Analysis slide positioning apparatus and method for a chemical analyzer
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJohn A. Quenin, Johannes J. Porte, Raymond F. Jakubowicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chemical analyzer providing an analysis slide positioning apparatus and method for properly aligning a test slide relative to a sample dispenser of the chemical analyzer. The slide positioning apparatus is capable of moving the slide in three different planes of movement for effecting alignment of the slide and to control fluid application thereto. The positioning apparatus includes a platform which supports the slide, a mechanism for moving the slide on the support in a first direction, and a drive mechanism for moving the platform and the slide carried thereon in second and third directions extending perpendicular to each other and to the first direction.
Claims21
A chemical analyzer including an incubator, at least one read station disposed adjacent to one side of the incubator, a sample fluid dispenser station which is constructed so as to provide the formation of pendant fluid drops, and an apparatus for aligning and vertically positioning test slides having geographically different fluid deposit zones relative to the sample fluid dispenser station to control fluid application to said slides, said apparatus comprising:
- a movable platform defining a guideway leading to said incubator, said guideway defining a support for a slide beneath said sample fluid dispenser station to allow a pendant fluid drop to be deposited upon a fluid deposit zone of said slide;
- linearly reciprocal means for moving said slide in a linear direction in said guideway toward said incubator and in a manner positioning said slide relative to said sample fluid dispenser station so as to dispense fluid thereon;
- and
- cam driven means for moving said platform and the slide carried thereby in only two directions extending generally perpendicular to each other and to the linear direction of said slide relative to said sample fluid dispenser station in a manner controlling fluid application to said slide.
A method of depositing fluid from fluid dispensing means onto a test slide which comprises
- (a) locating the slide on a platform by moving said slide in a first direction onto said platform;
- (b) moving the platform in only two directions one of which is perpendicular to said first direction;
- and the other of which is perpendicular to said first and second directions to locate the slide under the fluid dispensing means;
- and
- (c) dispensing fluid onto the slide.
In slide positioning apparatus for automatically positioning analysis slides in an analyzer relative to a sample dispenser to control the application of sample fluid to said slides, the slide positioning apparatus comprising a movable platform for supporting an analysis slide thereon, and slide transfer means for positioning a slide on said platform relative to the sample dispenser in a first direction;
- the improvement wherein said apparatus includes a carrier assembly mounted for moving said platform in only two other directions, extending generally perpendicular to said first direction and generally perpendicular to one another, to position said slide carried by said platform relative to said sample dispenser, and means controlling said slide transfer means to alter slide positioning in said first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.