| CPC G01N 35/00 (2013.01) [B01L 3/5055 (2013.01); B01L 2200/141 (2013.01); B01L 2300/043 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0609 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0663 (2013.01)] | 5 Claims |
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1. An automatic analyzer comprising:
a housing configured to accommodate an analyzer configured to analyze a specimen;
a cover provided to cover an upper side of a working surface which is an upper surface of the housing, and configured to be pivotally supported around a support shaft provided on one side of a rear side on the upper surface of the housing between a closed position and an open position in an upper-lower direction, and
the cover includes a protruding portion provided on the end of a front side of the cover; and
an interlock unit provided on a front side on the upper surface of the housing, and capable of preventing the cover rotating from the closed position to the open position, wherein the interlock unit includes:
a hollow case provided on a lower side of an end of a front side at the closed position of the cover, and having a rectangular parallelepiped shape disposed at a position adjacent to a front surface of an inside of the housing;
a lock lever having a L- or T-shape comprising a support rod portion and a pair of lock portions extending from the support rod portion, and the lock lever configured to be movably supported between a lock position and a lock release position on an upper surface of the hollow case, and inhibiting rotation to the open position of the cover by engaging with the protruding portion provided on the end of the front side of the cover at the lock position;
a solenoid configured to drive the lock lever; and
a mechanical linkage configured to connect the lock lever to the solenoid and drive the lock lever by conveying an operation of the solenoid to the lock lever,
the housing has a front surface opening provided at a position on the front surface of the housing corresponding to the interlock unit and covered with a front plate detachable from the housing, and
the interlock unit is provided to be attachable and detachable to and from the housing via the front surface opening in a state where the front plate is detached;
Note: all of the functional/process language in the instant allowed claims (e.g. “configured to be pivotally supported”, “configured to be movably supported”, “configured to drive the lock lever”, etc.,) have been given full patentable weight by the examiner; The determination of whether the functional/process language limits a claim is made on a case-by-case basis in light of the facts in each case; In certain instances, functional/process recitations recited in apparatus type claim are not limiting; However, in this case the functional language in the claims have received given patentable weight because it clearly defines a specific structural feature or mechanism that performs a function, rather than simply describing the intended use or result of the invention; The instant claimed functional/process language is supported by the specification and provides a clear understanding of the claimed invention to someone skilled in the art; essentially, the function/process language is tied to a defined structure or process, not just a general concept.
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