Measurement instrument, measurement tool storage case and operation mechanism

• US 20050106069A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Daisuke, Kasai, Tokuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,449,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/98
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

A measuring instrument (A) includes: a storage (1) which has an insertion port (10) for insertion of measuring articles (S) and is capable of storing the measuring articles stacked in a direction of the insertion; and movable members (2A, 2B) for a movement of dispensing a predetermined quantity of the measuring articles (S) out of the storage (1) toward a measuring position (P). With such an arrangement, refilling of the measuring articles (S) to the measuring instrument (A) becomes easy, and the measuring instrument (A) can be always loaded suitably with a quantity of the measuring articles.

Claims

1. A measuring instrument comprising a measurement circuit capable of performing a measuring operation using a measuring article when the measuring article is set to a predetermined measuring position, the instrument further comprising:

a storage having an insertion port for insertion of a plurality of the measuring articles and capable of storing the measuring articles stacked in a direction of the insertion; and

a movable member for a movement of dispensing a predetermined quantity of the measuring articles out of the storage toward the measuring position.

2. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the storage allows stacking of the measuring articles in the order the measuring articles are inserted,

the movable member dispensing those of the measuring articles farthest from the insertion port in the storage, to the measuring position.

3. The measuring instrument according to claim 2, further comprising a reference surface in the storage, and an urger for urging the measuring articles in the direction of the insertion in the storage to thereby bring the measuring article farthest from the insertion port into contact with the reference surface,

the movable member being reciprocatable across the direction of the insertion and capable of pushing the measuring article on the reference surface toward the measuring position.

4. The measuring instrument according to claim 3, further comprising a lid capable of opening and closing the insertion port,

wherein the lid includes the urger, allowing the insertion of the measuring articles into the storage when the insertion port is opened while allowing the urger to urge the measuring articles in the direction of the insertion when the insertion port is closed.

5. The measuring instrument according to claim 4, further comprising a base member supporting the storage and guiding the movable member in movement, the base member being formed with a slit for part of the movable member to pass through, the storage having a wall formed with a discharge port and a cutout recess facing with each other and communicating with the slit,

the movable member entering the storage from the cutout recess thereby pushing the measuring article in the storage from the discharge port.

6. The measuring instrument according to claim 5, further comprising a pair of contact plates sandwiching a path of the movable member in the storage and being urged toward the insertion port by a force weaker than an urging force of the urger, each contact plate having a surface facing the insertion port and serving as the reference surface.

7. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper at an edge of the insertion port of the storage, allowing insertion of the measuring articles from outside of the storage to inside thereof while preventing the measuring articles from escaping out of the storage.

8. The measuring instrument according to claim 7, wherein the stopper is an elastically deformable projection extending inwardly of the insertion port.

9. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the storage can be inserted by a case loaded with a plurality of the measuring articles stacked in a direction of thickness for transfer of the measuring articles from the case to the storage through the insertion port.

10. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a casing which accommodates the movable member and the measurement circuit and is formed with an opening for exposure of the measuring article,

the movable member making a first movement of bringing the measuring article to the measuring position thereby exposing part of the measuring article from the opening, and a second movement of discharging the measuring article out of the casing through the opening.

11. The measuring instrument according to claim 10, further comprising a connector electrically connected with the measurement circuit and brought by the first movement to contact with the measuring article, the contact of the measuring article with the connector initiating a predetermined measuring operation using the measurement circuit.

12. A measuring article storing case for storage of a plurality of measuring articles to be loaded in a storage of a measuring instrument, the storage comprising a wall having a lower end formed with an insertion port,

the case including a bottom capable of supporting the measuring articles, a tubular side wall raised from an edge of the bottom, and an upper opening,

at least one of the bottom and the side wall being provided with a series of ribs for maintaining an orderly state of stacking by preventing the stack of measuring articles stacked on the bottom in a direction of thickness from being out of position.

13. The measuring article storing case according to claim 12, wherein the ribs and the measuring articles are spaced from each other for insertion of the wall of the measuring instrument.

14. The measuring article storing case according to claim 13, wherein the wall of the measuring instrument has a lower end formed with a stopper extending inward of the insertion port,

the bottom being formed with a raised table for placement of the stack of measuring articles, the table having an area smaller than an area of each measuring article, the placement of the measuring articles on the table causing the measuring articles to overhang the table, forming a space beneath the overhang for the stopper.

15. A measuring instrument comprising:

a storage for storing a measuring article;

a movable member capable of dispensing the measuring article to a predetermined measuring position;

a measurement circuit capable of performing a measuring operation using the measuring article when the measuring article is set to the measuring position; and

a casing accommodating the movable member and the measurement circuit, and formed with an opening for exposing the measuring article,

the movable member making a first movement of bringing the measuring article to the measuring position thereby exposing part of the measuring article from the opening, and a second movement of discharging the measuring article from the opening, out of the casing.

16. The measuring instrument according to claim 15, further comprising:

a base member for guiding the movable member in movement;

a cam groove formed in the base member; and

a projection provided in the movable member and fitted into the cam groove,

the cam groove controlling a movement of the projection, bringing the movable member closer to the opening of the casing in the second movement than in the first movement.

17. An operating mechanism comprising a base member and a movable member reciprocating on the base member,

wherein the base member is formed with a cam groove, the movable member being formed with a projection fitted into the cam groove for movement in crosswise directions of the reciprocation of the movable member,

the cam groove including a plurality of forward movement grooves for a plurality of forward movements of the movable member, the forward movement grooves extending forward by different distances.

18. The operating mechanism according to claim 17, further comprising an elastic member urging the projection in a crosswise direction of the reciprocation.