JPH01158356A - Sampler for analyser - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance analytical efficiency by making it possible to use holders without wastefulness, by respectively providing feed means for synchronously feeding a holder row at the most upstream and downstream operating positions in the feed direction of the holder row receiving specimen containers. CONSTITUTION:A position C for reading the bar code of each specimen container and a position D for reading the bar code of each holder are provided to the passage of a holder row 1 on the upstream side from a specimen sucking position A and a specimen is sucked at the position A by a sample distribution mechanism 3. Next, the specimen container is set to each holder and a manual knob 48 is revolved under pressure to manually revolve a toothed belt 22 and a sprocket 21 in synchronous relationship and subsequently released to connect a pulley 36 to a motor 45. The bar codes are read at the positions D, C while the belt 22 and the sprocket 21 are synchronously revolved by the driving of the motor 45 and the specimen container is transferred through the position A to perform analysis. Therefore, the holder is used without wastefulness and analytical efficiency can be enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a sampler used in a liquid sample analysis device.

[Conventional technology]

As a sampler for conventional analytical equipment, for example,
As described in Japanese Patent No. 57546, there is a system in which a chain with a sample container set thereon is transported through a predetermined sample suction position by a drive section.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional sampler, the drive unit that drives the chain in which the sample container is set is installed downstream of the sample suction position in the chain transport direction. The chain from to the drive unit is used only for driving, and sample containers cannot be set in this part. Therefore, there is a problem that chains are wasted and analysis efficiency is reduced. Such problems become more serious when the sample container is sequentially transported not only to the sample suction position, but also to multiple operation positions, such as a reading position for the barcode etc. affixed to the sample container and the chain holding the sample container. It becomes important.

The present invention was made in view of these conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sampler for an analyzer that is appropriately configured so that a holder for holding a sample container can be used without waste and analysis efficiency can be improved. With the goal.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, the holder row for accommodating sample containers is arranged at multiple operation positions such as a sample suction position, a sample container and/or holder reading position, etc. In the sampler for an analyzer, the operating devices at the most upstream and downstream sides of the holder row in the transport direction are each provided with transport means for synchronously transporting the holder row.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

This automatic analyzer includes a sampler 2 that transports a holder row 1 holding sample containers containing samples along a predetermined path.
A sample in a sample container set in the sampler 2 is aspirated by a sample dispensing mechanism 3, and the sample is dispensed into a reaction container 5 of a circular reaction line 4 for analysis.

The sample dispensing mechanism 3 includes an arm 6 that can rotate and move up and down.
, a dispensing device 8 consisting of a dispensing nozzle 7 held at its rotating tip and a syringe connected to the dispensing nozzle 7 via a tube (not shown), and a predetermined sample suction position A of the sampler 2. The sample is aspirated at , and is discharged into the reaction container 5 at a predetermined sample discharge position B of the reaction line 4 , and along the rotation locus of the dispensing nozzle 7 , the sample is discharged from the sample suction position A to the sample discharge position A. An electrolyte measurement tank 9 and a cleaning tank 10 are provided between the sample discharge position B, and a sample is also discharged into the electrolyte measurement tank 9 to measure the electrolyte. 7 to cleaning tank 1
It is designed to be cleaned at 0.

Further, in the reaction line 4, necessary known operations are performed while the reaction vessels 5 are being conveyed along the reaction line 4, whereby the measurement items of the samples in each reaction vessel 5 are analyzed. There is. Note that the reaction container 5 is automatically discarded after being used once or a predetermined number of times, and a new reaction container is automatically set and supplied from the cuvette loader 11 to the discarded position. It has become.

Next, the configuration of the sampler 2 will be explained.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of an example of a holder for holding a sample container in the sampler 2. As shown in FIG. This holder 12 consists of a container receiving part 13 for storing and holding a sample container, and a holder receiving part 14 for storing and holding the bottom of the container receiving part of another holder. A window 15 is formed in the upper part of the container holder part 13 so that an ID affixed to the sample container and a bar code indicating analysis conditions such as measurement items are exposed. A barcode section 16 is provided that forms a barcode for identifying whether the sample in the sample container is a general sample, an emergency sample, a quality control sample, or a calibration sample.

In this embodiment, a plurality of holders 12 are arranged, as shown in FIG.
The holder holder of each holder 12 is connected in a line by being inserted into the part 14, and the container holder of each holder 12 is connected to the sample container 1 in the part 13.
7 is stored and held.

In FIG. 1, a sample container barcode reading position C and a holder barcode reading position are provided upstream of the sample suction position A in a predetermined passage of the holder row 1,
First, the barcode on the holder is read by an appropriate means at the barcode reading position, then the barcode affixed to the sample container is read by the barcode reader 18 at the barcode reading position C, and then the sample is dispensed at the sample suction position A. The sample is aspirated by the injection mechanism 3.

In this embodiment, the holder row 1 is transported synchronously at the sample suction position A and the barcode reading positions C and D. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
A toothed belt 22 is provided so as to engage with the holder 12 located at and D, so that the sprocket 21 and the toothed belt 22' are rotated synchronously. Further, above the sprocket 21, a stat table 23 is provided coaxially with the sprocket 21.
3 to the sprocket 21 independently of the drive of the holder row 1.
A motor 25 rotates the shaft 24 through a shaft 24 extending therethrough. This stat table 23 includes six control sample containers 26 for storing quality control samples having known analysis values for managing the analysis accuracy of the analyzer, and eight sample cups 27 for emergency samples. are set on the same circumference so that the sample dispensing mechanism 3 selectively dispenses into the reaction vessel 5 of the reaction line 4 on the sample suction position A, and the sampler located below the stat table 23 Notch 28 for inserting the dispensing nozzle 7 into the sample container 17 located at the sample suction position A of No. 2
will be established.

The sprocket 21 is rotatably provided with respect to the base 32 and the shaft 24 via a bearing 31 provided between the shaft 24 of the stat table 23 and a bearing 33 provided between the base 32 and a lower end portion thereof. Attach the pulley 34 to. Further, the toothed belt 22 is provided so as to pass between the pulleys 35 and 36. Pulley 3
5 is rotatably provided on the base 32 via a bearing 37,
The pulley 36 is attached via a bearing 38 to the upper end of a hollow shaft 39 rotatably provided on the base 32. At the lower end of the hollow shaft 39, a pulley 40 is attached and a flange 41 is integrally provided, and a belt 42 is provided so as to hang between the pulley 40 and a boo 1J34 provided at the lower end of the sprocket 21. Further, a gear 44 is rotatably attached to the end portion below the flange 41 via a bearing 43, and this gear 44 is meshed with a gear 46 attached to the output shaft of a motor 45.

A shaft 47 is provided in the hollow portion of the hollow shaft 39 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and a manual knob 48 is provided at the upper end of the shaft 47 protruding from the hollow shaft 39, and a manual knob 48 is provided at the lower end of the shaft 47 on the lower end surface of the hollow shaft 39. Flanges 49 are provided so that they can abut each other. Further, a compression coil spring 50 is provided between the manual knob 48 and the pulley 36 at the upper end of the shaft 47, and a compression coil spring 50 is provided by winding around the shaft 47, and a gear 44 is passed through the flange 49 provided at the lower end of the shaft 47, and the hollow shaft A connecting pin 51 is installed so as to engage with the flange 41 of 39. In this way, the connecting pin 51 is connected to the gear 44 as shown in FIG.
The motor 4 is engaged with the flange 41 through the
5 drives the sprocket 21 and the toothed belt 2.
2 are rotated synchronously and automatically, and the manual knob 48 and shaft 47 are pushed down against the force of the compression coil spring 50 to release the connection pin 51 from the flange 41 and gear 44, By rotating the manual knob 48 while in contact with the pulley 36, the sprocket 21 and the toothed belt 22 are manually rotated in synchronization.

In Figure 1, the sampler 2 is designed so that samples of different sizes can be selectively attached as shown by the imaginary lines, and each sampler attachment part is equipped with a lamp for operating the stat table. stat switch 55, stat table management sample access indicator lamp 5
6. A stat table manual switch 57 and a display 58 are provided.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below.

First, a sample container 17 containing a sample is set in each holder 12 connected in the - row, and the leading end of the holder row 1 is engaged with the toothed belt 22 while pushing and turning the manual knob 48 to move the connecting pin 51 to the flange 41. Then, the toothed belt 22 and the sprocket 21 are manually rotated synchronously while being removed from the gear 44. When the head of the holder row 1 is located at the first operation position, that is, the barcode reading position of the holder 12, the manual knob 48 is removed and the connection pin 51 is returned by the action of the compression coil spring 50, and the pulley 36 is moved to the motor 45. be combined with In this state, the barcode of the first holder 12 at the barcode reading position is read, the sample in the sample container 17 held in the holder 12 is identified, and the motor 45 is driven to move the toothed belt 22. and the sprocket 21 is automatically rotated in synchronization. As a result, the first holder 12
The sequential holders 12 containing barcode reading position D,
The sample container 17 is transferred through the barcode reading position C and the sample suction position A for analysis. In addition, in this embodiment, the holder row 1 can be transferred at a predetermined transfer speed in normal analysis operations, as well as at rapid forwarding for reexamination.

Next, the operation when using the stat table 23 will be explained.

First, to set the control sample container 26 on the stat table 23, press the stat table manual switch 57 once to rotate the stand table 23 approximately half a turn to expose the set position from the cover 61.
In this state, the control sample container 26 is set. Next, operate the stat table manual switch 57 again to move the stat table 23 to its original position, that is, to its notch 28.
is returned to the sample suction position A. Then, by operating the stat switch 55, the motor 25
The stat table 23 is driven to rotate in one direction, and the control sample in the control sample container 26 positioned at the sample suction position A is dispensed into the reaction container of the reaction line 4 by the sample dispensing mechanism 3 for analysis. The analysis status of this managed sample is indicated by the stat table managed sample access indicator lamp 56.
Display in .

Furthermore, in order to analyze an emergency specimen, first, the identification number of the sample cup 27 containing the emergency specimen and its set position are input via the display 58, and an analysis item for the specimen is selected. Next, by operating the stat switch 55, the stat table 23 is rotated once to determine in advance the presence or absence of the sample cup 27 containing the emergency specimen, and then the sample cups 27 are sequentially positioned at the sample suction position A and analyzed in the same manner. do.

According to this embodiment, the holder row 1 is synchronously transported by the sprocket 21 and the toothed belt 22 at the downstreammost sample suction position A in the transport direction of the holder row 1 and at the most upstream holder barcode reading position. As a result, the holder 12 can be used without waste, and analysis efficiency can be improved.

In the embodiment described above, the barcodes of the holders 12 are read from the upstream side of the holder row 1 in the conveying direction.

Although the position D, the barcode reading position C of the sample container 17, and the sample suction position A are provided in sequence, these operating positions can be set arbitrarily, and the number of these operating positions can also be arbitrarily set at two or more. can. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the downstream conveying means is configured with a sprocket, and the upstream conveying means is configured with a toothed belt, but these can be reversed, and both can be configured with sprockets or toothed belts. You can also do that. Furthermore, both conveyance means can be configured to be driven synchronously by independent drive sources, and conveyance to the first operating position can be done not manually.
It can also be configured to be performed by driving a motor by operating a switch.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, transport means for synchronously transporting the holder rows are provided at the most upstream and downstream operation positions in the transport direction of the holder rows. can be set. Therefore, the holder can be used without waste, and analysis efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an example of a holder, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a holder row formed by connecting the holders shown in FIG. 2, 5 and 5 are detailed views of parts of FIG. 1, respectively. ■...Holder row 2...Sampler 3...
Sample dispensing mechanism 4... Reaction line 5... Reaction container 6... Arm 7... Dispensing nozzle
8...Dispenser 9...Electrolyte measuring tank 10...
-Cleaning tank 11...Cuvette loader 12...Holder 17...Sample container 21...Sprocket 22...Toothed belt 23...Stat table 24...Shaft 25...Motor 26・
...Management sample container 27...Sample cup 28...
・Notch 32...Base 34.35,3
6.40...Pulley 39...Hollow shaft 41.
...Flange 42...Belt 44.46.
... Gear 45 ... Motor 47 ... Shaft 48 ... Manual knob 49 ... Flange 50 ... Compression coil spring 51 ... Connecting pin patent applicant Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. 2 Sanf O
Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sampler for an analyzer in which a row of holders containing sample containers is sequentially transported through a plurality of operation positions such as a sample suction position, a sample container and/or holder reading position, A sampler for an analyzer, characterized in that the most upstream and downstream operating devices in the transport direction of the holder row are each provided with transport means for synchronously transporting the holder row.