US 5,582,796 AGranted

Feed and orientation mechanism in automated analyzer

AssigneeCiba Corning Diagnostics Corp.

InventorsGlen A. Carey, Scott C. Lewis, Mary B. Whitesel

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Abstract

An analyzer for performing automated assay testing. The analyzer includes a storage and conveyor system for conveying cuvettes to an incubation or processing conveyor, a storage and selection system for test sample containers, a storage and selection system for reagent containers, sample and reagent aspirating and dispensing probes, a separation system for separating bound from unbound tracer or labeled reagent, a detection system and date collection/processing system. All of the subunits of the machine are controlled by a central processing unit to coordinate the activity of all of the subunits of the analyzer. The analyzer is specifically suited for performing heterogeneous binding assay protocols, particularly immunoassays.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A feed and orientation mechanism for a cuvette in an analyzer system to assay a test sample, said cuvette is generally rectangular in cross-section and has four side walls, a bottom wall, a top opening and a pair of oppositely extending flanges which extend laterally from two opposite walls of said side walls adjacent said top opening, said feed and orientation mechanism comprising:

(a) a hopper for containing a plurality of cuvettes in a random orientation with respect to each other and to the hopper, said hopper having a top opening, a bottom wall, side, walls and an opening in the bottom wall,
(b) a feeder conveyor which has a section which travels upwardly through the opening in the bottom wall to a first point at the top opening,
(c) a plurality of spaced projections on one flat side of said conveyor, each of said projections being adapted for supporting a cuvette on one of its side walls to a first point at the top opening of said hopper,
(d) an orientation chute which extends downwardly at an angle from said first point to a second point, said orientation chute having a pair of upper parallel slide surfaces which are separated by a slot which has a longitudinal sliding axis for receiving said cuvette from said conveyor belt at said first point so that said flanges of said cuvette are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the slot and are supported on said slide surfaces and said cuvette extends downwardly in said slot to enable said cuvette to slide downwardly on said chute along said axis from said first point to said second point,
(e) an orientation tube which extends vertically downwardly from said second point to a third point, said tube having a bottom opening, a top opening for receiving a cuvette from said orientation chute so that said cuvette falls through said tube to said third point,
(f) an event conveyor for conveying said cuvettes from said third point for subsequent use of said cuvettes by said analyzer, and
(g) control means for coordinating the feeder conveyor and the event conveyor.

4 more elements

A feed and orientation mechanism for a cuvette which is generally rectangular in cross-section and which has four side walls, a bottom wall, a top opening, and a pair of oppositely extending flanges which extend laterally from two opposite walls of said side walls adjacent said top opening, said feed and orientation mechanism comprising:

(a) a hopper for containing a plurality of cuvettes in a random orientation with respect to each other and to the hopper,
(b) a feeder convey or for conveying cuvettes in a substantially prone orientation from said hopper to a first point at a top of said hopper,
(c) an orientation chute which extends at a downward angle from said first point to a second point for guiding cuvettes in a sliding free fall along a sliding axis from said first point to said second point, said cuvettes being suspended by their flanges along said chute so that said cuvettes are substantially upright as they travel from said first point to said second point,
(d) an orientation tube for guiding said cuvettes in an upright orientation in a free fall from said second point to a third point,
(e) an event conveyor for conveying said cuvettes from said third point for subsequent use of said cuvettes, and
(f) control means for coordinating the feeder conveyor and the event conveyor.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/456,992Filed 1 Jun 1995 · division
Priority: 4 Mar 1991
Granted: 10 Dec 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification34 codes

B01L 3/508
Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes: rigid containers without fluid transport within
G01N 21/76
Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated: chemiluminescence;…
G01N 35/021
Using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations: having a flexible chain, e.g.…
G01N 35/025
Using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations: having a carousel or turntable…