PHOTOMETRIC ANALYSER WITH ROTARY CUVETTE

A compact analytical photometer of the rotary cuvette type designed to use small disposable cuvette rotors. A power driven cuvette rotor holder having a generally flat, circular configuration is provided with an integral, upstanding, annular lip for receiving, in an easily insertable and removable fashion, small disposable cuvette rotors. A series of axially extending apertures are disposed in a circular array through the rotor holder in axial alignment with respective cuvettes in the rotor to permit light to be transmitted through the cuvettes as the rotor holder and cuvette rotor rotate between a stationary light source and photodetector. Additional apertures extend through the rotor holder near its periphery to permit light passage through the rotor holder for rotor and cuvette synchronization purposes. Movable rotor and cuvette synchronization detectors are positioned along the periphery of the rotor holder for generating signals which are used to synchronize the photometer output with a computer and to provide rotor speed control. Rapid deceleration of the rotor holder and rotor for sample mixing purposes is accomplished by braking means engaging the rotor holder drive shaft.