Abstract: An automatic chemical analyzer having a plurality of reaction tubes which are mounted on a first turntable and held in a first circle. A first motor drives the first turntable such that the reaction tubes move along the first circle. A sampling nozzle distributes a sample to the reaction tubes. A plurality of first reagent vessels containing different reagents of a first group are mounted on a second turntable and held in a second circle concentric with the first circular path. A second motor drives the second turntable such that the first reagent vessels move along the second circle. A plurality of second reagent vessels containing different reagents of a second group are fixedly held in a third circle intersecting with the first and second circular paths. A reagent-distributing nozzle is moved along the third circle, thereby to distribute a reagent to the reaction tubes from any one of the first reagent vessels or any one of the second reagent vessels, or both.

Abstract: The inside of a casing of a multiunit tube is divided into two chambers by a partition wall. The partition wall is formed with an opening through which light is transmitted. A deuterium lamp for emitting ultraviolet light, and a tungsten lamp for emitting visible light, are disposed in the first and second chambers, respectively. The casing is formed, on its first-chamber side, with a window, through which the ultraviolet and visible lights from the lamps are let out. The opening is fitted with a filter for reducing the liminous intensity of the visible light from the tungsten lamp.

Abstract: An automatic chemical analysis apparatus having a plurality of separate reagent containers placed inside of an annular array of reaction cuvettes. The reagent containers are arranged so as to be selectively accessible for dispensing a required reagent into a respective cuvette. At a predetermined position on the circular path of the cuvette array, a given sample is dispensed from a sample supply into a cuvette. During transporting of the cuvette containing a sample on a reaction path, a reagent from a selected of the reagent containers placed within the annular reaction cuvette array is dispensed by a suitable dispenser which can swing between the annular array of cuvettes and the reagent containers. After the reaction is completed, while the cuvette is advanced in the reaction line, the reactant containers are subjected to a photometric measurement at a measurement station located past the reagent dispensing position on the reaction line.

Abstract: A photometric apparatus for an automatic chemical analyzer is disclosed, which comprises a cell assembly, a photometric section, a drive unit, an edge detecting circuit, a signal generator and a control circuit. The cell assembly has cells for accommodating samples and arranged in a predetermined manner. The photometric section forms a light path for measurement and provides a detection signal obtained from the light path. The cell assembly and light path are moved relatively at a predetermined speed by the drive unit. With this movement, the cells are successively brought to a position on the light path. The edge detecting circuit detects an optical edge of the cell assembly from the detection signal of the photometric section. The signal generator is sensitive to the edge detection by the edge detecting circuit and generates an enable signal when a predetermined portion of each cell is brought to the position on the light path.

Abstract: The beam from a xenon flashed lamp driven by a pulse drive system is guided through 12 illumination beam guiding optical fibers, to illuminate a reaction liquid contained in 12 reaction cuvettes (with every 4 reaction cuvettes being located at each of 3 different measuring stations). The beam transmitted through the reaction liquid is so led as to be incident on 12 transmitted beam guiding optical fibers. The beam emission ends of the transmitted beam guiding optical fibers are inserted into a support member at positions thereof which fall on a circle. The rotor is rotated in conjunction with a shaft. A pair of reflecting mirrors are secured to the rotor and shaft, respectively. The beams emitted from the transmitted beam guiding optical fibers are independently and consecutively led along the same optical path, to a pair of slit members disposed on the side of the rotor opposite the support member, while the rotor completes one rotation.

Abstract: An automatic chemical analyzer which comprises a reaction line system including a plurality of reaction lines each consisting of a plurality of reaction tubes arranged in a row, means for distributing samples to the reaction tubes, and means for carrying out chemical analysis of samples contained in the reaction tubes. The reaction line system is provided with a driving mechanism for driving the individual reaction lines intermittently and independently of one another, and is constructed to sure that the feed rate of the individual reaction lines can be freely changed. The automatic chemical analyzer can thus be reduced in size and nevertheless can quickly and reliably make analysis of a number of samples for a number of items.

Abstract: A photometric measurement method for producing readout signals indicative of light absorption of samples contained in a series of cylindrical cuvettes arranged in a movable cuvette carrier for successively conveying said cuvettes into the path of a measuring light beam directed onto a radiation detector, wherein readings are taken at precisely measured intervals as a function of the width of the cuvette, the rate of movement of the cuvette and the required number of measurements, and a selected reading is taken at the same distance from the leading wall of each cuvette.