CN112722854A

CN112722854A - Sample tube transmission device and sample tube transmission method

Info

Publication number: CN112722854A
Application number: CN201910973309.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑晓春; 杨辰
Original assignee: Jiangsu Leibo Intelligent Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Jiangsu Leibo Intelligent Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-14
Filing date: 2019-10-14
Publication date: 2021-04-30

Abstract

The invention discloses a sample tube conveying device and a sample tube conveying method, wherein the sample tube conveying device comprises a hopper, a transfer unit and a conveying unit, wherein after the transfer unit transfers a sample tube stored in the hopper to the conveying unit, the sample tube can be distinguished into a sample tube expected to be sent or a sample tube not expected to be sent, so that the accuracy and the efficiency of sending the sample tube can be improved.

Description

Sample tube transmission device and sample tube transmission method

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of sample tube transmission, in particular to a sample tube transmission device and a sample tube transmission method.

Background

Sample tubes, such as blood collection tubes, body fluid tubes, and the like, are relatively common test tubes for holding samples (e.g., blood samples, body fluid samples, and the like), and include an elongated tube body and a cap mounted at one end of the tube body for closing an opening of the tube body for communicating with a test tube cavity, thereby preserving the sample to the test tube cavity of the tube body. The sample tube is generally used in medical institutions such as hospitals, for example, in hospitals, a large number of sample tubes are used in clinical laboratories of hospitals for testing samples provided by patients in the clinical laboratories.

Because of the limited space available in the clinical laboratory, it is not feasible to store a large number of unused sample tubes in the clinical laboratory, and therefore, hospitals typically store unused sample tubes in a specific storage location and connect the storage location and the clinical laboratory via a pneumatic transport system, so that unused sample tubes can be transported from the storage location to the clinical laboratory via the pneumatic transport system when unused sample tubes are needed in the clinical laboratory. In transporting the unused sample tubes from the storage location to the clinical laboratory via the pneumatic transport system, it is desirable to transport only the required sample tubes to the clinical laboratory.

However, before the pneumatic conveying system conveys the unused sample tubes, a large amount of unused sample tubes need to be poured into a conveying hopper of the pneumatic conveying system to realize the automatic conveying of the pneumatic conveying system, during and after the large amount of unused sample tubes are poured into the conveying hopper, problems such as tube cap falling, tube body breaking, tube body cracking and the like may occur to a small amount of unused sample tubes due to various reasons, even during the process of pouring the sample tubes into the conveying hopper, a phenomenon that the sample tubes of different specifications and different sizes are mixed due to the variety of sample tubes may occur, if the unused sample tubes are conveyed by the pneumatic conveying system, not only the conveying resources of the pneumatic conveying system are affected, but also results in a large number of unneeded sample tubes being stacked in the clinical laboratory after the unneeded sample tubes are transferred to the clinical laboratory, which may affect the normal operation of the clinical laboratory.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample tube transporting apparatus and a sample tube transporting method, wherein the sample tube transporting apparatus can distinguish between a sample tube expected to be used and a sample tube not expected to be used when transporting a sample tube, so as to subsequently send only the sample tube expected to be used, so that the sending efficiency of the sample tube can be improved.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample tube transporting apparatus and a sample tube transporting method, wherein the sample tube transporting apparatus can distinguish between the sample tube expected to be used and the sample tube not expected to be used when transporting the sample tube, so as to subsequently send only the sample tube expected to be used, so that the sending accuracy of the sample tube can be improved.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sample tube transport apparatus and a sample tube transport method, wherein the sample tube transport apparatus provides a transport unit, wherein the sample tube transport apparatus is arranged to distinguish between the sample tubes expected to be used and the sample tubes not expected to be used during transport of the sample tubes by the transport unit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sample tube transporting apparatus and a sample tube transporting method, wherein during transporting of the sample tube by the transporting unit, the sample tube transporting apparatus firstly determines whether the sample tube is expected to be sent, and secondly processes the sample tube according to the determination result. For example, when the determination result is that the sample tube is a sample tube expected to be used, the transmission unit transmits the sample tube expected to be used to a pneumatic sending device; accordingly, when the judgment result is that the sample tube is the sample tube which is not expected to be used, the transmission unit transmits the sample tube which is not expected to be used to a recovery unit of the sample tube transmission device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sample tube transport apparatus and a sample tube transport method, wherein the transport unit is provided with a holding groove for holding the sample tubes, so that during transport of the sample tubes by the transport unit, on the one hand the sample tubes can be held by the transport unit against falling off from the transport unit, and on the other hand the orientation of the sample tubes is kept unchanged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sample tube transfer device and a sample tube transfer method, wherein the sample tube transfer device provides a transfer unit and a magazine, the transfer unit being arranged to transfer the sample tubes contained in the magazine to the transfer unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample tube transporting apparatus and a sample tube transporting method, wherein the magazine is capable of regulating the length direction of the sample tubes so as to facilitate the transfer unit to transfer the sample tubes to the transporting unit. Specifically, the hopper provides a storage space and a regulating space communicated with the lower part of the storage space, and the width dimension of the regulating space is smaller than the length dimension of the sample tube, so that when the sample tube enters the regulating space from the storage space based on the principle of gravity, the sample tube is regulated to adjust the length direction of the sample tube.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample tube transfer device for transferring at least one sample tube, wherein the sample tube transfer device comprises:

a transport unit, wherein the transport unit is used for transporting the sample tube;

the sensing device is used for detecting the sample tube so as to distinguish the sample tube as a sample tube to be used or a sample tube to be recovered; and

a recovery unit, wherein the recovery unit is disposed around the transportation unit, the transportation unit transports the sample tube to the recovery unit in a reverse direction after the sample tube transported forward by the transportation unit is distinguished as the sample tube to be recovered by the detection of the sensing device, and the transportation unit continues to transport the sample tube forward after the sample tube is distinguished as the sample tube to be used.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the transport unit includes a transport part and two support wheels, both ends of the transport part extend to be fitted to the two support wheels, respectively, the sample tube is transported by the transport part and the recovery unit is adjacently disposed at one end of the transport part.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the sensing device is disposed around the transporting unit, and the recovery unit is disposed at the other end portion of the transporting unit.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the sensor device is arranged adjacent to the transport unit and the sample tube transported by the transport unit passes the sensor device for detection by the sensor device.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the transfer part has a holding groove, the direction of extension of which coincides with the direction of extension of the transfer part.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, one of the two support wheels of the transmission unit is a drive wheel and the other support wheel is a driven wheel.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, both of the support wheels of the transfer unit are drive wheels.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the transmission is arranged at an end of the transmission close to the driven wheel.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the sample tube transport device further comprises a transfer unit, wherein the transfer unit comprises at least one transfer track and at least one transfer element, wherein the transfer tracks are arranged in a respective endless manner, wherein both ends of the transfer element extend in a respective manner so as to be drivably arranged on the transfer tracks, and the transfer element can be driven by the transfer tracks for transferring at least one sample tube, wherein the transport section is adjacently arranged on the transfer unit in such a manner that one end of the transport section can correspond to the transfer element for receiving the sample tube from the transfer unit.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the sample tube transfer device further comprises a hopper, wherein the hopper has a containing space and an upper opening communicating with the containing space, wherein lower ends of two of the transfer crawlers extend to a bottom of the containing space of the hopper, and upper ends of two of the transfer crawlers extend to the upper opening of the hopper, wherein the transfer element is drivable by the two transfer crawlers to move from the containing space to an outside of the hopper through the upper opening of the hopper, and the transfer part is adjacently disposed at the upper ends of the two transfer crawlers in such a manner that one end of the transfer part can correspond to the transfer element.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the recovery unit is communicably connected to the hopper for the sample tubes recovered by the recovery unit to be recovered to the hopper.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the recycling unit is communicably connected to a recycling box, so that the sample tube recycled by the recycling unit is recycled to the recycling box.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample tube transferring method, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting at least one sample tube which is transmitted by a transmission unit to pass through a sensing device so as to distinguish the sample tube as a sample tube to be used or a sample tube to be recovered; and

(b) transmitting the detected sample tube based on the discrimination result.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), the sample tube is distinguished as the sample tube to be used or the sample tube to be recovered in such a manner that the sample tube transferred to the transfer unit is loaded.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), the sample tube is distinguished as the sample tube to be used or the sample tube to be recovered in such a manner that an image of the sample tube transferred to the transfer unit is photographed.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), the sample tube is distinguished as the sample tube to be used or the sample tube to be recovered in a manner of identifying a label of the sample tube.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), the sample tube is distinguished as the sample tube to be used or the sample tube to be recovered in a manner of identifying a chip of the sample tube.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), if the sample tube is the to-be-used sample tube, the transporting unit continues to transport the to-be-used sample tube along the original direction, and correspondingly, if the sample tube is the to-be-recovered sample tube, the to-be-recovered sample tube is recovered to a recovery box.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), if the sample tube is the to-be-used sample tube, the transporting unit continues to transport the to-be-used sample tube along the original direction, and correspondingly, if the sample tube is the to-be-recovered sample tube, the to-be-recovered sample tube is recovered to a hopper.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), if the sample tube is the sample tube to be used, the transporting unit continues transporting the sample tube to be used along the original direction, and correspondingly, if the sample tube is the sample tube to be recovered, the transporting unit reversely transports the sample tube to be recovered.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), if the sample tube is the sample tube to be used, the transporting unit transports the sample tube to be used to a first position, and correspondingly, if the sample tube is the sample tube to be recovered, the transporting unit transports the sample tube to be recovered to a second position.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the above method, before the detecting step, the sample tube transporting method further comprises the steps of:

transferring a sample tube carried on a transfer element to a transfer portion of the transfer unit while the transfer caterpillar of the transfer unit moves the transfer element horizontally between a high end and a low end of the transfer unit.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, in the above method, the transport section is driven by two support wheels to move, thereby transporting the sample tube.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, in the transferring step, the sample tube is allowed to be transferred from the transfer element to the transport section on the basis of the principle of gravity.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the above method, in the process in which the sample tube is transferred from the transfer member to the transport section based on the principle of gravity, the sample tube is blocked from deviating from the transport section by a transport barrier corresponding to the transfer member, so that the sample tube is transferred to the transport section.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, before the transferring step, the sample tube transport method further comprises the steps of: when the sample tube stored in a storage space of a hopper enters a regular space of the hopper, the length direction of the sample tube is regular, so that the length direction of the sample tube is consistent with the length direction of the transfer element of the regular space.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sample tube transferring device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sample tube transferring apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4A is a schematic diagram of an operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram of a second operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4C is a schematic diagram of a third operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram of an operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a schematic diagram of a second operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5C is a third schematic view of the operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6A is a schematic diagram of an operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6B is a schematic diagram of a second operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6C is a third schematic view of the operation process of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a motion state of the sample tube transferring device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of another motion state of the sample tube transferring device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of another motion state of the sample tube transferring device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another motion state of the sample tube transporting device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following description is presented to disclose the invention so as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention. The preferred embodiments in the following description are given by way of example only, and other obvious variations will occur to those skilled in the art. The basic principles of the invention, as defined in the following description, may be applied to other embodiments, variations, modifications, equivalents, and other technical solutions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the present disclosure, the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," and the like are used in an orientation or positional relationship indicated in the drawings for ease of description and simplicity of description, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced devices or components must be in a particular orientation, constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus the above terms are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

It is understood that the terms "a" and "an" should be interpreted as meaning that a number of one element or element is one in one embodiment, while a number of other elements is one in another embodiment, and the terms "a" and "an" should not be interpreted as limiting the number.

While ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc., will be used to describe various components, those components are not limited herein. The term is used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first component could be termed a second component, and, similarly, a second component could be termed a first component, without departing from the teachings of the inventive concepts. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing various embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements, or groups thereof.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a sample tube transfer apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed and transferred in the following description, wherein the sample tube transfer apparatus comprises a hopper 10, a transfer unit 20 and a transfer unit 30, wherein the transfer unit 20 is configured to transfer sample tubes 100 contained in the hopper 10 to the transfer unit 30, wherein the transfer unit 30 is configured to distinguish between sample tubes 100 expected to be used and sample tubes 100 not expected to be used during the transfer of the sample tubes 100, so that the sample tubes 100 expected to be used can be sent and the sample tubes 100 not expected to be used can be recovered, and thus the sending efficiency and the sending accuracy of the sample tubes 100 can be improved.

It is worth mentioning that for convenience of description and understanding, the sample tube 100 that is expected to be used in the present invention is named as a sample tube 100a to be used, and the sample tube 100 that is not expected to be used is named as a sample tube 100b to be recovered. That is, in the process of transporting the sample tube 100, the sample tube 100a to be used and the sample tube 100b to be recovered can be distinguished by the transporting unit 30, and subsequently, the sample tube 100a to be used can be sent and the sample tube 100b to be recovered can be recovered.

It should be understood that the sample tube 100 includes an elongated tube body and a tube cap, and the tube body is usually a plastic tube body or a glass tube body, and the tube cap is screwed on the end of the tube body, so that the sample tube 100 may have problems such as tube body cracking, tube body breaking, tube cap falling off, and the like during transportation and storage, and the sample tube 100 cannot be used further, and therefore, the sample tube 100 with a problem in the tube body or the tube cap is the sample tube 100b to be recovered defined in the present invention. In addition, the sample tubes 100 are in a wide variety, and the types of the sample tubes 100 required by different inspection items are different, so that the sample tubes 100 with the types that are not satisfactory are the sample tubes 100b to be recovered defined in the present invention.

Specifically, the hopper 10 has a containing space 11 and an upper opening 12 communicating with the containing space 11, so as to allow the sample tube 100 to be contained in the containing space 11 through the upper opening 12 and allow the sample tube 100 to be taken out of the containing space 11 through the upper opening 12.

The transfer unit 20 has a lower end 21 and a higher end 22 corresponding to the lower end 21, wherein the transfer unit 20 is disposed at the hopper 10, and the lower end 21 of the transfer unit 20 extends to the bottom of the containing space 11 of the hopper 10, and the higher end 22 of the transfer unit 20 extends to the upper opening 12 of the hopper 10.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the transfer unit 20 includes two transfer crawlers 23 and at least one transfer element 24, wherein the two transfer crawlers 23 are respectively disposed in a loop shape, and the two transfer crawlers 23 are symmetrical to each other such that lower end portions of the two transfer crawlers 23 form the lower end portion 21 of the transfer unit 20, and upper end portions of the two transfer crawlers 23 form the upper end portion 22 of the transfer unit 20, wherein both ends of the transfer element 24 respectively extend to be mounted to the two transfer crawlers 23 such that the two transfer crawlers 23 are disposed to be capable of driving the transfer element 24 to move in a horizontal manner from the lower end portion 21 to the upper end portion 22 of the transfer unit 20 when synchronously rotating, or to be capable of driving the transfer element 24 to move in a horizontal manner from the upper end portion 22 to the lower end portion 22 of the transfer unit 20 when the two transfer crawlers 23 are disposed to be synchronously rotating 21 direction is moved. In other words, the two transfer tracks 23 are arranged so as to be able to bring the transfer element 24 into movement between the lower end 21 and the upper end 22 of the transfer unit 20 when they rotate synchronously.

Preferably, in this particular example of the sample tube transport device according to the present invention, the two transfer crawlers 23 are arranged independently and spaced apart from each other such that a crawler gap 230 is formed between the two transfer crawlers 23, wherein the middle of the transfer element 24 corresponds to the crawler gap 230 to allow the sample tubes 100 carried on the transfer element 24 to fall through the crawler gap 230 to the holding space 11 of the magazine 10. For example, one of the transfer elements 24 of the transfer unit 20 is expected to carry only one of the sample tubes 100, and if the transfer element 24 carries two of the sample tubes 100, the sample tube 100 located at the upper portion can fall into the containing space 11 of the magazine 10 through the crawler gap 230. Alternatively, in other examples of the sample tube transport apparatus of the present invention, two of the transfer crawlers 23 may be formed on both sides of one wider crawler, i.e., each side of the wider crawler may be defined as one of the transfer crawlers 23, respectively. It is worth mentioning that in the embodiment defined by each side of the wider track as one of the transfer tracks 23, the middle of the transfer element 24 may also be arranged in the middle of the wider track, so that the transfer element 24 may also be carried by the two transfer tracks 23 rotating synchronously.

Further, the transfer unit 20 includes two mounting frames 25 and two driving wheels 26, wherein the two mounting frames 25 are spaced apart from each other and symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, both ends of one of the driving wheels 26 are extended to be rotatably mounted to a lower end portion of each of the mounting frames 25, respectively, and both ends of the other driving wheel 26 are extended to be rotatably mounted to an upper end portion of each of the mounting frames 25, respectively, wherein both ends of each of the transfer caterpillars 23 are respectively fitted to both sides of each of the driving wheels 26, this enables the transfer track 23 having both ends respectively fitted to each of the driving wheels 26 to be endless, and such that the lower end of each transfer crawler 23 forms the lower end 21 of the transfer unit 20, and such that the upper end of each transfer crawler 23 forms the high end 22 of the transfer unit 20.

Specifically, each of the driving wheels 26 has a driving rod 261 and two driving gears 262, wherein each of the driving gears 262 is fixedly disposed at each end of the driving rod 261, so that the driving rod 261 can synchronously rotate the two driving gears 262 to synchronously rotate the two transfer tracks 23. The inner wall of each of the transfer tracks 23 has a projecting tooth, and the projecting tooth of each of the transfer tracks 23 and the projecting tooth of the drive gear 262 can be engaged with each other to avoid transmission failure.

It is worth mentioning that in this embodiment of the sample tube transport device according to the present invention, at least one of the two driving wheels 26 is a driving wheel 26, so as to allow the two transfer crawlers 23 to be driven to rotate synchronously.

Further, referring to fig. 1 to 3, the hopper 10 has a notch 13, wherein the notch 13 is communicated with the containing space 11, and the notch 13 extends from the upper opening 12 to the bottom of the containing space 11, wherein the transferring unit 20 is disposed on the hopper 10 in a manner that the transferring unit 20 closes the notch 13 and the transferring element 24 extends to the containing space 11 through the notch 13, so that when the transferring element 24 is driven to move from the lower end 21 to the higher end 22 of the transferring unit 20, the transferring element 24 can drive the sample tubes 100 contained in the containing space 11 of the hopper 10 to move from the lower end 21 to the higher end 22 of the transferring unit 20. Alternatively, in another example of the sample tube transporting device of the present invention, the magazine 10 may not be provided with the notch 13, so that the transferring unit 20 is directly disposed on the inner wall of the magazine 10, so that the lower end 21 of the transferring unit 20 extends to the bottom of the containing space 11 of the magazine 10, and the higher end 22 of the transferring unit 20 extends to the upper opening 12 of the magazine 10, so that when the transferring element 24 is driven to move from the lower end 21 of the transferring unit 20 to the higher end 22, the transferring element 24 can drive the sample tubes 100 contained in the containing space 11 of the magazine 10 to move from the lower end 21 of the transferring unit 20 to the higher end 22.

Preferably, the transfer element 24 has a recess 241, wherein the extension direction of the recess 241 coincides with the moving direction of the transfer element 24, wherein the sample tube 100 is carried on the transfer element 24 in such a way that at least a part of the sample tube 100 is held in the recess 241 of the transfer element 24, and the sample tube 100 can be reliably carried on the transfer element 24 when the transfer element 24 is driven to move from the low end 21 to the high end 22 of the transfer unit 20.

It will be appreciated that after the transfer element 24 is driven to move from the lower end portion 21 to the upper end portion 22 of the transfer unit 20, the moving direction of the transfer element 24 is automatically adjusted to move from the upper end portion 22 to the lower end portion 21 of the transfer unit 20 after the transfer element 24 reaches the highest position along with the rotation of the transfer crawler 23, so that the sample tube 100 carried on the transfer element 24 automatically falls to be transferred out of the containing space 11 of the magazine 10 based on the principle of gravity. In other words, the transfer element 24, when carried along by the transfer track 23, is able to move from the containing space 11 to the outside of the hopper 10 through the upper opening 12 of the hopper 10. That is, the transfer member 24 is driven to be able to be transferred from the containing space 11 of the magazine 10 to the outside of the magazine 10 through the upper opening 12 of the magazine 10, so that the transfer member 24 is able to transfer the sample tubes 100 contained in the containing space 11 of the magazine 10 to the outside of the magazine 10.

Further, referring to fig. 3, the hopper 10 has a storage space 14 and a regular space 15, wherein the storage space 14 and the regular space 15 are communicated with each other to form the containing space 11. The storage space 14 is formed at an upper portion of the containing space 11 for storing a plurality of sample tubes 100, and the regulating space 15 is formed at a lower portion of the containing space 11 for regulating the sample tubes 100 entering the regulating space 15 from the storage space 14. In the present invention, the regulating space 15 of the hopper 10 regulates the sample tubes 100 so that the longitudinal direction of the sample tubes 100 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the transfer member 24 of the transfer unit 20. In other words, the regulating space 15 of the hopper 10 is provided for regulating the length direction of the sample tubes 100.

Specifically, the width dimension of the structured space 15 of the magazine 10 is set smaller than the length dimension of the sample tubes 100, so that the length direction of the sample tubes 100 entering the structured space 15 from the storage space 14 of the magazine 10 is defined to coincide with the length direction of the structured space 15 of the magazine 10. The transfer element 24 of the transfer unit 20 extends to the structured space 15 of the magazine 10, so that the transfer element 24 can carry the sample tubes 100 entering the structured space 15 of the magazine 10 and move synchronously from the low end 21 to the high end 22 of the transfer unit 20, while the transfer element 24 is driven to move from the low end 21 to the high end 22 of the transfer unit 20. Preferably, the width dimension of the regular space 15 of the magazine 10 is set slightly larger than the diameter of the sample tubes 100, so that the sample tubes 100 entering the regular space 15 from the storage space 14 of the magazine 10 can automatically fall to the transfer element 24 of the transfer unit 20 to be carried by the transfer element 24.

Preferably, referring to fig. 3, the bottom of the storage space 14 of the hopper 10 is an inclined bottom to allow the sample tubes 100 stored in the storage space 14 to automatically enter the regulated space 15 to be regulated by the regulated space 15 based on the principle of gravity.

It is worth mentioning that the lower end portion 21 of the transfer unit 20 extends to the regulated space 15 through the storage space 14 of the magazine 10, so that the transfer element 24 can touch the sample tubes 100 randomly stored in the storage space 14 of the magazine 10 in the process that the transfer element 24 of the transfer unit 20 is driven to move from the lower end portion 21 to the upper end portion 22 of the transfer unit 20, so that the sample tubes 100 can easily enter the regulated space 15 of the magazine 10 by moving the plurality of sample tubes 100 stored in the storage space 14 of the magazine 10.

Further, referring to fig. 3, the transfer unit 20 includes a blocking member 27, wherein the blocking member 27 includes a lower end blocking plate 271, a higher end blocking plate 272, and an inclined blocking plate 273. The low-end blocking plate 271 is disposed at lower ends of the two transfer crawlers 23, and the low-end blocking plate 271 is disposed at one sides of the two transfer crawlers 23 close to the hopper 10, wherein the high-end blocking plate 272 is disposed at upper ends of the two transfer crawlers 23, and the high-end blocking plate 272 is disposed at one sides of the two transfer crawlers 23 far from the hopper 10, wherein upper and lower ends of the inclined blocking plate 273 are connected to lower ends of the high-end blocking plate 272 and upper ends of the low-end blocking plate 271, respectively, in such a manner that the inclined blocking plate 273 is kept inclined.

Specifically, the lower-end blocking plate 271 is disposed at a side of each of the mounting frames 25 adjacent to the hopper 10, and both sides of the lower-end blocking plate 271 extend to be coupled to each of the mounting frames 25, respectively, such that the lower-end blocking plate 271 is disposed at lower ends of the two transfer crawlers 23, and such that the lower-end blocking plate 271 is disposed at a side of the two transfer crawlers 23 adjacent to the hopper 10. The high-end blocking plate 272 is disposed at a side of each of the mounting frames 25, which is far from the hopper 10, and both sides of the high-end blocking plate 272 extend to be connected to each of the mounting frames 25, respectively, such that the high-end blocking plate 272 is disposed at the upper ends of the two transfer crawlers 23, and such that the high-end blocking plate 272 is disposed at a side of the two transfer crawlers 23, which is far from the hopper 10. The lower end portion and the upper end portion of the slant block plate 273 are connected to the upper end portion of the lower end block plate 271 and the lower end portion of the upper end block plate 272 in such a manner that the slant block plate 273 is kept slanted. By providing the blocking element 27, when the transfer element 24 is driven to move the sample tube 100 from the lower end portion 21 to the upper end portion 22 of the transfer unit 20, if the sample tube 100 falls from the transfer element 24 and enters the caterpillar gap 230, the falling sample tube 100 can be automatically dropped into the containing space 11 of the magazine 10 under the principle of gravity by being restricted by the blocking element 27. That is, the track gap 230 of the transferring unit 20 is formed between the two transferring tracks 23 and the lower end blocking plate 271, the inclined blocking plate 273, and the upper end blocking plate 272 of the blocking member 27.

Preferably, both sides of the slant block plates 273 are extended to be connected to each of the mounting frames 25, respectively. Preferably, the lower end stopper plate 271, the upper end stopper plate 272, and the inclined stopper plate 273 of the stopper member 27 are formed in a single structure, and the stopper member 27 may be formed by bending a predetermined position by bending a metal plate, or the stopper member 27 may be formed by an injection molding process.

Further, with continued reference to fig. 1-3, the sample tube transport apparatus further comprises a normalization unit 40, wherein the normalization unit 40 comprises a normalization element 41, a length direction of the normalization element 41 is coincident with a length direction of the transfer element 24, and the normalization element 41 is disposed adjacent to the transfer element 24. For example, both ends of the regulating member 41 respectively extend to be adjacent to each of the mounting frames 25, so that when the transfer member 24 is driven to move from the lower end 21 to the upper end 22 of the transfer unit 20, the transfer member 24 and the regulating member 41 can be adjacent, so that the transfer member 24 and the regulating member 41 cooperate with each other to allow only one sample tube 100 to be carried by the transfer member 24. Specifically, the regulating element 41 is held at the side of the transfer unit 20 close to the hopper 10 at the high end 22 of the transfer unit 20, so that when the transfer element 24 is driven to move from the low end 21 of the transfer unit 20 towards the high end 22, the transfer element 24 and the regulating element 41 can cooperate with each other to cause the excess sample tubes 100 carried by the transfer element 24 to fall into the track gap 230 of the transfer unit 20.

Preferably, the distance between the regulating element 41 and the transfer element 24 can be adjusted to meet the requirements of sample tubes 100 of different specifications, especially to meet the requirements of sample tubes 100 of different diameters. In particular, the regulating element 41 is embodied as a plate-like body, the distance between the regulating element 41 and the transfer element 24 being adjusted by adjusting the inclination angle of the regulating element 41.

More specifically, in a specific example of the sample tube transporting apparatus of the present invention, the regulating unit 40 further includes a mounting seat 42 and an adjusting member 43, wherein the mounting seat 42 is provided to one of the mounting frames 25, and the mounting seat 42 has an arc-shaped adjusting groove 421, wherein the adjusting member 43 has a fixing body 431 and an adjusting projection 432 integrally extending to the fixing body 431, wherein the adjusting projection 432 of the adjusting member 43 is movably provided to the mounting seat 42 and the adjusting groove 421, and one end of the regulating member 41 is fixedly mounted to the fixing body 431 of the adjusting member 43. When the adjusting element 43 is driven to move the adjusting protrusion 432 along the adjusting groove 421 of the mounting seat 42, the fixing body 431 of the adjusting element 43 can drive the regulating element 41 to rotate so that the inclination angle of the regulating element 41 is changed, and thus the distance between the regulating element 41 and the transfer element 24 can be adjusted. Alternatively, in another example of the sample tube transporting apparatus of the present invention, the organizing unit 40 includes two mounting seats 42 and two adjusting members 43, such that the two mounting seats 42 are respectively mounted to the two mounting frames 25 in a mutually symmetrical manner, and the two adjusting members 43 are respectively movably disposed to the two mounting seats 42, such that both ends of the organizing member 41 are respectively fixedly mounted to the fixing bodies 431 of each of the adjusting members 43.

With continued reference to fig. 1-3, the transport unit 30 has a first end 31 and a second end 32 corresponding to the first end 31, wherein the first end 31 of the transport unit 30 is adjacent to the high end 22 of the transfer unit 20 to allow the sample tubes 100 that are detached from the high end 22 of the transfer unit 20 from the transfer element 24 to be transferred to the first end 31 of the transport unit 30 so that the transport unit 30 can transport the sample tubes 100 to the second end 32.

Specifically, the transmission unit 30 includes a transmission part 33 and two support wheels 34, wherein both ends of the transmission part 33 extend to be sleeved on each support wheel 34, so that the transmission part 33 is annular. At least one of the two support wheels 34, is a drive wheel, so that the support wheel 34, which is implemented as a drive wheel, can drive the transmission part 33 to rotate in one direction.

Preferably, in the specific example of the sample tube transport device shown in fig. 1 to 3, both of the support wheels 34 are driving wheels, so that the two support wheels 34 can respectively drive the transport part 33 to rotate in opposite directions. Optionally, in another example of the sample tube transport device, one of the two support wheels 34 is a driving wheel, and the other support wheel 34 is a driven wheel. One end of the transport section 33 can be adjacent to the transfer member 24, so that the sample tube 100 detached from the transfer member 24 can be transferred to the transport section 33 to be transported by the transport section 33. Preferably, the end of the transfer part 33 has a height lower than that of the transfer member 24 at the uppermost position, so that the sample tube 100 detached from the transfer member 24 can be automatically transferred to the transfer part 33 based on the principle of gravity.

Preferably, the extending direction of the transferring part 33 is the same as the extending direction of the transferring element 24, so that the length direction of the sample tube 100 is not changed when the sample tube 100 is transferred from the transferring element 24 to the transferring part 33 and carried by the transferring part 33.

Preferably, the transporting unit 33 further has a holding groove 331, wherein the extending direction of the holding groove 331 is consistent with the extending direction of the transporting unit 33, so as to hold the sample tube 100 transferred to the transporting unit 33, thereby preventing the sample tube 100 from falling off from the transporting unit 33 during the transporting unit 33 moving the sample tube 100. For example, in this specific example of the sample tube transport apparatus of the present invention, the transport part 33 includes two transport belts 332, wherein both ends of the two transport belts 332 are respectively sleeved on each of the support wheels 34, and the two transport belts 332 are spaced apart from each other to form the holding groove 331 between the two transport belts 332. Alternatively, in other examples of the sample tube transport device of the present invention, the transport part 33 may also be an integral structure.

Further, the transport unit 30 comprises a transport barrier 35, wherein the transport barrier 35 extends upwards from the end of the transport unit 33 at the first end 31 of the transport unit 30, and the transport barrier 35 can correspond to the transfer element 24, so that when the sample tube 100 falls from the transfer element 24 on the principle of gravity, the transport barrier 35 can reliably transfer the sample tube 100 to the transport unit 33 and is held in the holding groove 331 of the transport unit 33 by blocking the sample tube 100.

With continued reference to fig. 1 to 3, the sample tube transporting apparatus comprises at least one sensing device 50, wherein the sensing device 50 is disposed at the transporting part 33 for distinguishing the sample tube 100 as the to-be-used sample tube 100a or the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b by detecting the property of the sample tube 100. For example, in this specific example of the sample tube transportation apparatus of the present invention, the sensing device 50 is a weight sensor, which is disposed on the conveyor belt 332 of the transportation part 33, wherein after the sample tube 100 is transferred to the transportation part 33, the sensing device 50 can detect the property of the sample tube 100 by bearing the sample tube 100, so as to distinguish the sample tube 100 as the sample tube 100a to be used or the sample tube 100b to be recovered. Alternatively, the sensing device 50 is an imaging device, which is disposed adjacent to the conveyor belt 332 of the conveying part 33, wherein after the sample tube 100 is transferred to the conveying part 33, the sensing device 50 can detect the property of the sample tube 100 by taking an image of the sample tube 100, so as to distinguish the sample tube 100 as the to-be-used sample tube 100a or the to-be-recovered sample tube 100 b. It should be noted that, in the sample tube transferring device of the present invention, the sensing device 50 may also be, but not limited to, a color sensor.

Further, one end of the transporting unit 33 is provided with a sensing device 50 for detecting the sample tube 100a to be used transported when the transporting unit 33 is driven to rotate in the first direction, wherein the sample tube transporting device comprises a recovery unit 60, and the recovery unit 60 is provided at the other end of the transporting unit 33 for recovering the sample tube 100b to be recovered transported when the transporting unit 33 is driven to rotate in the second direction. Specifically, the recovering unit 60 has a recovering port 61, wherein an end of the transporting part 33 corresponds to the recovering port 61 of the recovering unit 60, so that the sample tube 100b to be recovered can be recovered through the recovering port 61 of the recovering unit 60 when the transporting part 33 transports the sample tube 100b to be recovered to the recovering unit 60.

Fig. 4A to 4C show a movement of the sample tube transport device. Based on the principle of gravity, the sample tubes 100 stored in the storage space 14 of the magazine 10 can enter the regulated space 15 and be regulated in direction, wherein the sample tubes 100 entering the regulated space 15 can automatically fall into the transfer element 24 retained in the regulated space 15 to be carried by the transfer element 24, and at this time, the length direction of the sample tubes 100 after the regulated space 15 is regulated is consistent with the length direction of the transfer element 24.

When the two transfer crawlers 23 of the transfer unit 20 are driven to rotate synchronously, the two transfer crawlers 23 can move the transfer element 24 from the low end 21 of the transfer unit 20 to the high end 22. When two or more sample tubes 100 are carried by the transfer unit 24 while the transfer unit 24 is being moved from the lower end 21 to the upper end 22 of the transfer unit 20, the transfer unit 24 and the regulating unit 41, which are engaged with each other, can allow the excess sample tubes 100 to fall into the storage space 14 of the magazine 10 through the track gap 230 of the transfer unit 20, and at this time, only one sample tube 100 is allowed to be carried by the transfer unit 24.

The transfer element 24 is turned to move from the high end 22 of the transfer unit 20 to the low end 21 after being driven to the highest position by the two transfer crawlers 23 rotating synchronously, and the sample tube 100 carried by the transfer element 24 can automatically fall into the transfer part 33 of the transfer unit 30 held on one side of the transfer unit 20 based on the principle of gravity. During the process that the sample tube 100 carried on the transfer member 24 falls from the transfer member 24 into the transport part 33, the transport baffle 35 corresponding to the transfer member 24 can block the sample tube 100 deviated from the transport part 33 to ensure that the sample tube 100 is reliably carried on the transport part 33.

Since in this particular example of the sample tube transport apparatus according to the present invention the sensor device 50 is a photographing sensor arranged at the transport section 33, the sensor device 50 is capable of photographing the outer shape of the sample tube 100 when the sample tube 100 is carried by the transport section 33. The appearance of the sample tube 100 is different from the normal sample tube 100 due to the absence of the tube cap from the sample tube 100 (the sample tube 100 including the complete tube body and the tube cap disposed on the tube body is the normal sample tube 100), and the sample tube 100 is identified as the sample tube 100b to be recovered.

After the sample tube 100 is identified as the sample tube 100b to be recovered, the supporting wheel 34 implemented as the driving wheel can drive the transmission part 33 to rotate in the second direction to drive the sample tube 100b to be recovered to move toward the recovery unit 60, and the sample tube 100b to be recovered can be recovered to the recovery unit 60.

Fig. 5A to 5C show a further movement sequence of the sample tube transport device. Unlike the movement process of the sample tube transportation apparatus shown in fig. 4A to 4C, in the movement process of the sample tube transportation apparatus shown in fig. 5A to 5C, when the sensing apparatus 50 photographs the outer shape of the sample tube 100 carried on the transportation part 33 and the outer shape of the sample tube 100 carried on the transportation part 33 is consistent with the normal outer shape of the sample tube 100, one of the support wheels 34 implemented as the driving wheel can drive the transportation part 33 to rotate in a first direction to drive the sample tube 100 to move in the direction of the sensing apparatus 50, and when the sample tube 100 is driven to the detection range of the sensing apparatus 50, the sensing apparatus 50 can detect the sample tube 100, for example, the sensing apparatus 50 can detect a barcode attached to the surface of the sample tube 100, The two-dimensional code information is used to obtain the specification of the sample tube 100.

If the specification of the sample tube 100 is an undesired specification, the sample tube 100 is identified as the sample tube to be recovered 100 b. After the sample tube 100 is identified as the sample tube 100b to be recovered, the supporting wheel 34 implemented as the driving wheel can drive the transmission part 33 to rotate in the second direction to drive the sample tube 100b to be recovered to move toward the recovery unit 60, and the sample tube 100b to be recovered can be recovered to the recovery unit 60.

Fig. 6A to 6C show a further movement sequence of the sample tube transport device. In contrast to the movement of the sample tube transport device shown in fig. 5A to 5C, in the movement of the sample tube transport device shown in fig. 6A to 6C, the sample tube 100 is identified as the sample tube 100a to be used if the sample tube 100 is detected to be of the required format by the sensor device 50. After the sample tube 100 has been identified as the sample tube 100a to be used, one of the support wheels 34, which is embodied as the drive wheel, can drive the transport part 33 to rotate in a first direction to move the sample tube 100a to be used in the direction of a delivery position. In an example of application of the sample tube transport apparatus according to the present invention, the sending position is provided with a sending device for sending the sample tube 100a to be used, which is transported to the sending position.

Fig. 7 shows a modified example of the sample tube transfer device, which differs from the sample tube transfer device shown in fig. 1 to 3 in that the sensor device 50 may be arranged in the middle of the transfer part 33 of the transfer unit 30, and the recovery unit 60 is arranged at the end of the transfer part 33 remote from the hopper 10, so that when the sample tube 100 transferred to the transfer part 33 is identified as the sample tube 100a to be used, one of the support wheels 34 implemented as the driving wheel can drive the transfer part 33 to rotate in a first direction to transfer the sample tube 100a to be used to a first position to allow the sending device arranged at the first position to send, referring to fig. 9; accordingly, when the sample tube 100 transferred to the transferring part 33 is identified as the sample tube 100b to be recovered, one of the supporting wheels 34 implemented as the driving wheel can drive the transferring part 33 to rotate in a first direction to transfer the sample tube 100b to be recovered to a second position to allow recovery by the recovery unit 60, referring to fig. 8. Referring to fig. 10, if the sample tube is the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b, the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b is recovered to the hopper 10. Referring to fig. 11, if the sample tube is the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b, the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b is recovered to a recovery box 70.

It is noted that the sensing device 50 may be disposed near the transmission portion 33 of the transmission unit 30, for example, an end portion of the transmission portion 33, a side portion of the transmission portion 33, and an upper portion of the transmission portion 33. The sensor device 50 is arranged around the transport section 33 of the transport unit 30 for detecting the sample tube.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention further provides a sample tube transferring method, wherein the sample tube transferring method comprises the steps of:

(a) transferring the sample tubes 100 carried by the transfer element 24 to the transport section 33 while the two transfer caterpillars 23 of the transfer unit 20 move the transfer element 24 in a horizontal manner between the high end 22 and the low end 21 of the transfer unit 20; and

(b) detecting the sample tube 100 transferred to the transport part 33 to distinguish the sample tube 100 as the to-be-used sample tube 100a or the to-be-recovered sample tube 100 b.

Specifically, in a preferred example of the sample tube transporting method according to the present invention, in the step (b), the sample tube 100 is distinguished as the sample tube 100a to be used or the sample tube 100b to be recovered in such a manner that the sample tube 100 transported to the transporting section 33 is loaded. In another preferred example of the method for transporting sample tubes according to the present invention, in the step (b), the sample tube 100 is distinguished as the sample tube 100a to be used or the sample tube 100b to be recovered in such a manner that an image of the sample tube 100 transported to the transporting unit 33 is captured.

Preferably, in the step (b), if the sample tube 100 is the to-be-used sample tube 100a, the transmission part 33 is driven to rotate in a first direction to transmit the to-be-used sample tube 100a, and correspondingly, if the sample tube 100 is the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b, the transmission part 33 is driven to rotate in a second direction to transmit the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b, referring to fig. 4A to 5C. Alternatively, in the step (b), if the sample tube 100 is the to-be-used sample tube 100a, the transmission part 33 is driven to rotate in the first direction to transmit the to-be-used sample tube 100a to the first position, and correspondingly, if the sample tube 100 is the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b, the transmission part 33 is driven to rotate in the first direction to transmit the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b to the second position, referring to fig. 8 and 9.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), the sample tube is distinguished as the to-be-used sample tube 100a or the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b in a manner of identifying a label of the sample tube.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, in the step (b), the sample tube is distinguished as the to-be-used sample tube 100a or the to-be-recovered sample tube 100b in a manner of identifying a chip of the sample tube.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments are only examples, wherein features of different embodiments may be combined with each other to obtain embodiments which are easily conceivable in accordance with the disclosure of the invention, but which are not explicitly indicated in the drawings.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention described above and shown in the drawings are given by way of example only and are not limiting of the invention. The objects of the invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The functional and structural principles of the present invention have been shown and described in the examples, and any variations or modifications of the embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the principles.

Claims

1. A sample tube conveying device for conveying at least one sample tube, comprising:

2. The sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit comprises a transport section and two support wheels, both ends of the transport section are extended to be fitted to the two support wheels, respectively, the sample tube is transported by the transport section and the recovery unit is adjacently disposed at one end of the transport section.

3. Sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensing means is arranged around the transport unit and the recovery unit is arranged at the other end of the transport unit.

4. Sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensing means is arranged adjacent to the transport unit and the sample tube transported by the transport unit passes the sensing means to be detected by the sensing means.

5. Sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transport section has a retaining groove, the retaining groove extending in the same direction as the transport section.

6. Sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the two support wheels of the transport unit is a drive wheel and the other support wheel is a driven wheel.

7. Sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein both of the support wheels of the transport unit are drive wheels.

8. Sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the transport section is provided at an end of the transport section adjacent to the driven wheel.

9. Sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sample tube transport apparatus further comprises a transfer unit, wherein the transfer unit comprises at least one transfer track and at least one transfer element, wherein the transfer tracks are arranged in a respective endless manner, wherein both ends of the transfer element extend in a respective manner so as to be drivably arranged on the transfer tracks and the transfer element can be driven by the transfer tracks for transferring at least one such sample tube, wherein the transport section is arranged adjacently on the transfer unit in such a manner that one end of the transport section can correspond to the transfer element for receiving such a sample tube from the transfer unit.

10. Sample tube transfer device according to claim 9, wherein the sample tube transfer device further comprises a magazine, wherein the magazine has a holding space and an upper opening communicating with the holding space, wherein lower ends of two transfer crawlers extend to a bottom of the holding space of the magazine and upper ends of two transfer crawlers extend to the upper opening of the magazine, wherein the transfer elements are drivable by the two transfer crawlers to move from the holding space to an outside of the magazine via the upper opening of the magazine, and the transfer section is adjacently arranged at the upper ends of the two transfer crawlers in such a way that one end of the transfer section can correspond to the transfer element.

11. Sample tube transport apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the recovery unit is communicably connected to the magazine for recovery of the sample tubes recovered by the recovery unit to the magazine.

12. The sample tube transport apparatus of claim 10, wherein the recovery unit is communicably connected to a recovery cassette for recovery of the sample tubes recovered by the recovery unit to the recovery cassette.

13. The sample tube conveying method is characterized by comprising the following steps:

(b) transmitting the detected sample tube based on the discrimination result.

14. The method for transporting sample tubes according to claim 13, wherein in step (b), the sample tubes are distinguished as the sample tubes to be used or the sample tubes to be recovered in such a manner that the sample tubes transported to the transport unit are loaded.

15. The method for transporting sample tubes according to claim 13, wherein in step (b) the sample tubes are distinguished as said to-be-used sample tubes or said to-be-recovered sample tubes in such a way that an image of the sample tubes transported to the transport unit is taken.

16. The method for transporting sample tubes according to claim 13, wherein in step (b), the sample tubes are distinguished as the to-be-used sample tubes or the to-be-recovered sample tubes in a manner that identifies a label of the sample tubes.

17. The method for transporting sample tubes according to claim 13, wherein in step (b), the sample tubes are distinguished as the to-be-used sample tubes or the to-be-recovered sample tubes in a manner that identifies chips of the sample tubes.

18. The method for transporting sample tubes according to any of claims 13 to 17, wherein in step (b), if the sample tube is the sample tube to be used, the transporting unit continues transporting the sample tube to be used along the original direction, and correspondingly, if the sample tube is the sample tube to be recovered, the sample tube to be recovered is recovered to a recovery box.

19. The method for transporting sample tubes according to any of claims 13 to 17, wherein in step (b), if the sample tube is the sample tube to be used, the transporting unit continues transporting the sample tube to be used in the original direction, and correspondingly, if the sample tube is the sample tube to be recovered, the sample tube to be recovered is recovered to a hopper.

20. The method for transporting sample tubes according to any of claims 13 to 17, wherein in step (b), if the sample tube is the sample tube to be used, the transporting unit continues transporting the sample tube to be used in the original direction, and correspondingly, if the sample tube is the sample tube to be recovered, the transporting unit reversely transports the sample tube to be recovered.

21. The method for transporting sample tubes according to any of claims 13-17, wherein in step (b), the transporting unit transports the sample tube to be used to a first position if the sample tube is the sample tube to be used, and correspondingly, the transporting unit transports the sample tube to be recovered to a second position if the sample tube is the sample tube to be recovered.

22. The method for sample tube transport according to any of claims 13 to 17, wherein in the method, prior to the step of detecting, the method for sample tube transport further comprises the steps of:

23. Sample tube transport method according to claim 22, wherein in the method the transport section is driven by two support wheels to move in order to transport the sample tubes.

24. Sample tube transport method according to claim 22, wherein in the transfer step the sample tube is allowed to be transferred from the transfer element to the transport section on the basis of the principle of gravity.

25. Sample tube transport method according to claim 24, wherein in the above method, during the transport of the sample tubes from the transfer element to the transport section on the basis of the principle of gravity, the sample tubes are blocked from deviating from the transport section by a transport barrier corresponding to the transfer element, as a result of which the sample tubes are transported to the transport section.

26. The sample tube transport method of claim 22, wherein prior to the transferring step, the sample tube transport method further comprises the steps of: when the sample tube stored in a storage space of a hopper enters a regular space of the hopper, the length direction of the sample tube is regular, so that the length direction of the sample tube is consistent with the length direction of the transfer element of the regular space.