JP2003329693A - Cartridge rack structure for dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the setting work of cartridge vessels 5 arisen before dispensing, during dispensing, or after dispensing, and to make easily performable the efficiency improvement of the moving work of the cartridge rack 6, or treatment management such as storage, without automating the setting work or a conveying means. <P>SOLUTION: A rack installing part 41 for installing the cartridge rack 6 is provided on a dispensing table 4. A setting part of the cartridge vessels 5 arrayed in a plurality of partitions is provided on the cartridge rack 6. The cartridge rack 6 is configured detachably from the rack installing part 41 so as to enable a detaching/attaching operation of a cartridge vessel 5 in a detached state from the rack installing part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge rack structure of a dispensing device for setting a container such as a reagent cartridge formed in a lower surface area of a dispensing nozzle of a dispensing table.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, for analysis work such as immunity, several samples are dispensed at the same time using an automatic dispensing device,
This is performed by analyzing this with a biochemical analyzer.
The setting operation of the cartridge container in this dispensing-analysis step requires the setting work of the undispensed container in the dispensing device and the collection work of the container after dispensing and transfer to the analysis device.

By the way, in the conventional dispensing device, a cartridge rack having a plurality of accommodating holes is provided on the table in the lower surface area of the dispensing nozzle, and the dispensing nozzle tip and the cartridge are provided in the accommodating holes. It is designed to set the container by hand, but with such manual work,
Since the efficiency of the setting work before and after dispensing is complicated and the handling of containers etc. becomes complicated, the setting work in the dispensing-analysis process and the automation of the transportation means are performed for inspection centers, etc. that perform a large number of sample tests. A systemized device is provided. However, if an automated system is used, the device itself becomes expensive, and in universities, hospitals, etc. that require small-quantity multi-specimen tests, it may cause excessive quality, which may worsen usability. Could not meet the demands such as disposing the dispensing device and the analyzer separately, and temporarily storing the sample after dispensing in a cool box.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was devised to eliminate the above-mentioned problems, and the cartridge rack itself is provided as a dispensing device even though it is a cartridge rack provided on a dispensing table. Can be managed separately as a separate piece, and its quantity can be handled arbitrarily. For undispensed containers before dispensing, set work can be done on a dedicated separate table to improve workability. In addition, it is possible to set a preset dispensing standby state and store it, and setting to the dispensing device can be done by a simple operation of mounting the cartridge rack in the standby state on the table and setting. Can be made extremely easy. Furthermore, the containers after dispensing can be transported and stored in the removed cartridge rack unit and immediately transported to the analyzer. It is possible to handle flexible handling such as temporary storage in a cool box, thus setting the cartridge container caused by pre-dispensing, dispensation, and dispensation without automating the setting work or the transportation means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge rack structure of a dispensing device that can improve the efficiency of work and transfer work and can also facilitate handling and management such as storage.

[0005]

The technical means adopted by the present invention in order to solve the above-mentioned problems is a cartridge rack of a pipetting apparatus in which a cartridge container is set, which is provided in a lower surface region of a pipetting nozzle of a pipetting table. While the dispensing table is provided with a rack mounting part for mounting a cartridge rack, the cartridge rack is provided with a set part of cartridge containers arranged in a plurality of partitions, and the cartridge rack is The present invention is characterized in that it is configured so as to be attachable to and detachable from the rack mounting portion so that the cartridge container can be inserted and removed while being removed from the rack mounting portion.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A cartridge rack structure exemplifying an embodiment of the present invention as a preferred embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of the dispensing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge rack, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the cartridge rack. As shown in these drawings, the dispensing device 1 includes a dispensing head 3 that holds a dispensing nozzle 2 for attaching a nozzle tip 21, and a dispensing table 4. Due to the operation mechanism (not shown) of the dispensing device 1, the dispensing head 3 causes the tip of the dispensing nozzle 2 to move to a predetermined nozzle tip 21 set on the dispensing table 4 or a position where the cartridge container 5 is placed. On the other hand, the nozzle tip 21 is accurately positioned, the nozzle tip 21 is inserted and held, and the nozzle tip 21 can be moved forward, backward, leftward, and rightward in order to inject a predetermined amount of the liquid medicine into the cartridge container 5 in a distributed manner.

The dispensing table 4 includes the dispensing nozzle 2
While it is configured to be accurately positioned with respect to a position which is a starting portion of the nozzle and can be moved in the front-rear direction to a position where setting work of the nozzle tip 21 and the cartridge container 5 is easy, the dispensing table 4 has a nozzle setting hole 42. Are formed in a predetermined number (6 places), and a rectangular opening is formed as a rack mounting portion 41 into which the cartridge rack 6 is fitted.

The cartridge rack 6 is formed into a taper surface in which the front and rear surfaces of the lower surface area are slightly inclined, and is configured so as to be attachable to and detachable from the rack mounting portion 41, that is, to be fittable. The set portions 61, 61, ...
6 columns are provided for convenience, and the cartridge container 6 can be inserted and removed with the cartridge rack 6 removed from the rack mounting portion 41. Incidentally, the exemplified cartridge container 5
Are 10 sub-containers 51, 5 in which reagents have been loaded in advance.
1, ... are resin-integral molded products arranged in a row in the lower surface region of the base surface portion 52, and a known one in which a light-shielding film is attached to the surface of the base surface portion 52 to seal the reagent. Is. When a single container is used, the set plate 7 having a plurality of set holes 71 in which each can be set is used.

That is, in the cartridge rack 6, the frame members 62 are arranged at appropriate intervals so that each set portion 61 is divided into six rows of independent partitions, and assembled by the pipe of the connecting member 62c. It is attached. Each frame member 62 has a double-sided frame 62a.
And a total of five middle frames 62b, which are formed by aluminum extrusion molding, and the center of which is hollowed out for weight reduction. Each frame member 62, 6
A pair of opposed guide grooves 6 are inserted between the two at the upper end thereof so that both side edges of the base surface portion 52 of the cartridge container 5 are inserted from both front and rear sides, and are slidably guided laterally (front-rear direction).
3, 63 are formed in each set portion 61, and further,
A piece of the upper guide groove 63 is cut out with a half length width. As a result, the cartridge container 5 as described above can be placed from above and slid as it is for the setting operation as shown by the arrow in FIG.

Reference numeral 64 is a gripping portion, and the gripping portion 64 is
The cartridge rack 6 is integrally formed with the frame member 62 arranged in the center, and thus, the entire cartridge rack 6 has a function like a basket, and by grasping the grasping portion 64 with a finger, the cartridge rack 6 can be moved to a predetermined place. Can be easily carried and detached from the rack mounting portion 41. Although the grip portion 64 is provided at one place in the center, it goes without saying that a plurality of grip portions may be provided.

Reference numeral 65 denotes a stopper as a means for preventing the cartridge container 5 from falling off when the cartridge rack 6 is carried and moved.
Is a wire-shaped rod pin member, and is entirely bent downward in a hat shape in cross section so that both ends thereof are rotatable with respect to pin holes (not shown) provided in the both side frames 62a, 62a. While being elastically pivoted, it is inserted between the sub-containers 51, 51 in a state of being rotated upward, and is elastically engaged with a concave groove (not shown) formed in the pin hole portion to be positioned. The movement of the cartridge container 5 is regulated.

In the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the cartridge container 5 is set on the cartridge rack 6 of the dispensing table 4 which has been moved to the front side of the lower surface region of the dispensing nozzle 2. However, the cartridge rack 6 of the present invention is configured to be attachable / detachable to / from the rack mounting portion 41 provided on the dispensing table, and the cartridge rack 6 can be removed from the rack mounting portion 41. It is configured so that the cartridge container 5 can be inserted and removed in the closed state. Therefore, although the cartridge rack is provided on the dispensing table 4 of the dispensing apparatus 1, the cartridge rack 6 itself is referred to as the dispensing apparatus 1 as compared with the cartridge rack provided integrally on the conventional dispensing table. Can be managed separately as a separate and separate unit, and the quantity can be handled arbitrarily. For undispensed containers 5 before dispensing, set work is done in a dedicated separate table (separate place). As a result, workability can be improved, and a preset dispensing standby state and storage thereof can be performed. For setting in the dispensing device 1, the cartridge rack 6 in the standby state near the dispensing table 4 is placed in the dispensing table 4
This can be performed by a simple operation of simply mounting on the rack mounting portion 41, and the setting can be made extremely easy. Transport and storage of the container 5 after dispensing can be done in units of 6 removed cartridge racks, and it can be handled flexibly, such as immediately transported to the analyzer or temporarily stored in a cool box. Without having to automate the work and transportation means, it is possible to improve the efficiency of cartridge container setting work and moving work caused before, during, and after dispensing, and the handling management such as storage is easy. Can be

Moreover, the setting portion 6 of the cartridge container 5
1 has an array configuration corresponding to the so-called front-back movement of the so-called dispensing head 3 in which the cartridge rack 6 is arranged in 6 rows, so that different samples can be set for each row easily. As a result, it is possible to handle and process a plurality of heterogeneous samples as a single basket unit, such as a set of multiple types of cartridge containers 5 in which a reagent for one sample is packaged, as well as a set of single containers using the set plate 7 or the like. It is possible to employ, for example, a dispensing device in which the dispensing head 3 is provided with six dispensing nozzles 2 corresponding to each row, and the dispensing operation is performed simultaneously while moving the dispensing nozzles 2 forward and backward, Moreover, there is an advantage that the setting can be easily performed.

Further, the rack mounting portion 41 is an opening formed by cutting out the upper surface of the dispensing table 4, and the cartridge rack 6 can be inserted into the opening from above so that both side frames 62a are formed. Is mounted on the edge of the opening and can be easily fitted therein. Moreover, since the cartridge rack 6 is formed with the gripping portion 64, it can be attached and detached very easily and the gripping portion can be easily mounted. 6
4 is placed in the center of the cartridge rack 6 so that it can be carried in a well-balanced manner, and avoids or minimizes the risk of accidentally spilling the sample when carelessly tilted when transporting after dispensing. Can be held down.
Further, since the grip portion 64 projects upward and is provided in the central portion, when the number of the dispensing nozzle 2 is one, an operation across the dispensing nozzle 2 is required. When a plurality (two or more) are arranged, the gripping portion 64 is just arranged between the dispensing nozzles 2 and 2, and the dispensing nozzles 2 operate in the left and right regions with the gripping portion 64 sandwiched therebetween. Since it is configured, it does not have an additional influence on the operation control of the dispensing nozzle 2.

On the other hand, the setting portion 61 is provided with a retaining means for preventing the dispensing nozzle 2 (nozzle tip 21) from moving in and out of the cartridge container 5 upward. That is, the cartridge container 5 includes the base portion 5
A light-shielding film is previously attached to the surface of No. 2, and the nozzle tip 21 pushes the nozzle tip 21 and is inserted and moves upward as the nozzle tip 21 moves up and down. At that time, the tip of the nozzle tip 21 and the light-shielding film may be engaged with each other, and the cartridge container 5 may be lifted and may come off from the setting portion 61.
In the prior art, therefore, a separate pressing member or the like has been provided as an upward removal prevention means, but in the present invention, the pair of guide grooves 63, 63 also function as upward removal prevention functions. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate restricting means, and the number of parts can be reduced and the device can be simplified.

Further, the cartridge rack 6 is provided with a drop-out preventing means 65 for preventing the cartridge container 5 set during carrying and moving from being accidentally dropped. The dispensing nozzle 2 can be accurately arranged at the ascending / descending operation position without causing a slip. The cartridge rack 6 is exemplified as a square 6-array 6-section, but the present invention is not limited to this. The shape and the arrangement are arbitrary.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the dispensing table 4 is provided with the rack mounting portion 41 for mounting the cartridge rack 6, while the cartridge rack 6 is provided with the setting portion for the cartridge containers 5 arranged in a plurality of partitions. Since the cartridge rack 6 is provided and detachably attached to the rack mounting section 41 so that the cartridge container 5 can be inserted / removed in a state where the cartridge rack 6 is removed from the rack mounting section, the cartridge rack 6 is provided on the dispensing table 4. Although it is a cartridge rack 6 that can be used, the cartridge rack itself can be separated from the dispensing device 1 and the quantity can be managed as desired. Can improve the workability by performing the set work on a dedicated table.
Pre-set dispensing standby state and its storage become possible,
Further, the setting in the dispensing device 1 can be performed by a simple operation of mounting the cartridge rack 6 in the standby state on the table 4, and the setting can be made extremely easy. The subsequent transportation and storage of the container 6 can be performed in units of the removed cartridge rack 6 and can be flexibly handled such as being immediately transported to the analyzer or temporarily stored in a cool box. It is possible to improve the efficiency of the setting work and the moving work of the cartridge container 5 caused before, during and after the dispensing without automating the transportation means, and the handling management such as storage is easy. Can be

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a dispensing device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge rack.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a cartridge rack.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 dispensing device 2 dispensing nozzle 21 nozzle tip 3 dispensing head 4 dispensing table 41 Rack mounting section 42 nozzle set hole 5 cartridge containers 51 child container 52 Base surface 6 cartridge rack 61 set section 62 frame members 62a both sides frame 62b Middle frame 62c connecting member 63 guide groove 64 grip 65 Fall-out prevention means (stopper) 7 set plates 71 set holes

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge rack of a dispensing apparatus, which is provided in a lower surface area of a dispensing nozzle of a dispensing table and in which a cartridge container is set, wherein the dispensing table has a rack mounting portion for mounting the cartridge rack. On the other hand, the cartridge rack is provided with a set portion of the cartridge container in which a plurality of partitions are arranged, and the rack mounting portion is provided so that the cartridge container can be removed and inserted while the cartridge rack is removed from the rack mounting portion. The cartridge rack structure of the dispensing device, which is configured to be detachable from the. 2. The rack mounting portion according to claim 1, wherein the rack mounting portion is an opening formed in a cutout on the dispensing table surface, and the cartridge rack is fitted in the opening. Cartridge rack structure of dispensing device. 3. The cartridge rack structure of the dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge rack has a gripping portion. 4. The cartridge rack structure of the dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the gripping portion is arranged between the dispensing nozzles in the dispensing device having the plurality of dispensing nozzles. . 5. The cartridge of a dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting portion is provided with a retaining stopper for upwardly disengaging when the dispensing nozzle moves in and out of the cartridge container. Rack structure. 6. The setting portion according to claim 1, wherein the setting portion has a guide groove for laterally guiding the edge portion of the cartridge container, and the guide groove also serves as the retaining lock means. The cartridge rack structure of the dispensing device, which is characterized by being provided. 7. The cartridge rack structure of the dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is configured to set a cartridge container integrally formed with a plurality of sub-containers. 8. The cartridge rack structure of the dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein a set plate having set holes in which individual containers can be set is set in the setting section. 9. The cartridge rack structure of the dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge rack is provided with a means for preventing the cartridge container set in the cartridge rack from falling off during carrying.