Patent GB-863910-A (GB)
Title: Automatic apparatus for treating liquids for analysis
Inventor: SKEGGS LEONARD TUCKER
IPC: G01N35/08
Filed: 1958-11-17
Abstract: <PICT:0863910/III/1> <PICT:0863910/III/2> <PICT:0863910/III/3> <PICT:0863910/III/4> A rotary plate 14 having provision to hold a plurality of samples in recesses 18 is rotated relative to suction-intake tube 16 through which the samples are fed or supplied to the analysing apparatus.  As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the bounding wall surface 20 of each recess 18 is substantially normal to the bottom wall 22 of the recess.  Each bounding wall surface 20 is provided with a sloped portion 24 which extends from the upper surface 26 of the plate 14 to the bottom wall 22 of the recess 18.  A sample holder, provided with the various samples to be tested, may now be inserted in position on the plate 46 with the lever 64 extending through the central aperture 30 therein.  The sample holder may then be manually adjustably rotated in position on the mounting plate 46 until the recess 18, containing the first sample which is to be analyzed, is substantially in the position indicated by the arrow 126 in Fig. 1.  The locking lever 64 is now moved into the full line position thereof illustrated in Fig. 2 to engage the pin 71, carried by the lever 64, into the underlying aperture 32 provided in the sample holder 14 and radially aligned with the recess containing the first sample to be analyzed.  The conduit carrier 86 is now rotated in a counter-clockwise direction viewing Fig. 1 until the latter engages the detent pin carried by the mount 78, in which position the spring pressed ball 104 automatically snaps into the recess 106 provided in the conduit mount 86 to releasably lock the latter in its operative position. The sample pick-up tube 16 is now brought down into the full line position thereof illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 wherein the inlet end 112 thereof is immersed into the liquid contents of the underlying recess or sample container 18.  Compressed or pumped air is now permitted to flow through the conduit 122 into the bore 92 and the motor 50 is energised to rotate the holder plate 14 in the direction of the arrow 48 in Fig. 1.  The air jets issuing from the jet outlets 20 serve to treat or condition the samples by agitating the liquid contents of these recesses so as to prevent the separation of the liquid contents both during the withdrawal thereof into the sample inlet tube 16 and immediately prior to the period during which a recess moves into position for the withdrawal of the contents thereof.  During the period that the tube is withdrawn from a recess 18, and before it falls into the following recess 18, air is being drawn into the suction inlet tube by means of the suction line 110 through which the various samples are being drawn into the body analyzing apparatus which provides the necessary suction.  The air drawn into the suction inlet tube serves to separate the individual samples.  The feed device 10 operates in the described manner until all of the samples have been withdrawn therefrom at which point the operation of the motor 50 will be stopped and the locking lever 64 disengaged from the sample holder 14 for replacement of the latter as previously described.  Specifications 774,711, 783,649, 816,815 and 823,359 are referred to.