Apparatus for automatically measuring the light transmission factor or liquid test samples

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically measuring the light transmission factor of liquid test samples in which a number of transparent vats is arranged around the circumference of a stationary table over which rotates a photoelectric measuring device which successively scans each vat to determine the light transmission factor of the samples. The various samples are automatically transferred by sucking them into the measuring vats from a bank of test tubes via a bank of probes with flexible hose connections to each vat; a central control valve drains the vats after testing. Electronic timing circuits provide the control commands for the operative sequences of the device, and logic circuitry, in combination with a data storage and retrieval system, provides comparative data between reference measurements and sample measurements for each vat.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for measuring a series of liquid test samples for their light transmission characteristics comprising: a. a stationary circular apparatus frame,   b. a plurality of measuring vats disposed on said apparatus frame,   c. a light source,   d. light detecting means,   e. means for supporting said light detecting means and said light source in alignment, .[.and.]. .Iadd.said supporting means comprising: i. a rotary platform journaled in the vertical central axis of said stationary apparatus frame,   ii. said rotary platform having means for aligning said light source and said light detecting means, said measuring vats positioned between said light source and said light detecting means for measuring the light transmission characteristics of said vats during rotation of said platform, and   iii. said aligning means directly connecting said light source and said light detecting means to said rotary platform in fixed, spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another, and .Iaddend.     f. .[.means for moving said supporting means relative to said measuring vats, said measuring vats positioned between said light source and said light detecting means for measuring the light transmission characteristics of said vats.]. .Iadd.means for rotating said platform relative to said apparatus frame during measurement of said light transmission characteristics. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a. means for simultaneously filling all of said measuring vats to be tested with said liquid test samples.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for simultaneously filling said measuring vats comprises: a. a plurality of conduits, each conduit attached at one end to said vats,   b. a plurality of transfer probes, one transfer probe attached at the other end of each conduit,   c. a bank of sample receptacles for holding said test samples for transfer to said vats,   d. means for positioning said plurality of transfer probes within said plurality of sample receptacles, and   e. means for forcing said liquid test sample from said sample receptacles through said conduits and into said vats.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said forcing means comprises: a. a source of negative pressure,   b. a control valve connected to the source of negative pressure, and   c. a suction line connected between each vat and the control valve.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 further comprising means for simultaneously draining all of said measuring vats. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said draining means comprises: a. a drain line connected between each vat and the control valve,   b. a drain connected to the control valve, and   c. means for operating the control valve so as to shift it between the following positions: a rest position in which the drain lines are open to the drain, a first operating position in which the drain lines are blocked and the suction lines are simultaneously connected to the source of negative pressure, and a second operating position in which all of the suction lines and all the drain lines are individually blocked.     
     
     
       7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said control valve is a multi-position rotary valve. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for simultaneously draining all of said measuring vats. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said draining means comprises: a. a control valve, and   b. a gravity drain line connecting the lower end of each vat to said control valve.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said .[.supporting.]. .Iadd.aligning .Iaddend.means comprises: .[.a. a rotary platform journalled in the vertical central axis of said stationary apparatus frame,.].   .[.b..]. a bridge on the periphery of the rotary platform in the form of an inverted "U" and so arranged on the platform that the recess of the "U" at least partially encloses the vat profile,   .[.c..]. said light source mounted on one side of the bridge, and   .[.d..]. said light detecting means mounted on the other side of said bridge.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said light source is mounted on said bridge exterior to the periphery of said rotary platform, and said light detecting means is connected to said rotary platform and positioned interior to the periphery thereof. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said light detecting means comprises: a. a photocell for generating electronic signals in response to light passing through said vats from said light source.   b. means for amplifying said electronic signals, and   c. rotary electric contact means attached to said platform and connected to said amplifying means.   
     
     
       13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said light detecting means further comprises light condensing means aligned between said photocell and said light source. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for .[.moving.]. .Iadd.rotating .Iaddend.said .[.supporting means.]. .Iadd.platform .Iaddend.comprises means for continuously rotating said .[.supporting means.]. .Iadd.platform.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       15. .[.Apparatus.]. .Iadd.An apparatus .Iaddend.for measuring a series of liquid test samples for light transmission characteristics comprising: a. a .Iadd.stationary .Iaddend.circular apparatus frame,   b. a plurality of measuring vats .[.positioned.]. .Iadd.disposed .Iaddend.on said apparatus frame,   c. a light source,   d. light detecting means,   e. means for supporting said light detecting means and said light source in alignment, .Iadd.said supporting means comprising: i. a rotary platform journaled in the vertical central axis of said stationary apparatus frame,   ii. said rotary platform having means for aligning said light source and said light detecting means, said measuring vats positioned between said light source and said light detecting means for measuring the light transmission characteristics of said vats during rotation of said platform, and   iii. said aligning means directly connecting said light source and said light detecting means to said rotary platform in fixed, spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another, and .Iaddend.     f. means for .[.effecting relative motion between the supporting means and the measuring vats, whereby said vats are aligned between said light source and said light detecting means during measurement,.]. .Iadd.rotating said platform relative to said apparatus frame during measurement of said light transmission characteristics, .Iaddend.   g. means for simultaneously filling all of said measuring vats, and   h. means for simultaneously draining all of said measuring vats.   
     
     
       16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for simultaneously filling all of said vats comprises: a. a plurality of conduits each conduit attached at one end of said vats,   b. a plurality of transfer probes, one transfer probe attached at the other end of each conduit,   c. a bank of sample receptacles for holding said test samples for transfer to said vats,   d. means for positioning said plurality of transfer probes within said plurality of sample receptacles, and   e. means for forcing said liquid test sample from said sample receptacles through said conduits and into said vats.   
     
     
       17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said forcing means comprises: a. a source of negative pressure,   b. a control valve connected to the source of negative pressure, and   c. a suction line connected between each vat and the control valve.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said draining means comprises: a. a drain line connected between each vat and the control valve,   b. a drain connected to the control valve, and   c. means for operating the control valve so as to shift it between the following positions: a rest position in which the drain lines are open to the drain, a first operating position in which the drain lines are blocked and the suction lines are simultaneously connected to the source of negative pressure, and a second operating position in which all of the suction lines and all the drain lines are individually blocked.     
     
     
       19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said control valve is a multi-position rotary valve. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said draining means comprises: a. a control valve, and b. a gravity drain line connecting the lower end of each vat to said control valve. .[.21. An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said supporting means is movable and said apparatus frame is   
     
     
        stationary..]. 22. An apparatus as recited in claim .[.21.]. .Iadd.15 .Iaddend.wherein said supporting means comprises: .[.a. a rotary platform journalled in the vertical central axis of said stationary apparatus frame,.].   .[.b..]. .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.a bridge on the periphery of the rotary platform in the form of an inverted "U" and so arranged on the platform that the recess of the "U" at least partially encloses the vat profile,   .[.c..]. .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.said light source mounted on one side of the bridge, and   
     
     
       .[.d..]. .Iadd.c. .Iaddend.said light detecting means mounted on the other 
     
     
        side of said bridge. 23. An apparatus as recited in claim 22 wherein said light source is mounted on said bridge exterior to the periphery of said rotary platform, and said light detecting means is connected to said 
     
     
        rotary platform and positioned interior to the periphery thereof. 24. An apparatus for measuring a series of liquid test samples for their light transmission characteristics comprising: a. a stationary circular apparatus frame,   b. a plurality of measuring vats positioned in a circular locus near the periphery of said apparatus frame,   c. an optical system comprising: i. a first element comprising a light source, and   ii. a second element comprising light detecting means and light condensing means,     d. means for supporting said first and second elements in alignment, .[.one of said elements positioned exterior to the locus of said vats and the other element positioned interior to the locus of said vats, and.]. .Iadd.said supporting means comprising: i. a rotary platform journaled in the vertical central axis of said stationary frame;   ii. said rotary platform having means for aligning said light source and said light detecting and light condensing means, said measuring vats positioned between said light source and said light detecting and light condensing means for measuring the light transmission characteristics of said vats during rotation of said platform, and   iii. said aligning means directly connecting said light source and said light detecting and light condensing means to said rotary platform in fixed, spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another, and .Iaddend.     e. means for .[.continuously moving said supporting means relative to said measuring vats, said measuring vats positioned between said light source and said light detecting means for measuring.]. .Iadd.continuously rotating said platform relative to said apparatus frame during measurement   
     
     
        of .Iaddend.said light transmission characteristics. 25. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising: a. means for simultaneously filling all of said measuring vats to be tested   
     
     
        with said liquid test samples. 26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein said means for simultaneously filling said measuring vats comprises: a. a plurality of conduits, each conduit attached at one end to said vats,   b. a plurality of transfer probes, one transfer probe attached at the other end of each conduit,   c. a bank of sample receptacles for holding said test samples for transfer to said vats,   d. means for positioning said plurality of transfer probes within said plurality of sample receptacles, and   e. means for forcing said liquid test sample from said sample receptacles   
     
     
        through said conduits and into said vats. 27. An apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein said forcing means comprises: a. a source of negative pressure,   b. a control valve connected to the source of negative pressure, and   
     
     
       c. a suction line connected between each vat and the control valve. 28. An apparatus as recited in claim 27 further comprising means for 
     
     
        simultaneously draining all of said measuring vats. 29. An apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein said draining means comprises: a. a drain line connected between each vat and the control valve,   b. a drain connected to the control valve, and   c. means for operating the control valve   c. means for operating the control valve so as to shift it between the following positions: a rest position in which the drain lines are open to the drain, a first operating position in which the drain lines are blocked and the suction lines are simultaneously connected to the source of negative pressure, and a second operating position in which all of the suction lines and all the     
     
     
        drain lines are individually blocked. 30. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said supporting means comprises: .[.a. a rotary platform journalled in the vertical central axis of said stationary apparatus frame,.].   .[.b..]. .Iadd.a. .Iaddend.a bridge on the periphery of the rotary platform in the form of an inverted "U" and so arranged on the platform that the recess of the "U" at least partially encloses the vat profile,   .[.c..]. .Iadd.b. .Iaddend.said light source mounted on one side of the bridge, and   .[.d..]. .Iadd.c. .Iaddend.said light detecting means mounted on the other   
     
     
        said of said bridge. 31. An apparatus as recited in claim 30 wherein said light source is mounted on said bridge exterior to the periphery of said rotary platform, and said light detecting means is connected to said rotary platform and positioned interior to the periphery thereof. .Iadd. 32. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said light condensing means comprises an optical fiber for directing light from the measuring vats to said light detecting means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said first element further comprises optical means for directing a light beam from said light source to said measuring vats. .Iaddend..Iadd. 34. An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein said means for positioning said transfer probes within said plurality of sample receptacles comprises means for supporting said sample receptacles below said transfer probes and motor means for moving said sample receptacle supporting means upwardly for positioning said transfer probes within said sample receptacles. .Iaddend..Iadd. 35. An apparatus as recited in claim 34 wherein there is one transfer probe and one sample receptacle corresponding to each measuring vat, all of said sample receptacles being supported on said sample receptacle supporting means for simultaneous vertical movement by said motor means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 36. An apparatus for measuring a series of liquid test samples for their light transmission characteristics comprising: a. a stationary circular apparatus frame,   b. a plurality of measuring vats disposed on said apparatus frame,   c. means for filling all of said measuring vats to be tested with said liquid test samples,   d. means for draining all of said measuring vats,   e. a light source,   f. a light detecting means,   g. means for supporting said light detecting means and said light source in alignment, said supporting means comprising: i. a rotary platform journaled in the vertical central axis of said stationary apparatus frame,     ii. said rotary platfrom having means for aligning said light source and said light detecting means, said measuring vats positioned between said light source and said light detecting means for measuring the light transmission characteristics of said vats during rotation of said platform, and iii. said aligning means directly connecting said light source and said light detecting means to said rotary platform in fixed, spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another, and     h. means for moving said supporting means relative to said measuring vats whereby light emitted by said light source is received by said light detecting means after passing through said measuring vats for measuring the light transmission characteristics of said vats. .Iaddend.