Dispensing unit for measuring articles

• US 20090114673A1
• Filed: 10/14/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Kasai, Tokuo, Matsumoto, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/268
• 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

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A combination of a first storing case that forms a part of a measuring instrument and a second storing case provided separately from the measuring instrument for storing a stack of measuring articles to be loaded in the first storing case of the measuring instrument, the first storing case comprising a lower end formed with an insertion port,

the second storing case including a bottom for supporting the stack of 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 stacked state of the measuring articles by preventing sidewise movement of the measuring articles.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the ribs and the measuring articles define a clearance for insertion of the lower end of the first storing case.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the lower end of the first storing case is formed with a stopper extending inwardly of the insertion port,

the bottom of the second storing case 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.

15-16. -16. (canceled)

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.