US5472669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pretreatment apparatus for analysis of sugar
Assignee: Horiba Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-02-19
•
Granted: 1995-12-05
•
Expires: 2013-02-19
Abstract
Abstract Pretreatment apparatus and process for analysis of sugar, the apparatus including a mechanical work hand which moves a vial containing a sample to various stations where reagents are added to the vial and where other pretreatment processes are performed on the sample. The pretreatment apparatus automatically controls the movement of the vial from one station to another and the various processes performed at each station, the processes including removal and storage of the vial's cap, addition of reagents into the vial, centrifugation and heating of the sample, and evaporation of excess reagents.
Inventors
- 👤 Kojiro Miki
- 👤 Takeshi Mori
- 👤 Hiromi Ohkawa
- 👤 Yumi Hosokawa
- 👤 Akihiro Kondo
- 👤 Ikunoshin Kato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:54
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67B; B67B7/00; B67B7/18; B67B7/182; G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/0099; G01N2035/00465; G01N2035/00495; G01N35/02; G01N35/04; G01N2035/0401; G01N2035/0403; G01N2035/0405; G01N35/10; G01N2035/1027; G01N2035/103; G01N35/1081; G01N35/109; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332; Y10T436/114165; Y10T436/114998; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25625; Y10T436/2575
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In an automatic system for treatment of samples in a vial with reagents, the improvement comprising: means for introducing a sample vial having a sealing member; means for automatically removing the sealing member and storing the sealing member for future operative retrieval and use, including a plurality of parallel support shafts circumferentially positioned; a plurality of gripping members, each member being mounted to one of said support shafts; and means for concentrically translating said plurality of support shafts in parallel alignment radially inward, such that said sample vial received within said circumferentially-arranged plurality of gripping members is gripped thereby; means for dispensing a reagent, including a conduit member, into the sample vial; means for storing a reagent vial having a closure member; means for automatically removing the closure member and storing the closure member for future operative retrieval and use, including a storing table with peripheral storing stations; a source of dispensing nozzle tips; means for selecting a dispensing nozzle tip and mounting it on the conduit member; means for inserting the nozzle tip into an opened reagent vial and withdrawing the reagent into the nozzle tip, whereby the means for dispensing causes the nozzle tip to contact an inner wall of the sample vial to ensure a complete discharge of the reagent; and means for discharging the nozzle tip after it has dispensed reagent into the sample vial.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In an automatic system for treatment of samples in a vial with reagents, the improvement comprising: means for introducing a sample vial having a sealing member; means for automatically removing the sealing member and storing the sealing member for future operative retrieval and use, including a plurality of parallel support shafts circumferentially positioned; a plurality of gripping members, each member being mounted to one of said support shafts; and means for concentrically translating said plurality of support shafts in parallel alignment radially inward, such that said sample vial received within said circumferentially-arranged plurality of gripping members is gripped thereby; means for dispensing a reagent, including a conduit member, into the sample vial; means for storing a reagent vial having a closure member; means for automatically removing the closure member and storing the closure member for future operative retrieval and use, including a storing table with peripheral storing stations; a source of dispensing nozzle tips; means for selecting a dispensing nozzle tip and mounting it on the conduit member; means for inserting the nozzle tip into an opened reagent vial and withdrawing the reagent into the nozzle tip, whereby the means for dispensing causes the nozzle tip to contact an inner wall of the sample vial to ensure a complete discharge of the reagent; and means for discharging the nozzle tip after it has dispensed reagent into the sample vial.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for selecting and mounting a dispensing nozzle tip includes a holder, a spring mounted in the holder and a tip holding a pipe member that is biased by the spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for discharging the nozzle tip includes a tip separating apparatus having a slit dimensioned for receiving the nozzle tip and securing the same for release from the conduit member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automatic system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of gripping members comprises a plurality of gripping rollers rotatably mounted to said plurality of support shafts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automatic system of claim 1 further comprising means for removing the sealing member while said sample vial is secured by said plurality of gripping members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The automatic system of claim 5 wherein said removing means further comprises means for monitoring a position of said sealing member relative to said sample vial, the monitor means determining when removal of said sealing number is completed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 1 further including means for heating a mixture of reagent and sample, including a cover member that is heated to minimize condensation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the cover member is elastically deformable to seal the sample vial.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 7 further including means for introducing and removing a washing liquid to the cover member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an automatic system for treatment of samples in a vial with reagents, the improvement comprising: means for introducing a sample vial having a sealing member; means for automatically removing the sealing member and storing the sealing member for future operative retrieval and use; means for dispensing a reagent into the sample vial; and means for automatically stirring the sample and reagent in the sample vial, including a rotatable body provided with at least one elastically flexible arm, a vial receiving member connected to the arm for rotation, and a rotary solenoid member having a hammer arm that can be selectively inserted in a path of movement of the vial receiving member to agitate the sample vial.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an automatic system for treatment of samples in a vial with reagents, the improvement comprising: means for introducing a sample vial having a sealing member; means for automatically removing the sealing member and storing the sealing member for future operative retrieval and use; means for dispensing a reagent into the sample vial; and means for automatically stirring the sample and reagent in the sample vial, including a rotatable body provided with at least one elastically flexible arm, a vial receiving member connected to the arm for rotation, and a rotary solenoid member having a hammer arm that can be selectively inserted in a path of movement of the vial receiving member to agitate the sample vial.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein the means for automatically removing the sealing member includes a plurality of parallel support shafts circumferentially positioned; a plurality of gripping members, each member being mounted to one of said support shafts; and means for concentrically translating said plurality of support shafts, such that said sample vial when received within said circumferentially-arranged plurality of gripping members is gripped thereby.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an automatic system for treatment of samples in a vial with reagents, the improvement comprising: means for introducing a sample vial having a sealing member; and means for automatically removing the sealing member and storing the sealing member for future operative retrieval and use, including a plurality of parallel support shafts circumferentially positioned; a plurality of gripping members, each member being mounted to one of said support shafts; and means for concentrically translating said plurality of support shafts in parallel alignment radially inward, such that said sample vial received within said circumferentially-arranged plurality of gripping members is gripped thereby.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an automatic system for treatment of samples in a vial with reagents, the improvement comprising: means for introducing a sample vial having a sealing member; and means for automatically removing the sealing member and storing the sealing member for future operative retrieval and use, including a plurality of parallel support shafts circumferentially positioned; a plurality of gripping members, each member being mounted to one of said support shafts; and means for concentrically translating said plurality of support shafts in parallel alignment radially inward, such that said sample vial received within said circumferentially-arranged plurality of gripping members is gripped thereby.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 12, further including means for dispensing a reagent into the sample vial means for centrifuging the sample vial with the sample and reagent and means for selectively impacting the sample vial to stir the sample and reagent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2129254A5
Cited
US4345843A
Cited
US4287155A
Cited
US4518264A
Cited
US4535585A
Cited
US4931256A
Cited
US4982553A
Cited
US4824641A
Cited
US4835707A
Cited
JPS6485669A
Cited
US4975533A
Cited
JPH01141356A
Cited
US5018703A
Cited
FR2630216A1
Cited
US5008082A
Cited
US5089230A
Cited
US5200151A
Cited
US5080864A
Cited
US5237717A
Cited
US5324480A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-04 | 1999-06-05 | 1999-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-04 | 2003-06-05 | 2003-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-04 | 2007-06-05 | 2007-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |