Automatic chemical testing apparatus incorporating improved conveyor system
AssigneeHycel, Inc.
InventorJohn J. Moran
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an automatic chemical testing apparatus, a reaction loop conveyor carries rows of reaction containers in a path including an upper, forward path in a direction normal to the rows. Samples for analysis are provided to the reaction conveyor from a sample source. An improved system is provided in which sample source means synchronized with the reaction conveyor index successive sample containers to an aspiration station adjacent to one row in the forward path of the reaction conveyor. The sample source means may be a sample conveyor consisting of sample container holders linked together.
Claims18
In a chemical testing apparatus including reaction means having a plurality of sections defining rows and each containing a plurality of reaction containers therein, said rows extending in a transverse direction and being mounted for movement in a longitudinal direction in a forward path from a beginning thereof at which aliquots of samples are dispensed into reaction containers in a first section through the forward path to readout means at which reacted contents of reaction containers are analyzed, an aspiration station transversely displaced from said reaction means and in longitudinal registration with said first section, sample source means including a plurality of sample holders, each sample holder for moving a sample, sample indexing means for indexing said sample holders to successive positions in said sample source means, means mounting said sample source means such that one position thereof is at said aspiration station, drive means for driving said sample indexing means, and control means coupled to said drive means for indexing said sample holders in synchronism with indexing of said sections in said reaction means.
In a chemical testing apparatus including an endless loop reaction conveyor mounted in a predetermined spatial relationship to a housing, said reaction conveyor comprising a plurality of sections, each section extending in a transverse direction for movement in a longitudinal direction, and reaction containers supported in each of said sections, and means for aspirating a sample at an aspiration station and delivering to one section aliquots of the sample, the improvement comprising means defining the aspiration station transversely displaced from said reaction conveyor and in longitudinal registration with said one section, a sample conveyor mounted to said housing and comprising a plurality of means for holding samples, means for indexing said sample conveyor, said sample conveyor being mounted such that one position to which said means for holding samples are individually indexed is at said aspiration station, and control means for synchronizing indexing of said reaction conveyor and said sample conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.