EP0042340B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slide distributor for a chemical analyzer
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1981-06-15
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Granted: 1985-02-13
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Expires: 2001-06-15
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Samuel Montalto
- 👤 Douglass Lane Blanding
- 👤 Michael Richmond Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00029; G01N2035/00039
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
Apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a sample fluid wherein the fluid is deposited on an analysis slide (15, 17) which is analyzed after an appropriate period of time, said apparatus (12) comprising a plurality of apparatus elements arranged in a preselected sequence along a closed loop path along a portion of which the slide travels, said elements including a slide supply (14,16), a metering device (18) for depositing a predetermined quantity of sample on a slide supported in a metering position, at least one incubator (22, 24) and slide transfer means (32, 60) operable through a series of slide advance steps for moving a slide from said slide supply along said slide path and for delivering the slide to a selected one of said apparatus elements, said slide transfer means comprising a slide holder (40, 40'), the apparatus being characterized by locating means (52, 80, 100) which are engageable with said slide transfer means (32, 60) for precisely positioning said slide transfer means (32, 60) and a slide (15, 17) therein relative to at least one of said elements (14,16,18, 22, 24) after each advance step to facilitate the processing of the slides (15, 17) and the transfer of slides (15, 17) between said elements (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) and said transfer means (32, 60), said locating means comprising first means (52) for vertically locating said slides, second means (80) for circumferentially locating said slides and third means (100) for radially locating said slides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
Apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a sample fluid wherein the fluid is deposited on an analysis slide (15, 17) which is analyzed after an appropriate period of time, said apparatus (12) comprising a plurality of apparatus elements arranged in a preselected sequence along a closed loop path along a portion of which the slide travels, said elements including a slide supply (14,16), a metering device (18) for depositing a predetermined quantity of sample on a slide supported in a metering position, at least one incubator (22, 24) and slide transfer means (32, 60) operable through a series of slide advance steps for moving a slide from said slide supply along said slide path and for delivering the slide to a selected one of said apparatus elements, said slide transfer means comprising a slide holder (40, 40'), the apparatus being characterized by locating means (52, 80, 100) which are engageable with said slide transfer means (32, 60) for precisely positioning said slide transfer means (32, 60) and a slide (15, 17) therein relative to at least one of said elements (14,16,18, 22, 24) after each advance step to facilitate the processing of the slides (15, 17) and the transfer of slides (15, 17) between said elements (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) and said transfer means (32, 60), said locating means comprising first means (52) for vertically locating said slides, second means (80) for circumferentially locating said slides and third means (100) for radially locating said slides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said slide holder (40, 40') is mounted for movement within preselected limits along a line generally perpendicular to the plane of said path, and said first locating means (52) is adapted to move said slide holder (40, 40') within said limits to locate said slide holder (40, 40') along said line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that said first locating means comprises a ramp (52), and said slide holder (40, 40') is movable within said limits by engagement with said ramp (52).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that said slide transfer means (32, 60) comprises a rotor (32) having a radially-extending arm (36), said slide holder (40, 40') being fixed to an outer end (37) .of said arm (36), and rotor drive means (60) for advancing said arm (36) in predetermined angular increments during each slide advance step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that said slide holder (40, 40') is connected to said arm by flexure members (44).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to Claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said rotor (32) comprises a plurality of said arms (36) each or which includes a slide holder (40, 40').
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that said rotor (32) includes at least as many arms (36) as there are apparatus elements (14, 16, 18, 11, 14).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to any one of the Claims 4-7, characterized in that said second locating means comprises a stop (80) operable on said rotor (32) to stop the angular movement thereof at the completion of a slide advance step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that said rotor drive means (60) comprises a rotor-advance lever (68), and said rotor advance lever (68) is adapted to disengage the stop (80) from said rotor (32) at the start of said slide advance step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slide holder (40,40') has a slot (42) therein for receiving a slide (15, 17) and means (41, 43, 45) is provided in said slot (42) to position and retain the slide (15, 17) therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 4-10, characterized in that said third locating means includes a roller means (100) for precisely positioning a slide along the radius of said rotor (32), said roller means (100) being adapted to engage a slide (15, 17) in said rotor (32).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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