Method of and device for taking out chemical analysis film test elements from a cartridge

摘要

A chemical analysis film cartridge (20) has a box-like casing body (21) which has first and second end walls (20d,20a) opposed to each other and in which a plurality of dry frameless chemical analysis film chips (1) are stored in a stack extending between the end walls. A first opening (20c) is formed in a side wall (20b) of the casing body at a portion near to the first end wall (20d) of the casing body so that only the film chip nearest to the first end wall in the film chips in the stack can be taken out of the casing body through the first opening by moving the film chip in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the stack. A second opening (20e) which permits a suction pad to hold the film chip nearest to the first end wall and take it out of the casing body through the first opening is formed in the first end wall of the casing body. 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 at least a part of the first opening. The suction pad is retracted with the film chip held on the suction means so that the film chip held on the suction pad abuts against the edge of the second opening on opposite sides of the suction pad and then 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.