GB893648A - Machine for treating, or treating and analysing, chromatograms - Google Patents

Abstract

893,648. Feeding webs. NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Oct. 17, 1958 [Oct. 18, 1957], No. 32654/57. Class 100(1) [Also in Groups XIII and XL(b)] An apparatus for the treatment or treatment and analysis of material in the form of a strip of absorbent paper or like absorbent material in chromatography includes a pair of endless feed belts, means supporting the belts for relative movement in separate paths of travel, the belts being so relatively disposed and so driven by driving means as to move at the same speed in a common longitudinal direction during portions of their travel in which they lie parallel with one another and in close proximity to engage between them a part of the width of a strip of material to be treated leaving a substantial portion of the width exposed and thus move the strip in the longitudinal direction, and means for treating the exposed width of the strip. As shown, a strip 3, Fig. 3, of paper or other absorbent paper for use in producing chromatograms is fed manually or otherwise between endless feed belts 16, 17 and 18, 19 which grip the strip 3 at its edges only. The belts may be of stainless steel, nylon, or woven glass fibre. The belts 16, 18 pass around rollers 90, 23, 25, 28 and 41, Fig. 1, while the belts 17, 19 pass around rollers 91, 24, 26, 28 and 42. The roller 28, partly immersed in a bath 30, applies treatment liquid to the strip, the amount of liquid applied to the strip being variable by varying the speed of the roller 28. The belts then pass into a treatment chamber 5, Fig. 4, around a roller 57. The chamber has six vertical compartments 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 formed by partition walls 50, the strip being fed through the compartments in succession by the belts 16, 17, 18, 19 guided by rollers 56, 57 which may be covered with synthetic plastic material. The belts and strip pass through rollers 61, 62 whereupon the belts 16, 18 pass upwardly, the belts 17, 19 pass to the left, and the strip downwardly to an inspection zone. In the inspection zone, the strips are illuminated on one side while the other side is scanned, e.g. by a photo-electric cell to measure the optical density of markings on the strip, the output being fed to a recording apparatus. The rollers 61, 63 and 23, 24 are driven in synchronizm to ensure constant speed of the strip through the apparatus.