Eastman-Kodak Company

Henry S Adamski

John F Hartman

Michael R Smith

Guilford Edwin Kindig

James E Ferris

Rodney J Whitcomb

Louis C Nosco

Anthony P Di Fulvio

This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for forming electrical contact with an analysis slide of the potentiometric type. A probe unit, electrically connected to an electrometer, comprises a plurality of probe tips which are adapted to penetrate into the electrodes of an analysis slide and to move laterally in a direction generally parallel to the electrode layers after penetration. A means is provided for preloading the probe tips to control the force required to effect lateral movement of the tips.

Apparatus for forming electrical contact with an analysis slide

A stapler for automatically driving staples of at least two different characteristics, such as length, into a workpiece. The stapler includes a staple driving member for driving staples into a workpiece, a staple forming member for forming staple blanks into staples and apparatus for selectively providing to the staple forming member staple blanks of at least first and second different lengths. Staple material of preselected first or second lengths is fed from a supply of a continuous length of staple material and severed from the continuous length to form the staple blanks.

Stapler

A chemical analyzer is disclosed for performing analysis on selected fluids. The analyzer comprises a plurality of cartridges containing test slides. A slide transfer mechanism is adapted to feed a slide from a selected cartridge, transport the slide to a metering device where a precise amount of fluid is deposited thereon, deliver the slide to conveyor means which moves the element through an incubator, and transport the slide to an analysis means after a predetermined time in the incubator.

Chemical analyzer

Sample cup for analysis of biological fluids

Sample cup tray for chemical analysis of biological fluids

A self-releasing pawl and ratchet clutch is described that is particularly suitable for use as a single revolution clutch in a self-processing camera. At the end of one revolution of the clutch, the pawl is uncoupled from the ratchet wheel by a translatable and pivotable clutch release finger. The finger is spring biased towards a first position and includes a ramp at one end thereof that is locatable in the path of the pawl to stop the pawl from further rotation with the ratchet wheel. In the process of stopping the pawl, the finger is translated from the first position and held by the pawl in a second position against the bias of the spring. After the pawl is unseated from its interdental seat on the ratchet wheel the finger is restored by the spring to the first position. An enlarged tooth formed on the ratchet wheel forces the pawl to be moved generally radially outwardly along the ramp so that the pawl is held away from the tips of the smaller teeth of the ratchet wheel. With the pawl held in this manner there will not be repeated clicking of the tips of these smaller teeth against the disengaged pawl. The pawl is flexible and adapted to automatically disengage from the ratchet wheel in the event the clutch is overloaded. A toothless segment is provided on the ratchet wheel and ensures that the pawl cannot engage the ratchet wheel at a location on the wheel in which the enlarged tooth would be in a position to force the pawl to uncouple from the wheel under loads substantially lower than that desired.

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Webster, NY, United States of America

Henry S Adamski