Analyzing apparatus for the analysis of liquid samples

Claim 1

An analyzing apparatus for the analysis of liquid samples which comprises a measuring means for measuring properties of liquid samples supplied thereto and for providing measurement signals representative of the measured properties, an evaluation unit to which said measurement signals are fed, said evaluation unit acting to evaluate said measurement signals and display the evaluated results, a sample input device, said sample input device including a single sample input unit and a serial sample input unit, a first sample pipe connected between said single sample input unit and said measuring means for conveying single liquid samples from said single sample input unit to said measuring means, a first control valve located in said first sample pipe, a second sample pipe connected between said serial sample input unit and said measuring means for conveying liquid samples from said serial sample input unit to said measuring means, a second control valve located in said second sample pipe, a central control unit connected to said first control valve and to said second control valve, a switch means connected to said central control unit, and a first sensor positioned downstream of said measuring means for sensing the passage of each liquid sample through said measuring means and concurrently sending a corresponding first signal to said central control unit, said central control unit having a first operative mode wherein it generates a second and third signal to respectively close said first control valve and open said second control valve to allow only liquid samples from said serial sample input unit to pass to said measuring means and a second operative mode wherein it generates a fourth and fifth signal to respectively close said second control valve and open said first control valve to allow only liquid samples from said single sample input unit to pass to said measuring means, and said switch means, when activated, generates a sixth signal to activate said central control unit to generate a seventh signal to stop the placing of liquid samples from said serial sample input unit into said second sample pipe and to change from said first operative mode to said second operative mode when said central control unit receives an eighth signal from said first sensor that all liquid samples which were in said second sample pipe when said switch means was activated have passed said measuring means.