Abstract:
The invention disclosed is a sealed fluent material container (10) having a chamber (22) with an opening (28) provided with a manually operable primary closure mechanism (36) and a secondary closure mechanism (70) that may be operated either manually or automatically. Manual removal of the primary closure mechanism (36) from the chamber opening allows the secondary closure mechanism (70) to extend a laterally moveable tongue (70) from a horizontal guide recess (80) on the top of the container (10) to a normally closed position covering the opening (28). An engageable tab (74) on the secondary closure (70) permits the retraction of the moveable tongue (70) against the biasing means (84) to expose the chamber opening. The container (10) has particular utility for use in automated chemical dispensers, analyzers and related equipment for the analysis and testing of blood, physiological fluids and other biological samples.
Abstract:
A self-adjusting linkable carrier (10, 12, 14) for sample tubes (16), cuvettes, cells and the like comprising a longitudinally symmetrical vertically oriented polygonal body having two pairs of orthogonally disposed opposed vertical faces (26, 28, 30, 32) and a horizontal bottom sliding surface (34) is disclosed. The top surface (36) of the body is provided with a central bore (38) opening into a vertical cavity (40) adapted to releasably receive and retain a wide variety of sample tube configurations in a stable vertical orientation. Machine readable indicia (60) may be provided on the external surface and vertical slots (66, 68, 70, 72) are provided in each external face (26, 28, 30, 32) to provide access to the central vertical cavity (40). A releasably locking horizontally aligned dovetail feature (74, 76) is provided to link adjacent carriers into conveniently handled racks or magazines which may be assembled and disassembled by machine. Additional horizontally sliding indexing elements (92, 94) are provided to facilitate the stable storage and transport of the carrier.
Abstract:
Support raccordable et autoréglable (10, 12, 14) pour éprouvettes (16), cuves, cuvettes et autres instruments analogues, comprenant un corps polygonal orienté verticalement symétrique dans le sens de la longueur, présentant deux fois deux faces verticales opposées, perpendiculaires entre elles (26, 28, 30, 32) et un fond horizontal glissant (34). Le dessus (36) du corps comporte un orifice central (38) débouchant sur une cavité verticale (40) conçue pour accueillir et maintenir à volonté en position vertical et stable toute sorte d'éprouvettes de configuration diverse. Des signaux lisibles à la machine (60) peuvent figurer sur la surface externe et des formes verticales (66, 68, 70, 72) sont ménagées dans chaque face extérieure (26, 28, 30, 32) pour donner accès à la cavité centrale verticale (40). Un système à queue d'aronde (74, 76) à verrouillage horizontal permet de solidariser entre eux deux supports contigus de manière à constituer des rangées ou magasins commodes à manipuler, pouvant être assemblés et désassemblés à la machine. D'autres éléments de positionnement (92, 94) à coulissement horizontal sont prévus pour faciliter la stabilité du support lors du magasinage ou du transport.