OK (no other choice), and I'm using the "B" autosampler stuff anyway, and it operates normally. So maybe it really doesn't "like" the "A" versions, maybe you could dummy down the Windows and the ChemStation version for the "A" sampler. We recently received an "A" version of injector and control box from a production facility; it mounts differently, and only one of our GCs has the dual mounting plate in it, so we haven't tried them on our systems.

Here's a thought - how many vials will you have at a time? One can remove the tray circuit board from the control box and inject up to three vials from just the injector. There are little plastic inserts to place into some of the turret positions if you want to try that, if you have only a few vials at a time. In that case you call the sample numbers 101, 102, 103. When you turn on the GC. control box, and ChemStation, the computer will "know" that.

Been a while but here goes. As I remember the tray and gripper mounted to an adapter plate that screws onto the gc. Make shure the the plate is alligned correctly. There should be 2 plastic round thingies that slip over the injectors to align the plate. After doing this make sure the sample tray is "locked" in. Early models had a wire underneath to lock in, while newer models use the 2 posts on top. You have to lift up on them and a pin slips into a slot on the sample tray. I know this sounds confusing, but if you look at the instrument it should make sense.
Also when the tower is installed it needs to be turned a few degrees to lock it in as well.

4footsnake,

Assuming red and yellow off on the tower, and green on the tower; 2 single flashes on the controller means

"Bottle left in gripper after delivery attempt. Bottle switch on when gripper is empty."

The two red flashes make perfect sense in light of the fact that the bottle is not delivered (and removed) from the gripper arm.

You can run a tray diagnostics if you think that will help. I can post info on this if you are interested.

Also, I can recommend someone in the US who repairs these for a very reasonable rate if you are interested (not me....)

aicmm at flash.net

Best regards,

AICMM

We had the problem you described when the tray was reattached after repair for a different problem and what bigbear described was the cause of it. As I remember, you have to lift up on the "plastic round thingies) to get the tray in the proper alignment.

We had the problem you described when the tray was reattached after repair for a different problem and what bigbear described was the cause of it. As I remember, you have to lift up on the "plastic round thingies) to get the tray in the proper alignment.

Good point: is the tray locked in by pulling up the two spring-loaded retainers so that they drop into their locking spots?

Like I stated earlier: if you just have three or less vials, just try the injector only and no tray.

Back from Hols.

When I installed the 100 vial tray and the supporting metal plate, I thought it was it one integral unit. Both 'plastic thingies' were approx 3cm to the right of the tray and I assumed that the turret lead was to be wrapped around one of these mounts.

After reading your replies, I gave the tray a forceful shove to the right, it was stiff but moved sufficently to be located under both mounts.

Gripper arm now dispenses the vial into the turet so autosampler now working!!

Many thanks for your replies

4footsnake,

Assuming red and yellow off on the tower, and green on the tower; 2 single flashes on the controller means

"Bottle left in gripper after delivery attempt. Bottle switch on when gripper is empty."

Side question:

Can anyone tell me where to find a list of the turret light error codes? I have searched Agilent's website as well as the manuals we have and cannot find any useful info. It's like some maddening, colorful Morse code some days...

Thanks!

See http://www.chem.agilent.com/Library/use ... -90107.pdf

see pages starting with 130 of the manual (138 of the file)

http://www.chem.agilent.com/en-US/Searc ... 5&liid=104

Thanks a bunch!