Automated analyzer with reagent agitating device

Apparatus for depositing sample and reagent into each of a plurality of cuvettes conveyed along an event path in an automated analyzer to assay a test sample, said analyzer having an event conveyor for conveying said plurality of cuvettes serially along said event path, said apparatus for depositing including a vertical sample dispense axis and a vertical reagent dispense axis which is spaced from and downstream of said sample dispense axis, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) sample transport and selection means for supporting a plurality of sample containers, each container containing a different liquid sample to be analyzed and for selectively positioning any one of said sample containers at a vertical sample aspirating axis which is spaced from said sample dispense axis,
• (b) sample probe transport means for supporting a sample probe for selective vertical movement between an upper position and a lower dispense and aspirating positioned horizontal movement between said sample aspirating axis and said sample dispense axis for aspirating a volume of sample from a sample container at said sample aspiration axis and depositing said volume of sample into a cuvette at said sample dispense axis,
• (c) reagent transport and selection means for supporting a plurality of reagent containers, each reagent container containing a different reagent and for selectively positioning any one of said reagent containers at a vertical reagent aspirating axis which is spaced from said reagent dispense axis,
• (d) reagent probe transport means for supporting a reagent aspirating and dispensing probe for selective vertical movement between an upper position and a lower aspirating and dispense position and for horizontal movement between said reagent dispense axis and said reagent aspirating axis, and
• (e) control means including a central processing means operatively connected to said sample transport and selection means, said sample probe transport means, said reagent transport and selection means, and said reagent probe transport means, for aspirating a volume of a specified test sample from a selectively positioned sample container at said sample aspirating axis and dispensing said specific test sample into a cuvette at said sample dispense axis, for aspirating a volume of a specific reagent which corresponds with said specific test sample at said reagent aspirating axis from a selectively positioned reagent container and dispensing said specific reagent into a cuvette which contains said specific sample when the cuvette is located at said reagent dispense axis
• wherein said reagent transport and selection means comprises:
• (a) a fixed supporting base,
• (b) a reagent tray which is mounted on said base for rotation about a primary vertical axis of rotation, wherein said reagent containers include a first set of containers and a second set of containers, each container of said first set of containers adapted to contain a solid phase reagent which includes paramagnetic particles which requires agitation to maintain homogeneity, said first set of reagent containers being located in a first circle which is concentric with said primary vertical axis of rotation and, wherein said second set of reagent containers are mounted on said tray in a second circle which is concentric with said primary vertical axis of rotation, each of said second containers being adjacent to and paired with a corresponding first reagent container and adapted to contain a tracer reagent that is used in conjunction with a paired solid phase reagent for a particular sample test, each of said first set of reagent containers being mounted on said tray for rotation about a respective one of a plurality of secondary vertical axes along said circle,
• (c) first drive means including a first electric motor for rotating said tray about said primary vertical axis of rotation, and
• (d) second drive means including a reversible second electric motor for rotating each of said first set of reagent containers about said respective secondary axis of rotation for agitating the reagent in said containers, and wherein said control means controls operation of said first electric motor for selectively positioning any one of said reagent containers to said reagent aspirating axis;
• wherein said second drive means comprises:
• (a) a holder for each of said first set of reagent containers which is mounted for rotation about a respective one of said secondary vertical axes on said tray,
• (b) a satellite gear for each of said first set of reagent containers, each of said satellite gears being fixed to its respective container and concentric with the respective secondary vertical axis of the container,
• (c) a sun gear which is concentric with said primary vertical axis of rotation and is in driving engagement with each of said satellite gears so that rotation of said sun gear about said primary vertical axis causes each of said satellite gears to rotate about said respective secondary vertical axis, and
• (d) a drive coupling for operatively connecting said second electric motor to said sun gear.