JP2000081439A - Specimen conveying system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly convey a specimen by omitting as much of mechanical action from the process of reading bar code information as possible when using a group of analysis device located downstream of a specimen conveying system, and reading the bar code in as short a time as possible. SOLUTION: In this specimen conveying system, an identification bar code label is bonded to a specimen container for use in analysis or examination of a specimen and the specimen container is conveyed in accordance with information given by the bar code label, so that the analysis needed for the specimen is carried out using a certain analysis device. In this case, the specimen conveying system has a specimen container hand 19 raised or lowered and rotated while gripping the specimen container 1, a bar code reader 21 placed in the vicinity of the specimen container 1 to read the information given by the identification bar code label, and a control means for rotating the specimen container hand 19 by a certain amount according to the information from the bar code reader 21 to adjust the direction of the bar code label 17 on the specimen container 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample transport system for automatically performing a necessary analysis for each sample while transporting a sample container containing the sample.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-23933 is disclosed.
There is a sample test system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3 (JP-A) No. 3 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-203). Hereinafter, the configuration and operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows the entire sample test system. The sample containers 31 are arranged in the sample registration order in the sample rack 32, and the sample containers 31 are transferred one by one to the transport device 35 by the supply device 34, and the barcode label issuing / sticking device 33 is in the middle of the transfer. The barcode label that records the sample information and the information representing the analysis item
It is pasted on 1.

[0004] A first analyzer 38 is provided downstream of the supply device 34. As a peripheral device of the first analyzer 38, a first barcode reading device 36 that reads a barcode of a barcode label attached to the sample container 31 being transported by the transport device 35, and a sample from the sample container 31 A sample device 37 for dispensing the sample is disposed, the reading result of the first barcode reader 36 is transmitted to the sample device 37, and the sample is dispensed from the sample container 31 that needs to be analyzed by the sample device 37. The injected sample is the first
Is supplied to the analyzer 38 of

[0005] A second analyzer 42 is provided downstream of the first analyzer 38. As a peripheral device of the second analyzer 42, the sample container 3 being transported by the transport device 35
A second barcode reading device 39 for reading the barcode of the barcode label attached to 1 and a lateral branching of the sample container 31 on the transport device 35 in accordance with the reading result of the second barcode reading device. A branch conveyer 40 is disposed, and the sample container 31 on the transport device 35 is branched toward the second analyzer 42, and is dedicated to the second analyzer 42 via the transfer device 41 from the branch conveyor 40. It is configured to supply to a rack. Second analyzer 42
Performs the sample analysis of the sample container 31 held in the dedicated rack, and the sample container 31 on which the analysis has been completed is returned to the transport device 35 via the branch conveyor 40 by the transfer device 41.

[0006] A third analyzer 43 is provided downstream of the second analyzer 42. This third analyzer 4
A second barcode reading device 39 and a branch conveyor 40 are provided in correspondence with 3, and the sample container 31 on the transport device 35 is configured to branch to the third analyzer 43. The third analyzer 43 takes out the sample container 31 on the branch conveyor 40 and analyzes the sample. When the sample analysis is completed, the transfer device 35 is transferred via the branch conveyor 40.
The sample container 31 is returned.

Hereinafter, the fourth and subsequent analyzers are sequentially arranged at downstream positions in the same configuration as the second and third analyzers.

[0008] A storage device 44 is provided at the most downstream side, and is configured to store the sample container 31 for which analysis has been completed in a sample rack 45.

FIG. 7 shows the first bar code reading device 36. The sample container 31 is detachable from the transport holder 4.
6 and is transported on the transport belt 48 of the transport device 35. The first bar code reader 36 moves the cylinder 49 in the direction of the arrow 50 to
Is rotated counterclockwise about a fulcrum 52 by a spring 53, and a pulley 54 attached to the plate 51 is
1 and through the connecting rod 55
The swing arm 56 connected to 1 rotates clockwise about the fulcrum shaft 57 in conjunction with the rotation of the plate 51, and the rollers 58 a and 58 b attached to the distal end thereof are pressed against the sample container 31. It is configured as follows. A pulley 60 is driven by a motor 59 attached to the plate 51.
Is rotated, and the pulley 54 is
Is rotationally driven, whereby the sample container 31 is rotationally driven.

By operating the barcode reader 62 while rotating the sample container 31, information recorded on the barcode label 47 attached to the sample container 31 must be read and dispensed. Is determined, or the read information is registered.

FIG. 8 shows a second bar code reading device 39. The conveyance holder 46 conveyed on the conveyance belt 48 is stopped by the protruding movement of the stopper 63, and the rollers 65a and 65b are protruded and moved by the cylinder 64 in the direction of arrow 66 to engage with the conveyance holder 46.
7 is retracted in the direction of arrow 68 to form a spring 69.
Then, the plate 71 is rotated counterclockwise around the fulcrum 70, and the pulley 72 attached to the plate 71 is rotated as shown by an arrow 73 to engage with the transport holder 46, and the motor 74 is rotated to rotate the pulley 72. 75, timing belt 7
By rotating the pulley 72 through 6, the transport holder 46 is rotated. By rotating the sample container 31 with the rotation of the transport holder 46 and operating the barcode reader 77, the information recorded on the barcode label 47 attached to the sample container 31 is read and branched. It is determined whether it is necessary.

[0012]

However, in such a sample transport system, one barcode reader having the above-described configuration is required for each analyzer, and the configuration of the entire system becomes complicated. In addition, since the operation time of the machine is required every time a barcode of one sample is read, there is a problem that the performance of the entire system is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. In a group of analyzers downstream of a sample transport system, mechanical operations are reduced as much as possible from reading barcode information, and It is intended to perform barcode reading in a short time and to smoothly transport a sample.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a barcode label for identification is attached to a sample container used for analysis / testing of a sample. According to the information on the barcode label, in a sample transport system that transports a sample container to perform a necessary analysis of the sample by an optional analyzer, a sample container lifting / lowering rotation that grips, lifts, and rotates the sample container Means, disposed near the sample container, label reading means for reading the information of the identification barcode label, and rotating the sample container elevating and rotating means by an arbitrary amount based on the information from the label reading means, Control means for aligning the direction of the barcode label of the sample container.

In the sample transport system according to the present invention, a bar code label for identification is attached to a sample container used for sample analysis and inspection, and the sample is transferred in accordance with the information of the bar code label. In a sample transport system that transports a sample container to perform a necessary analysis in any analyzer, a sticking device that sticks the barcode label,
Between the first analyzer for performing the necessary analysis, a sample container lifting / lowering rotating means for gripping and lifting / lowering the sample container and rotating the sample container, and information on a barcode label for identification arranged near the sample container. A label reading unit that reads the sample container, and a control unit that rotates the sample container elevating and rotating unit by an arbitrary amount based on the information from the label reading unit and aligns the direction of the barcode label of the sample container. It is characterized by having a label aligning device for making the attached barcode label a fixed direction.

In the sample transport system according to the first aspect of the present invention, after the bar code label is attached to the sample container, the sample container is rotated by the sample container elevating and rotating unit, and the bar code label is read by the label reading unit. The position is read, and the control unit rotates the sample container elevating / lowering unit by an arbitrary amount based on the information from the label reading unit to align the barcode labels of the sample container. Thereby, the direction of the barcode label attached to the sample container is aligned toward the barcode reader (barcode reader) arranged at the downstream position of the sample transport system, and the information of the barcode label is located at the downstream position of the sample transport system. The reading operation can be smoothly carried out without mechanical operation such as rotation of the sample container.

In the sample transport system according to a second aspect of the present invention, after the barcode label is attached to the sample container, the label aligning device arranges the direction of the barcode label at a downstream position of the sample transport system. The barcode reader (barcode reader) side, and smoothly read the barcode label information at the downstream position of the sample transport system without mechanical operation such as rotation of the sample container. Enable.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and operation of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a sample transport system according to the present embodiment. Sample containers 1 used for sample analysis / testing are arranged in a sample rack 2 in the order of registration. The sample containers 1 arranged in the sample rack 2
The sample container 1 is supplied to the entire area of the sample transport system by the supply device 4.
Is transferred to the transfer device 5 for transferring the. A bar code label that records sample information and information indicating an analysis item is issued in the middle of the sample rack 2 and the transport device 5, and the bar code label issuance / sticking device 3 that sticks the bar code label to the sample container 1. Are arranged. The barcode label issuing / sticking device 3, the supply device 4, and the transport device 5 constitute an upstream portion of the sample transport system.

At a downstream position of the supply device 4, a label aligning device 6 provided with a sample container elevating / lowering rotating means, a label reading means and a control means is arranged along the transport line of the transport device 5.

A first analyzer 9 is provided downstream of the label aligner 6. Corresponding to the first analyzer 9, a barcode reader 7 for reading a barcode label attached to the sample container 1 being conveyed by the conveyance device 5, and a sample device for dispensing a sample from the sample container 1 8 are arranged. The reading result of the barcode reader 7 is transmitted to the sample device 8, the sample is dispensed from the sample container 1 requiring analysis in the sample device 8, and the dispensed sample is supplied to the first analyzer 9. .

At a position downstream of the first analyzer 9, a second analyzer 12 is provided. This second analyzer 1
2, a barcode reader 7 similar to the above, and a branch conveyor 10 that branches the sample container 1 on the transport device 5 to the side in accordance with the read result of the barcode reader 7;
The sample container 1 on the branch conveyor 10 is transferred to the second analyzer 12
A transfer device 11 for transporting the sheet to the printer is arranged. The sample container 1 whose analysis has been completed by the second analyzer 12 is the transfer device 1
1. Returned to the transport device 5 by the branch conveyor 10.

At the downstream position of the second analyzer 12, the third analyzer
The barcode reader 7 and the branch conveyor 10 are arranged in the same manner as described above, and the sample container 1 is appropriately taken in according to the reading result of the barcode reader 7, and the third analyzer 13 is provided. , The sample can be analyzed.

At the most downstream position, a storage device 14 for storing the sample containers 1 for which analysis items have been completed is arranged, and the sample containers 1 are arranged on a sample rack 15.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the label aligning device 6. The sample container 1 to which the barcode label 17 on which the sample information is recorded by the barcode label issuing / applying device 3 is affixed is placed on a detachable sample holder 16, transported by the transport device 5, and can advance and retreat. The sample holder 16 is fixed at a predetermined position by the protruding movement of the stopper 18.
Above the sample container 1 on the sample holder 16 fixed by the stopper 18, a sample container hand 19 as a sample container raising / lowering rotating means capable of gripping, ascending, and rotating the sample container 1 is arranged. .

In the vicinity of the sample container 1, a sample container presence / absence detecting sensor 20 as sample container presence / absence determining means for determining whether or not the sample container 1 is present on the sample holder 16 fixed by the stopper 18, Hand 19 is sample container 1
A barcode reader 21 is disposed as label reading means for reading the barcode label 17 attached to the sample container 1 when the user grips the sample container 1 and moves upward. In addition,
The sample holder 16 may be configured to transport the sample containers 1 one by one as shown in FIG.
May be configured to carry as a unit.

Next, based on the information read by the bar code reader 21, the sample container hand 19 is rotated by a motor (not shown) as required, and the direction of the bar code label 17 is controlled to be aligned in a certain direction. It is controlled by a control device (not shown) as a means. Thereafter, the sample container hand 19 is lowered to place the sample container 1 on the sample holder 16, the fixing of the sample holder 16 by the stopper 18 is released, and the transfer on the transfer device 5 is performed.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The sample containers 1 arranged on the sample rack 2 are transferred one by one to the transporting device 5 by the supply device 4, and the sample information and the analysis item are displayed by the barcode label issuing / sticking device 3 on the way. Barcode label 17 on which the sample container 1 is recorded
Pasted in.

The sample container 1 to which the barcode label 17 has been affixed is labeled with the barcode label 1 by the label aligning device 6.
7 can be aligned in a fixed direction. Here, since the barcode label 17 stuck on the sample container 1 always faces in a fixed direction, the first, second, and third analyzers 9, 12, and 13 arranged downstream of the sample transport system thereafter. And a barcode reader 7 for each of the sample device 8, the branch conveyor 10, and the transfer device 11 as peripheral devices thereof.
Are arranged in the same direction with respect to the transport device 5, and each of the analyzers 9,
The bar code label 17 can be used without changing the position of the sample container 1 on the sample
Is read and analyzed as appropriate.

The operation of the label aligning device 6 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the sample container 1 is loaded on the sample holder 16 and is introduced into the label aligning device 6 (step S001), the sample holder 16 is fixed at a predetermined position by the stopper 18 (step S00).
2).

Next, the presence / absence of the sample container 1 is determined by the sample container presence / absence detection sensor 20 (step S003). If there is no sample container 1, an abnormality is notified (step S00).
4). When there is the sample container 1, the sample container hand 19 is lowered (Step S005), and the sample container 1 is gripped (Step S006). Thereafter, the sample container hand 19 is raised (step S007), and the sample container hand 19 is rotated to perform the label alignment process (step S00).
8).

After the label alignment process, the sample container hand 19 is lowered (step S009), and the sample container hand 19 is opened to return the sample container 1 onto the sample holder 16 (step S010), and then rise again (step S01).
1). After determining whether or not the level alignment processing has been performed normally (step S012), the sample holder is discharged (step S012).
013) or label alignment processing error notification (step S
014) is performed, and the label alignment operation of the sample container 1 ends.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a label alignment process performed by a control device (not shown) as control means. The sample container 1 held and raised by the sample container hand 19 is located in a barcode reading range of the barcode reader 21.

The label alignment processing is roughly divided into a non-readable area search of the barcode label 17 in the circumferential direction of the sample container 1 (steps S101 to S106) and an edge search in the rotation direction of the readable area of the barcode label 17 (step S101). (S107 to S112). Here, in order to perform the non-readable area search, the barcode used in the present invention is not included in the barcode formed on the entire circumference of the sample container 1. The target bar code is, for example, a bar code label on which a bar code label 17 is attached within a range of about 180 ° around the sample container 1 and a bar code is formed on the bar code label 17. The edge indicates a position where the barcode stripe pattern starts in the rotation direction.

The search for the barcode non-readable area is started by operating the barcode reader 21 (step S101). Control device and barcode reader 2
After the elapse of the reading time (step S102) in anticipation of the time lag of communication with No. 1, it is determined whether the barcode has been read by the barcode reader 21 (step S103).

When the barcode has been read, the barcode reading operation is stopped (step S104), and it is determined whether or not the sample container 1 has rotated once (step S104).
105). This is because the sample container 1 has not made one rotation, and the sample container 1 is pre-programmed in the next step S106 (for example, the width of the readable area of the barcode label 17 in the rotation direction of the sample container 1). (A) in the circumferential direction and return to step S101 again. The step of avoiding the non-readable area search processing by loop A from falling into an infinite loop due to a printing error of the barcode label 17 or a failure of the barcode reader 21. If the sample container 1 has made one rotation and exited from the loop A, the process proceeds to step S113 described below, and the alignment processing abnormality is stored.

If the barcode is not read in step S103 after the reading time in step S102 has elapsed, that is, if a non-readable area of the barcode label 17 in the circumferential direction of the sample container 1 is found, the label alignment processing is performed. In this case, the process proceeds to the search for the edge of the next bar code readable area.

First, the sample container hand 19 is started to rotate at about 60 rpm in the circumferential direction of the sample container 1 (step S).
107). Since the barcode 21 is being read in step S101, when the barcode is read (that is, when the edge search of the barcode readable area is performed), the sample container 1 is not read and the barcode 21 is not read. Is greater than one rotation, step S1
By 09, loop B is exited. After exiting from the loop B, the rotation of the sample container 1 is stopped by stopping the rotation of the sample container hand 19, and the circumferential position of the sample container 1 (that is, the direction of the barcode label 17) is fixed (step S110). ).

Next, the reading operation of the barcode reader 21 is stopped (step S111), and the barcode information (that is, the edge of the barcode readable area is searched for to determine why the sample container 1 has exited the loop B). It is determined whether or not the information has been read (step S112). If the barcode information cannot be read, an abnormality in the alignment processing is stored in the control device (step S11).
3) End all the steps of the label alignment processing.

According to the present embodiment, when the sample container 1 is transported by the transport device 5, the barcode label 17 attached to the sample container 1 is moved to the downstream device group from the label alignment device 6 in the sample transport system. They can be aligned according to the direction of the barcode reader 7.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a label alignment process according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Since the arrangement and configuration of the mechanical devices of the sample transport system of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment,
The description is omitted.

The label alignment processing and its operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof is omitted.

The label alignment processing is similar to that of the first embodiment. Search for bar code non-readable area (step S1)
01 to S106). After performing an edge search of the barcode readable area (steps S107 to S112),
. The sample container 1 is rotated by a fixed angle by rotating the sample container hand 19 by a fixed amount (step S114).

Sample container 1 in step S114
In the constant angle rotation, a rotational movement amount according to the direction in which the barcode label 17 is desired to be directed is set in advance in the control device as the control means. By rotating the barcode label 17 from the edge of the barcode readable area by that amount, the sample is rotated. The direction of the barcode label 17 on the container 1 can be freely changed, and correction can be performed in accordance with the direction of the barcode reader 7 in the downstream device group from the label alignment device 6 in the sample transport system.

According to the label aligning device 6 of the present embodiment, the bar code label 17 affixed to the sample container 1 is adjusted in accordance with the direction of the bar code reader 7 in the downstream device group from the label aligning device 6 in the sample transport system. Since the sample containers 1 can be transported in a state where are aligned, the restriction on the position of the barcode reader 7 in the downstream device group of the sample transport system can be reduced. In addition, by arranging additional label aligning devices everywhere in the sample transport system as needed, the degree of freedom in arranging the barcode reader 7 can be further increased.

The technical idea having the following configuration is derived from the specific embodiment. (Appendix) (1) Attaching a barcode label for identification to a sample container used for sample analysis / testing, etc., and performing necessary analysis of the sample with an optional analyzer according to the information of the barcode label. In a sample transport system that transports a sample container, a sample container lifting / lowering rotating unit that grips and raises and lowers the sample container, and is disposed near the sample container,
Sample container presence / absence determining means for determining the presence / absence of a sample container; label reading means arranged near the sample container for reading information of an identification barcode label; and a sample container based on information from the label reading means. A sample transport system, comprising: a label aligning device including control means for rotating an elevating / rotating means by an arbitrary amount to align a barcode label of a sample container.

(2) The sample transport system according to (1), wherein the label aligning device is provided with a stopper for fixing the sample container being transported to a position where the sample container lifting / lowering rotating means grips the sample container.

According to the sample transport system of Appendix (1),
After the barcode label is attached to the sample container, the direction of the barcode label is aligned toward the reading side of the barcode reading device of the downstream device of the sample transport system by the sample container lifting / lowering rotating means, the label reading means, and the control device. The label information reading operation on the downstream side of the sample transport system can be performed without requiring a mechanical operation such as rotation of the sample container. For this reason, in the group of analyzers downstream of the sample transport system,
The process of reading barcode information is purely the time of reading by a barcode reader as a barcode reading device, and smooth sample transport can be performed.

According to the sample transport system of Appendix (2),
In addition to the effect of the supplementary note (1), the sample container can be accurately stopped at the holding position of the sample container elevating and rotating unit.

[0050]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the sample transport system, after the barcode label is attached to the sample container, the direction of the barcode label is read by the sample transport system downstream device by the sample container lifting / lowering rotating means, the label reading means, and the control device. The label information can be aligned toward the reading side of the apparatus, and the label information reading operation on the downstream side of the sample transport system can be performed without requiring a mechanical operation such as rotation of the sample container. For this reason, in the group of analyzers downstream of the sample transport system, the process of reading the barcode information is purely the reading time of the barcode reader as a barcode reader, and the sample can be transported smoothly. .

According to the sample transport system of the second aspect of the present invention, after the barcode label is attached to the sample container, the direction of the barcode label can be aligned by the label aligning device. Similar effects can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a sample transport system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a label aligning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the label aligning apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating label alignment processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a label alignment process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional sample transport system.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a first barcode reading device in a conventional sample transport system.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a second barcode reading device in a conventional sample transport system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 sample container 2 sample rack 3 barcode label issuing / sticking device 4 supply device 5 transport device 6 label alignment device 7 barcode reader 8 sample device 9 first analyzer 10 branch conveyor 11 transfer device 12 second analyzer 13 Third analyzer 14 Storage device 15 Sample rack 16 Sample holder 17 Barcode label 19 Sample container hand 20 Sample container presence / absence detection sensor 21 Barcode reader

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An identification barcode label is attached to a sample container used for sample analysis / testing, and necessary analysis of the sample is performed by an optional analyzer according to the information of the barcode label. In a sample transport system for transporting a sample container, a sample container elevating / rotating means for gripping, lifting and lowering and rotating the sample container, and a label reading means arranged near the sample container and reading information on an identification barcode label And a control means for rotating the sample container elevating / lowering rotating means by an arbitrary amount based on the information from the label reading means, and for aligning the direction of the barcode label of the sample container. . 2. A method for attaching a barcode label for identification to a sample container used for sample analysis / testing, etc., and performing necessary analysis of the sample with an optional analyzer according to the information of the barcode label. In a sample transport system that transports a sample container, a sample container that holds the sample container, moves up and down, and rotates between an attaching device that applies the barcode label and a first analyzer that performs the necessary analysis. Elevating / rotating means, a label reading means arranged near the sample container for reading the information of the identification barcode label, and rotating the sample container elevating / rotating means by an arbitrary amount based on the information from the label reading means And a control means for aligning the direction of the barcode label of the sample container, and a label alignment for making the barcode label attached to the sample container a fixed direction. A sample transport system comprising a device.