Apparatus for monitoring chemical reactions and employing moving photometer means

Claim 1

Apparatus for monitoring chemical reactions occurring in a plurality of liquid or the like sample substances carried .[.in.]. .Iadd.by .Iaddend.a plurality of respective .[.cuvettes whose walls are at least to some extent capable of transmitting.]. .Iadd.sample support members and which produce an optical effect when exposed to .Iaddend.radiant energy which comprises, A. a support structure, B. a .[.horizontally disposed cuvette.]. .Iadd.sample support member .Iaddend.carrier .Iadd.disposed in a first plane and .Iaddend.having a plurality of .[.cuvettes.]. .Iadd.sample support members .Iaddend.disposed thereon in a circular array around the periphery of the carrier and the array having a central .[.vertical.]. axis .Iadd.normal to said first plane.Iaddend., the .[.cuvette.]. .Iadd.sample support member .Iaddend.carrier being nonrotatably mounted on the support structure, C. a rotor .[.horizontally.]. disposed parallel with the .[.cuvette.]. .Iadd.sample support member .Iaddend.carrier and mounted for rotation on the said axis, D. a plurality of photometers arranged on said rotor and each including a photoresponsive element and there being radiant energy source means serving all of the photoresponsive elements and directing a .[.direct rectilinear.]. beam of radiant energy to each of them whereby there is at least one beam for each element, .Iadd.each beam having a fixed orientation relative to its associated photoresponsive element that is maintained at all times during rotation of the rotor, .Iaddend.the source means and elements being geometrically arranged in a radial configuration around the rotor, and the beams being so located that each will .[.cut through.]. .Iadd.be intercepted by .Iaddend.all of the .[.cuvettes.]. .Iadd.sample support members .Iaddend.in sequence during rotation of the rotor, E. means for driving the rotor in a rotary movement, F. the photoresponsive elements being responsive to the beams to produce electrical signals when intercepted by .[.cuvettes.]. .Iadd.sample support members.Iaddend., the signals being related to the chemical conditions of sample substance, if any, carried by the respective .[.cuvettes.]. .Iadd.sample support members.Iaddend., G. means for generating usable data from any such signals associated with said support structure and .[.non-rotatable,.]. .Iadd.nonrotatable carrier .Iaddend.and H. means for coupling the signals from the rotor to said last mentioned means.