Chemical reaction apparatus

Claim 2

A chemical reaction apparatus comprising: a plurality of cylindrical reaction containers; at least one endless travelling belt constructed and arranged for supporting thereon said plurality of cylindrical reaction containers arranged in parallel; driving means for advancing said at least one travelling belt at a constant speed in one horizontal direction; separate endless retaining belts disposed on each side of said at least one travelling belt, said retaining belts being disposed parallel to and not contiguously to said at least one travelling belt, each retaining belt being provided thereon with a multiplicity of teeth projecting up at fixed, spaced intervals slightly greater than the diameter of said reaction containers, and adapted to retain said reaction containers at fixed relative positions, portions of said retaining belt teeth being positioned lower than the surface of the travelling belt; a base on a frame of the apparatus adjacent said at least one endless travelling belt and said endless retaining belts constructed and arranged for supporting bottoms of said reaction containers; drive means for advancing said retaining belts intermittently over fixed intervals of space; and means for maintaining said cylindrical reaction containers on said at least one travelling belt at an angle inclined with respect to a horizontal plane; said base and retaining belts cooperating with one another to maintain the plurality of cylindrical reaction containers in juxtaposed position relative to one another with respective tops of the containers positioned above corresponding container bottoms so that a central axis of each of the containers is on a plane inclined at said angle relative to a horizontal plane; and said travelling belt driving means and said retaining belt drive means cooperating with one another and with said travelling and retaining belts to rotate each container about its respective central axis and allow a required chemical reaction to proceed therein.

Claim 3

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises an injection device for introducing reagent into said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 4

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a rinsing device constructed and arranged to rinse said reaction containers.

Claim 5

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises a rinsing device constructed and arranged to rinse said reaction containers.

Claim 6

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises an oopening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

Claim 7

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

Claim 8

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 3, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination, when said reaction containers ae tightly sealed.

Claim 9

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 4, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

Claim 10

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 11

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 12

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 3, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 13

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 4, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 14

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 5, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 15

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 6, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 16

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 7, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 17

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 8, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

Claim 18

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 19

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 20

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 3, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 21

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 4, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 22

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 5, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 23

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 6, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 24

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 7, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 25

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 8, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 26

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 9, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 27

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 10, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 28

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 11, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 29

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 12, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixture in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 30

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 13, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 31

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 14, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 32

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 15, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 33

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 16, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 34

A chemical reaction apparatus comprising: a plurality of cylindrical reaction containers; at least one endless travelling belt constructed and arranged for supporting thereon said plurality of cylindrical reaction containers arranged in parallel; driving means for advancing said at least one travelling belt at a constant speed in one horizontal direction; separate endless retaining belts disposed on each side of said at least one travelling belt, said retaining belts being disposed parallel to and not contiguously to said at least one travelling belt, each retaining belt being provided thereon with a multiplicity of teeth projecting up at fixed, spaced intervals slightly greater than the diameter of said reaction containers, and adapted to retain said reaction containers at fixed relative positions, portions of said retaining belt teeth being positioned lower than the surface of the travelling belt; a base on a frame of the apparatus adjacent said at least one endless travelling belt and said endless retaining belts constructed and arranged for supporting bottoms of said reaction containers; drive means for advancing said retaining belts intermittently over fixed intervals of space; means for maintaining said cylindrical reaction containers on said at least one travelling belt at an angle inclined with respect to a horizontal plane; and at least one raising device located along said travelling and retaining belts, said at least one raising device having means for supporting a lower side and an upper side of each container, said raising device supporting means having members that can engage and disengage the sides of each container so that the container may be moved from an inclined position when supported by said travelling and retaining belts, to a vertical upright position for dispensing, and back to the inclined position for conveyance by said travelling and retaining belts; said base and retaining belts cooperating with one another to maintain the plurality of cylindrical reaction containers in juxtaposed position relative to one another with respective tops of the containers positioned above corresponding container bottoms so that a central axis of each of the containers is on a plane inclined at said angle relative to a horizontal plane; and said travelling belt driving means and said retaining belt drive means cooperating with one another and with said travelling and retaining belts to rotate each container about its respective central axis and allow a required chemical reaction to proceed therein.

Claim 35

A chemical reaction apparatus comprising: a plurality of cylindrical reaction containers; at least one endless travelling belt constructed and arranged for supporting thereon said plurality of cylindrical reaction containers arranged in parallel; driving means for advancing said at least one travelling belt at a constant speed in one horizontal direction; separate endless retaining belts disposed on each side of said at least one travelling belt, said retaining belts being disposed parallel to and not contiguously to said at least one travelling belt, each retaining belt being provided thereon with a multiplicity of teeth projecting up at fixed, spaced intervals slightly greater than the diameter of said reaction containers, and adapted to retain said reaction containers at fixed relative positions, portions of said retaining belt teeth being positioned lower than the surface of the travelling belt; a base on a frame of the apparatus adjacent said at least one endless travelling belt and said endless retaining belts constructed and arranged for supporting bottoms of said reaction containers; drive means for advancing said retaining belts intermittently over fixed intervals of space; means for maintaining said cylindrical reaction containers on said at least one travelling belt at an angle inclined with respect to a horizontal plane; and at least one raising device located along said travelling and retaining belts, said at least one raising device having means for supporting a lower side and an upper side of each container, said raising device supporting means having members that can engage and disengage the sides of each container so that the container may be moved from an inclined position when supported by said travelling and retaining belts, to a vertical upright position for dispensing, and back to the inclined position for conveyance by said travelling and retaining belts; said base and retaining belts cooperating with one another to maintain the plurality of cylindrical reaction containers in juxtaposed position relative to one another with respective tops of the containers positioned above corresponding container bottoms so that a central axis of each of the containers is on a plane inclined at said angle relative to a horizontal plane; and said travelling belt driving means and said retaining belt drive means cooperating with one another and with said travelling and retaining belts to rotate each container about its respective central axis and allow a required chemical reaction to proceed therein.

Claim 36

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises an injection device for introducing reagent into said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 37

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises a rinsing device constructed and arranged to rinse said reaction containers.

Claim 38

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 34, which further comprises a rinsing device constructed and arranged to rinse said reaction containers.

Claim 39

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers in an upright state, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

Claim 40

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 34, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction container containers, with said reaction containers in an upright state when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

Claim 41

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 35, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers in an upright state, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

Claim 42

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 36, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers in an upright state, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

Claim 43

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 44

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 34, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 45

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 35, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 46

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 36, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 47

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 37, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 48

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 38, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 49

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 39, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 50

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 40, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

Claim 51

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 52

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 34, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 53

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 35, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 54

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 36, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 55

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 37, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 56

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 38, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 57

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 39, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures for said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 58

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 40, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 59

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 41, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 60

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 42, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 61

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 43, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 62

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 44, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 63

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 45, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 64

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 46, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 65

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 47, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

Claim 66

A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 48, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers, for optical density.