US3883305A — Automatic chemical analysis apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 134 words

AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC CHEMICAL ANALYSIS COMPRISING: A FIRST SEQUENTIALLY ADVANCEABLE CONVEYOR FOR CARRYING CONTAINERS HOLDING SAMPLES TO BE TESTED; A SECOND SEQUENTIALLY ADVANCEABLE CONVEYOR FOR CARRYING REACTION TUBES IN WHICH CHEMICAL REACTIONS CAN BE CAUSED TO OCCUR; SAID CONVEYORS DEFINING PATHS WHICH LIE ONE WITHIN THE OTHER; FIRST AND SECOND TRANSFER STATIONS FIXEDLY POSITIONED ALONG YHE PATH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONVEYORS, RESPECRIVELY; TRANSFER STRUCTURE POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS FOR SEQUENTIALLY TRANSFERRING SAMPLE PORTIONS FROM EACH CONTAINER, WHEN IT IS AT SAID FIRST STATION, TO A PREDETERMINED PLURALITY OF THE REACTION TUBES AS THEY ARE MOVED PAST SAID SECOND STATION; APPARATUS CAPABLE OF ADDING DIFFERENT REAGENTS TO EACH OF SAID PLUTALITY OF REACTION TUBES; A PROGRAMMED DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR ADVANCING SAID FIRST CONVEYOR TO PRESENT A NEXT SAMPLE CONTAINER

Claim 2

Independent Claim 134 words

AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC CHEMICAL ANALYSIS COMPRISING: A FIRST SEQUENTIALLY ADVANCEABLE CONVEYOR FOR CARRYING CONTAINERS HOLDING SAMPLES TO BE TESTED; A SECOND SEQUENTIALLY ADVANCEABLE CONVEYOR FOR CARRYING REACTION TUBES IN WHICH CHEMICAL REACTIONS CAN BE CAUSED TO OCCUR; SAID CONVEYORS DEFINING PATHS WHICH LIE ONE WITHIN THE OTHER; FIRST AND SECOND TRANSFER STATIONS FIXEDLY POSITIONED ALONG YHE PATH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONVEYORS, RESPECRIVELY; TRANSFER STRUCTURE POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS FOR SEQUENTIALLY TRANSFERRING SAMPLE PORTIONS FROM EACH CONTAINER, WHEN IT IS AT SAID FIRST STATION, TO A PREDETERMINED PLURALITY OF THE REACTION TUBES AS THEY ARE MOVED PAST SAID SECOND STATION; APPARATUS CAPABLE OF ADDING DIFFERENT REAGENTS TO EACH OF SAID PLUTALITY OF REACTION TUBES; A PROGRAMMED DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR ADVANCING SAID FIRST CONVEYOR TO PRESENT A NEXT SAMPLE CONTAINER

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which at least one of said conveyors and preferably each said conveyor operates in a horizontally closed loop for carrying its respective containers and tubes in a closed loop.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said testing equipment includes a testing station which sequentially receives all of said plurality of reaction tubes as a group for substantially simultaneous individual testing of the contents thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 133 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said transfer structure includes a pipette which comprises a pair of electrically conductive members, one of said pair being a tube through which sample can be drawn from said containers, said members being electrically insulated from each other and mechanically linked to one another so as to be moved as a unit relative to the level of the sample within a sample container and be placed in physical and electrical contact with the sample, said tube member having a lower end which extends a determinable distance beyond that of said other member into the sample, and an electrical conductor connected to each said member; whereby, when said pipette is immersed into the sample said determinable distance, a responsive electric signal can be derived from said conductors.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 114 words

Apparatus according to claim 4 which further comprises an identification station for correlation of sample and reaction product identification, such that the test results of each reaction product is identified with respect to its originating sample, said identification station being moveably positionable along the path of and adjacent said first conveyor subsequent to said first transfer station, the position of said identification station being predetermined by the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for a specific sample, whereby a sample container will have reached said identification station at the same time that all of its associated plurality of reaction tubes will have reached said testing equipment, for simultaneous identification purposes.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 114 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises an identification station for correlation of sample and reaction product identification, Such that the test results of each reaction product is identified with respect to its originating sample, said identification station being moveably positionable along the path of and adjacent said first conveyor subsequent to said first transfer station, the position of said identification station being predetermined by the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for a specific sample, whereby a sample container will have reached said identification station at the same time that all of its associated plurality of reaction tubes will have reached said testing equipment, for simultaneous identification purposes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said testing equipment is positioned adjacent said second conveyor and is relatively moveable along the path thereof, the positioning of said testing equipment being predetermined and based upon the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for each specific sample.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said testing equipment includes a testing station which sequentially receives all of said plurality of reaction tubes as a group for substantially simultaneous individual testing of the contents thereof.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 114 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises an identification station for correlation of sample and reaction product identification, such that the test results of each reaction product is identified with respect to its originating sample, said identification station being moveably positionable along the path of and adjacent said first conveyor subsequent to said first transfer station, the position of said identification station being predetermined by the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for a specific sample, whereby a sample container will have reached said identification station at the same time that all of its associated plurality of reaction tubes will have reached said testing equipment, for simultaneous identification purposes.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said testing equipment includes colourimetric testing devices arranged parallel said second conveyor for each of said predetermined plurality of reaction tubes.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said testing equipment includes a light source and structure for directing the illumination energy of said light source toward the reaction products being tested, whilst directing the heat energy from said light source away from said reaction products.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said energy directing structure comprises a dichroic reflector.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said dichroic reflector is constructed to transmit energy wavelengths exceeding 1000 nm away from the material to be tested.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 93 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a third sequentially advanceable conveyor for carrying reaction tubes; third and fourth transfer stations fixedly positioned along the path of said first and third conveyors, respectively; a second transfer structure constructed and arranged for transferring at least one sample portion from a container at said third station to at least one reaction tube at said fourth station for subsequent receipt of reagents and testing; and said programmed drive arrangement coordinating the sequential advancing of said third conveyor relative to the advancing of said first conveyor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus according to claim 14 in which temperature control structure is provided to establish a temperature difference between the contents in the reactant tubes on said second conveyor with respect to the contents in the reactant tubes on said third conveyor.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus according to claim 15 in which at least one of said conveyors and preferably each said conveyor operates in a horizontally closed loop for carrying its respective containers and tubes in a closed loop.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said transfer structure includes a pipette and translatIon structure for moving said pipette both horizontally between said fixed transfer stations and vertically with respect to said containers and tubes at said transfer stations.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 128 words

Apparatus according to claim 17 in which said pipette comprises a pair of electrically conductive members, one of said pair being a tube through which sample can be drawn from said containers, said members being electrically insulated from each other and mechanically linked to one another so as to be moved as a unit relative to the level of the sample within a sample container and be placed in physical and electrical contact with the sample, said tube member having a lower end which extends a determinable distance beyond that of said other member into the sample, and an electrical conductor connected to each said member; whereby, when said pipette is immersed into the sample said determinable distance, a responsive electric signal can be derived from said conductors.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said conductive members are adjustably linked to one another for varying said determinable distance.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said other member also is a tube and surrounds said sample drawing tube for most of its length, except for said determinable distance.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said testing equipment includes a testing station which sequentially receives all of said plurality of reaction tubes as a group for substantially simultaneous individual testing of the contents thereof.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 114 words

Apparatus according to claim 21 which further comprises an identification station for correlation of sample and reaction product identification, such that the test results of each reaction product is identified with respect to its originating sample, said identification station being moveably positionable along the path of and adjacent said first conveyor subsequent to said first transfer station, the position of said identification station being predetermined by the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for a specific sample, whereby a sample container will have reached said identification station at the same time that all of its associated plurality of reaction tubes will have reached said testing equipment, for simultaneous identification purposes.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus according to claim 21 in which said testing equipment includes a plurality of cuvettes in fixed position, equal in number of the maximum number in said predetermined plurality of reaction tubes, and reaction product transfer structure coupled to said cuvettes for effecting transfer to and from said cuvettes of the reaction products of a said plurality of reaction tubes, substantially simultaneously.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 50 words

Apparatus according to claim 23 in which said testing equipment is positioned adjacent said second conveyor and is relatively moveable along the path thereof, the positioning of said testing equipment being predetermined and based upon the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for each specific sample.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 130 words

For use in an automatic chemical analysis apparatus, a pipette apparatus which comprises a pair of electrically conductive members, one of said pair being a tube through which sample can be drawn from containers, said members being electrically insulated from each other and mechanically linked to one another so as to be moved as a unit relative to the level of the sample within a sample container and be placed in physical and electrical contact with the sample, said tube member having a lower end which extends a determinable distance beyond that of said other member into the sample, and an electrical conductor connected to each said member; whereby, when said pipette is immersed into the sample said determinable distance, a responsive electric signal can be derived from said conductors.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 130 words

For use in an automatic chemical analysis apparatus, a pipette apparatus which comprises a pair of electrically conductive members, one of said pair being a tube through which sample can be drawn from containers, said members being electrically insulated from each other and mechanically linked to one another so as to be moved as a unit relative to the level of the sample within a sample container and be placed in physical and electrical contact with the sample, said tube member having a lower end which extends a determinable distance beyond that of said other member into the sample, and an electrical conductor connected to each said member; whereby, when said pipette is immersed into the sample said determinable distance, a responsive electric signal can be derived from said conductors.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 25 in which said conductive members are adjustably linked to one another for varying said determinable distancE.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus according to claim 26 in which said other member also is a tube and surrounds said sample drawing tube for most of its length, except for said determinable distance.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-05-12	1978-11-11	1979-05-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-05-12	1982-11-11	1983-05-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-05-12	1986-11-11	1987-05-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatic chemical analysis apparatus

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