FLEXIBLE PUSHER BLADE AND HOUSING

摘要

Pusher blades are used in analyzers to transport test elements from one location to another with the analyzer. As analyzers become more involved in their processing, pusher blades must traverse greater distances. However, this tends to have the result that the dimensions of the analyzer need to be increased to accommodate increases in pusher blade length. Described herein is a pusher blade (10) and its housing (40, 42, 44) in which the blade (10) has a stiff front end (12) for engaging slide-type test elements (E, E min ), and a flexible body portion (16) and back end (14). The housing (40, 42, 44) forces the blade (10) to curve through an angle, preferably about 90 DEG , to minimize the extension in one direction which the blade (10) would have if it were entirely rigid. The housing (40, 42, 44) is shaped to produce the curve which has a radius of curvature (R) and also to house drive means (30, 32) for the pusher blade (10).