Apparatus for optically evaluating colorimetric coloration zones on a carrier to automatically detect gaseous and/or vaporous components of a gas mixture

An arrangement for colorimetrically detecting a gaseous and/or vaporous component of a gas mixture, the arrangement comprising:

• a plate-shaped reagent device including:
• a carrier having transparent regions;
• a reagent carrier foil mounted in said carrier and likewise having a transparent region;
• a color indicator containing reagents for entering into a color reaction with said component;
• said color indicator being disposed on said reagent carrier foil along a predetermined path thereon to define a reaction zone having a predetermined width;
• and, access means for facilitating the passage of said gas mixture to said reaction zone to permit said component to enter into a color reaction with said color indicator in said reaction zone;
• and,
• an apparatus for detecting said component with reference to the coloration of said reaction zone, the apparatus including:
• a housing for receiving said reagent device therein at a measuring position wherein said reaction zone can be measured;
• radiation emitting transmitter means mounted on said housing for emitting radiation;
• said carrier having a data field formed thereon and being receivable in said housing at a read-in position wherein the data of said data field can be read in;
• light conducting means optically coupled to said transmitter means and having an emitter surface below said reagent device opposite said reaction zone when said reagent device is in said measuring position and opposite said data field when said reagent device is in said read-in position;
• receiver means mounted above said reaction zone so as to be optically coupled to said emitter surface for receiving said radiation transmitted through said reaction zone and said data field;
• said transmitter means including:
• a first transmitter for emitting a first radiation required to transilluminate said reaction zone and for making measurements along said reaction zone when said reagent device is in said measuring position;
• and, a second transmitter for emitting a second radiation to transilluminate said data field when said reagent device is in said read-in position;
• said receiver means including a plurality of detectors defining a detector array corresponding to said path of said reaction zone;
• a data field diaphragm interposed between said receiver means and said emitter surface;
• said data field diaphragm defining a plane and having a diaphragm slit formed therein so as to extend in correspondence to said data field as well as to said detector array;
• said data field diaphragm being made of a material transmittent for said first radiation and opaque to said second radiation;
• a measuring field diaphragm having a plurality of measuring slits formed therein extending perpendicularly to said diaphragm slit of said data field diaphragm;
• said measuring field diaphragm being disposed in a plane parallel to said plane of said data field diaphragm and being interposed between said data field diaphragm and said receiver means;
• said measuring slits corresponding in number to the number of said detectors and each of said measuring slits having a length corresponding to said width of said reaction zone;
• and,
• said measuring field diaphragm being made of a material opaque to said first radiation as well as to said second radiation.