JPH0915246A - Test tube supporting rack - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a test tube supporting rack that is able to support test tubes different in size properly with only one type of this supporting rack, and simultaneously to convey these test tubes separately according to the purposes of test and inspection. CONSTITUTION: In this test tube supporting rack 1 equipped with a cylindrical test tube supporting rack body 5, a test tube insertion hole 11 equipped with a test tube carrying bottom 13 is formed in the central part of a circular section of this rack body 5 in parallel with this test tube supporting rack 1, while a rack through hole 15 being smaller than outer diameter of a test tube is installed in a central part of the test tube carrying bottom 13. In addition, an elastic member 9 is projected in the central axial direction of the test tube insertion hole 11 from an inner wall of the test tube insertional hole 11 of the test tube supporting rack body 5. Moreover, the test tube carrying bottom 13 is formed into an inverted conical tapered form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing mechanism for dispensing liquid reagents, specimens and the like into test tubes, and more particularly to a test tube supporting rack which supports test tubes and is carried on a conveyor belt. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIGS.
As the test tube support rack 51 that supports the test tubes 53 and moves on the conveyor belt 69 for transportation in the automatic dispensing mechanism, one that supports a plurality of test tubes 53 at a time has been used. More specifically, a plurality of test tube insertion holes 61 are formed vertically downward from the upper surface of the rectangular parallelepiped test tube support rack body 55, and the test tube 5 is inserted into the test tube insertion holes 61.
3 has a structure in which it is supported.

Further, the test tube support rack 51 is carried by a conveyor belt 69 between two guide rails 66 while carrying a plurality of test tubes 53, as shown in FIG. Then, in each of the dispensing areas, reagents and samples for testing and inspection are dispensed into the test tube 53.

[0004]

However, in the above conventional example, the following inconveniences have occurred. That is, in the conventional test tube support rack, the size of the test tube insertion hole is predetermined according to the outer diameter of the test tube to be supported. For this reason, there is an inconvenience that a person who conducts a test or inspection must sort the test tubes corresponding to the size of the test tube insertion hole and insert them into the test tube support rack.

Further, since a plurality of test tubes are supported by one test tube support rack, it is inconvenient that the test tubes of the same size cannot be conveyed by the conveyor belt until a predetermined number of them are collected. Was occurring.

Further, as described above, the size of the test tube insertion hole is set corresponding to the outer diameter of the test tube,
When a test tube that does not correspond to the size of the test tube insertion hole is inserted into the test tube insertion hole, the test tube cannot be properly supported, which is a disadvantage. This means that it is necessary to accurately position each test tube, especially in an automatic dispensing mechanism that automatically dispenses reagents and specimens into the test tube.
It becomes a problem.

[0007]

It is an object of the present invention to improve the disadvantages of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and in particular, to properly support test tubes of different sizes with one type of test tube support rack, and to test and inspect each test tube. It is an object of the present invention to provide a test tube support rack that can be separately and independently transported according to the purpose.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the invention of claim 1, in a test tube support rack provided with a cylindrical test tube support rack body, the circular shape of the test tube support rack body is used. A test tube insertion hole with a test tube support bottom is formed in the center of the cross section parallel to the center axis of the test tube support rack, and a rack smaller than the outer diameter of the test tube is provided in the center of the test tube support bottom. It has a structure that it has a through hole.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, the elastic member is projected from the inner peripheral wall of the test tube insertion hole of the test tube supporting rack main body in the central axis direction of the test tube insertion hole, and other structures are This is the same as the invention according to claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 adopts a structure in which the test tube carrying bottom is formed in an inverted conical taper shape, and the other structure is the same as the invention according to claim 1 or 2.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the test tube support rack provided with the cylindrical test tube support rack body,
A test tube insertion hole having a test tube carrying bottom is formed in the center of the circular cross section of the test tube support rack body in parallel with the central axis of the test tube support rack. A rack through hole smaller than the outer diameter of the test tube is provided at the center of the test tube carrying bottom. At this time, the test tube is inserted into the test tube insertion hole from above the test tube support rack, and the bottom portion of the test tube comes into contact with the test tube carrying bottom. As a result, the test tube is supported by the test tube support rack. In addition, when the test tube is removed from the test tube support rack after the test or inspection is completed, the test tube support rack is transported to a predetermined test tube removal area. Then, a predetermined rod-shaped member is inserted into the rack through hole from below the test tube support rack, pushes up the bottom of the test tube, and the test tube is easily removed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the elastic member is arranged so as to project from the inner peripheral wall of the test tube insertion hole of the test tube supporting rack main body in the central axis direction of the test tube insertion hole. Therefore, when the test tube is inserted into the test tube insertion hole from above the test tube support rack, the test tube comes into contact with the elastic member provided on the inner peripheral wall of the test tube insertion hole, and the test tube is substantially centered in the test tube insertion hole. Is positioned in the section. At the same time, the test tube is prevented from moving in the vertical direction by the frictional force generated between the outer peripheral wall of the test tube and the surface of the elastic member, and is securely fixed to the test tube support rack.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the test tube carrying bottom is formed in a tapered shape of an inverted conical shape. At this time, when the test tube is inserted into the test tube insertion hole, the bottom of the test tube comes into contact with the test tube carrying bottom. Then, when the test tube is further inserted, the bottom portion of the test tube is positioned at the substantially central portion of the test tube insertion hole along the tapered shape of the test tube carrying bottom. As a result, the test tube is fixed to the test tube support rack substantially vertically.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the test tube support rack 1 is composed of a cylindrical test tube support rack body 5 and a lid member 7 fitted on the upper portion of the test tube support rack body 5.

First, the test tube support rack body 5 has a cylindrical outer diameter as described above. A test tube insertion hole 11 having a test tube supporting bottom 13 is formed in the center of the circular cross section of the test tube support rack body 5 in parallel with the central axis of the test tube support rack body 5. This test tube insertion hole 1
The diameter of 1 is set according to the outer diameter of the test tube 3 used for inspection and testing. That is, the diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the test tube 3 having the largest outer diameter among the test tubes 3 used.

For example, a commonly used test tube 3
Has an outer diameter of about 12 [mm] to 16 [mm], and at least the diameter of the test tube insertion hole 11 is 16 [m].
m] is exceeded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, when a cylindrical object having a larger outer diameter is conveyed, an insertion hole having a larger diameter may be formed. it can.

Test tube insertion hole 1 of test tube support rack body 5
At the lowermost part of 1, the test tube carrying bottom 13 is formed as described above. The bottom portion of the test tube 3 abuts on the test tube carrying bottom 13 to carry the test tube 3. Also,
The test tube carrying bottom 13 is provided with a rack through hole 15 having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the test tube 3 at the center thereof. This rack through hole 15 is provided after the test and the inspection.
When the test tube 3 is removed from the test tube support rack 1, a rod-shaped member (not shown) used to push up the test tube 3 from below the test tube support rack 1 is inserted. This makes it possible to remove the test tube 3 from the test tube support rack 1, especially in an automatic machine or the like.

Test tube supporting bottom 1 of test tube supporting rack body 5
3 is formed in an inverted conical taper shape. That is,
The bottom surface of the test tube carrying bottom 13 is inclined downwardly toward the center. This is for guiding the bottom of the test tube 3 to the center of the test tube insertion hole 11 when the test tube 3 is inserted into the test tube support rack 1.

A predetermined elastic member 9 is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the test tube insertion hole 11. This elastic member 9
From the four directions of the inner peripheral wall of the test tube insertion hole 11, the test tube insertion hole 1
1 is projected toward the center. More specifically, each elastic member 9 once protrudes upward from the inner peripheral wall of the test tube insertion hole 11 and then bends toward the center of the test tube insertion hole with a predetermined curvature. Further, it is formed so as to be bent downward with a predetermined curvature. And each elastic member 9
Even when the test tube 3 with the smallest outer diameter is inserted,
All four elastic members 9 are configured to project toward the center of the test tube insertion hole so that they can contact the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 3. That is, the diameter of the common circle of the protruding end from the inner wall of each elastic member 9 is smaller than the outer diameter of the test tube 3 having the smallest outer diameter. Here, the number of elastic members 9 is not necessarily limited to four,
It may be three or five or more.

Each elastic member 9 is sufficiently deformed in accordance with the outer diameter of the test tube 3 when the test tube 3 is inserted, and also generates an appropriate frictional force with the test tube 3. It is possible to secure a sufficient elastic force. Particularly, in this embodiment, the elastic member 9 made of metal is arranged. However, the material is not limited to metal, and may be a resin material as long as it produces elastic force.

Each elastic member 9 is fixed to the test tube supporting rack body by a screw structure (not shown). However, the fixing method is not limited to this, and the test tube supporting rack body 5 may be made of a resin material and the elastic members 9 may be integrally molded.

On the upper part of the test tube support rack body 5, there is provided a disk-shaped lid member that fits with the outer periphery of the upper end of the test tube support rack body 5. The lid member 7 is formed with a through hole into which the test tube 3 is taken in at the center of its circular cross section. Further, a lid member screw portion 8 that fits with a screw portion 6 formed on the upper end outer peripheral portion of the test tube supporting rack body 3 is formed on the inner peripheral wall below the lid member 7.

A step portion 10 having a diameter substantially equal to that of the screw portion 6 is formed on the upper outer peripheral portion of the test tube supporting rack body 5. The step portion 10 is an area corresponding to a rail portion 17 of a guide rail 16 described later, and thus, when the lid member 7 is fitted to the test tube support rack body 5, the step portion 10 of the test tube support rack 1 is A concave section having a predetermined width is formed on the outer peripheral portion.

Further, the test tube support rack 1 has a rack mark (not shown) for specifying each test tube support rack 1.
Is provided. This is composed of a general bar code, and a predetermined bar code reading device (not shown)
Specifies the test tube support rack 1. However, the rack mark is not limited to the bar code, and may be a label or the like in which numbers are simply written.

Next, the function of the test tube support rack 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a test tube support rack 1
When the test tube 3 is inserted into the test tube 3, the four elastic members 9 fixed to the test tube supporting rack body 5 come into contact with the test tube 3. Then, the elastic member 9 is deformed according to the outer diameter of the test tube. When the test tube 3 is pushed further, the test tube 3
The bottom portion of the test piece comes into contact with the test tube carrying bottom 13. At this time, since the bottom surface of the test tube carrying bottom 13 is formed in a tapered shape having an inverted conical shape as described above, the bottom portion of the test tube 3 is guided to the substantially central portion of the test tube insertion hole 11. Also, test tube 3
Is fixed to the substantially central portion of the test tube insertion hole 11 by each elastic member 9, so that the test tube 3 is vertically supported on the test tube support rack 1. This makes it possible to perform accurate positioning, particularly when dispensing a reagent or a sample by an automatic machine or the like, and improves work efficiency.

A state in which the test tube support rack 1 is conveyed on the conveyor belt 19 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. First, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the test tube support rack 1 is a conveyor. It is installed on the belt 19 and between the two guide rails 16. At this time, the step portion 10 of the test tube support rack 1 described above is fitted with the rail portion 17 provided on the guide rail 16 with a predetermined gap.
Then, by rotating the roller mechanism 18 for driving the conveyor belt 19, the test tube support rack 1 is transported. For this reason, the test tube support rack 1 is stably transported even when vibration due to transport or rapid acceleration of the conveyor belt 19 occurs.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the transport path of the test tube support rack 1. Here, the test tube (not shown) into which the sample has been loaded by the sample loading unit is supported by the test tube support rack 1 and transported to the sample transport line 31. Then, the test tube support rack 1 is transported to the dispenser transport line 32 and is transported to the corresponding dispense line 33. The test tube support rack 1 on which the dispensing work has been performed is transported to the dispenser recovery line 34, and transported to the sample recovery unit through the sample recovery line 35.

[0030]

The present invention is constructed and functions as described above,
According to the invention described in claim 1, since the test tubes are transported one by one while being supported by the independent test tube support racks, it is not necessary for a person who conducts a test or inspection to arrange the test tubes for each diameter. It has an excellent effect that work efficiency for inspection and inspection is improved.

Further, since the rack through hole is provided at the center of the bottom for supporting the test tube, even when the test tube is removed from the test tube support rack after the test or inspection is completed, the rack penetrates from below the test tube support rack. An excellent effect that the test tube can be easily removed by inserting a predetermined rod-shaped member into the hole and pushing up the bottom of the test tube is produced. Further, even if a liquid such as a reagent or a sample accidentally enters the test tube support rack 1, it is quickly discharged from the rack through hole, so that the test tube support rack is always kept clean. , Which produces an excellent effect.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the test tube is positioned at the substantially central portion of the test tube insertion hole by the elastic member arranged so as to project from the inner peripheral wall of the test tube insertion hole.
This brings about the excellent effect that the test tube is supported substantially vertically. Further, since the test tube is fixed by the elastic member, there is an excellent effect that a plurality of types of test tubes having different outer diameters can be surely and properly supported. Further, since a constant frictional force is generated between the outer peripheral wall of the test tube and the surface of the elastic member, the vertical movement of the test tube is suppressed, and the test tube support rack is reliably fixed. Produce the effect.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the bottom of the test tube is positioned substantially at the center of the test tube insertion hole due to the tapered shape formed on the bottom of the test tube. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that the test tube is supported on the test tube support rack so as to be substantially vertical.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a test tube support rack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the test tube support rack disclosed in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state where the test tube support rack disclosed in FIG. 1 is being conveyed by a conveyor belt.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the test tube support rack and the conveyor belt disclosed in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a transport path of a test tube support rack.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional test tube support rack.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where the test tube support rack disclosed in FIG. 6 is being conveyed by a conveyor belt.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Test tube support rack 3 Test tube 5 Test tube support rack body 9 Elastic member 11 Test tube insertion hole 13 Test tube carrying bottom 15 Rack through hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A test tube support rack having a cylindrical test tube support rack body, wherein a test tube carrying rack is provided in a central portion of a circular cross section of the test tube support rack body in parallel with a central axis of the test tube support rack. A test tube supporting rack, characterized in that a test tube insertion hole having a bottom is formed, and a rack through hole smaller than the outer diameter of the test tube is provided at the center of the test tube carrying bottom. 2. The test tube support rack according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is projected from an inner peripheral wall of the test tube insertion hole of the test tube support rack main body in a central axis direction of the test tube insertion hole. 3. The test tube supporting rack according to claim 1, wherein the test tube supporting bottom is formed in an inverted conical taper shape.