Patent GB-679992-A (GB)
Title: Automatic fraction collection apparatus
IPC: G01N1/18
Filed: 1950-06-09
Abstract: 679,992. Rotary conveyers. TECHNICON CHROMATOGRAPHY CORPORATION. June 9, 1950. [July 21, 1949] No. 14421/50. Class 78 (i). Apparatus for collecting measured quantities of material in individual receptacles, of the type comprising; a movable support for supporting the receptacles in a number of laterally related rows extending in the direction of movement of the support, mounting means for mounting a material supply device in a position adjacent a receptacle-charging station, support moving means for moving said support step by step so as to carry said receptacles in succession to said station whereby to receive a charge of material from the outlet of said supply devices for actuating said support moving means, and. a timer for controlling the operation of said actuating devices whereby to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said support between successive step movements thereof, characterised in that there is a movable fluid guide or the like positioned between said supply device at said station and having therein a material supply passage, and also there are guide moving means operated by said support for automatically moving said movable fluid guide laterally of said receptacle rows whereby to position said guide in material supply relation to the receptacles of one of said rows following the supply of material to the receptacles of another of said rows. Fig. 1. General. Fluid from container 50 drops at 30 into funnel 32 supported on rotatable bracket 44 rotatable on and about stud 46 and passes out through outlet 34 into receptacle T. The receptacles T are arranged in four circular rows of 50 each, all carried on rack 10, which rotates step by step so that each receptacle in turn is filled with the same quantity of fluid. When one row of receptacles has been filled the funnel 32 is automatically rotated till it is positioned over and pours fluid into the next row of receptacles, until finally, when all the rows are filled the funnel is displaced to pour away into drain 78 and the motor stops. Fig. 1A. Bracket 44 (see above) may be fitted with a device 371 tu hold two funnels so as to double the number of receptacles filled in unit time, the funnels being held in clips 40A and 40)3 and the device being' secured to the bracket by screws 373 and clips 40. Fig. 3. Receptacle Support. The rack 10 is secured to shaft 84 to rotate in bearings 94, the receptacles T passing through circular holes in plates 12 and 13 and being supported by square holes in plate 14 (to allow excess liquid to drip through to sump 23). The whole is encased in casing 266 having lid 26 and window 80. Figs. 4 and 8. Rotational adjustment of position of funnel 32 fixed on stud 46 by rotation of knob 116. Rotation of the latter, on the shaft 120 of which cam 124 is fixed, causes the leftwards movement of link 132 governed by stud 140 engaging with slot 134 in the link and, by anticlockwise rotation of lever 148 about the receptacle support shaft 84, causes rightward movement of link 152, which movement moves plate 168 anticlockwise about the pivot stud 172, and thus releases ratchet plate 113. Said ratchet plate 113 swings anticlockwise about shaft 222 together with its hollow shaft 216 to which latter stud 46 and bracket 44 of funnel 32 are adjustably secured. The funnel 32 and ratchet plate 113 are now free to be adjusted correspondingly to the number of receptacles to be filled. At the same time the rack 10 is freed for adjustment, link 354 displacing stud 308 from a slot in the periphery of the rack (see below). When both adjustments are made, knob 110 is then turned so that cam 124 permits link 132 (under springs 186) to move to the right and link 152 to move to the left to swing ratchet plate 113 into engagement with teeth 260, 258 of pawl 208 rotatably mounted on plate 166 for the mechanism to be ready to start. Figs. 4 and 8. Counting Control. When the machine has been set (see above) the receptacle support rotates step by step, the abutment 21 thereon (see Fig. 3) striking arm 206 of pawl 208 so that the teeth 258, 260 (under the action of spring 210) of pawl 208 let pass one ratchet tooth. When the last ratchet tooth is let pass, the spring-urged ratchet plate 113 finally strikes arm 255 of switch 256 to cut out the motor and stop the machine. Fig. 13. Motor Drive. Motor 260 drives spur wheel 302 through the drive 268, 286, 292, and spur wheel 302 carries stud 308 which engages in peripheral slots 310 of rack plate 10 so that the latter is driven step by step. V-portion 31.8 pivoted at 328 has one arm 338 carrying roller 341 which engages in the slots of the periphery, its other arm engaging switch 336. The rack, is thus given a push forward, and switches 336 and 298 (operated by cam 294) are actuated to cut out the motor, the rack moving by inertia to its next position where it is securely held by the said stud 308 in the next peripheral slot. Specification 655,896 is referred to.