Chemical analysis apparatus

Claim 1

A chemical analysis apparatus provided with an incubator having a plurality of housing compartments for respectively housing a chemical analysis slide having a reagent layer with a substance, which is to be measured, applied thereon, and for incubating the chemical analysis slide, and a read-out head moveable along said housing compartments to stand facing the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide housed in one of said housing compartments via a read-out opening formed in each of the housing compartments, thereby to emit measuring light to the reagent layer and to measure optical density of light reflected by the reagent layer, wherein the improvement comprises the provision of: i) a temperature-controlled chamber for housing said incubator therein, ii) a first temperature adjustment means provided with a heater and a temperature sensor secured to said incubator, thereby to maintain the temperature in each of said housing compartments at a predetermined value, iii) a second temperature adjustment means provided with a heater disposed in said temperature-controlled chamber and a temperature sensor secured to said read-out head, said temperature sensor generating a temperature detection signal, thereby to maintain the temperature in said temperature-controlled chamber at said predetermined value, and further comprising means for calculating a mean value of a plurality of sampled temperature detection signals equal in number to said plurality of housing compartments, such that temperature control is effected so that a mean temperature represented by said mean value coincides with said predetermined value.