Apparatus for analyzing the contents of reaction tubes

Apparatus for analyzing the contents of reaction tubes

HYCEL EUROPA N.V.

0:40606

The present invention relates to improve1r^| in an automated chemical testing apparatus which provides automation of routine chemistry procedures to provide more uniform procedures, greater efficiency, accuracy and at a lower unit cost than can be performed manually as well as providing discretionary selectivity of the tests to be performed on each sample, as described in the specification of Israel Patent Application Ιϊο. J2316. The present apparatus can generally automate most laboratory tests that can be performed in a single reaction tube by automatically and selectively picking up the test samples and dispensing the proper amounts in the programmed reaction tube, applying the necessary reagents at the appropriate position, heating the desired tubes to the proper temperatures, optically analyzing the results of the chemical testa, and washing and drying the tubes in preparation for the next tests.

An object of the present invention is the provision of optical readout means wherein a plurality of reac+ίοπ ~f~ulpes cuvettes having elongated passageways may be lowered into/ and the contents of the reaction tubes aspirated into the cuvettes and wherein the optical readout sequentially scans the cuvettes and the results of the tests are suitably recorded, and In which the aspiration is provided by a cylinder and piston wherein the cuvettes are drained after the tests and are additionally cleaned by a sharp burst of air to provide a low residual surface factor which reduces carryover to chem^al insignificant levels, and a serpentine passageway is provided in the cuvette to prevent aspiration of the samples out of the cuvettes.

Another feature is the provision of an opt^l readout system in which a lens having phosphate glass is utilized to reduce the admissibility of heat from the light source from adversely affecting the results of the readout, and a filter is positioned between the cuvette and the light measuring device thereby spacing the filter from the light source and reducing ths adverse effect of heat on the filter.

In order that the invention may be better understood and more readily carried into effect, an embodiment of it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective overall view of a chemical testing apparatus;

Pig. 2 is a front skeleton elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear skeleton elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of one example of a plurality of reaction tubes showing the positions sample entry station, the reagent stations, the heating stations, the readout stations, and indicating possible types of tests that can be performed;

Fig. 5 Is a diagrammatic elevational view of the conveyor of the present apparatus carrying the reaction tubes, and also indicating possible tube wash and dry stations;

Pig. 6 is an electrical schematic showing the power supply to the various components of the apparatus;

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Fig. 6A is a view of the circuit breaker board;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view^' partly in section, illustrating the sample pick-up and dispensing components;

Fig, 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7?

Fig. 9 is a view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 Is a view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the operation of the carriage and car pick-up arm shown in a dispensing position;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the carriage car and arm in a sample pick-up position;

Fig. 14 is a schematic and perspective view, partly in cross section, illustrating the hydraulic sample pick-up and dispensing assembly;

Fig. 15 is a view taken along the line 15-15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a schematic view of the operation and control of the pick-up and dispensing assembly of the present apparatus;

Fig, 17 is a fragmentary elevational view of the endless conveyor assembly supporting and carrying the reaction tubes;

Fig. 18 is a view taken along the line 18-18 of Fig, 17;

Fig, 19 is a view taken along the line of Fig, 17;

Fig, 20 is a view taken along line 20-20 of Fig. 19;

Fig, 21 Is a perspective view of the actuating linkages actuating the endless conveyor, the heating baths and the tube drying means of the present apparatus;

Fig. 22 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of the actuating linkages for indexing the conveyor, raising and lowering the heater baths, and extending and retracting the tube drying means, and showing the linkage.? in their first and second positions;

Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig, 22 showing the actuating linkages in their fourth and fifth positions;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating the operation of an indexing pawl engaging the sprocket wheel of the conveyor and shown in its first and second positions;

Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 24 illustrating the position of the indexing pawl and its third, fifth and sixth positions;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, partly in cross section, of the indexing pawl of the Figs. 24 and 25;

Fig. 27 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the conveyor illustrating details of construction;

Fig. 28 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating a method of securing the reaction tubes to the slats of the conveyor;

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the conveyor of the present apparatus illustrating the position of the heating baths relative to the reaction tubes

Fig, JO is a view taken along the line 30-30 of Fig. 29;

Fig, 31 is a diagrammatic view of the water connections to the water heating baths;

Fig. 32 is an enlarged elevational view, taken in cross section, of a portion of the conveyor illustrating the tube and slat wash assemblies;

Fig, 33 is a perspective view of the electrical tube heating assembly of the apparatus;

Fig. 34 is a schematic view of the control system of the end wash assembly;

Fig. 35 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating schematically the connections of the reagent dispensing assembly;

Fig. 36 is an enlarged elevational view, in cross section, illustrating the lower portion of one of the reagent metering assemblies;

Fig» 37 is an enlarged elevational view in cross section of the upper portion of the reagent metering dispensing assembly of Fig, 36;

Fig, 38 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the connection of the supports for the outlet line of the reagent dispensing assembly at a position above the reagent tubes;

Fig. 39 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, in cross section, showing the position of the outlet line of a reagent dispensing assembly relative to a reaction tube;

Fig. 40 is an enlarged elevational view o^jjhe readout assembly of the present invention;

Fig, 41 is a view taken along the line 41-41 of Fig, 4θ»

Fig, 42 is a view taken along the line 42-42 of Fig. 40;

Fig, 45 is a view taken along the line 43-45 of Fig. 41 shown in position for aspirating the contents of the tubes into the cuvettes;

Fig. 44 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view, in cross section, of the fill and expel cylinder and piston assembly;

Fig. 45 is a view similar to Fig. 43 illustrating the movement of the cylinder relative to the piston for draining the cuvettes;

Fig. 46 is a view similar to Fig. 44 showing the relationship of the cylinder and drain port relative to the piston for draining the cuvettes;

Fig. 47 is a view taken along the line 47-47 of Fig. 40;

Fig. 48 is a view taken along the line 48-48 of Fig. 47;

Fig. 49 is a view taken along the line 49-49 of Fig. 47;

Fig. 50 is a view taken along the line 50-50 of Fig. 47;

Fig. 51 is a view taken along the line 51-51 of Fig. 47;

Fig. 52 is an exploded perspective view of the covers above the exciter lamp in the photocell readout block assembly;

Fig. 53 is an electrical and mechanical ?^jheaatic of the readout system;

Fig. 54 is a mechanical and electrical schematic of the mechanical operation of the testing assembly;

Fig. 55 is a mechanical and electrical schematic of the optical readout system of the present apparatus;

Fig. 56 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating the two-way clutch assembly used in the present apparatus;

Fig, 57 1® a view taken along the line 57-57 of Fig. 56;

Fig. 58 is a view taken along the line 53-58 of Fig. 56;

Fig. 59 is a view taken along the line 59-59 of Fig, 58;

Fig, 60 is a fragmentary view of the program control board of the present apparatus;

Fig. 61 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the program control board illustrating the actuating switches and indicating lights;

Fig. 62 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 62-62 of Fig. 61;

Fig. 65 is an electrical block diagram of the control system;

Pig, 64 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, showing the mechanical structure of the computer of the present apparatus;

Fig. 65 is a cross-sectional view of the sweep and fixed boards of the computer showing the mode of indexing of one relative to the other;

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Fig. 66 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 66-66 of Fig. 65; and

Fig. 67 is an electrical schematic of the synchronization circuit of the present apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 through 5, the automatic chemical testing apparatus or discretionary sequential multiple analysis apparatus is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and generally includes (1) a loop conveyor or endless belt 22 which carries a plurality of rows of open topped containers or reaction tubes 24 in which the various separate longitudinal rows 26 indicate different chemical tests which may be performed while each separate transverse row 28 is provided to receive a single individual sample on which the various tests may be performed as the conveyor 22 is sequentially indexed carrying the reaction tubes 24 along various stations at which various steps in the chemical testing is performed, (2) a sample dispensing assembly 30 which may include a rotary indexing table 32 for holding the samples to be tested and a pick-up and dispensing apparatus 34 for picking up uhe required amount of sample from the indexing table 32 and dispensing each sample in a single transverse row 28 of tubes 24 in the required amounts and for the tests programmed, (3) a reagent dispensing assembly 36 (Fig. 35) which may include a plurality of containers of reagents 38 connected to metering dispensing units 40 which in turn are connected to outlets positioned above the reaction tubes 24 at the desired position or station on the conveyor 22 for dispensing reagents in the proper sequence and at the proper station in the tests being performed, (4) suitable heating means 42 which are positioned for heating the reaction tubes 24 at the desired stations as the tubes 24 are indexed along the conveyor 22 as required by the chemical tests being performed, .1 (5) a readout or testing assembly 44 for analyzing the results of the chemical tests being performed, (6) cleaning means for cleaning the tubes 24 after the tests in a particular trans verse row 28 has been concluded, (7) tube drying means for '., .j drying the tubes in preparation for re-use and recycling, and 8) ן) suitable control means for selectively controlling the sequential multiple analysis and synchronization of the above mentioned components,

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By way of example, the apparatus 20 will be described in use in,running a multiple number of tests, in blood serum although, of course, the present apparatus can be used for a j variety of discretionary sequential multiple analysis chemistry , that can be performed in a single reaction tube. For example only, and referring to Figures 4 and 5 a plurality of ten longitudinal rows 26 of sixty tubes 24 each are supported and sequentially indexed by the conveyor 22, As will be more fully described hereinafter, a test sample will be dispensed into one or more of the ten tubes in a single transverse row 28 and as the transverse row 28 is Indexed, will become positioned.at the various reaction positions or stations where the desired chemistry for the different tests performed in the individual

I longitudinal rows 26 will be performed such as heating, mixing, and adding of reagents to perform the desired chemical analysis, such as by example only, as listed in conjunction with the Individual longitudinal rows 26 in Figure 4, after which the horizontal rows will reach the readout station which will analyze , and record the measured values. After the end of the readout, as best seen in Figure 5, the tubes 24 are inverted, draining ׳.׳ ^the contents and pass through one or more wash stations and at , least one drying station where they are again returned to the sample entry position or station for recycling.

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'11 .4 |! ..' 4' |> dispensing assembly 30 includes a plok-up and dispensing appaB . . .ratua 34 which performs the function of moving towards the li ; ץ, rotary Indexing table 32 and picking up a aample to bo touted , .ן t 41 , j ! 1 Ψ, ^and moves over one of the transverse rows 28 of reaction tubes ji , ί .¹J; 24 and¹ injects a measured amount of sample Into each of the

1׳, I, !ן׳!.! י !י׳ tubes 24 therein for which a test has been programmed. The ,,1׳ .,I ׳ 'ifci .,

I ' ;!;j ^r°tary Indexing table 32 is best seen In Figures 7, 8, 9 and ן ¹ ,. ן י ד ,. ?, and includes a plurality of sample containers 46 which may '.,ו^,!, י ׳,. .׳ be Inserted into a plurality of openings 48 which are circular- 4 ‘ ^!1

.. J '׳: ly and'evenly spaced on the indexing table 32. A water cooling ^f!f ' Jacket 50 may be positioned beneath the indexing table 32, as ! ' best seen in Figures 7, 8 and 9, having an inlet 54 and an י . י ץ outlet 56 to provide a temperature controlled environment for ^the *®st samples in the containers 46 in order that they are .1 not adversely affected by temperature and particularly the ¹ !׳ heat generated by the components of the apparatus 20. A rotary .r 11 ׳ table indexing motor 52 drives the table 32 through a gear box ^l; .' 58 at periodic intervals to Incrementally index the sample containers 46 individually to a pick-up position in response ;׳ to a control system which will be more fully described herein1 after.

The pick-up and dispensing apparatus 34 includes a . ^!_י ’ i pick-up and dispensing conduit such as needle 62 which is

J carried by a carriage car 64 which in turn is movable on and

I is supported by a carriage arm 66 which in turn is supported י for a swinging movement about one end, as best seen in Figures ’ 7» 8, 9, 10, 13 and 16, whereby the pick-up and dispensing

,. conduit or needle 62 may be moved over the sample container 46 1<^J ך on the indexing table 32 in the plok-up position, as beat seen :ί ' . in the dotted outline in Figure 7, to pick up a aample to be . !׳׳. ו tested after which the carriage arm 66 18 returned to the full

II. ׳ I line position shown in Figure 7. over^a transverse row 28 of ' '׳.--ז: י‘ , ׳

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.tubes 24 for injecting portions of the sample into the indi&lt;! ! J pl ,j , _: vidual tubes 24 for which the programmed tests are to be peri| ־!. .׳., //U ' ^{AB beSt seen ln} 7, 9, 12/13 and 16, an air

L ץ ׳ .'^piston and cylinder 68 is connected to an arm 70, which in i>, I J ^{turn 10 conne}cted to the carriage arm 66 for rotating the arm 'I . . J 66 and thus the carriage car 64 outwardly over the rotary

,. indexing table 32 and, after a sample has been picked up, ו again retracting the carriage arm 66 Into a position over a transverse row 28 of reaction tubes 24, The air supply for / . . jj actuation and retraction of the piston and cylinder assembly !, /1 68 and thus the carriage arm 66 1_a supplied through an air i! /^,.Λ valve 71 (Figure 16).

׳'.. J The longitudinal movement of the carriage car 64 . _;, along the carriage arm 66 is best seen from Figures 12, 13 and . J 16 in which a carriage motor 72 drives a pulley 74 through a ך . , p reversing clutch 76 which in turn extends, retracts and con! p tools the position of the oar 64 along the arm 66 through a 1' ץ control cable 78 which passes around idler pulleys 80, 82, 84, |1 86 and 88 and is secured to block 90 on the car 64 whereby the , , position of the car 64 along the arm 66 may be controlled by i connecting, disconnecting and reversing the clutch 76.

An overall view of the pick-up and dispensing appa! ratus 34 is best seen in Figure 14 which Includes a waste and i wash cup 81, 85 (Figures 9, 11, 7, 14 and 16) in which the cup . 81 has an outlet 83 for disposal of excess sample fluid and a ו ^{wash oufl} is provided with a cleaning media or water wash, ,* inlet 87 for admission of a cleaning media such as water which ׳ ;.!ו, overflows the wash cup 85 into the waste cup 81 and out the ί ל . outlet 83. As best seen in Figures 7 and 9 the waste and wash cup 81, 85 is positioned in line with a transverse row 28 of _i( ;;. tubes at the inner end of the arm 66. Since a single sample

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!1 ; which 18 to be picked up from the indexing table 32 18 to be i . i dispensed into the tubes 24 in a single transverse row m , accordance with the tests programmed, after which any excess , , .! I sample 131 expelled and _{a ne}w sample 18 to be picked up ,, 'pi , j from the table 32 and dispersed into a different transverse

,. ' !’ row 28 of tubes, it is important that there be no undesired / .J .; p i contamination or mixing from one sample to another sample, and ! !' additionally it is desirable that the dispensing. of a single p .,׳ . , sample into the various tubes !״ _a transverse row be under the

/./ . , same conditions to avoid variations in the samples dispensed '/ P. , . ׳ ^{ln the various tubes}> ^c«ch as by example might be caused by | dilution. Thus it is preferred, as best seen in Figure 10,

i. . . . to provide a line 89 connected to the pick-up and dispensing j , ¹ j conduit or needle 62 which forms a portion of the pick-up and .|י , , r dispensing apparatus 34 and is generally a closed water syetem ., . such as water 91 followed by an air interface 92, a second p ;, ' j interface 94 comprising a portion of the sample to be tested, a f Ϊ second air interface 96 followed by an extra sample aliquot and !! 'י. then the main sample 98 to be dispensed. By way of example ί ' only, assuming that each of the tests to be performed requires • J a sample amount of 0.1 co, the sample 94 may be 0.1 co and the י י ץ main sample 98 may have a volume equal to the number of tests ' / .to be programmed times 0.1 cc plus an additional 0.2 co amount.

!' Thus, while the. air interfaces 92 and 96 serve the function of preventing mixing between the,water 91 and the main sample 98, ^Jthe additional sample 94 and the extra sample aliquot picked i(up from the indexing table 32 prior to dispensing the samples :¹.Into the tubes 24 will wash the interior of the line 89 with ;,the same type ofmaterial to be dispensed thereby reducing any ^tendency of the previously! washed tube 89 to have for example a dilution effect on the main sample 98.

¹ .... ? ^{to provlde the des}V^, Pick-up of the sample

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ן, to be tested and dispensed in the tubes 24, the pick-up and ' ׳ dispensing apparatus 34, as best seen in Figure 14, includes a sample pick-up and dispensing cylinder and piston 100, a water : wash piston and cylinder assembly 102, a needle raising and &lt; lowering air piston and cylinder assembly 104, and an air plston and cylinder assembly 106 for creating air interfaces in the line 89. .

I , As shown in Figure 14 the needle 62 is in the down position having been actuated to the down position by piston and cylinder assembly 104, When the needle 62 is lowered, the . water wash piston and cylinder 102 is actuated back and forth by wash motor 108 through a rotating arm 110 to suck water into the needle 62 and line 89 and expel it therefrom thereby cleaning the line 89 and needle 62 as fresh water flows through the . . ו I water inlet 87 into the wash cup 85 and out the drain outlet 83» After the needle 62 and line 89 are washed, the wash motor 108 is stopped, the piston and cylinder assembly 104 is actuated to raise the needle 62 and the pick-up and dispensing apparatus 34 is then ready to move into sample pick-up positlon over the indexing table 32. When the pick-up position Is reached (Figures 7 and 13) the piston and cylinder assembly 104 1 is actuated to cause the needle to move downwardly, carrying , and moving the piston 10₇ in cylinder 106 therewith causing an air interface 92 (Figure 10) to be sucked In the line 89 and into the sample container 46 which has been Indexed at the pick-up position by the table 32. Assembly 100 aspirates a sample 94 into line 89 by the rotation of worm gear 116 by the ! motor 112 which moves the cylinder 118 relative to

Piston and cylinder 104 is again actuated to raise , and to lower the needle, back .into the container ’aspirating. another air Interface 96 Into the line .! aspiration and dispensing motor 112 operating through reversing piston 117, needle 62' thus

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I . -, לי/; ii ׳ ^l! I־' ® clutch 114 rotates worm gear 116 and thus the cylinder 113 of !I I

I the aspiration and dispensing piston and cylinder assembly 100 |i _? to aspirate the programmed amount of test sample 98 into the .1 needle 62 and the line 89. When the programmed amount of ! i ¹ ) 1 .ו sample is picked up from a sample container 46, the motor 112 ji ' stops, the piston assembly 104 is actuated to raise the needle ; - 62, the motor 112 is reversed thereby reversing worm gear 116 ! . to retract the cylinder 118 to dispense a segment of the sample

I ׳ I It back into sample cup 46 to Insure that the status for dispensing of the sample into the tubes 24 will all be similar. I» I - . .

i The carriage arm 66 is moved back over the transverse row 28 j j of reaction tubes 24 and the control system actuates the carל rlage car 64 to place the needle 62 over the first reaction _; , ׳ tube 24 which has been programmed for testing. The reversing clutch 114 is actuated and a measured amount of sample is dis; | pensed into a reaction tube 24, The reversing clutch 114 is deactuated, the carriage 64 Is then moved along to the next ,. tube 24 In the transverse row which has been programmed for a ,: test, the reversing clutch 114 is again actuated and a measured amount of sample is dispensed in that reaction tube 24, The process of dispensing a measured amount of sample fluid into each of the reaction tubes 24 in a transverse row is continued until all of the programmed tests have received a sample. After the last programmed test receives a sample, the carriage 64 ן moves to the waste cup 81 and the extra sample aliquot is 'j dispensed Into the waste cup 81, the needle 62 is lowered and

ו the wash cycle 18 again performed. ! !

’ Referring now to Figure 16 the sequence of operation and control of the pick-up and dispensing apparatus 34 is beat y .וי .

seen, Information is received in a sample selection control 115 from the control system, which will be more fully discussed hereinafter, as to which tests will be performed and therefore

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into which longitudinal row6־ ־ of _{tubes 24 ־ωρ1־ u} * tested will be ״,_WM־d. _{ΟρΜ S16nal־} tion control 115, air valve n S> actuated to in turn actuate ־lr Pieton and cylinder 68 to ־wing the carriage ar» 66 toward־ the sa.pl־ table 32 and ״ the same time a 1־_{gnal la SMC t־}the carnage control 11_{9 and} aspiration rlage motor 72 1־ actuated through Ito clutoh 76 and pulley 74 to move the carnage car 64 toward־ the ־_a״pl_a table 32. _Theoarriege «otor clutch 76 revere־־ and ־top־ over the plo_k._Up position on the table 3־ end air valve 1־1 0־ _actuat־d and in turn actuate־ the piston ״־a ־y11_Mer ־־־־.biy 104 to lower the needle into the ־־»pie container 46 on the table 3־. After the eir interface 9־, sample 94 _a״! _{alr lntarfaM 6־}tamed, the ־־piratlon and dispensing _rot״ _{μ2 a־tmed}rnd Ploks up the programed ־mount of ־־»pl־, the dispenser motor 11־1 ־ then reversed, air valvs 1־1 0־ de-energized allowlng cyllnder ־־se.bly !04 to raise the needle 6־. one f segment of the sample 1־ dispense,! _{ba־k 1״t0} , and the ,־1 66 ״ .oved back over the reaction tubes 24. The j aspiration timer 11־ starts a dispensing timer 15־ »hen the

:. carriage 64 stops over a programme! reaction tube 24. Dispenser clutch 114 1־ actuated and a measured sample _ls d_1Bi־n־ed _ln

I the proper tube 24. The carriage _{01utc|1 ?6 ״} , the carnage 64 moves to the next programed test tube where ״־other ־־«pl־ la dispensed. The dispensing pro־־־־ continues . until all of the program»־! tests hav־ received a ־_amp1_e. _Tba ! carnage 64 then moves to the waste and wa־h cup 81. At this

I time the wash control 108 starts and the needle 6־ and line 89 ! ן are washed and filled with fresh water m preparation for the next cycle.

! _; Referring now to Piguree 17 through 8־, the construe'־»_| יn, operation and function of _a prepared for. of the loop ו

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I conveyor or endless belt 22 is best seen. Preferably, the . conveyor '22 comprises .a plurality ׳bfl !WiViddal rifeid' slats 122, each of which hold a transverse row 20 of reaction tubes , 24, the slats 122, being secured at each end to a chain 124 by ;., screws 126 (Figure 27), and the chains are in turn carried by ' sprocket wheels 128, 130, 132 and 134 which are carried on axles 136 and 138 respectively. The rigid slats 122, are advan , tageous in that while allowing the conveyor to rotate around the wheels, they securely hold the tubes in fixed positions, Referring now to Figure 28, the method of inserting and accurately aligning the tubes 24 in the individual slats 122 before the slats 122 are connected to the chains 124 is jbest seen. The slats 122 have a plurality of openings 140 sized to receive the tubes 24 and are placed on a holder 142 having a base 144 and the tubes 24 are inserted in the holes ¹ 140. Holes 146 are drilled in the slats 122 extending to the openings 140. A holding pm 148 is threaded into the holes 146 against a resilient protector 150 which protects the tubes 24 from being broken as the pin 148 is secured. Thus, the tubes 24 are all held in the identical vertical positions relative to the slats 122׳ and are securely fastened to prevent them from later slipping relative to the slats 122: and becoming misaligned.

The conveyor 22 is periodically, indexed a predetermined distance, such as one transverse tube row, to move the tubes 24 from one position or station to the next so that the appropriate chemical steps may be performed upon the programmed

I samples at the proper station, time and sequence. Therefore, ' suitable means are provided for periodically indexing the con' ' , &lt; veybr 22 a predetermined distance. However, since some of the other functions to be performed on the tubes 24 require a dose CO.ictlon wJth I,Im , l;lm.׳m i״nc t;1 onn mny riiqulro nyimlironl

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zation with the movement of the conveyor 22. For Instance, during the chemical testing process being performed in the tubes 24 heat may be required, and the preferred embodiment provides heating means 42 which may include one or more heating baths or heaters to satisfy the heating requirements of the chemical analysis. In addition suitable drying means 152 is provided which may include a plurality of individual electrie heaters 154 connected to drying heater mount 186 for insertion into the tubes 24 for drying them after they have been washed. Since these components during their functional operation coact with the tubes 24 in such a way as to prevent indexing of the conveyor 22, these components are synchronized with the conveyor movement 22 for allowing movement of the tubes 24 from station to station.

Thus, referring to Figures 19 through 26, a power air and piston assembly 156 is provided to supply the power for retracting the'tube heating means 42.and the tube drying means 152, indexing the conveyor 22 a predetermined amount, and again extending the tube heating means 42 and the tube drying means 152 into their functional position. Referring to Figures 20 through 23, a heating bath supporting structure 158 is provided which generally includes supports 160, 162, 164 '׳ and 166 connected together by linkages 168, 170 and 172 and :j supported on shafts 174 and 176, t '

Drying means actuating linkages 178, 180 are connecI ₍ ted to linkages 182 and 184 respectively which are in turn . I _t ן connected to the drying heater mount 186. The linkages 178 ? . . I and 180 are connected by pin 175 to linkage 177 which extends • .1. -j and retracts the drying heating mount 186. Linkage 177 is . ! connected by pin 179 to and actuated by lost motion actuating ‘ j lever 204, ₍₁ 1; A stop lug 188 is connected to an arm I90 which 18

I ' I I '״I oonneoted to th־ ־haft _{80 6״} sprocket wheel 132 to allow i'iay dgaiil looked in piston

An arm may release movement of the conveyor 22 and re־־»sa₈־ the sprocket »heel 1_3־ to hold conveyor 22 position after the conveyor haa been Indexed.

Λ drive pm 192 1־ connected to th־ power air and asBe.bly !56 for delivering th־ power fro. aeae.bly 156. is׳» provide־ support for the pm l_9a. _{A p0Ker}

1־ connected to the ax!_{־ 136} ־_{onn״־lng the spr0־k־t whM1־}hhd 130 tc provide the forwarding Indexing «־״־.־־ _Of the ״־־W־r 2־־ ־ the !־ver 1_S6 !. ._Ov־d c־unt־r־lc־kwm־₁₀ . .־t .etlon ar. 198 1־ provided connected b־t»־־n the drive rod 192 and the power lever 196 and Include־ a notch 200 which when retracted will ״־gag־ ־ p!_n 202 _{on t}he _1־ν״ ._־־ power stroke the lever 196 wm ״,״,״>

^{! 9 111 raove} oounterclockwise thereby

Indexing the conveyor 22. However, before the conveyor 22 .ay he indexed In the preferred ־.b־dl.e״t, the heating bath־ and the dryer heater .cunt 186 .״et be retracted away fro. tub2 ־־b ־־ ־־ rot tc interfere with their .0,״־.־t. A _{10־t rotlon}lever 04־ having ₁₀ ־_st .otic₂ ״_{Q6 ״} to ehaft 1_W ־nd receive־ the drive rod !92 m the 206 ״!־ Th־״ the lever 204 will not .־ve with the drive red 192 until the drive rod 192 ״־gag־־ _{one end 0}״ _the

However, the lost motion of slot 206 is 1_esa198 so that on the retraction motion slot 206. j־ than the lost motion of ,of׳ stroke/assembly !56 the slot 206 retracting arm !retracting arm 177 arm rod 192 engages the back end 207 of

204 and rotating shaft 174 and also * Rotation of shaft 174 in _a clockwise . direction 10״־״ _th־ heatmg _tath ,_{upj>wt> 160} _ ₁₆₆ th־ heater bathe are moved out _of ־^.^ , Retraction er ar. _{W ״ove8}״ _־ .

; !the drying heater mount 186 away from tubes 24.

.On the power stroke of assembly 156, the rod 192 and . 1--- ״ —J

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. 'יו /: / , |j ן lever 198 move lever 196 thereby Indexing the belt 22. H_0W..! ₁ j ever, the drive rod, 192 is allowed to move in the lost motion

וי ין ; 1 slot 206 so that the heating baths supports 160 - 166 and the _t ; ! Ϊ individual heater drying elements 154 will not be moved into j! / the proximity of the tubes 24 until after the conveyor has been •1״ 1₎ . ־; indexed, after which time the drive rod 192 will engage the

Γ 1 -י‘׳;׳ • ¹ front end 209 of the lost motion slot 206 to move the actuating ' : lever 204' counterclockwise rotating the shaft 1?4 thereby rals. ing the heater baths supports 160 - 166 and pushing linkage * i ; ׳

177 thereby extending the individual drying heaters 154 into a !' | row of tubes 24.

p י i ן . I ' While, of course, the power stroke movement of the

,.1. | ? . | piston and cylinder assembly 156 through the rod 192, the arm / . j ¹98 and acting through power lever 196 may be utilized for ׳ controlling the limit of travel of the conveyor 22, a more ’ . positive engaging pawl 208 may be rotatably supported on shaft i! ' ' 176 and arranged to engage the teeth on sprocket wheel 134,

׳1 i Pawl 208 is rotatable about a pin 210 on arm 212 ' which 18 in turn fixedly secured to shaft 176. In the waiting position (first position) the pawl 208 is kept out of engagement with the teeth of sprocket wheel 134 by spring 214 between ) the pawl 208 and the arm 212 causing the pawl 208 to engage a stop pin 216 positioned on arm 212. However, when the power cylinder 156 retracts thereby lowering the heating baths and , 1| !

j retracting the drying heaters, shaft 176 is rotated bringing , the end of the pawl 208 into engagement with the sprocket teeth of wheel 134 (Figure 24). Further rotation of the shaft 176 ! 1 !/, ' causes the end of the pawl to become fully engaged with the

/. sprocket teeth (Figure 25, third position). As the power cylinder 156 moves on the power stroke and Indexes the belt 22, , the sprocket 134 will rotate the pawl to the fifth position as

- •11, ^; ; best seen in Figure 25 at which time the pawl 208 will engage

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I a atop pin 215 on the arm 212 thereby preventing further rota,j ' tion of the sprocket wheel 134 and the conveyor 22.

.׳! ' ’ ij ן ' Referring now to Figure 23, stoppage of the rotation of the sprocket wheels and the conveyor 22 by the locking of

I ! ' ן ‘ , pawl 203 causes the lost motion arm 198 to become released jl ׳, from power lever 196 as the notch 200 by virtue of its rounded ן ! ׳ י back edge 201 will move off of the pin 202 and return to the ί ׳ ' ; flrat position (Figure 22).,

I After the conveyor 22 is,stopped and thus indexed in

I ¹׳j a new position, further movement of the power stroke of the ¹ power assembly 156 causes the drive rod 192 which is by then moved through the lost motion slot 206 to engage the end 209 of the slot 206 and move lost motion lever 204 to rotate shaft .I ί1?4 causing the heating baths supports 160 - 166 to move up, jwardly, moving the heating baths into engagement with the tubes ' 24 which are in the newly indexed position. Movement of lever j 204 simultaneously moves arm 177 and linkages 178 and 180 I which in turn move linkages 132 and 184 to move the drying ;heater block towards the new row of tubes 24 in the drying position whereby the individual heaters 154 are inserted into ן the tubes to perform the drying function. Rotation of shaft ;176 also rotates arm 190 and stop pin 188 into engagement with the sprockets on wheel 132 thus holding the conveyor 22 in a looked position. Also, rotation of shaft 176 in moving linkage

Ί ' , ן / 178, as best seen In Figure 25, moves the locking pawl 208 out ^il I

I _י jof position five and into position six or its original waiting position one (Figure 24).

While the form of the heating means 42 for heating the reaction tubes 24 to the temperatures necessary for per'forming the chemical analysis will of course depend upon the chemical teats performed, one form is shown in Figures 29, 30, 1

31, 33 and 34 for satisfying the heating requirements of the j teats listed !as programmed in Figure 4,. Thus a heater tray 217 .1 ₍ ! ¹⁸ provided for supporting a P.B.I. (protein bound iodine) ‘i electric heater 218 for providing a temperature of about 203°C.

at!stations 4 - 8 in the longitudinal row in which the P.B.I, I ;

, : test is performed (Figure 4), a water bath 220 is provided for Ji a temperature environment of 37°C., and a water bath 222 is ! provided for creating a temperature environment of 80’C. The I ; heater tray 217 is supported by the heating bath supporting ׳, ! structure 158 (Figure 21) which are slidably engaged on shafts . ‘ ' 174 and 176 by slidable guides 224 and 226, and are engaged ! . and are raised and lowered on supports 160-166 as previously

J . indicated.

,. Referring now to Figure 33, the P.B.I. heater 218 ! ' : may be an electric heater having a plurality of openings 228 ^! ' 1

1: , ן for enclosing the reaction tubes 24 when the heater 218 is י !! raised and includes suitable electrical connections 230 for ? ׳ j supplying the necessary electrical power for heating.

i' 1 Water in baths 220 and 222 is circulated by means of pumps 246 and 248 respectively through suitable heaters 242 . and 244 located in tanks 243 and 245 respectively. By suitable

I means of heater control the temperature in the baths 220 and ! 222 is controlled, Water to baths 220 and 222 is provided ^I through line 232, branch lines 234 and 236 and controlled by !^! ן valves 238 and 240 respectively. Excess water in baths 220 i and 222 flows into overflows 250 and 252 respectively and ! , drains into sump 254 which has an outlet 256 through which ₍ drain water is disposed, . ן Referring to Figure 5, it has been previously Indi7 ־; |cated that as the conveyor is Indexed, and after the conclusion ¹of the chemical analysis, the tubes 24 are Inverted thereby ' draining the contents therefrom, and are then washed in prepa-

II ; ration for recycling. Referring now to Figure 32, wash pipes ¹ I I 1

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258, 260 and 262 are provided having spray nozzles 264, 266 ׳ and 268, respectively for directing a spray of cleaning water at various stations into the tubes 24 and onto the slats 122 for washing and cleaning the tubes and conveyor. The contents ן of the tubes 24 and the spray water are received In a drain sump 254 for disposal.

Referring now to Figure 34, a master timer 272 is provided as part of the control circuit which will be more fully described hereinafter, which after the tests have been ׳ j programmed controls the rotary indexing table 32 as well as j controlling air valve 274 which in turn controls the power air piston assembly 156 which drives the conveyor 22. After the last programmed test is completed the master timer 272 16 dej actuated and at that time actuates the end wash timer 276 which • will continue to index and actuate the power assembly 156 to index ths conveyor 22 for a predetermined number of cycles to insure that all of the tubes 24 are washed and cleaned, in ,which

Referring now to Figures 35 through 39/ the reagent ׳ dispensing assembly 36 is best seen.' ¹יי ו The various rei ! agents required for the various chemical tests are provided in reagent containers 38 and are drawn therefrom by metered disI pensing units 40 and dispensed into the reaction tubes 24 at ! the proper positions.or stations and in the proper amounts for ; performing the desired programmed tests. Preferably, the ׳ metered dispensing units 40 include a glass cylinder 278, a Teflon piston 280 therein for drawing in a metered amount of reagent from the connected container 38 through a first check ; valve 282 and dispensing the metered amount of reagent through ! a second check valve 284 to a tube 24. It 18 desirable that I

I the components of the reagent dispensing assembly 36 be of glass, Teflon or other inert material which will withstand and ׳ י hold up in extended use with the chemical reagents used. The

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ן; check valve 282 is connected through a fluid passageway 286 to ׳! ., one of the reagent containers 38 and generally includes a comj , pertinent 288 having a polished glass valve seat 290 in oommun, , !cation with the passageway 286 and a glass valve element 292

1׳ , ׳j preferably in the form of _a cylindrical element. A second ?, . fluid passageway 294 leads from the compartment 288 into the j interior of the cylinder- 278 for drawing reagent from a oon. j talner 38 into the cylinder 278 on the suction stroke of the . ׳ . piston 280. Λ by-pass notch or passageway 296 is provided at D ' the outlet edge of compartment 288 having a length longer than. I' I the width of element 2₉2 to insure that passageway 294 remains ‘ open on the suction stroke of the piston 280 so that the rei' ׳ .; agent may be drawn through passage 286, through compartment , 288 ׳, and into passageway 294 and the cylinder 278, However, 1' ׳ when the piston 280 is on the dispensing stroke, valve element . 292 is forced into contact with the polished glass seat 290 providing a positive seal for sealing off any return of the ‘ reagent back through passageway 286 to container 38 and instead forces it out of a passageway 298 and through the check valve

284 ,'׳ to a reaction tube 24. The structure of check valve 284 . . 1 is similar to that of check valve 282. Thus on the suction i stroke of the piston 280, a metered amount of fluid flows

I through the first check valve 282 while the second check valve ‘ ! 284 is closed. On the dispensing stroke of the piston 280 the ' I first check valve 282 is closed and the second check valve 284 ! opens allowing fluid to be dispensed through fluid passageway 298 , ו to a reaction tube 24.

. ' i The Teflon piston 280 includes first and second j flanges 300 and 302, which maintain a seal with the glass ¹ ' | cylinder 278. Collar 303 sems to align piston 280 and the

.. piston rod 304 in the cylinder 278. As best seen in Figure 37 !׳ ׳a T-alot 306 is provided in the end of pieton rod 304 for ! ¹

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'll j connection to an actuating assembly and is adapted to engage a j 1 T-head 308 (Figure 36). The T-slot 306 thus provides a loose !׳ fitting connection with the T-head 308 in a transverse direcן tlon so that In the event the T-head 308 is not accurately ׳ j ' J aligned with the piston rod 304 there will be sufficient trans.׳. ji ׳';. I verse play in the connection so that the piston 280 will remain ¹ '׳ i .1 axially aligned In the cylinder 278 and not bind in the oylinj der 278 or break the glass cylinder 278 because of misalignment ¹., as the'piston is reciprocated therein.

^,F ' ¹ .i Referring now to Figure 36, the power source for ץ i reciprocating the piston 280 in the cylinder' 278 for dispens. l. . i .

J , Ing the reagent may be an air piston and cylinder and..pi6tq>1

I assembly 310 In which an air inlet 312 directs air to one side ' of a piston 314 to move stem 316 and thus the. T-head 308 conp neoted to the piston rod 304. A spring 318 is provided acting between a stop 320 and piston 314 for moving the piston 314 in ; ך ׳ a suction direction. An orifice outlet 322 is provided to !; ! limit the rate of outlet air on the suction stroke in order to

I limit the rate of suction speed for the dispensing unit ¹ 40 in order not to have an adverse effect on the reagent or damage the unit. An electrically operated valve 324 is provided for actuation of the dispensing unit 40 by admission of air to the lower side’of piston 314. The distance that the ’ stem 316 and thus the piston 280 (Figure 37) moves on the dis׳ J ן pensing stroke can be adjusted by a sleeve 328 which is locked

I [ in adjusted position by a nut 330 to limit the amount of fluid

[ drawn into and dispensed from the cylinder 278. Thus, by suit-

ן !

, I ably adjusting the sleeve 328 the stroke of the piston 280 and

-י וי ' ρ י׳ j thus the amount of metered reagent may be accurately controlled ♦ , ¹־ Referring now to Figure 35, an outlet line 332 is connected to each of the reagent metered dispensing units 40 . η 1 for receiving the metered amount of reagent and dispensing It

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into a reaction tube 24. Referring to Figures 38 and 39, dispensing line holding bar 334 is supported by adjustable support 336 for positioning of the bar 334 over a transverse line 28 of reaction tubes 24. The bar 334 includes a plurality of ! . j openings 338, each of which is directed into the top of areaction tube 24 positioned thereunder, for supporting the outlet ; ! end of dispensing line 332. As best seen in Figure 39 it is

׳ 1.

[ preferred that the openings 338 be at an angle to the longltudinal axis of the tubes 24 so that the incoming reagent will be directed into a tube 24 at an angle thereto adjacent the top of the curved bottom of the tube 24 to create a swirling action as the reagent is dispensed therein to provide sufficient agitation and swirling of the mixture to thoroughly mix the re. agent with the sample therein thereby eliminating the requirement of additional shaking or stirring of the mixture to secure 'i the desired chemical reaction. Of course, a plurality of the support bars 334 are provided along the top of the transverse ; rows of the reaction tubes 24 depending upon the number and stations at which the reagents are to be dispensed which ! depends upon the chemical tests being performed by the apparatus.

! As indicated in Figures 4 and 5, after the sample has ! been dispensed into the tubes 24, the reagents added at the , proper stations during the test and properly heated, the tubes ! are indexed to a readout station in which the results of the , test are analyzed such as by a readout assembly 44 such as an optical readout. Referring now to Figures 40 through 55, the readout assembly 44 is best seen, and in particular Figures 40 through 42 in which a plurality of cuvettes 340, preferably optically matched, are provided, one each for each of the longitudinal rows 26, which are positioned over the reaction tubes 24 at the readout station and which are transversely

I . I • . 1( I aligned and:supported by a movable support or readout block 342 .,1 which is In turn supported by guides 344 at each end and is i i . I ¹ ׳ connected to a piston rod 346 (Figures 40 and 42) which is , . connected to an air piston and cylinder assembly 348 for rals' , L ' .J Ing and lowering the readout block 342 for lowering the cuvettes ¹ * ¹ i ¹' 1 t '¹;340 : י into the tubes 24 whereby the fluid in the tubes 24 may be . ,1 ,1 ״ I ί j aspirated into the cuvettes, optically analyzed and drained ׳ יI again into the tubes 24 after which the piston and cylinder

1/ ' :

’. . . assembly 348 raises the readout support block 342 out of the 1 * ־ .* ׳ .I ¹ tubes 24 so that the conveyor 22 may be indexed and another set ' ί I ^!;t ן of tubes 24 brought to the readout station and analyzed, j After the air piston and cylinder assembly 348 lowers . j' ’ ¹ ; ¹ the readout block or support 342 downwardly and the lower ends .¹ . of the cuvettes 340 which preferably Include an elongated i passageway 341 are Inserted into the tubes 24 a fill and expel !_r air piston and power assembly 349 (Figures 41, 43, 45 and 54) j* is actuated and is connected by piston rod 352 to a movable bar ¹ 350 which is supported at each end by slidable rods 354 and , 350, The actuating bar 350 is connected to a plurality of individually arranged syringe pistons 358, one for each cuvette

340, which is slidable in a cylinder 360 with a line 362 connecting each cylinder 360 to one of the cuvettes 340, Thus on

I actuation of the fill and expel piston and cylinder assembly ! 349 on the suction stroke the actuating bars and all of the .

| piston rods 352 are retracted drawing back all of the pistons j 358 creating a suction in the lines 362 and in each of the • cuvettes 340 to suck up the liquid from the tubes 24 into the 1 cuvettes. A serpentine passageway 343 is provided between the passageway 341 and the body of the cuvettes 340 for slowing . the flow of fluid into chamber and preventing aspirating the

Ί fluid into line 352.

'1 Referring now to Fijore. 44, it Is noted that when the '׳ ־'־ --k k ....

. IJ I syringe piston' 358 is retracted in the syringe cylinder 360 ,ן the piston seal is not moved past an air drain port 364 pro¹ י vided in the cylinder wall.

, ! '! While all of the pistons 358 are connected to the j; : actuating bar 350> all of the syringe cylinders 360 are coni ¹ .י nected to a drain bar 366, which is connected to a piston rod ,ί'-׳ , j .

368 ׳ ן which is in turn connected to a drain piston and cylinder I י assembly 370, The drain bar 366 is supported on movable ן

’. support rods 372 for slidable movement thereon.

¹ > After the optical readout of the liquids in the ^,i

1 cuvettes 340 is completed, the air piston and cylinder assembly 348 is actuated to raise the readout block 342 from the reaction ; I ¹ tubee to its original position shown in Figures 40 and 41, It Is then desired to drain the cuvettes 340 of the liquid there. j׳ ί in, and the drain pieton and air assembly 370 is actuated, as

I best seen in Figure 45 thereby moving the drain bar 366 away ' 'j from the syringe pistons 358 and thus moving the syringe cylin¹ ן ders 360 in such a manner to move the air port 364 past the • ; piston 358, The air port 364 is moved, as best seen in Figure : 46, past the piston 358 to the dotted position thereby allowing air to enter the syringe cylinder 360 relieving the suction in ‘ i , the lines 362 and allowing the liquid in the cuvettes 340 to ; drain back into the reaction tubes 24.

¹ In order to further drain the cuvettes 340 the fill

J 1 and expel air piston and cylinder piston assembly 349 is actuI ' ;

ated to move the actuating bar 350 and thus the pistons 358 • back Into the syringe cylinders 350 providing an air impulse through the lines 362 and the cuvettes 340 as the piston 358 'י i passes the air port 364 to assist in further draining the read,1 ; ; out tubes 340. In addition, a further air blast may be provided to further drain the cuvettes as the drain piston and air j assembly 370 is actuated to return the drain bar 366 to its

-29 ־

I original position thereby causing the syringe cylinders 360 to move towards the syringe piston 358 creating an additional air blast.

. As best seen in Figure 54 a readout timer 374 is

I provided connected to air valves 376, 378 and 380, respectively for suitably actuating and reversing the air piston and cylinder assemblies 348, 349 and the drain assembly 370 to sequentially lower the cuvettes 340 into the reaction tubes 24, to aspirate the sample into the cuvettes 340 and after the t . readout has been accomplished, to raise the readout cuvettes 340, drain the fluid therefrom, and expel the remainder of the ,fluid therein by air blasts so that the readout assembly is in condition for the next cycle.

As previously mentioned, it is preferable to perform the readout tests optically and such a system is shown schematReally in Figure 55 wherein a light source such as an exciter lamp 377 is provided to direct light through a lens 379, through the sample in a cuvette 340, through a filter 381, and to a light measuring means such as photovoltaic cell 382, , wherein the value of light intensity measured by the photo,electric cell 382 which is a measure of the property being ;tested, is transmitted through electrical calibration control 1 circuit 384 to a readout device such as a recorder 386. The physical structure of the readout block 342 is best seen in ,Figures 4? through 52 wherein the exciter lamp 377 provides a !light source through the lens 379 which is preferably phosphate glass which performs the function of not only collimating or directing the rays of light from the lamp ¹ 377 into parallel rays but also absorbs heat to prevent the heat from the lamp ⁵from affecting the optical testing of the sample. Chrome I !reflectors 388 are also provided behind the exciter lamp 377 ¹to direct the light through the Ifns 379 and through a .1. 1

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! I - 30 -

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|i window 390 through the readout cuvette 340 which preferably j Include a window 392 with the remainder of the cuvette being

1! amber coloured to cut out stray light. After the light passes through the sample in the cuvettes 340 it passes through the

I ' ' filter 381 which filters out undesired light and allows only ׳i ׳ the spectrum of light being measured to pass through to the ’ .' י ׳ '!’ photocell. It is preferable that the filter 381 be positioned I ? between the cuvette 340 and the photocell 382 in order to prevent the heat from the lamp 377 from adversely affecting the filter 381.

However, as previously mentioned it is further desirable to control the heat environment in which the readout tests are performed and as the exciter lamps 377 radiate a great ¹ amount of heat, the readout block 342, as indicated in Figures ρ 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 include water passageways 393 so that 1 water may be passed therethrough for cooling the block 342. In

I addition, in order to provide additional cooling for the

L * ' | exciter lamps 377, the readout block 342 may Include air partiף tions 394 and 396 (Figures 47 and 52) each of which includes a , plurality of air vents 398 for allowing the heat to escape from the lamps 377. However, the vents 398 on the member 394 are ^! out of vertical alignment with the vents 398 on member 396 thus allowing heat to escape, but reducing the admissibility of i

stray light into the lamp compartment.

I Referring now to Figure 53» an electrical schematic ’

I . of the readout system which Includes portions of the control י l ₍ I systems of Figures 54 and 55 is best seen. As will be more j fully described in detail, a pushbutton program panel 399 is !1 י׳ ' provided in which the various tests desired to be performed by i . * . 1 the apparatus are programmed with the information being trans. mltted to a computer 400. An actuating operate button 402 is μ 1 depressed be actuate and start the master timer 272 controlling

׳ ' ו 11

- !ל׳ the various functions In synchronism. At the proper point !גז .I the operating cycle the readout timer 374 (Figure, 54) actuates the readout block air cylinders 348 to place the cuvettes 340 into the reaction tubes 24. The test samples are then aspirated into the readout tubes 340 by the air piston assembly 349.

! During the readout cycle each of the exciter lamps 377 directs ¹ a light beam through a cuvette 340 to a photocell 382 for each longitudinal row of tubes 24. Each exciter lamp 377 has a lamp failure relay 404 which is connected to an alarm system 406 to ! provide an audible sound In the event that one of the exciter lamps 377 fallsi ! The recorder timer switch 410 is then actuated to ן begin its sequential scan through each of the tests programmed

I ׳ by the apparatus by sequentially connecting the output of each photocell to the recording pen on the recorder 386, the output signal is clamped, the chart paper advances registering the i signal on the chart paper in such a manner as to indicate the

I concentration of the unknown in the solution undergoing the

I ' indicator analysis; During the process of scanning’,/lamps 458 are illuminated indicating the test being registered, counters 459 , I pulsed sequentially counting each test being registered, and ן the resetting of the programmed relays 461. Just prior to the completion of the scanning cycle, a pulse is sent to the readout timer 374 to enable it to complete its final phase of the , ί readout cycle, suitably actuating the controls in Figure 54 to ׳ drain the tested sample from the cuvettes 340 and retract them ‘ from the tubes 24 in preparation for the next cycle.

In addition, a nlurallty of electrical calibration ^: (Fig. 55) j control circuits 3846 each' connected to a photocell 382 are provided. As a part of each electrical control circuit 384, j a ״blank potentiometer 385 and reference potentiometer 387 ,. may be provided to control and calibrate the output from each __J__.

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!׳. photocell 382 in accordance with a known sample being tested.

I ,, ׳ J Used in conjunction with each other, these potentiometers 385

J ; j and 387. make it possible for the information transmitted to a , | readout device such a^:s recorder 386 read directly in the > I desired measured units in spite of any individual differences ;־ Ji, ',י' , י in cuvettes, photocells, filters, etc.

!*' י J ׳ !

. .j ¹ . j Referring to Figures 14 and 15 a clutch 114 1b con, ,j nected to motor 112 to provide a two-way drive for the plok-up

'.,. , and dispensing apparatus 34. Referring now to Figures 56 ’ j ן through 59, a more detailed description of the structure and ::.1 ; operation of the clutch 114 may be best seen. The clutch 114

J , is for providing a two-way clutch between the drive shaft 422 ' .J and the driven shaft 420. in a conventional clutch the driven ' j shaft 420 is connected in housing 421־to a cam member 424 havץ j ing cam surfaces 426 thereon which'are adapted to engage clutch ' , 1 bearings 428 and cause them to engage a driving member housing

430 which is connected to the driving shaft 422. However, this conventional clutch will only operate in a single rotation direction of the drive shaft 422 and the‘direction is determined by the direction springs 432 are connected between the j driven housing 421 and the cam member 424. A forward indexing J pin 442 18 provided on housing 421.

Added Jo .the .conventional clutch is a reversing P»1 454 which is rotatably mounted on a pin 440 and yieldably urged by a spring (not shown) against a stop pin 456 on housing . . . . 421. The pawl 434 i_s actuated by a pin 438.

I . When the driving shaft 422 is turned in a counter׳. . . clockwise direction 423, the driven shaft 420 turns convention7 7 ; ally as the springs contract and engage the internal bearings

428 in the clutch until an external stop means*such as a sole,. nold switch 444 having an actuating lever 446 which when aotu- ׳ • u I ated into position stops the driven shaft by engaging forward

<img file="IL42896A_D0009.tif" />

I indexing pin 442 thus expanding the springe 432 and releasing the Internal bearings 428. The drive shaft 422 continues to ! turn and the spring loaded pawl 434 springs past the reversing , J Pin 438 and thus the driven shaft 420 18 disconnected and will ן. only turn when the forward indexing pin 442 is released by the solenoid switch 444 and lever 446.

Whenever the drive shaft 422 is driven in a clockwise direction 425, the driven shaft 420 begins to turn clockwise as soon as the pawl 434 engages reverse pin 438. Thus, the twoway clutch 114 may be simply actuated in either direction of rotation of the drive shaft.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 6A, the electrical . power supply circuit and circuit breaker switchboard are best seen. The circuit breaker board 445, also seen in Figure 1, has various individual circuit breakers labeled as indicated

I with the corresponding numeral in the enclosed circle shown in position in Figure 6. The circular enclosed figures are pushbutton circuit breakers which pop out when an overload occurs thereby causing an audible alarm whereby the operator may quickly check the control board to locate faults. Thus, a power input is provided at 447 and to a conventional magnetic | contactor 448. Circuit 1 is the power supply to the various control circuits with branch circuit 2 being a 115 volt ac ’ circuit, circuit 3 being a 48 volt da supply circuit, circuit 4 j being the power supply to an air compressor 450 (Figures 2 and 3 , י) which provides the air supply for various machine functions, ו, circuit 5 is to the various bath heaters 218, 242 and 244, ן circuit 6 is to the drying heaters 154, circuit ך is to the ' !;^J 7 I computer 400, circuit 8 is to the endless belt or conveyor 22, !' ׳ ! circuit 9 is to the sample dispensing assembly 30, circuit 10 ן is to the tube wash and wash valves, circuit 11 is to the ji, ¹ drain timer and drain motor (net shown), circuit 12 is to the

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reagent dispensing solenoids 324, circuit 13 is to the readout .44 ף and photocells 382, circuit 14 is to the recorder 386, and 4 י , circuit 15 is to the 12 volt de power supply for lamp failure

I i relays 404 and the exciter lamps 377.

_t .j The pushbutton panel 399 (Figure 1) is best seen in

Ί ן Figures 60 through 62, and includes a plurality of vertical

I rows 452 of indicating lights and buttons, each row correspond! ing to each transverse row 28 of tubes 24, and assuming that j there are ten longitudinal rows 26 of sixty tubes, each verti.j cal row 452 of pushbuttons will include ten buttons, one for each row which when pushed indicates that the test in that •7 longitudinal row is programmed for a particular sample. In 'I addition to the ten individual selected discretionary program j 7 • buttons each row includes a button 454 labeled P Indicating '1 that a profile of the entire ten tests are to be run on that I ; sample, and also includes a release button 456 for disengaging all of the buttons pushed in that particular row 452 in the event of error or in the event that it is desired to change the tests being programmed. In addition, station numbering lights 460 and Indicating lights 458 for indicating the status of the tests on that particular vertical row 452 are provided.

The pushbuttons on the panel 399 are connected to a fixed sec1 tion or stationary board 462 of the computer 400. The panel

399, in the example’shown, has sixty buttons in horizontal rows , i i whereby sixty samples may be programmed for the various tests

I I י ; programmed into the apparatus.

' 1 The computer 400 is best seen in Figures 64 through : ' j 66 and includes a sweep section 464 connected to a worm gear !י ' : drive 466 which is in turn connected to a sweep board clutch ' 468 driven by motor 470 for controlling the relative position of the movable section 464 to a fixed section 462. The sweep ' ¹¹¹ '' ' board motor 470 actuates and Indexes the sweep board 464 in

I. II 1 ׳ .ί so that be performed on which also

For example, electrically synchronism relative with the indexing of the belt 22 the information programmed on the programmer 399 is suitably 'transmitted to the proper function controls whereby the sweep board then transmits the information such as which teste are to be performed, which readout is to be actuated which also depends upon which teat is to be performed, how much sample material the pick-up and dispensing apparatus 34 is to pick up which also depends upon the number of tests to each sample, and dispenses the proper reagents 1 depends upon which tests have been programmed, the stationary board 462 corresponds to and is connected to the panel 399. That is, board 462 will include ten rows of sixty terminals orpins 463 connected to correspondIng buttons on panel 399. However, the sweep board 464 will require terminals 465 corresponding to the number of tube reaction stations on the conveyor, in the example given twenty, at which discretionary functions may be programmed and performed* Thue as the sweep board 464 Indexes past the stationary board 462 its pins 465, which are preferably spring loaded as shown In Figure 66, move against pins 463 and pick up the programmed information and transmit it to the various systems which perform the various steps in the chemical tests at the twenty work stations (Figure 4), Since the sample being tested travels through twenty possible work stations on the belt 22 from sample delivery to sample readout, the sweep board 464 signals the various systems that a function is to be performed in a particular cycle. As previously indicated the ,information sent from the sweep board includes! whether further samples . 1 j are programmed, in which longitudinal rows samples are to be . . ן dispensed, what reagents are to be added at a given station,

’. 1 operate indicator lights on the program board 399 to indicate ' 1 which samples are in progress, *Meh tests are to readout, and .1 I '

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puter 400 will repeat every machine cycle until it detects no iurther programming. At this time the sweep board 464 will _t . . . i' ^return the zero position, the master timer 272 will stop , , j running and the apparatus will be placed under the control of .Γ i' ' J ^{the end Wasfl} timer 276 as diecussed in connection with Figure

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^,i ׳. - However, in addition to the sixty rows of contacts , 463, because the apparatus 20 is a continuous cycling apparatus

.. _ז,׳ and because the boards are physically constructed linearly, the ׳ . stationary board 462 will !״dude an additional twenty rows of !, . •1 contacts 463 which are electrically Jumpered to the first ;! , twenty rows of contacts on the stationary board 462 whereby the linear board may function as a rotary switch, although of

Ϊ . course a rotary board may be used In place of boards 462 and ! 464, by picking up the Information programmed on the first

1! ׳ twenty rows of buttons 463 as the sweep board 464 passes the first contacts. During operation the first position on sweep board 464 will index from zero position to position eighty on . the stationary board, then the sweep board reverse 416 will actuate to return the sweep board to position number twenty-one on the stationary board and will continue to index between • j position eighty and position twenty-one until programming ' 1.״ I ceases. Then sweep board 464 will return to zero position.

׳ i ; The reagent selection board 113 is shown in Figure 64 wherein ’ '1 ־ י Jump cables are provided to actuate the various reagent sole, nolds 324 at the proper station on the belt. In addition, the , sweep board transmits Information to the readout timer for ׳ γ י׳ controlling the readout and recording functions. The reagent

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''^,J selection board 113 includes rows 119/of receptacles connected . j to the electrical solenoids 324, which for the tests being . . ,! ¹ ;.!programmed on the apparatus in Figure 2, requires sixteen . reagents and solenoids thereby requiring sixteen receptacles j 1 , ! in rows 119 a. In addition, since there are provided seventeen ! j ‘ ' י . ' '־ ’

,. i possible tube stations for each test at which reagents may be ; ' dispensed, the reagent selection board 113 includes seventeen i I.

; rows 121a of ten receptacles which are connected to the reagent I ., dispensing pins on the sweep board 464, Therefore, in order to 1 1 no ΐ | ' set the apparatus up, various Jump cables 125,/all of which are shown,’ are connected from the reagent solenoid receptacles ן , , , י in rows 119a to the proper reagent station receptacle in rows 121a so that when that particular station is reached by the . sweep board 464, the proper reagent solenoid will be actuated , . ,to dispense that reagent into the proper reaction tube 24.

. J Referring again to Figure 6, buttons 472, 474 and 402

'. ί are provided to start and stop the apparatus 20, Button 472 is ; an off button for stopping the entire apparatus. Button 474 18 ; . a standby button which is actuated prior .to starting the operi ׳ ate button 402, The¹ standby button 474 when actuated actuates , I the magnetic contactor 448 which provides power to circuits

- 15 and makes apparatus ready for operation so that actuating the operate button 402 actuates the master timer 272 which starts the automatic chemical analysis. ,

Referring now to Figure 63, an electrical block sche_: matlo diagram is shown of the functional controls of the pres. ן ! ent invention; As has previously been indicated the desired j 1 tests which are to be performed are programmed on the pushbutton program board 399 thereby providing a discretionary ן control on what chemical tests are to be performed on each ! sample. ¹ Also, the samples have been sorted on the sample table 1 32 in the sample containers 46 and the standby button 474 i. (Figure 6) is actuated to bring the various heating baths up . to their proper temperature. Actuation of the operate button 402 (Figure 6) actuates the master timer 272 which'transmits a

׳ 1 . signal to the programmed board 399 and the computer which ¹ includes stationary board 462 and the movable sweep board 464, From the sweep board 464 information is sent to the

I sample selection control 115 for storage. Selection control !115 ׳ transmits a signal to the carriage arm valve 70 and actu'1 ates the aspiration timer 121 through the carriage control 119״ In addition, the sample selection control 115 transmits signals to a dispenser control 111, the dispenser timer 123; the

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I aspiration timer 121 and the carriage control 119״ A signal : is sent from the carriage control 119 to the carriage clutch 76 to actuate the carriage motor 72 (Figure 16) to move the pickup and dispensing needle 62 over the pick-up station on the ' sample table 32. As more fully described in connection with Figure 16 the needle 62 moves into the cup 46 and aspirates ^he programmed amount of sample, the dispenser timer 123 reverses the dispenser clutch 114, the needle is raised, a

I I ¹ segment of sample is dispensed back into the sample cup 46, : the carriage arm 66 moves back over the row of reaction tubes and the dispensing timer 123 stops at each of theprogrammed longitudinal rows 26 of tubes and dispenses a sample of serum.

In addition, the sweep board 464 transmits information to the reagent selection board 113 to actuate the reagent solenoid valves 324 to provide a measured amount of the correct reagent at the proper station in.the cycle.

The sweep board 464, which receives the programmed information from the stationary board 462, actuates the readout timer 374, which controls the raising and lowering of the . readout block 342, for aspirating the fill and expel assembly ‘ j 349 therein and expelling it again after the conclusion of the readout tests. The readout timer 374 also controls the record;er timer 410 which in turn scans each of the programmed tests *' and records them on the recorder 386.

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־ ן ־' \ . i ' . I) During each cycle the master timer 272 signals the .! ,, conveyor belt 22 which is indexed, provides the signals for I’. ; the transmission of programmed information to the function , ; ί J circuits and commencement of the functions, signals the de. .1 ’ Ί ץ , programming of the control buttons upon completion of each

I «. i ( ‘ ״ !׳:. . individually programmed sample, actuates an advance control 414 ,,1,1׳ ן; ן to advance the sweep board to the programmed signals for the ו י next row of programmed tests, signals the tube wash assembly .277 ׳ י to wash the drained tubes, and in addition, signals the ן sample table 32 which is indexed.

Τ' ' course, it is important that the belt 22, the . ; sample rotary Indexing table 32, and the sweep board 464 be ' , synchronized In relative position at all times to Insure that ; _r I ך . I the correct sample on the sample indexing table is picked up

I and dispensed in the corresponding transverse row of tubes on

I I the belt 22 and the operating functions are synchronized.

׳ Thus, referring to Figure 6? a synchronization switch

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'׳ j 479 may be positioned to measure the Indexed position of the ו belt 22 such as being driven by a belt drive 481 connected to

I one of the belt 22 sprockets. Thus, as the belt is indexed one tube row the synchronization switch 479 is rotated to indicate the position of the belt 22. Similarly, another synchronization switch 480 (a double layer wafer switch) is positioned connected to the rotary table 32 to measure the .! rotational position of the table, ?he synchronization .ן י switches 479 and 480 are connected in series through the oom• puter 400 comprising the sweep board 464 to insure that the , . indexing table 32, the belt 22, and stationary board 462 and

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׳. ׳! !the sweep board 464 are in synchronization before proceeding ’ ׳ ' ', .with the next sequence of tests.

^; 1 j The present invention therefore is well adapted to ^{II 1} carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages .J 1. 1 !

/ .0 ;י mentioned as well as others Inherent therein. While a pres. ently preferred embodiment of the invention is given for the p ,^purpose of disclosure, numerous changes m the details of ׳׳ ץ !construction, and arrangement of parts will readily suggest j ) themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encom? 'passed within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.