Automatic analyzing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10926232-B2
Application number	US-201616062298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2016
Priority date	Dec 16, 2015
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

An automatic analyzing apparatus includes a stirring mechanism. The stirring mechanism is provided with: a fixed member fixed to an apparatus body; a motor attached to the fixed member; a drive-side helical gear provided on a drive shaft of the motor; bearings provided to the fixed member with the center shaft held parallel to the drive shaft of the motor; a support member of circular column shape, supported so as to be capable of receding from one side relative to the bearings; a driven-side helical gear fixed to an end of the support member coaxially with respect to the support member such that the driven-side helical gear is fitted together with the drive-side helical gear with the support member recessed into the bearings; and a stirring rod extending coaxially with the support member from the end of the support member opposite to the end provided with the driven-side helical gear.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stirring mechanism for use with an automatic analyzing apparatus, the stirring mechanism comprising:
a fixed unit comprising:
a fixed member fixed to an apparatus body,
a motor attached to the fixed member,
a driving helical gear provided on a drive axis of the motor, and
a bearing provided on the fixed member with a central axis thereof maintained parallel to the drive axis of the motor, wherein the bearing comprises a plurality of bearings arranged coaxially, the plurality of bearings comprising at least a first bearing having a top side and a bottom side and a second bearing, and

a removable unit removably attached to the fixed unit, the removable unit comprising:
a support member having a circular column shaped and supported so as to be insertable into the bearing from the top side of the first bearing and having a portion thereof positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing when the support member is inserted into the fixed member,
a driven helical gear fixed to an end of the support member coaxially with the support member, the driven helical gear meshing with the driving helical gear when the support member is inserted in the bearing, and
a stirring rod extending coaxially with the support member from an end of the support member opposite to the end to which the driven helical gear is fixed, the stirring rod comprising a stirring portion provided at a tip end portion of the stirring rod,

wherein the driven helical gear is located above the top side of the first bearing when the support member is inserted into the fixed member, such that the stirring rod is configured to be pulled away from the fixed member in a direction away from the top side of the first bearing so as to be removable therefrom,
wherein the first bearing is disposed near a side from which the support member is inserted having an inner diameter greater than an inner diameter of the second bearing that is disposed near the other side,
wherein the support member includes a plurality of circular-column-shaped portions having diameters corresponding to the inner diameters of the bearings, and is supported by the bearings at the circular-column-shaped portions.

2. The stirring mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed member has a hollow portion in which the plurality of bearings are disposed, and
wherein one or more of the plurality of bearings other than the first bearing and the second bearing are embedded in an inner wall of the hollow portion so that inner walls thereof are flush with the inner wall of the hollow portion.

3. The stirring mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first bearing is a rolling bearing, and
wherein the support member includes a flange placed on an inner race of the first bearing when the support member is inserted in the first bearing.

4. The stirring mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein a knob is provided on a rotation axis of the driven helical gear so as to project from the driven helical gear.

Assignees

• Jeol Ltd

Inventors

• Yaginuma Takashi

Classifications

• G01N35/00 Primary

  Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor · CPC title

• B01F27/276

  the mixer being composed of a stator-rotor system being formed by bearing elements, e.g. roller bearings · CPC title

• B01F35/33

  Transmissions; Means for modifying the speed or direction of rotation · CPC title

• B01F31/70

  Drives therefor, e.g. crank mechanisms · CPC title

• B01F2101/23

  Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials · CPC title