Chemical analysis apparatus

• US 5,102,624 A
• Filed: 09/03/1987
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Muraishi, Katsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Jr., Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US07/095,376
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 422/55, 422/63, 422/64, 422/65, 422/66, 422/68, 364/497, 364/498
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00049 for loading/unloading a carousel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00346 Heating or cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence

Abstract

A chemical analysis apparatus comprises an incubator provided with a plurality of chambers disposed on the same circumference for each housing a chemical analysis slide, a sample application device disposed above the incubator at a predetermined position on the circuumference, and a probe disposed below the incubator at the predetermined position. A rotation system is provided for rotating the incubator to locate the chambers one after another at the predetermined position. A slide feeder is disposed outward or inward of the circumference to face the predetermined position, and a slide ejection unit is disposed on the side opposite to the slide feeder with the predetermined position intervening between the slide ejection unit and the slide feeder. The chemical analysis slide in each of the chambers is pushed out and ejected by feeding of a new chemical analysis into the chamber.

Claims

1. A chemical analysis apparatus comprising:

i) an incubator provided with a plurality of chambers disposed on the same circumference for each housing a chemical analysis slide, said incubator also having a plurality of sample application openings and a plurality of measurement openings therein.

ii) a sample application means disposed above said incubator at a predetermined position on said circumference, and a probe disposed below said incubator at said predetermined position.

iii) a rotation means for rotating said incubator to locate said chambers one after another at said predetermined position, and

iv) a slide feed means disposed outward or inward of said circumference to face said predetermined position, and a slide ejection unit disposed on the side opposite to said slide feed means with said predetermined position intervening between said slide ejection unit and said slide feed means.

wherein said chemical analysis slide in each of said chambers is pushed out and ejected by feeding of a new chemical analysis slide into said chamber.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said incubator is formed in a doughnut shape, and said chambers are disposed in an equally spaced relation to each other on the same circumference of said doughnut-shaped incubator.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said slide feed means comprises a feed unit for housing therein a plurality of said chemical analysis slides stacked one upon another, and a pushing lever for pushing the lowest chemical analysis slide in said feed unit out of said feed unit into said chamber via a lever inlet opening and a slide outlet opening formed at lower portions of said walls of said feed unit.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each said sample application opening has an outer end, which opens at an upper surface of said incubator, and an inner end which opens at an upper portion of a corresponding one of said chambers, and further wherein each said measurement opening has an outer end, which opens at a lower surface of said incubator, and an inner end which opens at a lower portion of a corresponding one of said chambers, so that said sample application opening and said measurement opening face a multi-layer film of said chemical analysis slide when said chemical analysis slide is housed in each of said chambers.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said slide feed means and said slide ejection unit are disposed on a straight line which includes said predetermined position.