Test strip pick-up mechanism in automated analyzer

• US 5,552,116 A
• Filed: 04/17/1995
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Yokota, Hiroshi, Takahashi, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Application Number:
  US08/423,322
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/66, 422/99, 422/104, 436/43, 436/46, 436/174, 436/807, 436/810
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00059 vacuum chucks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00108 Test strips, e.g. paper
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide

Abstract

A test strip pick-up mechanism in an automated analyzer, which comprises: a bottle holder removably holding a test strip bottle containing a plurality of test strips and having a pierced groove formed in the peripheral direction and a test strip pick-up portion connected to the groove and formed in the longitudinal direction; a bottle turning motor connected to the bottle holder; a guide member extended from the inner part of the bottle holder in parallel to the central axis of the test strip bottle and having a L-shaped guide portion formed over the entire length of the guide member with suction holes for adsorbing the test strips being formed on the guide portion which is adjacent to the test strip pick-up portion; claws engaged with the groove of the bottle holder; an air chuck having suction holes for drawing out the test strips contained in the test strip bottle; a movable member on which the air chuck is mounted; a test strip drawing out motor connected to the movable member via a guide bar; depressing arms for pushing the air chuck downward; and an air chuck depressing motor connected to the depressing arms via a shaft.

Claims

1. A test strip pick-up mechanism in an automated analyzer, which comprises:

a bottle holder removably holding a test strip bottle containing a plurality of test strips and having a pierced groove formed in a peripheral direction and a test strip pick-up portion connected to the groove and formed in a longitudinal direction;

a bottle turning motor connected to the bottle holder;

a guide member extended from an inner part of the bottle holder in parallel to a central axis of the test strip bottle and having a L-shaped guide portion formed over an entire length of the guide member with suction holes for adsorbing the test strips being formed on the guide portion which is adjacent to the test strip pick-up portion;

claws engaged with the groove of the bottle holder;

an air chuck having suction holes for drawing out the test strips contained in the test strip bottle;

a movable member on which the air chuck is mounted;

a test strip drawing out motor connected to the movable member via a guide bar;

depressing arms for pushing the air chuck downward; and

an air chuck depressing motor connected to the depressing arms via a shaft.

2. A test strip pick-up mechanism in an automated analyzer, which comprises:

a bottle holder removably holding a test strip bottle containing a plurality of test strips;

a bottle turning motor connected to the bottle holder;

an O-ring mounted on an entire peripheral portion of the bottom of the bottle holder;

a turning auxiliary plate which is contacted with the O-ring and makes the bottle holder turn on its axis;

an air chuck having suction holes for drawing out the test strips contained in the test strip bottle;

a movable member on which the air chuck is mounted such that the air chuck is movable upward and downward;

a test strip drawing out motor connected to the movable member via a guide bar;

an air chuck depressing motor connected to the air chuck via a shaft;

flappers disposed at both sides of the test strip adsorbing portion of the air chuck, which open and close accompanied with upward and downward movements of the air chuck; and

a receiving plate having a curved surface and a linear member both of which are provided at positions left from a region where an opening is moved by turning the test strip bottle.