Incubator for chemical analyzer
First Claim
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1. An incubator for use in a chemical analyzer in which a fluid sample is metered onto a slide which is analyzed after an appropriate period of incubation, said incubator comprising:
- means which defines a temperature controlled chamber, said chamber having a first location wherein slides are transferred into the chamber and a second location wherein slides are transferred out of the chamber;
rotor means in said chamber, said rotor means including a plurality of radially-extending slide holding means for releasably holding the slides in the rotor means; and
drive means for said rotor means, said drive means being adapted to effect movement of slides in the rotor means within said chamber, and said drive means being further adapted to stop said rotor means in a position such that slides can be transferred at either of said locations.
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Abstract
An incubator is provided for use with a chemical analyzer of the type in which a fluid sample is metered onto a test slide which is analyzed after a suitable period of incubation. The incubator includes a temperature-controlled chamber having a conveyor mounted therein which comprises a plurality of slide holding members. A drive means for the conveyor is adapted to successively advance the slide holding members past load and unload slots located adjacent slide transfer mechanisms.
72 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An incubator for use in a chemical analyzer in which a fluid sample is metered onto a slide which is analyzed after an appropriate period of incubation, said incubator comprising:
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means which defines a temperature controlled chamber, said chamber having a first location wherein slides are transferred into the chamber and a second location wherein slides are transferred out of the chamber; rotor means in said chamber, said rotor means including a plurality of radially-extending slide holding means for releasably holding the slides in the rotor means; and drive means for said rotor means, said drive means being adapted to effect movement of slides in the rotor means within said chamber, and said drive means being further adapted to stop said rotor means in a position such that slides can be transferred at either of said locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An incubator for use in a chemical analyzer of the type in which a fluid sample is metered onto a test slide which is analyzed after an appropriate period of incubation, said incubator comprising:
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a housing which defines a temperature controlled chamber, said housing having a load slot on one wall thereof and an unload slot on an opposite wall, said slots being directly opposite each other; a rotor mounted for rotation within said chamber, said rotor comprising a plurality of radially extending slide holding means; and drive means for said rotor, said drive means being adapted to successively move said slide holding means between said slots and to stop a selected one of said slide holding means in a position relative to said slots wherein a processed slide is unloaded from said one slide holding means through said unload slot and a new slide is loaded into said one slide holding means through said load slot. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An incubator for use in a chemical analyzer in which a fluid sample is metered onto a slide which is analyzed after an appropriate period of incubation, said incubator comprising:
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a circular conveyor for moving slides through a rotary path; means enclosing said conveyor to provide a controlled environment for slides during such movement; means for loading slides bearing said fluid sample into said conveyor through a load slot in said enclosing means; and slide preheater means disposed adjacent said load slot for receiving slides and raising the temperature thereof prior to movement of the slides into said incubator.
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Specification