Discrete type automated chemical analytic apparatus
AssigneeTokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKiyoshi Yamashita
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A discrete type automated chemical analytic apparatus wherein two reagent nozzles and specimen nozzle supported by the corresponding carrier members in a vertically movable state are so arranged that said nozzles can be intermittently carried lengthwise of the reaction line formed on the endless conveyor belt and also crosswise of said reaction line; and a sample cassette holding a large number of specimens is made movable lengthwise of the conveyor belt independently of the specimen nozzle.
Claims8
A discrete type automated chemical analytic apparatus for continuously analyzing a large number of specimens with respect to a plurality of items of examination comprising:
- conveyor means;
- drive means for moving the conveyor mean in a longitudinal direction;
- at least one row of a plurality of reaction tubes mounted on the conveyor means in its direction of movement and defining a reaction line, the direction in which the reaction line travels being a time axis direction;
- specimen-holding means;
- reaction-holding means;
- specimen discharge means for pipetting a specimen from the specimen-holding means into a selected one of the reaction tubes arranged on the reaction line, said specimen discharge means including specimen nozzle means;
- reagent-discharge means for pipetting a reagent from the reagent-holding means into the selected one of the reaction tubes arranged on the reaction line, said reaction discharge means including reagent nozzle means;
- specimen nozzle-driving means for moving the specimen nozzle means from a point at which the specimen nozzle means faces the specimen-holding means to a point facing the selected one of a reaction tubes on the reaction line;
- reagent nozzle-driving means for moving the reagent nozzle means from a point at which the reagent nozzle means faces the reagent-holding means to a point facing the selected one of the reaction tubes on the reaction line;
- measuring means provided at the terminal end of the reaction line for the analysis of said reacted specimen;
- means for washing and drying the reaction tubes in order to render them ready for a subsequent application;
- specimen nozzle carrier means for supporting the specimen nozzle means for vertical movement;
- said specimen nozzle driving means including first means for moving the specimen nozzle means to a selected point lengthwise of the reaction line in the time axis direction and second means supported by the first means to move the specimen nozzle means to a selected point crosswise of the reaction line whereby to position said specimen nozzle means at a point facing the selected reaction tube;
- reagent nozzle carrier means for supporting the reagent nozzle means for vertical movement;
- said reagent nozzle-driving means including first means for moving the reagent nozzle means to a selected point lengthwise of the reaction line in the time axis direction, and second means supported by the first means to move the reagent nozzle means to a selected point crosswise of the reaction line whereby to position said reagent nozzle means at a point facing the selected reaction tube;
- said reagent-holding means and said specimen-holding means being supported by the first means of the reagent nozzle-driving means and the specimen nozzle-driving means, respectively, to be moved lengthwise of the reaction line in the time axis direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.