US3327833A - Analysis machine - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1967 Filed June 17, 1965 o. G. H. JUNGNER ETAL. 3,327,833

ANALYS I S MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1967 o. G. H. JUNGNl-:R ETAL 3,327,833

ANALYSI S MACHINE Filed June 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTORS M! Gurmr H J'vnsnwam, :Bmg @v 5w M51 @ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 o. G. H. JUNGNER ETAL ANALYS IS MACHINE 5 sheets-Sheet s Filed June 17, 1965 INVENTORS Mami Olav Gunnar lig; 5 m w sia ATTORNEY o. G. H. -JUNGNER ETAL 3,327,833

June 27, 1967V ANALYS I S MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 17, 1965 INVENToRs ner Amb h5/cr ATTORNEY Ofv @mmf 05 jung Se @ma 5W `)une 27, 1967 O. G. H. JUNGNER ETAL ANALYS I S MACHINE Filed June 1'?, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,327,833 ANALYSIS MACHENE Oiov A(iluminar Hugo langues, Bovas, and Bengt Gsta lngmar Jungner, Stocksund, Sweden, assignors to Aktiebolaget Autokemi, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed .lune 17, 1965, Ser. No. 464,731 Claims priority, application Sweden, Dec. 30, 1964, 15,899/64 3 Claims. (Cl. 2198-19) This invention relates to an analysis machine in which test tubes or reaction tubes are in mutually spaced relation conveyed by an endless transporter between different stations where different measures are taken with the contents in the tubes. These are preferably collected in groups which are held in racks. The analysis machine is primarily intended for hospital use, even if it is not limited to this iield of application. An important field of use is the conduction of mass analysis of, for example, blood in health care where it is important to obtain a large number of test results in the shortest time and with a Iminimum of manual labor. It is in this manner possible to discover and locate disease by performing very large series of test analyses, which presupposes that the individual analyses can be accomplished in rapid succession. Mass analysis is especially valuable when performing so called chemical health control.

One main object of the invention is to provide an analysis machine that combines high capacity with compact structure, high reliability and extreme work reduction by automatically carrying out test series of Very different types. An essential feature of the invention is that at least one of the transporters is arranged lso as to allow spacing between the tubes at at least one station to be reduced thereby reducing the speed and prolonging the time spent at the station in consideration. Another important feature is the transporter arranged to convey the test tubes at least substantially horizontally at `stations located at different levels. Each transporter consists preferably of two endless long, bendable conveying elements located at a predetermined distance from one other and equipped with holders for the racks in which the test tubes are held.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and of which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of an analysis machine constructed according to the invention with some parts removed in favor of clearness.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are perspective views in an enlarged scale of portions of the machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a test tube rack repre* sented also in a larger scale.

In the different figures, all the same reference numerals have been used for same or similar parts.

The embodiment shown in the drawings has three transporter groups, denoted respectively A, B and C, which are mutually identical. The machine in consideration has also a fourth transporter, D, operating in a less complicated manner. Each transporter consists of two endless transmission elements which are made up of jointed links and may have the form of chains 10, 12 laid about sprockets and driven by means of drive motors (not shown). Chains 10, 12 are spaced from one another by a distance corresponding to the length of a test tube rack 14 which holds a number, for example six, test tubes or reaction tubes 16. The test tube racks 14 are, at their head ends, provided with collars 18 which fit on pins 20 provided in spaced relationship on the chains. The racks 114 will therefore be conveyed by the chain-pair, hanging from the top of each side.

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The terms test tube and reaction tube used in this specication refer to any small container suitable for storing a small amount of the material, primarily fluid, that is to be examined in the machine. The tube need not necessarily have, for example, a circular cross-section.

The chains 10, 12 pertaining to each of the t-hree transporters A, B and C, are movable both horizontally and vertically. From sprocket 22 the chains extend downward to sprocket 24. The chains and the racks .14 held by the chains then pass a horizontal station 26 at which the samples are subjected to a temperature change, either heating or cooling. The chains and racks 14 then pass around sprockets 28, 30 and upwards with an inclination and, after having passed a horizontal station 32 around sprockets 34, 36 to an even higher level with a horizontal station 38. The chains are then routed straight downward around two sprockets 40, 42 and continue along a horizontal station 44. Thereafter, the chains pass around sprocket 46 upwards to the aforementioned sprockets 22.

The chains are driven continually and at a constant speed. The invention accomplishes nevertheless a considerably prolonged interval at station 26, where the temperature change takes place, which will hereinafter be assumed to be heating. When the two chains 10, 12 pertaining to a transporter A, B or C have passed the wheels 24 at the entrance to station or zone 26 the pins 210 will rest against horizontal guiding edges 48, |49 that run horizontally along the length of the zone. The racks 14 will thereby be supported on these guiding edges, while the chain portions between the pins will inoperatively hang down in loops, which may be housed in a Ushaped compartment 50 which for-ms the guiding edges 48, 49. A straight edge 52 is arranged above the chains, whereby the pins 20 are vertically locked between the guiding edges 48, 49 and said straight edge. Station 26 is also equipped with a long basin with heated fluid 53 for each transporter A, B and C into which the test tubes are submerged. Sprocket 24 feeds the folded chain-s at station 26 by forcing the links between the guiding edges 43, 49 and the straight edge 52.

Due to the arrangement described above, the racks 14 and test tubes 16 will, during the interval at the heating station 26, be packed closely against one another. The treating time at station 26 is prolonged to the required time by disengaging the chains. A long treating time is, in this manner, obtained in a small basin for the large number of samples that at the same time pass through the machine. The three basins pertaining to the three transporters A, B and C may each have a different temperature.

At the other end of station 26, the chains 10, 12 are again stretched and the racks 14 move at an incline upwards on the sloping portion of the transport track, between the ysprockets 28, 30. Thereafter the samples pass at full speed through station 32 where, for example, reactants may be added to the heated samples. The racks are then moved to an even higher level and at station 38 a further action is taken with the contents in the test tubes as, for example, allowing time for the previously added reactants to react. At zone 44, which the racks 14 pass when they have been lowered to a slightly lower level after zone 38, a treatment-step is performed that can be the removal of the sample fiuids for inspection in a measuring instrument and, if desired, washing of the test tubes. The equipment required for this treatment is not shown. After the racks have passed the sprockets 46 they are moved straight vertically towards the sprockets 22 where new sample iluids are put into the tubes.

The machine is also equipped with two transporters in the form of endless belts. On such a belt 54 (FIGS. 1

and 2) laid around roller 57, are placed racks 14 with test tubes containing new samples. These are moved by belt S4, in the direction indicated by the arrow 55, to a transverse belt 56, which is laid around rollers S3 so that it runs at right angles to belt Se and past the three transporters A, B and C. The transfer of the racks is automatic by means of mechanism 59 consisting of two arms 611 (FIG. 2) which are at one end supported by rotatable shafts 62. The arms 60 have at the other end pins 64 which are formed `so as to t under the collars 1S of the racks so that one rack at the time is picked up by the arms 611 and placed on the belt 56. One shaft 61 is equipped with arms 63 having projections 65 to prevent the racks 14 from falling off the belt 54.

Band 56 moves the racks 14, placed in a row after one another, in steps past the transport tracks A, B and C. The contents in each test tube are transferred in small quantities to the tubes moving on transporters A, B and C by means of equipment not shown. Since each rack 14 carries six test tubes the three transporters have together 18 test tubes. The movement of belt 56 and the three transporters can be synchronized yso that the contents in each test tube on belt 56 can be transferred to 18 test tubes on the transporters A, B and C. These 18 smaller samples are hereby distributed to one tube in each of the 18 test tracks which during the stepwise advancement of belt 56 are placed opposite one and the same test tube on this belt. It will be understood from the above, that a very large number of analytical procedures can simultaneously be performed on a small quantity of sample uid which may consist of blood, blood serum, urine, cerebral-spinal fluid or extracts.

The machine can be equipped with additional belts 68 and 70, respectively for the conveyance of racks 14. These belts here serve to supply starting or result samples which are distributed into test tubes in racks 14 advanced by belt D. The transporter D serves for analyses or examinations of a less complicated nature, where, for example, no temperature change in the contents of the test tubes is required. From belt 68 the test racks are moved to a transverse belt 72, which may in likeness with band56, be advanced in steps, whereby the contents in each test tube are distributed to a number of test tubes in one or more racks on transporter D. The transfer to and from the transverse belt 72 may be accomplished with a mechanism 74 of the same type as the mechanism 59.

The test tube racks are, in the normal manner, provided with three shelves 76, 77 and '7S (FIG. 5) of which 76 and 77 have holes 79, 80 for the test tubes 16, While the bottom shelf 7S serves to support the tubes. The three shelves are on each side provided with vprotrusions 81, 82 that fit into recesses 83, 84 on au adjacent rack. This results in that the racks support each other, when they are packed closely lto one another as in heat zone 26 or when they are on the belts. Since the bottom shelf 76 at d the same time forms a support for the rack, its protrusions 81, 82 help the rack to stand more steadily.

The invention .allows a large number of investigations to be performed on one and the same test sample which, consequently, makes the machine ideally suited for different types of mass analyses. Since the transporters A, B and C allow, despite continuous movement, a considerably p-rolonged treatment time where required a-s, for example, at station 26, the machine is compact in its structure despite the considerable quantity analyses that it is capable of performing in each work tempo.

The basic idea of the invention can be applied in the technical industries and anywhere a need for a large number of analyses is required for production. The machine can also be used to combat health risks by, for example, systematic control of water and air pollution, etc.

While one more or less specific embodiment of the invention has beenshown and described, it is to be understood that this is for purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited thereby but its scope is to be determined by the appended claims.

What we claimV is:

1. In an analysis machine of the class described a plurality of tube racks, conveyor means for transporting the tube racks through a plu-rality of stations, a container at one of said stations, gniide means on said container, said conveyor means comprising at least one pair of chains having pairs of pins spaced along the length thereof, said pins supporting the tube racks, the tube racks being suspended within the container in side by side relation with said pins supported on the guide means of said container, the chains between the pins being folded when the tube racks are suspended Within the container, and the chains being extended with the tube -racks in spaced relation along the conveyor path outside of the container.

2. In an analysis machine according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprise a pair of spaced inner and outer supporting surfaces on each side of the container, the pins on said conveyor means extending outwardly of each side of the chains and adapted to engage the supporting surfaces. p

3. In an analysis machine according to claim 2, wherein the container is illed with a liquid for treating tubes held in the tube racks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re 15,967 12/1924 Sebring 198-19 2,550,716 5/1951 Parkes. 2,534,054 12/1950 Parkes 198-19 X FOREIGN PATENTS 965,96() 6/ 1957 Germany.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

M. L. AIEMAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN ANALYSIS MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED A PLURALITY OF TUBE RACKS, CONVEYOR MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING THE TUBE RACKS THROUGH A PLURALITY OF STATIONS, A CONTAINER, SAID ONE OF SAID STATIONS, GUIDE MEANS ON SAID CONTAINER, SAID CONVEYOR MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF CHAINS HAVING PAIRS OF PINS SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID PINS SUPPORTING THE TUBE RACKS, THE TUBE RACKS BEING SUSPENDED WITHIN THE CONTAINER IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION WITH SAID PINS SUPPORTED ON THE GUIDE MEANS OF SAID CONTAINER, THE CHAINS BETWEEN THE PINS BEING FOLDED WHEN THE TUBE RACKS ARE SUSPENDED WITHIN THE CONTAINER, AND THE CHAINS BEING EXTENDED WITH THE TUBE RACKS IN SPACED RELATION ALONG THE CONVEYOR PATH OUTSIDE OF THE CONTAINER.

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