INSTALLATION FOR MULTIPLE AND AUTOMATIC ANALYSES

• US 3,620,678 A
• Filed: 09/08/1967
• Issued: 11/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1966
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jean Guigan, 9, Laucournet Robert, L'Hay-Les-Roses, Fr
• Original Assignee: Jean Guigan, 9, Laucournet Robert, L'Hay-Les-Roses, Fr
• Inventors: Jean Guigan, 9, Robert, Laucournet, L'Hay-les-Roses, FR
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris O. Wolk
• Assistant Examiner(s): R. E. Serwin
• Application Number:
  US04/666,302
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 23/230,230A,253,253A
• US Class Current: 422/66
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums

Abstract

Device for multiple and automatic analysis including means for picking up a given substance to be analyzed at least one means for transferring a given quantity of liquid from one container to another, at least one means for mechanical treatments and at least one measuring means, said substance being conveyed from one of said means to another one in vessels carried by conveyors constituted by two pliant strips.

Claims

2. A conveyor system as defined in claim 1 further comprising first ends of said web and sheath arranged in such manner that one of said first ends is extended beyond the first chamber on the side of the said first ends a length equal to a given fraction of the spacing between said chambers, and the other of said first ends is extended in the same direction a distance equal to the difference between the spacing between said chambers and said length;

second ends of said web and sheath arranged in such manner that one of the second ends is extended beyond the first chamber on the side of the said second ends over said length and the other of said second ends is extended over a distance equal to said difference, whereby said conveyor system may be joined to other similar systems end-to-end, the first end of one system being brought into contact and stuck to the second end of another system so as not to form any extra thickness.

3. A conveyor system for carrying liquid specimens as claimed in claim 1 further including a device for transferring a given quantity of liquid from said specimen chambers comprising:

a. a tube;

b. means for causing one end of said tube to penetrate in fluidtight manner into said specimen chamber below the level of the liquid to be extracted;

c. a second specimen chamber connected to the other end of said tube;

d. means for exerting a pressure in the said first specimen chamber, whereby the liquid is caused to rise in the said tube;

e. means for causing the rise to stop when the liquid has reached a selected position in the tube; and

f. means for lifting said one end of the tube out of the liquid, whereby the pressure exerted in the first specimen chamber drives the liquid contained in the tube into said second specimen chamber.

4. A conveyor system for carrying liquid specimens as claimed in claim 3 further including:

a. means for detecting the presence of said liquid at a given position in said tube, said last mentioned means activating said means for lifting said one end of the tube out of the liquid;

b. a float in said fluidtight specimen chamber carrying said means for causing said one end of the tube to penetrate below said liquid level.

5. In an installation for multiple and automatic analysis of a liquid specimen, a device for depositing said specimen on a conveyor system comprising:

a. an intermittently driven web having a series of spaced chambers formed of flexible, transparent material;

b. means for extracting said specimen from the substance being studied;

c. a card adapted to be positioned in relation to said chambers to identify said specimen; and

d. means for disabling said extracting means when said card is not properly positioned.

6. A device for depositing a liquid specimen on a conveyor system as defined in claim 5 wherein said card has at least one detachable slip, and further comprising:

a. means to detach said slip from said card and to stick the slip on said web;

b. an electric sensor for detecting the presence of the slip on said web;

c. stopping means activated by said sensor in the absence of a slip on said web for stopping the advance of said web.

7. A device for depositing a liquid specimen on a conveyor system as defined in claim 5, further comprising:

a. a hollow needle connected to said extracting means for injecting said specimen into one of said chambers;

b. a flap having a position interposed between said needle and said chambers; and

c. means responsive to said card being positioned to identify said specimen to move said flap from its interposed position.

8. In an installation for multiple and automatic analysis of a liquid specimen carried in a chamber, an intermittently movable web, a photocolorimeter device comprising:

a. a pair of parallel plates positioned in spaced relation to, and on opposite sides of said web; and

b. means responsive to the motion of said web for moving said plates perpendicularly of the plane of said web into contact with said chamber.