CN107029647B

CN107029647B - Stirring device and analysis device

Info

Publication number: CN107029647B
Application number: CN201611015934.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 山中学; 小松真也; 原荣治; 津野昭弘; 开健儿; 杉山惠介; 高岛育美; 林宏尚; 吉田永康
Original assignee: Furuno Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Furuno Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-13
Filing date: 2016-11-11
Publication date: 2021-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-11
Also published as: JP6773408B2; CN107029647A; JP2017087175A

Abstract

The invention provides a stirring device and an analysis device. For example, a stirring device of a new structure which can stir a liquid contained in a container and has fewer problems is obtained. The stirring device of the embodiment includes, for example: a plurality of rotating parts which respectively rotate a plurality of stirring parts which are respectively inserted into different containers and stir the liquid contained in the containers; a motor; and a rotation transmission unit that transmits rotation of the motor to the plurality of rotating units and rotates the plurality of rotating units in the same direction.

Description

Stirring device and analysis device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a stirring device and an analysis device.

Background

Conventionally, an analysis device having a stirring means is known (for example, patent document 1). The stirring unit stirs, for example, a mixture of the sample and the reagent.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2004-251802

Disclosure of Invention

In such a stirring device and an analyzing device, it is significant if a new structure that can stir a liquid contained in a container and has fewer problems can be obtained.

An agitation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, for example: a plurality of rotating parts which respectively rotate a plurality of stirring parts, wherein the plurality of stirring parts are respectively inserted into different containers and stir the liquid contained in the containers; a motor; and a rotation transmission unit that transmits rotation of the motor to the plurality of rotating units and rotates the plurality of rotating units in the same direction.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic and exemplary top view of an analysis device including an agitation device of an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an exemplary flowchart of an analysis procedure performed by an analysis apparatus including the stirring apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic and exemplary perspective view of an embodiment of a stirring device.

Fig. 4 is a schematic and exemplary perspective view of a rotation transmitting portion included in the stirring device of the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a schematic and exemplary side view of a rotation transmitting portion included in the stirring device of the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a schematic and exemplary view showing the arrangement of the stirring device and the plurality of containers according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a schematic and exemplary view showing the arrangement of the stirring device and the plurality of containers according to the embodiment, and is a view at a time point after fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a schematic and exemplary view showing the arrangement of the stirring device and the plurality of containers according to the embodiment, and is a view at a time point after fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a schematic and exemplary view showing the arrangement of the stirring device and the plurality of containers according to the embodiment, and is a view at a time point after fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a schematic and exemplary view showing the arrangement of the stirring device and the plurality of containers according to the embodiment, and is a view at a time point after fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a schematic and exemplary perspective view of a rotation transmitting portion included in a stirring device according to a modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a schematic and exemplary perspective view of a rotation transmitting portion included in a stirring device according to another modification of the embodiment.

Description of the labeling:

17 … stirring device; 36. 36A-36D … containers;

openings

101d and 102c …; 102a … wall portion (partition wall); 200 … stirring part; a 200a … stirring section (second stirring section); 200B … stirring section (first stirring section); 300. 300A, 300B … rotation transmitting parts; 301 … motor; 303. 305A, 305B … gears (helical gears); 306 … shaft (rotating part); 306a … axis (second rotating portion); 306B … axis (first rotating portion); 307 … bearing (restraining member); 307a … flange portion (suppression portion).

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained below. The configurations and controls of the embodiments disclosed below, and the operations and results (effects) of the configurations and controls are merely examples. The present invention can be realized by a configuration or control other than those disclosed in the following embodiments, and various effects can be obtained by the basic configuration or control.

< integral construction >

As shown in fig. 1, a biochemical analyzer 1 includes a sample processing apparatus 2 and an information processing apparatus 3. The sample processing apparatus 2 obtains a reaction solution by reacting a sample such as serum, plasma, or urine with a reagent, and measures the absorbance of the reaction solution. The information processing device 3 obtains the amount of a component of the sample such as cholesterol based on the absorbance measured by the sample processing device 2. That is, the biochemical analyzer 1 analyzes a sample by a colorimetric analysis method. Such a biochemical analyzer 1 is used for, for example, testing various test items such as a cholesterol value of a specimen. The biochemical analyzer 1 is an example of an analyzer.

The information processing device 3 includes a control unit, a storage unit, a display unit, an operation unit (all not shown), and the like. The control Unit includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The information processing apparatus 3 is communicably connected to the sample processing apparatus 2. The information processing apparatus 3 may be constituted by a personal computer, for example.

The sample processing apparatus 2 includes: a housing 10; a specimen library 11; a reagent reservoir 12; a reaction tank 13; a sample dispenser 14;

reagent dispensing units

15 and 16; a stirring section 17; a measurement section 19; a cleaning section 20; and a control unit 21.

The specimen storage 11 includes a substantially circular rotating body 31 in a plan view. The rotary body 31 is supported by the casing 10 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center axis O1 extending in the vertical direction of the casing 10. The rotary body 31 is rotated about the rotation center axis O1 by a drive mechanism not shown. The rotating body 31 can hold a plurality of specimen containers 32. The plurality of sample containers 32 are arranged around the rotation center axis O1, are attached to the rotating body 31, and rotate integrally with the rotating body 31. Fig. 1 shows a part of the plurality of specimen containers 32. The specimen library 11 may have a plurality of rotation support portions that are rotatable independently of each other about the rotation center axis O1.

The specimen container 32 accommodates a specimen. The specimen container 32 is attached with a two-dimensional code, not shown, indicating identification information of the specimen container 32, and the two-dimensional code is read by a two-dimensional code reader, not shown, provided at a position facing the specimen container 32 in the specimen storage 11.

The reagent storage 12 has a substantially circular rotating body 33 in plan view. The rotary body 33 is supported by the casing 10 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center axis O2 extending in the vertical direction of the casing 10. The rotating body 33 is rotated about the rotation center axis O2 by a drive mechanism not shown. The rotating body 33 can hold a plurality of reagent containers 34. The plurality of reagent containers 34 are arranged on the rotary body 33 around the rotation center axis O2, and rotate integrally with the rotary body 33. In addition, a portion of the plurality of reagent containers 34 is shown in fig. 1.

The reagent container 34 contains a reagent. The reagent container 34 is attached with a two-dimensional code, not shown, indicating identification information of the reagent container 34, and the two-dimensional code is read by a two-dimensional code reader, not shown, provided at a position facing the reagent container 34 in the reagent storage 12.

The reaction tank 13 has a substantially circular rotating body 35 in a plan view. The rotary body 35 is supported by the casing 10 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center axis O3 extending in the vertical direction of the casing 10. The rotating body 35 is rotated about the rotation center axis O3 by a drive mechanism not shown. The rotating body 35 is provided with a plurality of translucent reaction vessels (also referred to as vessels) 36. The plurality of reaction containers 36 are aligned around the rotation center axis O3 and rotate integrally with the rotating body 35. In addition, a portion of the plurality of reaction vessels 36 is shown in fig. 1. The reaction vessel 36 may be constituted by a cuvette, for example. A sample and a reagent are dispensed into the reaction container 36. The sample and the reagent react in the reaction container 36 to form a reaction solution. The reaction tank 13 is maintained at a temperature suitable for the reaction between the sample and the reagent.

The sample dispenser 14 includes a pipette 37 and a drive mechanism 38. The pipette 37 is rotated by the drive mechanism 38 around a rotation center axis Ax4 extending in the vertical direction of the casing 10 between the position above the sample storage 11 and the position above the reaction well 13. Further, the pipette 37 is moved in the vertical direction of the casing 10 by the driving mechanism 38. Further, a suction/discharge mechanism for performing suction and discharge operations of the specimen is connected to the pipette 37. The sample dispenser 14 sucks the sample in the sample container 32 by the pipette 37 inserted into the sample container 32, then inserts the pipette 37 into the reaction container 36, and discharges (dispenses) the sample from the pipette 37 into the reaction container 36.

The reagent dispensers 15 and 16 include

pipettes

39 and 40 and drive

mechanisms

41 and 42, respectively. The

pipettes

39 and 40 are rotated by the driving

mechanisms

41 and 42, respectively, around the rotation center axes Ax5 and Ax6 in the vertical direction of the casing 10 between the position above the reagent reservoir 12 and the position above the reaction well 13. The

pipettes

39 and 40 are moved by the driving

mechanisms

41 and 42 in the vertical direction of the casing 10. The

pipettes

39 and 40 are connected to a suction/discharge mechanism that performs a suction operation and a discharge operation of the reagent. The

reagent dispensing units

15 and 16 respectively suck the reagent in the reagent container 34 by the

pipettes

39 and 40 inserted into the reagent container 34, then insert the

pipettes

39 and 40 into the reaction container 36, and discharge (dispense) the reagent from the

pipettes

39 and 40 into the reaction container 36.

The measuring unit 19 includes a light source unit 45 and a light receiving unit (not shown). The light source unit 45 is positioned outside the reaction vessel 13 and irradiates the reaction vessel 36 with light such as halogen light. The light receiving unit receives the light transmitted through the reaction container 36, and measures the intensity of the received light. The measuring unit 19 obtains the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction container 36 based on the intensity of the light measured by the light receiving unit. The light source unit 45 is configured to be capable of switching the wavelength of the emitted light. Thus, the measurement unit 19 can measure the absorbance of a plurality of kinds of light having different wavelengths.

The stirring device 17 has a stirring section, not shown, which can be inserted into the reaction vessel 36. The stirring device 17 rotates a stirring unit inserted into the reaction container 36, thereby stirring the sample and the reagent dispensed into the reaction container 36.

The cleaning unit 20 removes (discards) the reaction solution in the reaction container 36 and cleans the reaction container 36.

The control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The control unit 21 performs various calculations and controls each unit of the sample processing apparatus 2.

The sample processing apparatus 2 configured as described above performs measurement processing. In the measurement process, the sample storage 11, the reagent storage 12, and the reaction tank 13 are moved to positions for receiving the processes of the sample dispenser 14, the

reagent dispensers

15 and 16, the stirring device 17, the measurement unit 19, and the cleaning unit 20.

< processing step >

As shown in fig. 2, in the measurement process, the sample dispenser 14 dispenses a predetermined sample in the sample library 11 into a predetermined reaction vessel 36 in the reaction vessel 13 (step S1). Next, the reagent dispensing unit 15 dispenses the first reagent in the reagent storage 12 corresponding to the test item into the predetermined reaction vessel 36 (step S2). Next, the stirring device 17 stirs the inside of the predetermined reaction vessel 36 (step S3). Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the stirring, the measuring unit 19 measures the absorbance of the first reaction solution obtained by the reaction between the sample and the first reagent in the predetermined reaction container 36 (step S4). The measured absorbance is transmitted to the information processing device 3.

Next, the reagent dispensing unit 16 dispenses the second reagent in the reagent storage 12 corresponding to the test item into the predetermined reaction vessel 36 (step S5). Next, the stirring device 17 stirs the inside of the predetermined reaction vessel 36 (step S6). Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the stirring, the measuring unit 19 measures the absorbance of the second reaction solution obtained by the reaction between the first reaction solution (the sample and the first reagent) and the second reagent in the predetermined reaction container 36 (step S7). The measured absorbance is transmitted to the information processing device 3. Next, the cleaning unit 20 removes the second reaction solution from the predetermined reaction container 36, and cleans the interior of the reaction container 36 (step S8). After obtaining two absorbances by such measurement processing, the information processing apparatus 3 obtains the amount of the component of the sample (for example, a cholesterol value) based on the two absorbances. The processing in steps S1 to S8 is repeated for each sample and each examination item. The

pipettes

37, 39, and 40 are cleaned by a cleaning unit, not shown, at predetermined timings.

< stirring device >

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stirring device 17. The stirring device 17 includes a plurality of stirring

sections

200A and 200B. The plurality of stirring

units

200A and 200B are inserted into different containers 36, respectively, and stir the liquid contained in each container 36. In the present embodiment, the stirring device 17 has two

stirring sections

200A and 200B, but the number of stirring sections is not limited to two.

The stirring section 200 is formed in a rod-like or plate-like shape that is long in the vertical direction. The stirring section 200 rotates about a rotation center Ax1 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the vertical direction. The stirring section 200 may have a blade not shown.

The stirring device 17 is moved between a plurality of positions by a movement mechanism not shown. The moving mechanism moves the stirring device 17 among, for example, three positions, a processing position, a standby position, and a cleaning position, all of which are not shown. The processing position is a position in which the stirring section 200 is in the container 36. The standby position is a position in which the stirring unit 200 is outside the container 36, and is a position before or after the stirring unit 200 is inserted into the container 36. The vessel 36, not shown, is opened upward, and the moving mechanism moves the stirring section 200 downward and inserts it into the vessel 36. Therefore, the standby position is located above the processing position. In the cleaning position, the plurality of stirring portions 200 are cleaned with a cleaning liquid, for example, pure water.

The stirring device 17 includes a motor 301 as a rotation source. The rotation of the motor 301 is transmitted to the plurality of stirring units 200 via a rotation transmission unit, not shown in fig. 3, housed in the casing 100.

The casing 100 supports the motor 301, the rotation transmission unit, the stirring unit 200, and other parts of the stirring device 17. Further, the cartridge 100 covers the rotation transmitting portion. Accordingly, the cartridge 100 may also be referred to as a support portion or a cover.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rotation transmitting portion 300. The rotation transmission unit 300 includes four

gears

302, 303, 305A, 305B.

The gear 302 rotates integrally with a shaft (not shown in fig. 4) of the motor 301 around the rotation center Ax2 of the motor 301. Gear 302 may also be referred to as a drive gear.

The gear 305A rotates around the rotation center Ax1A integrally with the shaft 306A that rotates the stirring section 200A. The gear 305B rotates around the rotation center Ax1B integrally with the shaft 306B that rotates the stirring section 200B.

Gears

305A, 305B may also be referred to as driven gears. The

shafts

306A, 306B may be fixed to the stirring

sections

200A, 200B, or may be detachable from the stirring

sections

200A, 200B. In the case of the detachable structure, the user can replace the stirring

units

200A and 200B as needed. The

shafts

306A and 306B are examples of rotating portions.

Gear 303 rotates about a center of rotation Ax 3. Gear 303 meshes with

gears

302, 305A, 305B. Gear 303 is located between the drive gear and the driven gear. Thus, gear 303 may also be referred to as an idler gear or an intermediate gear. Both gears 305A, 305B are meshed with gear 303, and therefore rotate in the same direction. The four rotational centers Ax1A, Ax1B, Ax2, Ax3 are parallel.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the stirring device 17. As shown in fig. 3 and 5, the cartridge 100 includes a first part 101 having

wall portions

101a, 101b, 101c and a second part 102 having

wall portions

102a, 102 b. The first member 101 and the second member 102 are joined by a joining tool 103 such as a bolt.

The wall portion 101a extends in the horizontal direction, orthogonal to the rotation centers Ax1A, Ax1B, Ax2, Ax 3. Wall portion 101a may also be referred to as a bottom wall or lower wall. The wall portion 101b extends in the vertical direction in parallel with the rotation centers Ax1A, Ax1B, Ax2, Ax 3. The wall portion 101b may also be referred to as a side wall or a peripheral wall. Wall 101c is located above wall 101a, is orthogonal to rotation centers Ax1A, Ax1B, Ax2, and Ax3, and extends in the horizontal direction. The wall portion 101c may also be referred to as a ceiling wall.

The wall portion 102a extends in the horizontal direction, orthogonal to the rotation centers Ax1A, Ax1B, Ax2, Ax 3. Wall portion 102a may also be referred to as a bottom wall or lower wall. Further, the wall portion 102a separates the rotation transmitting portion 300 and the stirring portion 200 (container 36). Therefore, the wall portion 102a is an example of a partition wall. The wall portion 102b extends in the vertical direction in parallel with the rotation centers Ax1A, Ax1B, Ax2, Ax 3. The wall portion 102b may also be referred to as a side wall or a peripheral wall.

The rotation transmission unit 300 is supported by the

openings

101d and 102c provided in the casing 100. In the present embodiment, both the

openings

101d and 102c are formed as through holes. Specifically, a shaft 303a supporting the motor 301 and the gear 303, and

shafts

306A and 306B supporting the

gears

305A and 305B are inserted into the opening 101d provided in the wall portion 101 c. Shaft 303a and

shafts

306A and 306B are inserted into opening 102c provided in wall 102B. The

shafts

303a, 306A, and 306B are supported by the edges of the

openings

101d and 102c via bearings 307. The bearing 307 is, for example, a ball bearing. A flange portion 307a protruding radially outward is provided at an end portion inside the case 100 among end portions in the axial direction of the bearing 307. The flange portion 307a covers the edges of the

openings

101d and 102c provided in the

wall portions

101c and 102a in the axial direction from the inside of the case 100. That is, the flange portion 307a prevents foreign matter such as abrasion powder or dust from passing from the inside of the case 100 to the outside of the case 100 through between the edge portions of the

openings

101d and 102c and the bearing 307, that is, between the

openings

101d and 102c and the shaft 306. That is, the bearing 307 is an example of a suppression member, and the flange 307a is an example of a suppression portion.

The gap between the edge of the

opening

101d or 102c and the bearing 307 may be filled with a sealant, an adhesive, or the like. Further, an O-ring or the like may be provided. In this case, a sealant, an adhesive, or the like, an O-ring, or the like is an example of the suppressing member.

Further, gears 303 and 305 may be helical gears, and flange portion 307a may be pressed against the peripheral portions of

openings

101d and 102c in

wall portions

101c and 102a by the axial force generated by the engagement of these gears. Specifically, for example, by fixing the

gears

303 and 305 as helical gears to the

shafts

303a and 306, the

shafts

303a and 306 generate an axial force. The

shafts

303a and 306 are provided with steps for pressing the bearing 307 in the axial direction, and the axial force generated by the engagement of the

gears

303 and 305 is input to the bearing 307 via the steps, and the flange portion 307a is pressed against the

wall portions

101c and 102 a. This narrows the gap between the flange 307a and the

wall portions

101c and 102a, or increases the surface pressure of the facing portions, thereby preventing foreign matter from passing through the gap. The specifications of the shape, number, arrangement, and the like of the plurality of members constituting the cartridge 100 are not limited to the examples of fig. 3 to 5.

Fig. 6 to 10 are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the stirring device 17 and the rotation support portion 35 with the passage of time. The rotation support portion 35 of the reaction tank 13 holds a plurality of containers 36 arranged at a constant interval (angular interval) along the circumferential direction, which is the conveying direction. The rotation support portion 35 of the reaction tank 13 intermittently and stepwise conveys the plurality of containers 36 at predetermined time intervals. Specifically, for example, the rotation support unit 35 alternately repeats step Sm for moving the container 36 by a predetermined distance for a predetermined movement time Δ tm and step Ss for stopping the container 36 for a predetermined stop time Δ ts. Here, the moving distance of the containers 36 in step Sm is equal to the arrangement interval of the containers 36 in the rotation support portion 35. The interval between the stirring positions P1 and P2 of the stirring

sections

200A and 200B of the stirring device 17 is equal to or an integral multiple of the arrangement interval of the containers 36. In such a configuration, the rotation support unit 35 alternately repeats the step Sm and the step Ss, so that the rotation support unit 35 can sequentially carry the plurality of containers 36 to the stirring positions Pa and Pb, and can position each container 36 at the stirring position Pa after the stirring position Pb. That is, in the present embodiment, the liquids in all the containers 36 are stirred by the stirring section 200a plurality of times, for example, twice in the present embodiment. In step Ss, the stirring section 200 that stirs the liquid in the container 36 is moved from the treatment position to the cleaning position by the moving mechanism together with the stirring device 17 each time. In this cleaning position, the stirring section 200 is cleaned. The rotation support portion 35 is an example of a conveyance mechanism. The conveying direction may be linear instead of circular.

Fig. 6 shows a state in which the container 36 is at a position before reaching the stirring positions Pa and Pb and the stirring device 17 is at the standby position Po. The rotation support unit 35 moves the container 36 by 1 step, i.e., a predetermined movement distance from the state of fig. 6 to the left conveyance step Sm of fig. 6. This brings the state of fig. 7. In fig. 7, the container 36A for the first agitation is located at the agitation position Pb. In the state of fig. 6 and 7, the stirring device 17 is located at the standby position Po.

Next, as shown in fig. 8, the stirring device 17 is moved from the standby position Po to the processing position Pi by a movement mechanism not shown, and the liquid contained in the container 36A located at the stirring position Pb is stirred by the stirring section 200B. Next, as shown in fig. 9, the stirring device 17 is moved from the processing position Pi to the standby position Po by the moving mechanism, and after at least the stirring section 200B is separated from the container 36A, the rotation support section 35 moves the container 36 to the left side of fig. 8 by 1 step of the step Sm, that is, by a predetermined movement distance from the state of fig. 8. In the state of fig. 9, the container 36A in which the liquid has been stirred in the previous step Ss, that is, the container 36A for the second stirring is located at the stirring position Pa, and the container 36B for the first stirring is located at the stirring position Pb. The moving direction of the stirring device 17 in fig. 6 to 10 is only illustrative, and the moving direction of the stirring device 17 is not limited to the radial direction, and may be, for example, the vertical direction.

Next, as shown in fig. 10, the stirring device 17 is moved from the standby position Po to the processing position Pi by a movement mechanism not shown, the liquid contained in the container 36A located at the stirring position Pa is stirred by the stirring unit 200A, and the liquid contained in the container 36B located at the stirring position Pb is stirred by the stirring unit 200B.

As shown in fig. 6 to 10, the liquid contained in the container 36 is stirred by the plurality of stirring

portions

200A and 200B. Such a configuration and setting are effective when there is a restriction on the time interval (Δ tm + Δ ts) for moving the container 36. Specifically, considering, for example, the throughput (throughput) of the process, the time interval may be preferably set according to the tact time of another process, for example, a process of taking out the liquid or a process of injecting the liquid. However, the liquid may not be sufficiently stirred, that is, the stirring time may be insufficient, by 1 stirring at a time interval set according to the beat time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the plurality of stirring units 200 are placed in the respective containers 36 at different timings, and the liquid is stirred a plurality of times, thereby increasing the time for stirring the liquid contained in the container 36.

When the stirring is performed a plurality of times in this manner, for example, after the stirring section 200B in fig. 8 is separated from the container 36A, the liquid in the container 36 after the stirring may be rotated by inertia as shown by the broken-line arrow in fig. 9. The rotation direction is the same as the rotation direction of the stirring section 200B that performed the previous stirring. In such a state, if the stirring section 200A that performs the next stirring process rotates in the opposite direction to the stirring section 200B that performs the previous stirring, the liquid will wave, causing problems such as a decrease in the stirring effect or a splash of liquid from the container 36. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the plurality of stirring units 200 are all configured to rotate in the same rotational direction.

As shown by the broken-line arrows in fig. 9, after the stirring section 200B has left the container 36A, the liquid in the container 36A that has been stirred once also rotates due to inertia, and the liquid in the container 36B that has not been stirred once does not rotate. Therefore, the rotation speed of stirring section 200A that stirs the liquid in container 36A after once stirring can be set higher than the rotation speed of stirring section 200B that stirs the liquid in container 36B without once stirring. Thus, since the difference between the rotation speed of the liquid and the rotation speed of the stirring section 200A can be reduced, for example, the liquid can be further suppressed from waving within the container 36, or the stirring of the liquid within the container 36 can be promoted by suppressing a higher rotation speed within a range in which splashing is suppressed. The setting of the rotation speed can be relatively easily set by, for example, the number of teeth of the

gears

305A and 305B in the rotation transmission unit 300, that is, the gear ratio with the gear 303. The stirring section 200A is an example of a second stirring section, and the stirring section 200B is an example of a first stirring section. The shaft 306A corresponding to the stirring section 200A exemplifies a second rotating section, and the shaft 306B corresponding to the stirring section 200B exemplifies a first rotating section. The first and second rotating portions and the stirring

portions

200A and 200B may rotate integrally without a speed change mechanism or the like, and are not limited to the

shafts

306A and 306B.

As described above, the stirring device 17 of the embodiment rotates the plurality of stirring units 200 in the same direction. This can suppress the liquid from waving when the stirring section 200 stirs the liquid for the second time or later, for example.

The stirring device 17 of the embodiment includes a wall portion 102a (partition wall) that partitions the container 36 and the rotation transmitting portion 300. This can prevent foreign matter such as abrasion powder and dust from the rotation transmitting portion 300 from entering the container 36.

In the stirring device 17 of the embodiment, the flange portion 307a provided on the bearing 307 between the edge portion of the opening portion 102c and the shaft 306 (rotating portion or stirring portion) functions as a suppressing member for suppressing entry of foreign matter into the container 36. Thus, for example, foreign matter such as abrasion powder or dust from the rotation transmitting portion 300 can be prevented from entering the container 36 by a relatively simple structure.

In the stirring device 17 of the embodiment, the

gears

303, 305A, 305B included in the rotation transmission portion 300 are helical gears, whereby the flange portion 307a (suppressing member) can be pressed against the wall portion 102a (partition wall). This can suppress entry of foreign matter into the container 36 through, for example, the gap between the flange portion 307a and the wall portion 102a and the opening 102c with a relatively simple structure.

< modification of rotation transmitting part >

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a rotation transmitting unit 300A according to a modification. As is apparent from fig. 11, the rotation transmission unit 300A uses a belt wheel mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor 301 to the gear 303. The belt wheel mechanism includes a driving pulley 308a, a driven pulley 308b, and a belt 308 c. The driving pulley 308a rotates integrally with the shaft of the motor 301. The driven pulley 308b rotates integrally with the gear 303. The belt 308c is stretched between the driving pulley 308a and the driven pulley 308b, and transmits rotation from the driving pulley 308a to the driven pulley 308 b. With such a structure, the same operation and effect (result) as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a rotation transmitting unit 300B according to another modification. As is apparent from fig. 12, the rotation transmission unit 300B uses a belt wheel mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor 301 to the gear 303. The belt wheel mechanism includes driving

pulleys

309a and 310a, driven

pulleys

309b and 310b, and

belts

309c and 310 c. The driving

pulleys

309a, 310a rotate integrally with the shaft of the motor 301. The driven pulley 309b rotates integrally with the shaft 306A and the stirring section 200A. The driven pulley 310B rotates integrally with the shaft 306B and the stirring section 200B. The belt 309c is stretched between the driving pulley 309a and the driven pulley 309b, and transmits rotation from the driving pulley 309a to the driven pulley 309 b. The belt 310c is bridged between the driving pulley 310a and the driven pulley 310b, and transmits rotation from the driving pulley 310a to the driven pulley 310 b. With such a structure, the same operation and effect (result) as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the above embodiments are only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above-described embodiments are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof. The configurations and shapes of the embodiments and the modifications may be partially replaced and implemented. Further, specifications such as each configuration or shape (structure, type, direction, angle, arrangement, position, number, shape, size, length, width, thickness, height, and the like) may be implemented by appropriately changing them. For example, the present invention can be applied to an analyzer other than a biochemical analyzer or an analyzer other than an analyzer. The rotation transmitting portion and the stirring portion of the present invention can be implemented in various specifications (number, size, shape, and the like).

Claims

1. A stirring device is provided with:

a plurality of rotating parts which respectively rotate a plurality of stirring parts which are respectively inserted into different containers and stir the liquid contained in the containers;

a motor; and

a rotation transmission unit that transmits rotation of the motor to the plurality of rotating units and rotates the plurality of rotating units in the same direction,

the rotation transmitting portion is located above the container,

the stirring device includes a partition wall provided with a plurality of openings through which the plurality of rotating portions or the plurality of stirring portions respectively pass, and separating the container from the rotation transmitting portion,

the stirring device is provided with a restraining member that restrains the passage of foreign matter from the rotation transmission portion to the container side through a gap between an edge portion of the opening portion and the rotating portion or the stirring portion,

the rotation transmission unit includes a plurality of helical gears, the helical gears having respective rotation centers parallel to each other, and the restraining member is pressed against the partition wall by an axial force,

the suppressing member is provided with a flange portion that covers an edge portion of the opening portion in an axial direction from inside of a case that covers the rotation transmitting portion,

the flange portion is pressed against the partition wall by an axial force generated by engagement of the plurality of helical gears.

2. The stirring device as set forth in claim 1,

the plurality of stirring parts include a first stirring part and a second stirring part for stirring the liquid stirred by the first stirring part,

the plurality of rotating portions include a first rotating portion that rotates the first stirring portion and a second rotating portion that rotates the second stirring portion.

3. The stirring device as set forth in claim 2,

the rotation transmission unit rotates the second rotating unit at a higher rotation speed than the first rotating unit.

4. An analysis device comprising the stirring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.