Chemical reaction apparatus

• US 4,797,258 A
• Filed: 11/04/1985
• Issued: 01/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mochida Pharmaceutical Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Mochida Pharmaceutical Company Limited
• Inventors: Mochida, Ei
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US06/794,551
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 422/65, 422/66, 422/63, 901/7, 436/44, 436/47, 436/48, 436/808, 436/809, 435/291, 366/218, 198/415, 198/411, 141/171, 141/164
• US Class Current: 422/65
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/021 having a flexible chain, e.g. "cartridge belt", conveyor for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack

Abstract

A chemical reaction apparatus is disclosed which comprises endless travelling belt(s) disposed to support in place a multiplicity of juxtaposed reaction containers having the axes thereof falling in a plane inclined from the horizontal plane and adapted to travel in a substantially horizontal direction perpendicular to the axes of the reaction containers; endless retaining belts disposed adjacent and not contiguously to the aforementioned travelling belts and provided with a multiplicity of teeth projecting up as at fixed regularly spaced intervals slightly greater than the diameters of the reaction containers so as to enable the reaction containers accommodated in the intervening spaces between the teeth to be held in fixed positions in an arrayed pattern; a base adapted to support in place the bottoms of the aforementioned reaction containers rotated about the axes thereof in an inclined state by the aforementioned travelling belts and the aforementioned retaining belts; and a drive mechanism for intermittently driving the aforementioned retaining belts and thereby effecting pitched movement of the aforementioned reaction containers.

Claims

1. A chemical reaction apparatus comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical reaction containers;

at least one endless travelling belt constructed and arranged for supporting thereon said plurality of cylindrical reaction containers arranged in parallel;

driving means for advancing said at least one travelling belt at a constant speed in one horizontal direction;

separate endless retaining belts disposed on each side of said at least one travelling belt, said retaining belts being disposed parallel to and not contiguously to said at least one travelling belt, each retaining belt being provided thereon with a multiplicity of teeth projecting up at fixed, spaced intervals slightly greater than the diameter of said reaction containers, and adapted to retain said reaction containers at fixed relative positions, portions of said retaining belt teeth being positioned lower than the surface of the travelling belt;

a base on a frame of the apparatus adjacent said at least one endless travelling belt and said endless retaining belts constructed and arranged for supporting bottoms of said reaction containers;

drive means for advancing said retaining belts intermittently over fixed intervals of space; and

means for maintaining said cylindrical reaction containers on said at least one travelling belt at an angle inclined with respect to a horizontal plane;

said base and retaining belts cooperating with one another to maintain the plurality of cylindrical reaction containers in juxtaposed position relative to one another with respective tops of the containers positioned above corresponding container bottoms so that a central axis of each of the containers is on a plane inclined at said angle relative to a horizontal plane; and

said travelling belt driving means and said retaining belt drive means cooperating with one another and with said travelling and retaining belts to rotate each container about its respective central axis and allow a required chemical reaction to proceed therein.

2. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises an injection device for introducing reagent into said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

3. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a rinsing device constructed and arranged to rinse said reaction containers.

4. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises a rinsing device constructed and arranged to rinse said reaction containers.

5. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises an oopening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

6. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

7. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 3, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination, when said reaction containers ae tightly sealed.

8. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 4, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

9. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

10. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

11. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 3, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

12. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 4, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

13. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 5, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

14. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 6, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

15. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 7, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

16. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 8, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers at said angle of inclination.

17. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

18. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

19. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 3, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

20. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 4, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

21. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 5, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

22. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 6, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

23. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 7, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

24. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 8, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

25. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 9, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

26. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 10, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

27. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 11, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

28. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 12, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixture in said reaction containers for optical density.

29. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 13, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

30. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 14, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

31. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 15, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

32. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 16, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

33. A chemical reaction apparatus comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical reaction containers;

at least one endless travelling belt constructed and arranged for supporting thereon said plurality of cylindrical reaction containers arranged in parallel;

driving means for advancing said at least one travelling belt at a constant speed in one horizontal direction;

separate endless retaining belts disposed on each side of said at least one travelling belt, said retaining belts being disposed parallel to and not contiguously to said at least one travelling belt, each retaining belt being provided thereon with a multiplicity of teeth projecting up at fixed, spaced intervals slightly greater than the diameter of said reaction containers, and adapted to retain said reaction containers at fixed relative positions, portions of said retaining belt teeth being positioned lower than the surface of the travelling belt;

a base on a frame of the apparatus adjacent said at least one endless travelling belt and said endless retaining belts constructed and arranged for supporting bottoms of said reaction containers;

drive means for advancing said retaining belts intermittently over fixed intervals of space;

means for maintaining said cylindrical reaction containers on said at least one travelling belt at an angle inclined with respect to a horizontal plane; and

at least one raising device located along said travelling and retaining belts, said at least one raising device having means for supporting a lower side and an upper side of each container, said raising device supporting means having members that can engage and disengage the sides of each container so that the container may be moved from an inclined position when supported by said travelling and retaining belts, to a vertical upright position for dispensing, and back to the inclined position for conveyance by said travelling and retaining belts;

said base and retaining belts cooperating with one another to maintain the plurality of cylindrical reaction containers in juxtaposed position relative to one another with respective tops of the containers positioned above corresponding container bottoms so that a central axis of each of the containers is on a plane inclined at said angle relative to a horizontal plane; and

said travelling belt driving means and said retaining belt drive means cooperating with one another and with said travelling and retaining belts to rotate each container about its respective central axis and allow a required chemical reaction to proceed therein.

34. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises an injection device for introducing reagent into said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

35. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises a rinsing device constructed and arranged to rinse said reaction containers.

36. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 34, which further comprises a rinsing device constructed and arranged to rinse said reaction containers.

37. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers in an upright state, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

38. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 34, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction container containers, with said reaction containers in an upright state when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

39. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 35, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers in an upright state, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

40. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 36, which further comprises an opening device for removing seals from said reaction containers, with said reaction containers in an upright state, when said reaction containers are tightly sealed.

41. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

42. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 34, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

43. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 35, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

44. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 36, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

45. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 37, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

46. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 38, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

47. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 39, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

48. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 40, which further comprises a sampling device for drawing samples of reaction mixtures from said reaction containers with said reaction containers in an upright state.

49. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 33, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

50. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 34, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

51. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 35, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

52. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 36, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

53. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 37, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

54. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 38, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

55. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 39, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures for said reaction containers for optical density.

56. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 40, which further comprises a measuring device for testing reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

57. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 41, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

58. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 42, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

59. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 43, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

60. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 44, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

61. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 45, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

62. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 46, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

63. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 47, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers for optical density.

64. A chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 48, which further comprises a measuring device for testing the reaction mixtures in said reaction containers, for optical density.