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US4735776A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Chemical manipulator

Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
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Filing: 1986-06-13
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Granted: 1988-04-05
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Expires: 2006-06-13
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to a chemical manipulator adapted to automate analysis of liquids of μl unit such as DNA sample. Within the body frame are arranged a sample supply and discharging station, a mixing station, a separating station, and a drying station, each station being provided with a positioning device and a temperature control such as a thermostatic tank if necessary. Reaction containers are accommodated within a bucket which can accommodate a plurality of reaction containers. The bucket is automatically transported between the stations by means of a head element of a manipulator which may be moved in three directions of x, y and z.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masahiro Yamamoto
  • 👤 Hiroshi Tanaka
  • 👤 Chihiro Watanabe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 19:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/0099; G01N2035/00465; G01N2035/00495

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 196 words
A chemical manipulator comprising a housing having therein: a centrifugal separator capable of accommodating at least more than one bucket said bucket having formed therein at least one cylindrical depression for receiving at least one reaction container, means for connection to a transportation device and means for receiving horizontally disposed holding pins projecting from said centrifugal separator, at least one reaction container inserted in said bucket, a mixer device, a thermostatic device, a dryer for drying said reaction containers, a reagent supplying device for supplying a reagent to said reaction containers, a transporting device located in an upper portion of said housing having means for moving said bucket containing said reaction containers in one of the X-direction, Y-direction and Z-direction and combinations thereof, including rails in the X-direction and the Y-direction at a right angle thereto, for movement of said bucket therealong in said upper portion of said housing and conveying said bucket while being located relative to said centrifugal separator, said mixer device, said thermostatic device, said dryer and said reagent supplying device; and a controller for controlling said centrifugal separator, said mixer, said thermostatic device, said dryer, said supplying device and said transport device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 196 words
A chemical manipulator comprising a housing having therein: a centrifugal separator capable of accommodating at least more than one bucket said bucket having formed therein at least one cylindrical depression for receiving at least one reaction container, means for connection to a transportation device and means for receiving horizontally disposed holding pins projecting from said centrifugal separator, at least one reaction container inserted in said bucket, a mixer device, a thermostatic device, a dryer for drying said reaction containers, a reagent supplying device for supplying a reagent to said reaction containers, a transporting device located in an upper portion of said housing having means for moving said bucket containing said reaction containers in one of the X-direction, Y-direction and Z-direction and combinations thereof, including rails in the X-direction and the Y-direction at a right angle thereto, for movement of said bucket therealong in said upper portion of said housing and conveying said bucket while being located relative to said centrifugal separator, said mixer device, said thermostatic device, said dryer and said reagent supplying device; and a controller for controlling said centrifugal separator, said mixer, said thermostatic device, said dryer, said supplying device and said transport device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
The chemical manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermostatic device is disposed in proximity of said reagent supplying device and reaction heat, when the reagent is supplied to said reaction container, is absorbed by said thermostatic device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The chemical manipulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermostatic device is disposed in proximity of said dryer to dry said reaction container while being heated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
The chemical manipulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reagent supplying device includes a nozzle, and a supplying end thereof comes into contact with and is disengaged from an inner wall surface of said reaction container at an acute angle.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3081158A Cited
US4066412A Cited
US3494201A Cited
US3929411A Cited
US3932131A Cited
US3971630A Cited
US4058367A Cited
US4208484A Cited
US4413060A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-04-05 1991-10-05 1992-04-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-04-05 1995-10-05 1996-04-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-04-05 1999-10-05 2000-04-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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