JPH11271316A - Sample-rack transfer apparatus and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a sample-rack transfer apparatus which prevents a wasteful waiting time and an empty place between sample racks from being generated when they are transferred and which can transfer the sample racks efficiently. SOLUTION: A sample-rack transfer apparatus which executes predetermined treatments sequentially is provided with a means by which a first sample-rack transfer passage to a third sample-rack transfer passage are skipped by using a fourth sample-rack transfer passage. That is to say, a sample rack 8 which is carried into the apparatus and which is judged to be passed is not carried into a sample-rack feed side so as to be transferred to a sample-rack passage side. The generation of a wasteful waiting time and an empty place between sample racks is prevented by sensors 101 to 106 and by a control part, and the sample racks can be transferred efficiently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample rack transfer device, and more particularly to a sample rack transfer device suitable for use in a urine analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic analyzer for a general test may be used in combination with a plurality of analyzers such as a urine analyzer and a urine sediment analyzer. The urine sediment analyzer detects particles such as red blood cells and white blood cells suspended in the sample, generates a still image of the detected particles, and analyzes the generated still image to analyze the particles in the sample. The urine analyzer inserts litmus test paper into a sample and removes it to perform qualitative analysis. When these devices are used in combination, it is common to perform urine analysis first and then urine sediment analysis. It is desirable that these analytical processes be performed efficiently on a large number of samples, and thus it would be convenient to have a sample rack transfer device that would help make that realization possible.

[0003] As conventional rack transfer methods that can be used, (1) a method of transferring a sample rack by pressing the back of the sample rack with a moving member, and (2) a method of transferring the sample rack on a belt are considered. The method (1) is a method in which a plurality of racks are temporarily arranged on one plane, and the sample rack at the rear end in the traveling direction is advanced while being pushed by the moving member.
The method (2) is a method in which two parallelly mounted belts are simultaneously driven, and a plurality of sample racks are temporarily arranged and moved on the belts.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-46073 discloses a method which shares the above (1) and (2). That is, the moving members are fixed at the same positions of the two belts installed in parallel, and the plurality of sample racks on the belt are reliably transferred.

[0005] (3) is a method according to Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-243645, which is a sample rack transfer mechanism combining a plurality of worm shafts, a transport mechanism using pawls, and a belt. By moving the sample rack by the worm axis, more complicated sample rack control is possible.

[0006]

In either of the above cases (1) and (2), the function can be satisfied when the sample rack is temporarily installed, but there is a problem when the sample rack is automatically loaded and erected. Occurs.

That is, in the case of (1), the moving member must always be returned to the loading position of the sample rack, and the timing of feeding the sampler and the loading timing of the sample rack, or the timing of returning from the sampler and the timing of unloading, are required. If they are different, the operation will be complicated. Also, vibration occurs when the sample rack is pressed to the final position,
Not suitable for devices that dislike vibration. Further, when it is desired to mount the sample rack at the head such as a sample rack for an emergency sample, the sample rack cannot be moved backward.

The case (2) is not suitable because there is a step corresponding to the thickness of the belt, such as when a sample rack is carried in from the side.

In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-46073,
Since there is a moving member behind the last sample rack, the sample rack cannot be loaded and installed before the moving member. For this reason, when there is a sample rack to be carried in before the sample rack to be passed, the sample rack to be passed cannot be passed until all the sample racks to be carried out have been processed.

The control of the sample to be measured is handled in units of sample rack. Usually, a sample that can set five samples is often used, but the sample rack is not always provided with five samples. Depending on the test item, even if there is a sample that need not be measured among the samples set in the sample rack, the processing is performed in units of the sample rack. However, if it is not necessary to measure all the samples installed in the sample rack, it is useless to take the sample rack into the measurement device.

In the method according to (3), especially when the processing speed of the second measurement system is low, the sample rack stays, leading to a reduction in the overall processing speed. In other measurement items, all samples are measured, but in other measurement items, only one copy of the sample is requested to be measured, or the necessity of measurement occurs in the next measurement item based on the previous measurement result There is also. At the time when the sample is placed on the sample rack, the contents of the test request may not be known or additional measurement items may be added. In addition, when a single device exceeds the processing capacity or when processing is performed using a plurality of the same devices, it is necessary to monitor the busy state of each device and control the rack. Further, it is necessary to add and carry a rack in the middle of the measurement system.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample rack suitable for transferring sample racks, thereby preventing wasteful waiting time and empty space between the sample racks and enabling efficient sample rack transfer. It is to provide a transfer device.

[0013]

A feature of the present invention is that a plurality of sample racks holding a plurality of sample containers accommodating samples are moved from a first sample rack transfer path to a second sample rack.
Means for sequentially placing the sample racks on the sample rack transfer path, means for transferring the loaded sample racks on the second sample rack transfer path so as to be sequentially loaded on the third sample rack transfer path, and the first sample rack transfer path. A fourth sample rack transfer path connected to a start position of the sample rack transfer path and an end position of the third sample rack transfer path, wherein the sample rack mounted on the third sample rack transfer path is moved to the third sample rack transfer path; A sample rack transfer device for sequentially transferring the samples in the sample containers of the transferred sample racks on the sample rack transfer path of No. 3 and sequentially executing the predetermined processing on the sample racks. It is provided with means for skipping the first to third sample rack transfer paths. According to this, it is possible to reduce unnecessary waiting time between sample racks and to delete empty space, so that efficient transfer of sample racks becomes possible.

[0014]

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a sample rack transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a sample rack transfer device (hereinafter referred to as a device);
It includes transport mechanisms A and B, a gantry on which these are mounted and supported, a control unit inside the gantry, and a host computer having control information of the sample rack. In the figure, arrows indicate the movement trajectories of the sample rack. The information of the sample rack carried into the apparatus is read by the sample rack number reading device, and the information is sent to the control unit. The control unit inquires of the host computer about the above-mentioned information, and determines whether to pass or pull in the sample rack.

The sample rack determined to be carried in is moved in the direction of the arrow by a mechanism described later on the sample rack sending side, fed sideways, accumulated on the return side, and then carried out to the sample rack passing side. The sample rack determined to pass is not carried into the sample rack sending side, but is transported to the sample rack passing side.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views of the rack transfer mechanism on the sending side and the returning side of the apparatus, respectively. Bearing 1 on both sides
A pulley 14 is fixed to one end of a worm shaft 13 rotatably supported by 1, 1 and 12, and is connected to a pulley 16 fixed to a shaft of a drive motor 15 by a belt 17, and the rotation of the drive motor 15 is controlled by a worm. It is transmitted to the shaft 13. The portion between the threads of the worm shaft 13, that is, the lead portion, is slightly larger than the thickness of the sample rack 8, so that the sample racks 8 do not contact each other.

The sample rack 8 set as described above
Can freely move on the sampler table 9 by the rotation of the worm shaft 13 according to the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the worm shaft 13. A part of the thread of the worm shaft 13 is structured to travel on the sampler table 9, and the amount of protrusion is arbitrary. The worm shaft 3 on the feed side is
The length is up to 10 and can be rotated forward and backward even if the sample rack is located at the lateral feed position.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the apparatus and the transport mechanisms A and B. A mechanism having a function of transporting a sample rack such as an analyzer or a transport line to the transport mechanism A (hereinafter referred to as an upstream transport mechanism) is connected to the left side of the transport mechanism A. The sample rack number read by the sample rack number reading device 40 of the sample rack 8 carried into the transport mechanism from the upstream transport mechanism is sent to the control unit.
The control unit queries the host computer for the sample rack number, and determines whether the sample rack should be drawn into the sample rack sending side or transferred to the sample rack passing side.

When it is determined that the sample rack should be drawn into the sample rack feeding side, the transfer claw holder 29 fixed on both sides to the belt 24 supported by the pulleys 22 and 23 is rotatable about a fulcrum shaft 30. The nail 31 is fixed.
When the belt 24 rotates and the pawl 31 moves to the transport mechanism A side, and the pawl 31 reaches the left side of the sample rack 8, the belt 24 rotates in the reverse direction, hooks the sample rack, and feeds it to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line on the feed side of the apparatus. . The pawl 31 rotates only in the direction of the arrow about the fulcrum shaft 30 and normally returns with a spring (not shown).

After the loaded sample rack is stopped at the loading position, it is sequentially transported by the above-mentioned worm shaft, and moves to the lateral feed position. The moved sample rack 8 is sequentially transferred one pitch at a time by a transfer claw 21 fixed on a belt 20 supported on both sides by pulleys 18 and 19. When the transfer is completed, it returns to the original position, and the next sample rack moves.

After moving to the return side, it is sequentially returned to the sample rack passing side by the worm shaft, and
Stops detecting the sample rack, and stops the sample rack at the merging standby position. When there is no sample rack on the sample rack passing side, the claw 31 used at the time of loading the sample rack is used again and the sample rack is unloaded.
If there is already a sample rack, the process stands by until the unloading process of the sample rack on the passing side ends.

If it is determined that the sample rack should pass, the sample rack is not carried in to the sample rack sending side, and the sample rack passing side is transferred and carried out by the claw 31 as it is.

Next, the transfer method of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIG.

When the sample rack is carried into the transport mechanism A from the upstream transport mechanism and the sensor 104 detects the sample rack, the sample rack number is read by the sample rack number reading device 40 and sent to the control unit. Next, the control unit queries the host computer for the sample rack number, and determines whether the sample rack should be drawn into the sample rack sending side or transferred to the sample rack passing side.

If the apparatus is determined to be pulled in to the sending side, the apparatus starts a loading operation. First, before the sample rack is carried into the apparatus, the setting state of the sample rack in the apparatus is checked by the sensors 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105. First, the presence or absence of a sample rack is determined by the sensor 101. If there is no sample rack, the worm shaft 13 is rotated and stopped at the time when the detection is performed by the sensor 101. Further, the presence or absence of the sample rack is determined by the sensor 104. As a result, the sample rack is determined. When the operation is completed, the carrying-in and feeding operations on the sending side of the apparatus are stopped.

If there is a sample rack in the sensor 101 and there is a sample rack to be carried in to the sensor 104, the state of the sample rack of the sensor 102 is checked. If there is no sample rack, the sample rack of the sensor 104 is carried in. The shaft is rotated by one pitch (one rotation), and the sensor 10
Transfer to 3. If the sensor 102 has a sample rack and the sensor 103 does not have a sample rack, the feed-side worm shaft is rotated in the reverse direction until the last sample rack reaches the sensor 103 and stopped. In this state, the sample rack of the sensor 104 is carried in and advances to the one pitch feed side. The sample rack whose analysis and measurement has been completed by the device moves to the return side. Here, the sensor 105 determines whether or not there is a sample rack on the passing side. If not, the worm shaft 3 on the return side rotates and stops until the sensor 105 detects the sample rack. When the sensor 105 detects the presence of the sample rack, the transfer claw 31 on the passing side is driven, and the sample rack is carried out of the apparatus. On the other hand, if the sensor 105 detects that there is a sample rack on the passing side, the sensor 106 detects the presence or absence of the sample rack. If there is no sample rack, the return-side sample rack is equivalent to one sample rack (one rotation of the worm shaft). )Moving. If it is determined that there is, the return side determines that the sample rack is full, and the analysis and measurement operation of the apparatus is temporarily suspended.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the sample rack is to be passed without being drawn into the feed side, the presence or absence of the sample rack is determined by the sensor 105. If the answer is no here, the transfer claw 31
Is moved to the transport mechanism A side, and the transfer claw 3 is
After the hook 1 is hooked, it is carried out from the apparatus as it is to the transport mechanism B side. When the sensor 105 determines that there is a sample rack, the sample rack detected by the sensor 105 is first carried out of the apparatus by the transfer claw 31, and then the feed claw 31 is moved to the transport mechanism A side, and the transfer claw is transferred to the sample rack. 31
Is transported from the apparatus as it is to the transport mechanism B side.

By repeating the above operation, unnecessary waiting time between sample racks can be reduced and empty space can be deleted, so that sample racks can be efficiently transported.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

A sample rack transfer device and method using a worm shaft, wherein a sample rack transfer destination is determined based on information read by a sample rack number reading device when a sample rack is loaded, and sample racks requiring analysis are required. Since only the sample rack can be sent to the sampling position and passed through a rack that does not require analysis, there is no useless waiting time or empty space in transferring the sample rack.

[0031]

According to the present invention, when transferring sample racks, it is suitable for preventing wasteful waiting time and empty space from being generated between the sample racks and enabling efficient sample rack transfer. A sample rack transfer device is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sample rack transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a sample rack transfer device showing one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a partial cross section of a feed-side sample rack transfer mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a partial cross section of a return-side sample rack transfer mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an exemplary sample rack transfer according to the present invention for a normal sample of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,2,11,12 ... bearing, 3,13 ... worm shaft,
4, 6, 14, 16, 22, 23, 27, 28, 33,
34 ... pulley, 5, 15 ... drive motor, 7, 17, 2
0, 24, 26, 35 ... belt, 8, 18 ... sample rack, 9, 19 ... sampler table, 21 ... transfer claw, 29 ... transfer claw holder, 30 ... fulcrum shaft, 31 ... claw, 32 ... partition,
40 ... Sample rack number reading device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiaki Yokobayashi 882 Momo, Oaza-shi, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Pref.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A means for sequentially loading a plurality of sample racks holding a plurality of sample containers accommodating samples from a first sample rack transfer path having a worm shaft to a second sample rack transfer path; Means for transferring the loaded sample racks on the second sample rack transfer path so as to be sequentially mounted on a third sample rack transfer path having a worm shaft; and a starting position of the first sample rack transfer path. A fourth sample rack transfer path connected to the end position of the third sample rack transfer path, and sequentially moving the sample racks mounted on the third sample rack transfer path on the third sample rack transfer path. A sample rack for transferring and sequentially performing a predetermined process on the sample in the sample container of the transferred sample rack In feeding device, a sample rack transporting apparatus, characterized by comprising means for skipping the sample rack transport path from the first to the third by the fourth sample rack transport path. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for skipping said sample racks on said first to third sample rack transfer paths is provided with claws capable of freely moving on a fourth sample rack transfer path. A sample rack transfer device, characterized in that: 3. The sample rack transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a claw is also used to discharge the sample rack that has moved through the third sample rack transfer path after the measurement of the sample is completed. . 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not there is a sample rack on the fourth sample rack transfer path. If the answer to the determination is negative, the third sample rack transfer means is corrected. A sample rack transfer device, comprising: means for controlling the sample rack transfer means so as to be driven in the direction and continue until the sample rack is placed on the fourth sample rack transfer path. 5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising skipping and ejecting the sample rack without taking in the sample rack by the number read by the sample rack number reading device. 6. The sample rack transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement target is limited to urine.