Programmable automatic means for the deposition in a precise position of a minute, precise quantity of liquid on an analytical support

Claim 1

A programmable automatic means for carrying out the deposition of a precise position on an analytical support of a minute, precise quantity of liquid, wherein it comprises in combination: a main support provided with displacement means enabling said support to successively occupy at least five positions, a piston syringe having a piston, is mounted on the main support and provided with means for displacing said syringe relative to said main support, said piston syringe having means for gripping one end of a hollow solution sampling needle and means for displacing the piston a distributor for holding a plurality of hollow sampling needles provided with means for successively presenting each needle at a first location corresponding to a first position of the syringe-holder support, said hollow needle distributor having a plurality of hollow needles, each hollows needle having a length slightly exceeding a predetermined length, a cutting device placed in a second position corresponding to a second position of the syringe-holder support for cutting a needle held by said syringe end gripping means to a predetermined length when the syringe holder support is placed in its second position, a solution sample distributor having several recesses provided with means for successively presenting each recess at a third location corresponding to a third position of the syringe-holder support, each recess serving to receive a solution sample prior to a complete operating cycle of the automatic means, an analytical support holder provided with displacement means enabling it to occupy three positions, whereof a second position corresponds to a fourth position of the syringe-holder support, a means for gripping the analytical supports and a means for extracting the analytical supports, a new analytical support distributor having a plurality of recesses, provided with means for successively presenting each analytical support at a location corresponding to a first position of said analytical support holder, each recess serving to receive a new analytical support before a complete operating cycle of the automatic means, a receiver for analytical supports following sample deposition having several recesses, provided with means for successively presenting each recess at a location corresponding to a third position of said analytical support holder, each recess of the receiver being left free prior to a complete operating cycle of the automatic means, a used needle extractor, placed at a location corresponding to a fifth position of the syringe-holder support, and control means for actuating and controlling said mainsupport, piston syringe and hollow needle gripper, said hollow needle distributor, said cutting device, said sample distributor, said analytical support holder, gripper, distributor and receiver, and said needle extractor whereby samples are accurately transferred for analysis.