CN107923921B

CN107923921B - Automatic analyzer

Info

Publication number: CN107923921B
Application number: CN201680048427.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 森高通; 时枝仁; 野中昂平
Original assignee: Hitachi High Technologies Corp
Current assignee: Hitachi High Tech Corp
Priority date: 2015-08-28
Filing date: 2016-08-23
Publication date: 2020-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-23
Also published as: CN107923921A; JP6674470B2; WO2017038545A1; JPWO2017038545A1

Abstract

In the automatic analyzer, the second door (201) and the first door (202) of the second refrigerator (110) are automatically opened and closed along with the operation of the reagent loading unit (103). When the reagent loading unit (103) leaves the second heat-preservation room (110) and the second door (201) and the first door (202) are opened, the second door (201) and the first door (202) are automatically locked by the door lock hole (203), the door lock mechanism (204), and the door lock roller (206) so that the second door (201) and the first door (202) are not closed. When the reagent loading unit (103) is stored in the second refrigerator (110), the second door (201) and the first door (202) are automatically unlocked and stored in the second refrigerator (110). This can save the installation space of the mechanism, reduce the number of components, and reduce the risk of failure, without providing an actuator for opening and closing the door of the reagent cooling storage.

Description

Automatic analyzer

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for analyzing the concentration of a predetermined component in a liquid sample such as blood or urine using a reagent, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer for automatically carrying in/out a reagent for analysis.

Background

Patent document 1 describes an automatic analyzer which reduces the load on an operator due to operations such as reagent registration and reagent replacement, does not cause a shortage of reagent during analysis, and minimizes interruption of analysis, and which is provided with a replenishment reagent storage provided on a reagent disk in a second reagent storage unit for replenishment in a row of 2 reagent containers, can mount a plurality of reagent containers on the replenishment reagent storage, is provided with a rail on which reagent holding means and reagent lid unlatching means are provided so as to be movable in 3 axial directions relative to the rail.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1 Japanese patent laid-open No. 2005-37171

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

For example, in automatic analyzers such as biochemical automatic analyzers and immunological automatic analyzers, it is necessary to install a reagent corresponding to a measurement item of a patient sample in the analyzer. The reagent bottles are typically manually set to the reagent tray by an operator in the device for placing the reagent bottles in the reagent tray.

The normal operation of replacing the reagent bottle is basically performed when the apparatus is on standby without performing measurement. For example, the following method is adopted: when the remaining amount of reagent is small for a certain measurement item, the number of times the remaining amount of reagent can be measured is grasped in advance before the measurement of the patient sample, and when the remaining amount is small, a new reagent bottle is additionally provided in advance on a reagent disk or the like.

The reason for this is that since the apparatus is operating during the measurement of the specimen, it is not possible to add a reagent bottle or take out an empty reagent bottle. Therefore, when the amount of remaining reagent decreases during measurement, for example, the reagent bottle needs to be replenished, and the apparatus needs to wait until the measurement is completed, which causes a waiting time for the operator, which deteriorates workability, and causes a loss of measurement time.

Here, since it takes time for the operator to set 1 reagent bottle to the apparatus and then carry it to the reagent disk, there are the following requirements: it is desirable to continuously carry a certain number of reagent bottles into a reagent disk.

In order to meet this demand, the automatic analyzer disclosed in patent document 1 is provided with a reagent holding unit capable of placing a reagent by providing a plurality of reagent bottles. Further, since the reagent holding unit is configured to move in the front-rear-left-right direction in the apparatus, the reagent bottles can be set on the reagent tray in an automated continuous operation. The second reagent storage for replenishment has a cold-keeping function.

However, patent document 1 does not describe how to achieve both the cooling function of the second reagent storage for replenishment and the function of the reagent holding unit for carrying out a reagent bottle from the second reagent storage.

In the above-mentioned patent document 1, in the case where a mechanism for allowing the reagent holding unit to enter the second reagent storage is simply provided, in order to achieve both the function of keeping the reagent bottles cool and the mechanism for allowing the reagent holding unit to enter, it is necessary to provide a complicated mechanism such as an opening/closing mechanism for a door in the second reagent storage, and a mechanism for moving the reagent bottles to the takeout position. However, there are the following problems: the actuator for opening and closing the door is provided, the installation space is increased, and the number of components is increased. That is, it is assumed that the device structure is also complicated and the risk of failure or the like is also high.

The invention provides an automatic analysis device, which can save the space of a mechanism, reduce the components and reduce the failure risk without arranging an actuator for opening and closing a door.

Technical scheme for solving technical problem

The invention comprises a plurality of units for solving the problems, and the following examples are listed: an automatic analyzer for measuring a liquid after a reaction between a sample and a reagent by injecting the sample and the reagent into a reaction container, respectively, the automatic analyzer comprising: a reagent tray for storing reagent bottles containing the reagents; a reagent loading unit for installing a plurality of reagent bottles when the reagent bottles are loaded into the automatic analyzer; and a reagent cooling room for cooling the reagent bottle provided in the reagent loading unit together with the reagent loading unit, the reagent cooling room having an opening/closing door which is opened/closed in accordance with an operation of the reagent loading unit to allow the reagent loading unit to move in and out.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the space for installing the mechanism can be saved, the number of components can be reduced, and the risk of failure can be reduced without providing an actuator for opening and closing the door.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a general automatic analyzer.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an automatic loading mechanism provided in an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of an automatic loading mechanism provided in an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the opening/closing door for the operation of the automatic loading mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the structure of a reagent loading unit provided in an automatic loading mechanism of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the door lock mechanism of the automatic loading mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the automatic loading mechanism provided in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the automatic loading mechanism provided in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the automatic loading mechanism provided in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the automatic loading mechanism provided in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the automatic loading mechanism provided in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the automatic loading mechanism provided in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the door lock mechanism of the automatic loading mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the door lock mechanism of the automatic loading mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 14.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment.

In fig. 1, an automatic analyzer is an apparatus for measuring a liquid after a reaction in which a sample and a reagent are injected into a plurality of reaction containers 2, respectively, and the sample and the reagent are reacted with each other, and includes: a reaction disk 1; a reagent disk 9; a reagent transfer mechanism 17; reagent dispensing mechanisms 7, 8; a reagent injector 18; a sample dispensing mechanism 11; a sample injector 19; a cleaning mechanism 3; a light source 4 a; a spectrophotometer 4;

stirring mechanisms

5, 6; a cleaning pump 20;

cleaning tanks

13, 30, 31, 32, 33; a controller 21; and an automatic loading mechanism 100 (see fig. 2).

Reaction vessels 2 are arranged on the circumference of the reaction disk 1. A sample transfer mechanism 17 is provided in the vicinity of the reaction disk 1, and the sample transfer mechanism 17 moves the holder 16 on which the sample container 15 is placed.

A sample dispensing mechanism 11 that can rotate and move up and down is provided between the reaction disk 1 and the sample transfer mechanism 17, and a sample probe 11a is provided. A sample syringe 19 is connected to the sample probe 11 a. The sample probe 111a moves while drawing an arc about the rotation axis, and distributes the sample from the sample container 15 to the reaction container 2.

The reagent disk 9 is a storage capable of placing reagent bottles 10 on a plurality of circumferences, and the reagent bottles 10 store reagents. The reagent disk 9 is cooled, the reagent disk 9 is covered with a cover plate having an opening/closing cover plate 113 (see fig. 2) for carrying the reagent probe suction port 111 (see fig. 2) and the reagent bottle 10 into the reagent disk 9, and the reagent probe suction port 111 is used for receiving the

reagent probes

7a and 8a of the reagent dispensing mechanisms 7 and 8 when dispensing the reagent into the reaction container 2.

The opening/closing lid 113 is a lid for preventing cold air inside the reagent disk 9 from being released, and is normally closed. When a reagent transfer mechanism 101 described later comes close to the reagent disk 9, the opening/closing cover 113 is opened, and the reagent transfer mechanism 101 operates so that the reagent bottle 10 can be carried into/out of the reagent disk 9.

Between the reaction disk 1 and the reagent disk 9, reagent dispensing mechanisms 7 and 8 are provided so as to be rotatable and vertically movable, and

reagent probes

7a and 8a are provided, respectively. A reagent syringe 18 is connected to the

reagent probes

7a and 8 a. The reagent probes 7a and 8a move while drawing an arc about the rotation axis, enter the reagent disk 9 from the reagent probe suction port 111, and dispense a reagent from the reagent bottle 10 into the reaction cuvette 2.

The reaction disk 1 is also provided with a cleaning mechanism 3, a light source 4a, a spectrophotometer 4, and stirring

mechanisms

5 and 6. A cleaning pump 20 is connected to the cleaning mechanism 3.

Washing tanks

13, 30, 31, 32, and 33 are provided in the operating ranges of the reagent dispensing mechanisms 7 and 8, the sample dispensing mechanism 11, and the

stirring mechanisms

5 and 6, respectively. The sample container 15 contains a test sample (specimen) such as blood, and the sample container 15 is placed on a rack 16 and transported by a sample transport mechanism 17. Further, each mechanism is connected to the controller 21.

The controller 21 is composed of a computer or the like, and performs arithmetic processing to determine the concentration of a predetermined component in a liquid sample such as blood or urine while controlling the operation of each mechanism in the automatic analyzer.

The above is a general structure of an automatic analyzer.

The analysis process of the test sample in the automatic analyzer is generally performed in the following steps.

First, the sample in the sample container 15 is dispensed to the reaction container 2 on the reaction disk 1 by the sampling probe 11a of the sample dispensing mechanism 11, and the sample container 15 is placed on the holder 16 which is transferred to the vicinity of the reaction disk 1 by the sample transfer mechanism 17. Next, reagents for analysis are dispensed from the reagent bottles 10 on the reagent disk 9 to the reaction containers 2 to which samples have been previously dispensed by the reagent dispensing mechanisms 7 and 8. Next, the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent in the reaction container 2 is stirred by the stirring mechanism 5.

Thereafter, the light generated from the light source 4a is transmitted through the reaction cuvette 2 containing the mixed solution, and the luminosity of the transmitted light is measured by the spectrophotometer 4. The luminosity measured by the spectrophotometer 4 is sent to the controller 21 via an a/D converter and an interface. Then, the controller 21 calculates the concentration of a predetermined component in a liquid sample such as blood or urine, and the result is displayed on a display unit (not shown) or the like.

Next, the structure of the automatic loading mechanism 100 will be described with reference to the drawings following fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the automatic loading mechanism 100.

The cap 112 is attached to seal the inside of the reagent bottle 10 at the reagent probe suction port, and when the automatic analyzer is installed, the cap 112 is generally removed and installed in the analyzer. However, in recent years, there are the following methods: the lid 112 is provided with a hole at the incision, and the reagent probes 7a and 8a are inserted into the incision to suck the reagent in the reagent bottle 10. Since the opening of the reagent cover 112 is a minute slit, the contact of the reagent with the outside air is minimized, and the deterioration of the reagent is improved as compared with the conventional one. In the above case, when the operator sets a new reagent bottle 10 that has not been opened in the automatic analyzer, a hole is opened in the lid 112 of the reagent bottle 10, and the reagent bottle is automatically set in the reagent tray 9. The automatic loading mechanism 100 automatically carries in and out the reagent bottles 10 to and from the reagent disk 9 regardless of whether or not the cap 112 is removed or not and whether or not the cap 112 is notched.

The automatic loading mechanism 100 is disposed above the reagent disk 9, and has a configuration shown in fig. 2 and the like. In fig. 2, the automatic loading mechanism 100 includes a reagent loading unit 103, a reagent loading mechanism 102, a reagent transfer mechanism (reagent transfer unit) 101, a second cold storage (reagent cold storage) 110, a needle cleaning tank 108, a needle drying port 109, a bottle direction detection sensor 114, and an RFID sensor 115.

The reagent mounting unit 103 is a part for an operator to set the reagent bottle 10 when the reagent bottle 10 is loaded into the automatic analyzer, and the reagent mounting unit 103 operates in the vertical direction in fig. 2 and 3 by the reagent mounting mechanism 102. The reagent mounting unit 103 is configured to be able to linearly arrange a plurality of reagent bottles 10. The reagent loading unit 103 is configured to be able to cool a plurality of reagent bottles 10 provided in the space inside the second cooling equipment 110. For example, the reagent mounting unit 103 is a tray on which a plurality of reagent bottles 10 can be mounted. Details of the reagent mounting unit 103 and the reagent mounting mechanism 102 will be described later.

The second cooling equipment 110 is a cooling equipment for temporarily cooling the reagent bottles 10 set in the reagent loading unit 103 together with the reagent loading unit 103 before being carried into the reagent disk 9. The details of the structure of the second refrigerator 110 will be described later.

The reagent transfer mechanism 101 is a mechanism for transferring the reagent bottles 10 set in the reagent loading unit 103 into the reagent disk 9, and includes: a grasping mechanism (grasping section) 106 that grasps the reagent bottle 10, a reagent bottle uncapping-stopper mechanism 104 that opens a hole in a lid 112 of the reagent bottle 10, a vertical driving motor (not shown) that moves the grasping mechanism 106 and the reagent bottle uncapping-stopper mechanism 104 up and down, and a horizontal driving motor 131 that drives the grasping mechanism 106 and the reagent bottle uncapping-stopper mechanism 104 in the horizontal direction in fig. 2.

The reagent transfer mechanism 101 operates in the left-right direction in fig. 2 from the position of the reagent mounting unit 103 to the position of the open/close cover 113 in fig. 2. Namely, the structure is as follows: the reagent mounting unit 103 moves in the vertical direction in fig. 2, and the reagent transfer mechanism 101 operates in the horizontal direction in fig. 2, so the operation directions are orthogonal to each other. The reagent transfer mechanism 101 is linearly disposed at a position where the reagent bottles 10 are held by the grasping mechanism 106 and at a position where the reagent bottles 10 are carried in and out to the reagent disk 9.

The reagent bottle uncapping mechanism 104 is mounted with a needle 105 for cutting a notch in the lid 112 of the reagent bottle 10. The reagent bottle uncapping plug mechanism 104 is configured to: the needles 105 cut out in the cap 112 are cleaned by the needle cleaning tank 108 disposed in parallel with the operation direction of the reagent transfer mechanism 101, and in the next step, the cleaning water is removed through the needle drying ports 109 disposed in parallel with the operation direction of the reagent transfer mechanism 101, and the reagent is not diluted by the cleaning water when the cap 112 of the reagent bottle 10 is cut out.

The grasping mechanism 106 has an engaging claw for grasping the reagent bottle 10, and the reagent bottle 10 is grasped by engaging the engaging claw with the notch portion of the reagent bottle 10.

Returning to fig. 2, the bottle orientation detection sensor 114 and the RFID sensor 115 are disposed in the operation of the reagent mounting unit 103. The bottle direction detection sensor 114 measures the presence or absence of the reagent bottle 10 and the installation direction of the reagent bottle 10. The RFID sensor 115 acquires information on the reagent stored in the reagent bottle 10 of the RFID tag 10a, which is provided in the reagent bottle 10.

Next, the structure and operation of the reagent loading mechanism 102 including the reagent loading unit 103 and the second cooling equipment 110 will be described in detail. First, the structure of the second cooling equipment 110 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the automatic loading mechanism.

As shown in fig. 3, the plurality of reagent bottles 10 provided in the reagent loading unit 103 are cooled in the second cooling equipment 110. The second cooling equipment 110 is configured to carry in/out the reagent loading unit 103 by opening and closing the second door 201 and the first door 202 that are double-door, and to seal the inside of the second cooling equipment 110 when closed. In addition, the length of the gate of the second gate 201 is different from that of the first gate 202. Further, a hook roller (hook roller)205 is provided inside the second heat storage room 110 of the first door 202.

The link 208 has one end mounted to the second door 201 and the other end mounted to the first door 202. Since the second door 201 is connected by the link 208, the second door 201 and the first door 202 are linked to each other and perform an opening and closing operation in an integrated manner.

Further, a door spring 207 is attached between the link 208 and the fixing portion 110A of the second cooling equipment 110, and the door spring 207 is set so as to always pull the link 208 upward in fig. 3. That is, the second door 201 and the first door 202 are always pulled toward the second refrigerator 110 via the link 208. The door spring 207 functions in such a manner as to extend as the second door 201, the first door 202 is opened and to contract as the second door 201, the first door 202 is closed. The door spring 207 may be directly attached to the second door 201 and the first door 202 without using a link 208.

As shown in fig. 4, a third door 209 may be provided on the second door 201, and the third door 209 may cover the first door 202 when the second door 201 and the first door 202 are closed. By providing such a third door, the degree of sealing in the second cooling equipment 110 can be further improved. In the example of fig. 4, the connection point between the door spring 207 and the link 208 is located closer to the connection point between the second door 201 and the link 208 than the connection point between the first door 202 and the link 208. Therefore, the tension of the door spring 207 is applied to the longer second door 201 side of the door more than the first door 202. Thus, the door spring 207 acts so that the second door 201 is brought into close contact with the first door 202. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of another example of the opening/closing door of the automatic loading mechanism 100. In fig. 4, the link 208 is shown in phantom for ease of illustration.

In the second heat storage equipment 110, when the second door 201 and the first door 202 are closed, it is preferable that the inside is completely sealed in order to stably cool the reagent bottles 10 in the second heat storage equipment 110. This is because the second heat-retaining storage can be maintained in a completely sealed state, and the time required to lower the interior of the second heat-retaining storage to a predetermined temperature can be reduced by suppressing the generation of condensed water due to a temperature difference with the outside air. Therefore, by pulling the link 208 by the door spring 207 so that the second door 201 and the first door 202 are not opened, the sealed state inside the second heat-storage container 110 can be maintained even when the device power is turned off, and the reagent bottle 10 can be cooled more stably.

In the arrangement of the doors in fig. 4, the radius of rotation of the second door 201 is increased, and therefore, even if two doors are opened simultaneously with the first door 202, the third door 209 can be operated without interference, but when the left and right doors are the same size or when the third door 209 is to be provided to the first door 202, the arrangement of 208 may be considered.

Next, details of the reagent mounting unit 103 will be described with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the reagent mounting unit 103.

In fig. 5, the reagent mounting unit 103 includes: a main body 103A having a space for installing the reagent bottle 10, a first roller 300, a second front roller 301A, a second rear roller 301B, and a third roller 302. The structure is as follows: a door hook groove 303 is provided on the bottom surface side of the main body 103A, and the hook roller 205 enters the door hook groove 303.

The first rollers 300 are rollers that come into contact with the reagent loading mechanism conveying surface 182 and the upper surface of the conveying surface 182A while rotating, and 2 rollers are disposed on the right side and 2 rollers are disposed on the left side of the main body 103A, and 4 rollers are disposed in total. The reagent mounting portion 103 can be moved smoothly by the first roller 300.

The second front roller 301A and the second rear roller 301B are to be brought into contact with each other in fig. 5 only on one side in the moving direction of the reagent loading portion 103, and are disposed in a plurality of protruding portions 103B, which are disposed on the longer second door 201 side and partly protrude from the main body 103A in the right direction in fig. 5.

The third rollers 302 are disposed on the front side of the reagent mounting portion 103 in the forward direction, and 2 in total.

Returning to fig. 3, the reagent mounting mechanism 102 includes: a reagent loading mechanism motor 180 for driving the reagent loading portion 103, a reagent loading mechanism conveyor belt 181 connected to the reagent loading mechanism motor 180,

pulleys

181A and 181B, a reagent loading mechanism conveyor surface 182, a linear guide 183, and a holding portion 184 for connecting the reagent loading mechanism conveyor belt 181 and the reagent loading portion 103.

The reagent mounting unit 103 is attached to the linear guide 183. On both sides of the linear guide 183, the reagent mounting mechanism transport surfaces 182 are arranged parallel to the linear guide 183. The linear guide 183 and the reagent mounting mechanism transfer surface 182 function as transfer lines for moving the reagent mounting unit 103 between the installation position where the reagent bottle 10 is installed in the reagent mounting unit 103 and the second cooling equipment 110.

The reagent mounting mechanism transport belt 181 is disposed in parallel with the linear guide 183 and the like, and the reagent mounting mechanism transport belt 181 and the reagent mounting portion 103 are coupled via the holding portion 184. The holding portion 184 has a structure (one metal plate or the like) in which a portion in contact with the door of the second heat storage equipment 110 is sufficiently thin with respect to a seal provided in the door of the second heat storage equipment 110, and the inside of the second heat storage equipment 110 is kept at a low temperature. This is because: since the portion of the holding portion 184 that contacts the lid of the second cooling equipment 110 is sandwiched between the door and the main body of the second cooling equipment 110, the portion is sufficiently thin, and airtightness can be ensured. The structure is as follows: pulleys 181A and 181B and a reagent loading mechanism motor 180 are attached to both ends of the reagent loading mechanism conveyor 181, the reagent loading mechanism conveyor 181 is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the reagent loading mechanism motor 180 via the pulley 181A, and the reagent loading unit 103 connected to the reagent loading mechanism conveyor 181 is operated in the vertical direction in fig. 3 via the holding unit 184 in accordance with the rotational movement of the reagent loading mechanism conveyor 181.

Further, a door lock roller 206 is attached to the holding portion 184 that connects the reagent loading portion 103 and the reagent loading mechanism conveyer belt 181. The door lock roller 206 will be described later.

Gaps

200A and 200B are provided on the left and right sides between the reagent loading mechanism transport surface 182 and the transport surface 182A of the second cooling container 110. The gap 200A near the second door 201 is provided to secure the opening/closing trajectory of the second door 201, and the gap 200B near the first door 202 is provided to secure the opening/closing trajectory of the first door 202.

Further, the reagent loading mechanism transport surface 182 may be extended into the second heat storage room 110 to store the reagent loading unit 103 in the second heat storage room 110. However, in order to ensure sealing in the second cooling equipment 110 when the second door 201 and the first door 202 are closed, a new structure is required for ensuring sealing of the portions where the second door 201 and the first door 202 interfere with the reagent mounting mechanism transport surface 182. In this case, the structure becomes more complicated, and the number of components becomes larger. However, by providing the

gaps

200A and 200B between the reagent loading mechanism transport surface 182 and the second cooling equipment 110, only the sealing degree of the holding portion 184 needs to be ensured, and therefore, the number of components can be further reduced, and the reliability of the cooling capacity can be further improved.

Further, a door lock hole 203 is provided outside the second heat storage room 110 of the second door 201.

Further, an auxiliary transport surface 185 for filling the gap 200A between the reagent loading mechanism transport surface 182 and the transport surface 182A is provided inside the second heat-retaining room 110 of the second door 201. When the second door 201 is opened, the auxiliary transport surface 185 is simultaneously opened in a state of being attached to the inside of the second door 201, and most of the gap 200A between the reagent mounting mechanism transport surface 182 and the transport surface 182A is filled when the second door 201 is opened. This completes the guide rail on the reagent mounting mechanism transport surface 182 side on the right side in fig. 3. Although the gap 200B is increased, when the reagent loading unit 103 is separated from the second cooling equipment 110, the first roller 300 is placed on the auxiliary transport surface 185 of the second door 201 which is opened, and the plurality of first rollers 300 are provided, so that the reagent loading unit 103 can be transported by moving forward and backward without any problem.

Here, since the first roller 300 of the reagent mounting portion 103 moves across the

gaps

200A and 200B, the first roller 300 of the reagent mounting portion 103 is preferably larger than the gap on the right side of the reagent mounting mechanism transport surface 182 in fig. 3.

Further, the reagent mounting portion 103 can smoothly operate even with the

gaps

200A and 200B by aligning the heights of the reagent mounting mechanism conveying surface 182, the auxiliary conveying surface 185, and the upper surface side of the conveying surface 182A.

Further, a door lock hole 203 is installed in the second door 201. Further, a door lock mechanism 204 is disposed independently of the door lock hole 203. The door lock mechanism 204 is fixed to the second heat storage room 110, and when the second door 201 is fully opened, an insertion rod 204A (see fig. 6) of the door lock mechanism 204 is inserted into a door lock hole 203 provided on the outer side of the second door 201, and prevents the second door 201 from being closed by the tension of a door spring 207. The door lock hole 203, the door lock mechanism 204, and the door lock roller 206 constitute a lock mechanism that locks the second door 201 and the first door 202 so that the second door 201 and the first door 202 are not closed when the reagent loading unit 103 is separated to the outside of the second heat-storage room 110.

As shown in fig. 6, a spring 204B is incorporated in the door lock mechanism 204, and the insertion rod 204A is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. At a lower position of the door lock mechanism 204, a slope portion 204C and a flat portion 204D that receive the door lock roller 206 are provided.

The door lock mechanism is not limited to the combination of the door lock hole 203, the door lock mechanism 204, and the door lock roller 206, and the following structures can be mentioned: a structure in which the largest door is supported and opened by a magnet, and a structure in which the door is locked so as not to be closed by a bellows or the like provided in the reagent loading unit 103. The door can be prevented from being locked and closed by the bellows or the like extending by connecting the reagent loading unit 103 and the inside of the second cooling container 110 by the bellows or the like.

The above description is of the second cooling equipment 110 and the reagent loading mechanism 102.

Next, the operation of the reagent loading unit 103 when opening the second door 201 and the first door 202 from the second refrigerator 110 and carrying out the reagent loading unit will be described here, where the downward movement in fig. 2 is the carrying-out direction, and the upward movement is the carrying-in direction.

First, when the reagent loading unit 103 is carried out in the second cooling container 110, the reagent loading mechanism motor 180 rotates and the reagent loading mechanism conveyer 181 rotates, so that the reagent loading unit 103 starts moving in the carrying-out direction.

When the reagent loading unit 103 moves further, as shown in fig. 7, the third rollers 302 attached to the left and right sides of the reagent loading unit 103 come into contact with the inner sides of the second door 201 and the first door 202, and the second front roller 301A on the front side in the traveling direction comes into contact with the first door 202.

When the reagent loading unit 103 is moved forward so as to further expand the second door 201 and the first door 202 from the contact state, the second door 201 comes into contact with the second rear roller 301B on the rear side in the traveling direction as shown in fig. 8, and opens and closes at right angles. Although the first door 202 is not in contact with the roller, the door opening and closing operation is performed in synchronization with the second door 201 by the link 208, and therefore the first door 202 is opened at a right angle

As shown in fig. 9, the second door 201 and the first door 202 are opened and closed at right angles, and the insertion rod 204A of the door lock mechanism 204 is inserted into the door lock hole 203, whereby the second door 201 is locked. Therefore, the second door 201 and the first door 202 do not close even if pulled by the door spring 207.

Next, the operation when the reagent loading unit 103 is stored in the second cooling equipment 110 will be described.

First, the reagent mounting mechanism motor 180 rotates in the reverse direction to the previous one, and the reagent mounting mechanism conveyer 181 rotates in the reverse direction, so that the reagent mounting unit 103 starts moving in the carrying-in direction.

When the reagent loading unit 103 moves further, the insertion rod 204A of the door lock mechanism 204 is taken out of the door lock hole 203, the locked state of the lock mechanism is released, and the second door 201 and the first door 202 are operated to close by the operation of the door spring 207.

In the state shown in fig. 10, the hook roller 205 enters the hook groove 303 of the reagent mounting portion 103. Then, when the reagent mounting part 103 is further moved into the second cooling container 110 in the carrying-in direction in a state where the hook roller 205 enters the door hook groove 303, the first door 202 is pulled by the hook roller 205 entering the door hook groove 303 and is moved in the closing direction while maintaining a state of being in contact with the third roller 302, as shown in the state of fig. 11. Further, the second door 201 is also moved in the closing direction while maintaining a state of contact with the third roller 302 by being pulled by the first door 202 via the link 208. Thereafter, the reagent loading unit 103 is completely carried into the second cooling equipment 110, and the reagent loading unit is brought into a sealed state as shown in fig. 12. By using the door hook groove 303 and the hook roller 205, the closing direction operation of the second door 201 and the first door 202 can be assisted, and the closing direction operation of the doors can be performed more stably.

Next, the operation of the lock mechanism will be described in detail with reference to fig. 6, 13, and 14.

First, a case where the reagent loading unit 103 moves in the carrying-out direction will be described. Since the door lock roller 206 attached to the holding portion 184 moves together with the movement of the reagent loading portion 103, the door lock roller 206 and the inclined surface portion 204C come close to each other. When the door lock roller 206 continues to move in this state, the spring 204B starts contracting since it advances in contact with the inclined surface portion 204C, and the insertion rod 204A is lifted upward. When the door lock roller 206 moves further, it contacts the flat portion 204D, and the insertion rod 204A is completely lifted upward. In this state, since the second door 201 is vertically opened as shown in fig. 8, the respective components are disposed so that the door lock hole 203 is disposed directly below the insertion rod 204A.

When the movement of the reagent loading portion 103 is further continued, the door lock roller 206 comes into contact with the inclined surface portion 204C, and the insertion rod 204A starts moving downward by the action of the spring 204B. After that, when the door lock roller 206 is separated from the inclined surface portion 204C, the insertion rod 204A is inserted into the door lock hole 203 attached to the second door 201 as shown in fig. 14. Therefore, even if the compression force of the door spring 207, that is, the force in the closing direction acts on the second door 201 and the first door 202, the second door 201 and the first door 202 are kept in the opened state, and the reagent loading unit 103 can move further in the carrying-out direction in the state where the second door 201 and the first door 202 are opened as shown in fig. 9.

When the reagent loading unit 103 moves in the carrying-in direction, the operation is reversed from the previous operation, and first the door lock roller 206 comes into contact with the slope portion 204C, the spring 204B contracts, and the insertion rod 204A is lifted upward. When the door lock roller 206 further advances, the flat portion 204D comes into contact with the door lock roller, and the insertion rod 204A is lifted upward, thereby releasing the inserted state as shown in fig. 13.

Thereafter, the door lock roller 206 comes into contact with the inclined surface portion 204C, the insertion rod 204A starts moving downward by the action of the spring 204B, and when the door lock roller 206 is separated from the inclined surface portion 204C, the state as shown in fig. 6 is obtained, the locked state of the lock mechanism is completely released, and the second door 201 and the first door 202 are closed.

The above is the structure of the automatic loading mechanism 100 and the operation thereof.

In the case of a configuration in which the lock mechanism supports the door that is maximally opened using a magnet, when the reagent loading unit 103 is housed in the second heat-preservation room 110, a member is physically inserted between the door and a portion where the door is in close contact with each other by magnetic force, so that the force of attraction by magnetic force is reduced to a value lower than the tensile force of the spring, and the lock can be released. In the case of a structure in which the lock mechanism supports the door that is maximally opened using a bellows or the like, when the reagent loading unit 103 is stored in the second cooling equipment 110, the bellows contracts due to the movement accompanying the storage, and therefore the door cannot be supported, and the lock can be released.

Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment described above, the automatic loading mechanism 100 includes: the reagent loading unit 103 is provided for installing a plurality of reagent bottles 10 when the reagent bottles 10 are loaded into the automatic analyzer, and the second cooling equipment 110 is provided for cooling the reagent bottles 10 installed in the reagent loading unit 103 together with the reagent loading unit 103, and the second cooling equipment 110 has an opening/closing door (a second door 201 and a first door 202) which is opened/closed in accordance with the movement of the reagent loading unit 103 and through which the reagent loading unit 103 moves.

In order to cool the reagent bottles 10 together with the reagent loading unit 103, it is essential to provide a door to the second cooling chamber 110 and open and close the door as necessary. The door is opened and closed by the movement of moving in and out of the reagent mounting unit 103 without using an actuator, so that it is not necessary to mount an excessive number of actuators, and the size of the apparatus is not increased, and the number of components can be reduced. Moreover, the adjustment and maintenance performance can be improved, and the installation space of the device can be saved.

Further, the second front roller 301A, the second rear roller 301B, and the third roller 302 provided in the reagent mounting portion 103 come into contact with each other, so that the second door 201 and the first door 202 are opened and closed in accordance with the movement of moving the reagent mounting portion 103 in and out, and therefore, the rollers come into contact with the doors during the opening and closing operation. Therefore, the wear of the components involved in the opening and closing operation can be suppressed, and the opening and closing operation can be stably performed for a long period of time.

Further, the reagent loading unit 103 includes a lock mechanism that locks the second door 201 and the first door 202 so that the second door 201 and the first door 202 are not closed when the reagent loading unit is separated to the outside of the second heat-preservation room 110. In particular, the locking mechanism comprises: since the door lock hole 203 provided on the outer side of the second door 201 and the first door 202, the door lock mechanism 204 fixed to the second cooling equipment 110, and the door lock roller 206 that moves forward and backward together with the reagent loading unit 103 are prevented from being closed by inserting the insertion rod 204A of the door lock mechanism 204 into the door lock hole 203 by the door lock roller 206 when the second door 201 is opened, the second door 201 and the first door 202 can be kept in the opened state until the reagent loading unit 103 returns to the second cooling equipment 110. Therefore, there is no need to open the second door 201 and the first door 202 again when the reagent loading unit 103 is returned to the second cooling equipment 110, and the number of components is further reduced, and the adjustment and maintenance performance is further improved, and the installation space of the apparatus can be further saved.

Further, since the second cooling equipment 110 includes the door spring 207 for pulling the second door 201 and the first door 202 toward the fixing portion 110A, even when the device power supply is turned off, the sealed state inside the second cooling equipment 110 can be maintained, and the cooling of the reagent bottle 10 can be performed more stably.

Further, since the gap 200A is provided between the reagent loading mechanism transport surface 182 and the transport surface 182A in the second heat storage room 110, the structure for opening and closing the door of the second heat storage room 110 is very simple, and the interior of the second heat storage room 110 can be stably cooled without a complicated structure.

Further, since the auxiliary transport surface 185 for filling the gap 200A is provided inside the second door 201 and the first door 202, even if the gap 200A exists, the operation of the reagent loading unit 103 becomes smooth, and more stable operation can be performed.

Further, the second door 201 and the first door 202 are configured by 2 doors that are double-opened, so that the sealing performance of the second cooling equipment 110 can be improved, and the storage state of the reagent bottles 10 in the second cooling equipment 110 can be further improved.

Further, since the second door 201 and the first door 202 have the link 208 for connecting the 2 doors, the opening and closing operations of the second door 201 and the first door 202 do not have to be performed independently, and the opening and closing operations can be performed with a simpler configuration.

Further, the second door 201 has a third door 209 that covers the first door 202 when closed, and the sealing degree in the second cooling equipment 110 can be further improved.

Further, since the plurality of third rollers 302 are attached to the front side of the reagent loading unit 103 and the plurality of rollers (the second front roller 301A and the second rear roller 301B) are attached to the right side, the opening and closing operation of the door of the second cooling equipment 110 can be performed more stably.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications can be made. The above-described embodiments are detailed descriptions for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments including all the configurations described.

For example, in the present embodiment, the grasping mechanism 106, the opening/closing cover plate 113 of the reagent disk 9, and the reagent probe suction port 111 are arranged on a straight line, but the arrangement of the reagent probe suction port 111 is not limited to the straight line as long as the reagent probes 7a, 8a are within the movable range.

In the present embodiment, although the case where there are 1 needle 105 is explained, when there are 2 caps 112 as in the case of the reagent bottle 10, the configuration is such that: the 2 needles 105 were attached at intervals of the hole of the cap 112 of the reagent bottle 10, and in the initial operation, the cap 112 at 2 was simultaneously holed in the descending operation of the reagent bottle uncapping mechanism 104. Further, 2 needle cleaning tanks 108 and needle drying ports 109 were provided at intervals of the needles 105. This enables cleaning to be performed by 1 up-and-down operation, and thus the carrying-in time can be shortened.

In the present embodiment, the vertical movement by the vertical driving motor and the horizontal driving motor 131 and the horizontal movement by the horizontal driving motor 131 are described with respect to the movement of the grasping mechanism 106 and the reagent bottle cap opening mechanism 104, but if the movement in the 3 direction is enabled by adding the front-rear direction motor, the number of reagent bottles 10 that can be set in the reagent loading unit 103 can be increased.

Of the lengths of the second door 201 and the first door 202, the second door 201 is formed in a longer shape, but the length of the door may be set to an optimum length and ratio depending on the situation such as the arrangement of components in the range generated by the rotational operation of the door. Although the door is described in 2-piece, the same performance can be satisfied even with 1 door, and in this case, the link 208 is not required.

In the present description, the example of the first roller 300 using 4 reagent mounting units 103 has been described, but the number of the first rollers 300 to be used is not particularly limited as long as the optimal conditions are satisfied depending on the total length and width of the reagent mounting units 103 and the

gaps

200A and 200B between the second heat storage room 110 and the reagent mounting mechanism transport surface 182.

In the present embodiment, the second cooling equipment 110 is provided above the reagent disk 9, but the position of the second cooling equipment 110 is not limited to the upper position. For example, the reagent disk may be provided on a side surface of the reagent disk. However, the space of the apparatus can be further saved by providing the above.

Description of the reference symbols

1 reaction disk

2 reaction vessel

3 cleaning mechanism

4 Spectrophotometer

4a light source

5. 6 stirring mechanism

7. 8 reagent dispensing mechanism

7a, 8a reagent probes

9 reagent dish

10 reagent bottle

10a label

11 sample dispensing mechanism

11a sample probe

13 rinse tank

15 container for test material

16 support

17 sample transport mechanism

18 Syringe for reagent

19 Syringe for test sample

20 Pump for cleaning

21 controller

30. 31 cleaning tank for stirring mechanism

32 sample distribution is washing tank for mechanism

33 washing tank for reagent dispensing mechanism

100 automatic loading mechanism

101 reagent transfer mechanism (reagent transfer part)

102 reagent carrying mechanism

103 reagent carrying part

103A body

103B projection

104 reagent bottle uncapping and plugging mechanism

105 needle

106 grabbing mechanism (grabbing part)

108-needle cleaning tank

109-needle drying port

110 second cold storage (reagent cold storage)

110A fixed part

111 reagent probe suction port

112 cover

113 opening and closing cover

114 bottle direction detecting sensor

115 RFID sensor

131 horizontal driving motor

180 reagent carries on mechanism motor

181 reagent carrying mechanism conveyor belt

181A and 181B pulleys

182 reagent carrying mechanism transfer surface

182A conveying surface

183 straight-line guide rail

184 holding part

185 auxiliary conveying surface

200A, 200B gap

201 second door

202 first door

203 door lock hole

204 door lock mechanism

204A insertion rod

204B spring

204C bevel portion

204D flat part

205 hook roller

206 door lock roller

207 door spring

208 connecting rod (connecting rod mechanism)

209 third door

300 first roll

301A second front roller

301B second rear roller

302 third roller

303 door hook groove.

Claims

1. An automatic analyzer for measuring a liquid after a reaction between a sample and a reagent by injecting the sample and the reagent into a reaction container, respectively, the automatic analyzer comprising:

a reagent tray for storing reagent bottles containing the reagents;

a reagent loading unit for installing a plurality of reagent bottles when the reagent bottles are loaded into the automatic analyzer; and

a reagent cooling chamber for cooling the reagent bottle provided in the reagent loading unit together with the reagent loading unit,

the reagent cooling storage device has an opening/closing door that is opened and closed in accordance with the movement of the reagent loading unit to allow the reagent loading unit to move in and out.

2. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

the opening/closing door is contacted by a roller provided in the reagent loading part, and is opened and closed along with the movement of the reagent loading part.

3. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

the reagent storage device further includes a locking mechanism that locks the opening/closing door so that the opening/closing door is not closed when the reagent loading unit is about to move away from the reagent storage compartment.

4. The automatic analysis device according to claim 3,

the locking mechanism comprises a door lock hole arranged at the outer side of the opening and closing door, a door lock mechanism fixed on the reagent cold storage room, and a door lock roller moving back and forth together with the reagent carrying part,

when the opening/closing door is opened, the door lock roller is used to insert the door lock mechanism into the door lock hole, thereby preventing the opening/closing door from being closed.

5. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

further comprises a reagent carrying mechanism having: the reagent loading device includes a drive motor that drives the reagent loading unit, a conveyor belt that is connected to the drive motor, and a holding member that connects the conveyor belt and the reagent loading unit.

6. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

the reagent cold storage room has a spring for always pulling the opening/closing door to the main body side.

7. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

further comprising a conveyor line including a linear guide and a reagent loading mechanism conveyor surface disposed on both sides of the linear guide in parallel to the linear guide, for moving the reagent loading unit between a position where an operator sets the reagent bottle in the reagent loading unit and the reagent cooling storage,

a gap is provided between the reagent loading mechanism conveying surface of the conveying line and the conveying surface of the reagent loading unit in the reagent cooling chamber.

8. The automatic analysis device according to claim 7,

an auxiliary conveying surface for filling the gap is provided on the inner side of the opening/closing door.

9. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

the opening and closing door is composed of 2 doors of a double-opening door.

10. The automatic analysis device according to claim 9,

the opening and closing door has a link mechanism for connecting the 2 doors.

11. The automatic analysis device according to claim 9,

one of the 2 doors of the opening and closing door has a flap door that covers to the other door when closed.

12. The automatic analysis device according to claim 2,

the reagent mounting portion is provided with a plurality of rollers.