Method and apparatus for automatically performing series analyses
AssigneeBodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer & Co., GmbH
InventorEberhard Konig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Automatic sample preparation method and apparatus for making successive measurements with an analyzer by picking up with a single stepwise movable metering probe, in a first measuring cycle, a sample for measurement from a sample container and a small volume of air; introducing this sample and the air into the inlet of the analyzer; picking up with the same metering probe, in a secondary measuring cycle, a sample for measurement from the same sample container and a small volume of air, and picking up with said metering probe a metered quantity of liquid additive and a second small volume of air; and thence introducing said sample, said liquid additive and said air picked up in the secondary measuring cycle into the inlet of the analyzer.
Claims23
A method for making successive measurements with an analyzer comprising, for each complete cycle of operation, in controlled sequence, the steps of:
- picking up with a single stepwise movable metering probe, in a first measuring cycle, a sample for measurement from a sample container and a small volume of air;
- introducing said sample and the small volume of air into the inlet of said analyzer;
- picking up with said metering probe, in a secondary measuring cycle, a sample for measurement from said sample container and a small volume of air, and picking up with said metering probe a metered quantity of liquid additive and a second small volume of air;
- introducing said sample, said liquid additive and said air picked up in said secondary measuring cycle into the inlet of said analyzer.
Automatic sample preparation apparatus for making successive measurements with an analyzer comprising, in combination;
- a base plate;
- a rotatable table for receiving a plurality of sample containers mounted for rotation on said base plate, means for controlling the advance of said table in a stepwise manner in accordance with the number of measuring cycles in a complete cycle of operation;
- a rinse fluid container mounted on said base plate;
- a liquid additive container mounted on said base plate adjacent said rinse fluid container;
- means mounting said base plate for pivotal movement between a fixed stop member and a variable stop means, respectively;
- a metering probe having a capillary tip, means mounting said probe for pivotal movement about two mutually normal axes to dip said tip into said containers one at a time and into an inlet of said analyzer;
- pumping means including a stepping motor for passing rinse fluid through said metering probe to said rinse container and for picking up metered quantities of liquid in said capillary tip from said sample containers and from said liquid additive container for delivery to said inlet of the analyzer;
- and
- central control means for coordinating the movement of said base plate, rotatable table, metering probe and pumping means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.