Measurement instrument

• US 20050095173A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/552
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack

Abstract

A measuring instrument (A) includes a pressurizing mechanism (C) which moves at least one of a measuring article (S) and a connector (4) toward and into pressing contact with the other when the measuring article (S) is placed at a measuring position (P). This prevents improper connection between the connector (4) and the measuring article (S) caused by wear of the connector (4).

Claims

1. A measuring instrument comprising:

measuring article transporting means for transportation of a measuring article from a predetermined set position to a measuring position for contact with a connector; and

a measurement circuit for performing a measuring operation using the measuring article upon connection of the measuring article with the connector,

wherein the measuring instrument further comprises pressurizing means for moving at least one of the measuring article and the connector toward and into pressing contact with the other when the measuring article is at the measuring position.

2. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing means includes a mechanism for moving the connector to the measuring article in a reciprocating manner.

3. The measuring instrument according to claim 2, wherein the connector moves away from the measuring position for avoiding contact with the measuring article during the transportation of the measuring article to the measuring position.

4. The measuring instrument according to claim 3, wherein the pressurizing means includes a supporting member supporting the connector and a pressing member separate from the supporting member,

the pressing member making a first operation of pressing a first surface of the supporting member to deform the supporting member for a movement of the connector away from the measuring article, and a second operation of pressing a second surface of the supporting member which is a surface away from the first surface to deform the supporting member for a movement of the connector toward the measuring article.

5. The measuring instrument according to claim 4, wherein the supporting member extends in a predetermined direction and includes a first and a second cutout recesses spaced from each other longitudinally of the supporting member,

the pressing member making a forward movement from a predetermined initial position on a side of the first surface of the supporting member, passing through the first cutout recess after the first operation and moving on a side of the second surface of the supporting member, then making a rearward movement in a reverse direction of the forward movement after the second operation, passing through the second cutout recess and coming back to the initial position.

6. The measuring instrument according to claim 5, wherein the supporting member includes a ramp between the first and the second cutout recesses,

the pressing member pressing the ramp during the forward movement and the rearward movement to make the first and the second operations.

7. The measuring instrument according to claim 6, wherein the measuring article transporting means includes a movable member reciprocatable longitudinally of the supporting member,

the pressing member being supported by the movable member for reciprocation with the movable member.

8. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper contactable with a rear end of the measuring article for preventing retraction of the measuring article once the measuring article is placed at the measuring position.

9. The measuring instrument according to claim 8, wherein the stopper extends out of the connector,

the connector moving away from the measuring position during the transportation of the measuring article to the measuring position for preventing interference between the stopper and the measuring article, the connector moving closer to the measuring article after the transportation of the measuring article for placing the stopper behind the measuring article.

10. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a casing formed with an opening for exposure of at least part of the measuring article placed at the measuring position,

the measuring article transporting means being capable of discharging the measuring article from the opening out of the casing.

11. The measuring instrument according to claim 10, wherein the connector moves away from the measuring position when the measuring article is discharged from the opening out of the casing.

12. The measuring instrument according to claim 11, wherein the measuring article transporting means includes a movable member for pushing to move the measuring article, the movable member moving to discharge the measuring article out of the casing while making contact with the connector thereby pushing the connector away from the measuring position.