GB1402283A - Automatic chemical analysis apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1402283 Automatic analysis COULTER ELECTRONICS Inc 10 Oct 1972 [14 Oct 1971 21 Oct 1971 10 April 1972 31 Aug 1972] 46583/72 Heading G1N Automatic analysis apparatus comprises an array 96 of racks, each rack carrying reaction tubes (62), an incubation bath which may be in two parts 64-1, 64-2, means for moving the racks through the baths in a direction perpendicular to the direction of length of the racks, a series of sample cups 22 (Fig. 10) and means (not shown in Fig. 3) for carrying the cups in a row in the same direction as the racks, the movements of the racks and the sample cups being synchronized, and the spatial relationships of each cup with a single rack being maintained, a plurality of sampling devices (42-1, 42-2 &c in Fig. 8, not shown) spaced in the direction of movement of the cups, each sampling device being capable of withdrawing sample from one of the cups, mixing it with reagent and depositing the mixed sample in one of the tubes 62, and control means for enabling operation of only selected ones of the sampling devices with each cup as the cups pass the sampling devices. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, the array of racks (94) is pushed by means 100 from left to right in the drawing, the leading rack being raised on chains 104 into alignment with the colorimeters 70 for measurement on the contents of the reaction tubes. The chains then carry the rack and its containers past bar 146, which tips the containers to empty them, water jet tube washing means 80 and a tube rinsing and drying means (not shown) to the rear of the array. Each sampling device may comprise (Fig. 13 to 19B, not shown) a sampling valve 316 having sample loop 334, sample intake pump 336, reagent intake pump 342 and pneumatic systems for operation of the pumps and (326) for operation and movement of the valve, and to provide a scavenging vacuum to clean the valve. The valve includes a "shunt gallery" passage to allow some of the reagent to flow directly to the outlet pipe where it mixes with the sample and reagent which have flowed through the loop 334. Figs. 20, 21 (not shown) relate to similar sampling devices mounted for simultaneous movement on a common shaft. The control means allows operation of selected sampling devices by opening valves to connect each to the pressure and vacuum lines.