Device for taking out chemical analysis film chips from a film cartridge

Abstract

A chemical analysis film cartridge with a box-like casing body having first and second end walls opposed to each other between which a plurality of dry frameless chemical analysis film chips are stored in a stack. A first opening is formed in a side wall of the casing body near the first end wall so that only the film chip nearest the first end wall can be taken out of the casing body through the first opening by moving the film chip in a direction perpendicular to the stack. A second openings which permits a suction pad to hold the film chip nearest the first end wall and to remove it from the casing body through the first openings is formed in the first end wall. The width of the first opening is larger than the thickness of one film chip and smaller than double the thickness of one film chip over at least a portion of the first opening. The suction pad is retracted with the film chip so that the film chip abuts against the edge of the second opening on opposite sides of the suction pads and then the suction pad is further retracted to pull the central portion of the film chip in this state into the second opening, thereby reshaping the film chip into a predetermined warped-shape conforming to the shape of the first opening.