JP2001108690A - Sorting system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting system which is inexpensive, compact as a whole, of a simple structure, and easy to handle and a sorting method. SOLUTION: This sorting system is provided with a transfer device 12 loaded with a large number of containers 11 housing objects such as specimens and to which object information and destination information on the objects are added to transfer them, container information detecting devices 17, 18, and 19 to detect the destination information and location of placement of each container, one or two sorting stages 13 or more to receive the transfer of the containers 11 from the transfer device 12 on the basis of the detection results, to fill a primary container with added discrimination information with a predetermined pieces of the containers 11, or to house a predetermined number of the primary container in every secondary container with added discrimination information, and to transfer the primary container or secondary container to any of a plurality of sorting locations, a location information detecting device to detect location information which indicates the discrimination information, location, and destination location of the primary container or secondary container, a location information adding device to add location information to each container, and a control device 21 to perform control over the sorting of each container on the basis of at least the results of detection and instructions of the container information detecting device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting system and a sorting method, and more particularly, to sorting, inspection, analysis, measurement, and sorting of a container containing an object such as a sample to be sorted.
In order to carry out processing such as testing, reaction or production, the items are sorted and collected at the sorting destination for each item, transported to an inspection room, etc.
The present invention relates to a sorting system and a sorting method for performing processes such as inspection, analysis, measurement, test, reaction, and production. In recent years, in all fields such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, science, and pharmacy, classification, inspection, analysis, measurement, testing, reaction or generation, etc. of various items of a subject such as a specimen. Therefore, a sorting system and a sorting method for automatically and efficiently sorting objects are desired.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sorting for performing various tests on specimens has become fine, complicated, and diversified, and it is becoming difficult to perform all of them manually. Therefore, it was necessary to automatically perform the sorting. As such a sorting device, a transport line for mounting a large number of containers containing samples and transporting the sample in one direction along a linear path, and the containers arranged at appropriate positions around the transport line are loaded. Some racks are provided corresponding to the positions of the racks to be sorted and the positions of the respective racks, and have a pickup handling arm for transferring containers from the transport line to the racks.

[0003]

The sorting apparatus according to the prior art sorts containers to a final sorting position while transporting the containers along a transport line. Needed to place enough racks to accommodate the number of racks. Also, a pickup handling arm corresponding to the number of each sorting destination was required. Furthermore, since the sorting apparatus according to the conventional example sorts the containers while transporting the containers in one direction along the line, once the sorting device passes through the sorting destination, the sorting device does not return to the container. It was necessary to adopt a configuration that did not proceed until the processing was completely completed at the position.

[0004] Therefore, when sorting is concentrated at one place, the line may be stagnated at that place, and wasteful waiting time may increase and processing capacity may be greatly affected. Further, once an accident such as a failure occurs, the subsequent processing becomes impossible and the entire operation is stopped, so that there is a problem that reliability is lacking.

[0005] Further, depending on the processing situation, the processing time is not constant, but varies, so that the time of the processing plan cannot be determined, and there is a problem that it is difficult to control the automation. Further, the total processing time is the sum of the processing times at the respective sorting positions, and there is a problem that the processing capacity decreases at an accelerated rate as the sorting amount increases.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to perform continuous and consistent processes, complete processing in which incompatibility is not allowed, and transport management in consideration of the timing of taking in and out of the line, which requires extremely complicated software and hardware. Had.

Further, in the conventional sorting apparatus, when the sorting destination is diversified, it is necessary to arrange a large number of racks and pickup handling arms, which are final sorting destinations, on the transfer line, so that the scale of the apparatus is increased. There is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the apparatus increases and a large space is required.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and a first object of the present invention is to simplify the structure and control as a whole, and to reduce the labor and cost for manufacturing and use. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting system and a sorting method which are easy to use and can be operated efficiently.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a sorting system and a sorting method in which each sorting operation is not influenced by the amount and the working time of other sorting operations and is predictable in time, easy to control, and easy to handle. To provide.

[0010] A third object is to minimize the influence of an accident such as a breakdown in the event of an accident, to immediately deal with the occurred accident, and to ensure that the work can be performed reliably. The object of the present invention is to provide a reliable sorting system and a reliable sorting method.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a flexible, expandable and versatile sorting system and a sorting method capable of easily changing the number of sorting destinations without increasing basic structural changes. It is to be.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a variety of sorting systems and methods which can sort an object such as a specimen in various ways and enable various kinds of processing. .

A sixth object is to provide a sorting system and a sorting method which can automate the processing of an object such as a specimen as much as possible.

A seventh object is to stably and collectively handle a large number of small-volume containers in order to handle a large number of small-sized specimens and other objects. An object of the present invention is to provide a sorting system and a sorting method which are highly reliable and can reduce the size of the apparatus and the work space.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of containers for accommodating an object such as a specimen to be sorted and having object information on the object and sorting information on a sorting destination. And a container information detecting device for detecting sorting information of each container and a placement position on the conveying device, and a container information detecting device disposed around the conveying device, and Based on the detection results,
When a container is carried in from the transfer device and the container is used as the 0th container, sequentially storing a predetermined number of low-order containers in the high-order container at least once from the low order to the high order is repeated at least once. To make the container an n-th container (n ≧ 1 natural number)
And one or more sorting stages for transferring the container to any of a plurality of sorting positions, and an n-th container for storing the zero-order container and transferring it to the sorting position. Information relating to each of the 0th containers,
A position information attaching device that attaches position information including information indicating an accommodation position of the next container in the n-th container to at least the 0th container, and at least a container information detecting device, And a control device for controlling the sorting.

Here, "object information" is information relating to the object, such as date, material (serum, urine, etc.), necessity of dispensing, identification number of the object. Etc. is included. “Assortment destination information” indicates a group in which the container is to be sorted or classified.
The groups are classified according to differences in examination rooms, examination groups, examination items, and the like. As "attached (object information and sorting destination information)" and "attached (position information to each container)", for example, a label portion such as a piece of paper or a film on which the information is displayed is attached to the container. Or display the information directly on the container. The sorting destination information also includes information on the sorting destination position, the sorting time, and the container to be stored.

The reason that the position information is attached to each container by the "position information attaching device" is that, for example, a container requiring re-inspection or sampling can be taken out once and its position can be accurately returned again. This is to increase reliability. Between each container and a higher container such as the first container,
There is no correspondence in advance, and the order in which each container is to be stored in the higher order container is random, as is where the container is placed in the transport device. To do so,
Since there is no need to know in advance where the container is to be placed on the transport device or the identification information of the primary container or the secondary container in which the container is accommodated, the processing is greatly simplified and the handling becomes easy. The position information attaching device may attach not only the position information but also the target information to the container. It is appropriate that the position information or the target information is represented by characters, numerals, and the like. Also,
Since the position information is "attached to at least the 0th container", it may be attached to other than the 0th container.

It is appropriate that the "predetermined number" of low-order containers that can be loaded or accommodated in each next container is the same as long as it is at the same level (order), but between different levels (orders). , "Predetermined number" need not be the same. The (n + 1) -th container, which is a higher-order container, may be further placed at the sorting position, and a predetermined number of n-th containers may be accommodated therein. "Position information" may include the position of the sorting destination where the n-th container is placed or transferred.

As described above, according to the present invention, the containers are stored in a hierarchically higher-order container, and handling such as transfer and storage is performed. It can be sorted in an easy state.

According to the present invention, the work such as transport for final fine sorting is performed on the work stage, and the work up to that is performed by transporting the container along the transport path of the transport device. In this way, the container sorting operation is structurally separated. Therefore, the work of fine sorting is not performed on the transport route, but only in the sorting stage, and by increasing the number of sorting destinations in each sorting stage without extending the route, Sorting destinations can be easily increased.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned invention, the position information attaching device includes, as information for associating with the n-th container, position information including identification information of the n-th container attached with identification information. And position information attaching means for attaching the position information including the detected identification information to each of the 0th order containers.

The position information detecting means may detect the position of the 0th container in the nth container,
Further, the position information attaching means may sequentially attach codes indicating the arrangement according to the arrangement in which the 0th container is actually accommodated in the nth container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in each of the above-mentioned inventions, the position information attaching device is provided with identification information for accommodating each of the zero-order containers as information for associating with the n-th container. Position information detecting means for detecting position information including each piece of identification information from the primary container to the n-th container to which the identification information has been attached; and attaching the position information including the detected identification information to the zeroth container. And a position information attaching means.

The position of the lower-order container in the higher-order container may be detected by the position information detecting means, or the lower-order container may be detected in accordance with the arrangement of the lower-order container in the higher-order container. The position information attaching means may sequentially attach codes representing the arrangement to the 0th container.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in each of the above aspects, the zero-order container is a tubular container, and the primary container is a rack capable of loading the containers in a row. The secondary container is a tray capable of loading the transferred primary container in a row, and the tray is placed in advance at the sorting position, and the position information is used to identify a rack in which the container is loaded. Information and the loading location of the containers in the rack.

The position information may include the identification information of the tray in which the rack is stored, the storage position of the rack in the tray, or the destination position of the tray. According to the present invention, the containers are arranged in a matrix in the tray. Therefore, in the present invention, the primary container is the n-th container.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in each of the above inventions, the transport device is a closed-path transport device that transports along a closed path.

Here, it is preferable that the "closed-circuit conveying device" conveys, for example, one cycle around the closed circuit at a constant cycle. Preferably, the period can be specified by the operator. The closed-path transport device may be, for example, an annular turntable or a closed path having a straight transport path.

According to the present invention, the use of the closed-loop transfer device makes it impossible to read the information on the container, causes a mechanical failure when the container is brought into the sorting stage, and sorts the items other than the specified sorting destination. Even if there is a problem that the sorting process is not performed due to a non-target case such as having a tip, the mounted container always returns to the original position, so it is possible to continue the process quickly without stopping the system. it can.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in each of the above-mentioned inventions, when the container delivery time zone is specified in the sorting destination information, the sorting stage includes the container loading time zone in the sorting time information. If the sorting destination is specified according to the time, the sorting time is set within the sorting time zone corresponding to the sorting destination, or, if an instruction is given from the control device, the specified time. The loading of the container from the transport device into the belt is performed.

According to the present invention, the containers are not carried into the sorting stage until the carry-in time zone, the sorting time zone, or the instruction is given, so that the containers remain in the transfer device. When the transfer device has a closed transfer path, the container is not taken out of the transfer device and is kept on standby while being transferred. "The sorting destination is specified according to time" means, for example, that the sorting destination is specified based on a table (table) or an arithmetic expression of the sorting destination and the corresponding sorting time zone separately stored in the memory. The container is carried into the sorting stage during the sorting time zone. In the case of the present invention, the sorting destination can be determined according to the time zone, so that the containers can be sorted to a larger number of sorting destinations.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in each of the above-described aspects, a plurality of holder holes are provided on a transfer surface of the transfer device, and the containers are loaded on the transfer device by loading the containers into the holder holes. It was done.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the above inventions, the target information and the sorting destination information are displayed on a label attached to the container, and the position information is displayed on the label. It has a space and a space for handwriting.

The sorting destination information is information displayed by a bar code or the like which can be read by the container information detecting device, and the position information attached to the container by the position information attaching device is displayed by characters or symbols. Are preferred. It is appropriate to display the target information with characters or symbols including barcodes or numbers.

According to the present invention, tracking of an object such as a specimen is easy and reliable. Also, a detachable detachable portion may be provided on the label portion, and any of the above information or other information may be displayed on the detachable portion. By detaching the detachable portion in advance and attaching the detached portion to a document related to an object stored in the container, the container can be associated with the document.

According to a ninth aspect, in each of the above aspects, the sorting stage movably mounts the rack capable of loading a predetermined number of containers at a standby position set for each sorting destination. Until a predetermined number of containers are loaded in a rack, a standby unit that waits for containers loaded from the transport device, and a container loading device that transports containers loaded on the transport device to the rack at a corresponding standby position. Equipment and
When a predetermined number of containers are loaded in the racks waiting in the standby unit, a batch transfer unit that collectively transfers the racks to the sorting position, and when the racks are unloaded from the standby unit, An empty rack supply unit for supplying a new empty rack to the standby unit for each sorting destination.

According to the present invention, instead of sorting containers so as to directly transfer the containers to the sorting position, the containers are temporarily made to wait at a standby position different from the sorting position, and then are collectively set as the destination. The operation is disassembled so that it can be transported to the destination.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned inventions, a tray capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks is stacked in a plurality of stages for each sorting destination and stored in the sorting destination position. And a collective transfer unit having an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the rack.

Thus, the trays can be stacked and stacked in multiple stages, so that the amount of accumulation can be increased, and it is possible to deal with sorting a large number of samples and the like.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in each of the above-mentioned aspects, the transporting device intermittently transports a container group consisting of a predetermined number of containers at a designated time interval along the route.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in each of the inventions described above, each of the containers belonging to the group of containers mounted on the transfer device or the group of containers placed outside the transfer surface of the transfer device is independent. In addition, a container group independent dispenser capable of dispensing by dispensing is provided.

Here, the “container group independent dispenser” is provided with a plurality of nozzles for the number of containers belonging to the container group, and an elevating mechanism capable of independently driving up and down each nozzle; And a suction and discharge control mechanism capable of independently controlling suction and discharge. As a result, even if the amount of an object such as a specimen contained in each container varies, the liquid level of each object is detected by a pressure sensor or an optical sensor, and suction and discharge are performed at a position corresponding to each amount. can do.

According to a thirteenth aspect, in each of the above-mentioned inventions, a parent object contained in a container mounted on the transfer device or a container mounted outside the transfer device is provided around the transfer device. The apparatus is provided with a child object container housing stage for sucking and transferring at a predetermined ratio by a container group independent dispenser, and discharging and housing it in a container to which child object information on the child object is attached.

According to a fourteenth aspect, in each of the above aspects, the container group of the transport device is a container row in which the predetermined number of containers are arranged along a width direction orthogonal to a transport direction along the transport path. The container moving device selects a container to be sorted into the sorting stage from the container row transported to each unloadable position by the transfer device, and transfers the container in the width direction at the unloadable position. And loading the container into a rack corresponding to the sorting destination of the standby unit, and the standby unit independently loads one rack for each sorting destination along the transport direction at the unloadable position. It has an independent transporting device capable of transporting, and each time one container is loaded into the rack, the rack is moved forward by one by one so that the end of each container queue for each sorting destination is aligned. West It is intended.

In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned inventions, the control device may further include a residual container that has passed through all the unloadable positions of the sorting stage and has not been loaded into the sorting stage but has remained on the transfer device. An information erasing means for erasing the information detected by the container information detecting device when passing through a predetermined information erasing line, and a residual container information displaying means for displaying residual container information relating to the residual container. It is.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a large number of containers containing objects such as specimens to be sorted and having object information on the objects and sorting information on sorting destinations are mounted on a predetermined route. A transporting step of transporting along the container, a detecting step of detecting the sorting destination information of each of the containers and a placement position on the transporting path, and, based on the detection result, from the transporting path, being arranged around the transporting path When the container is carried into one of the one or more sorting stages and the container is designated as a 0th-order container, a predetermined number of lower-order containers are stored in the higher-order container with identification information. A sorting step in which the container is accommodated in an n-th container (n ≧ 1 natural number) by repeating at least once from a low order to a high order, and transferred to any of a plurality of sorting positions; , Containing the 0th container The n-th container and information associating between the 0th-order container is transferred to a sorting destination position, and a 0
A position information attaching step of attaching position information including information indicating an accommodation position of the next container in the nth container to at least the 0th container. Here, the position information may include a sorting position occupied by the n-th container.

In a seventeenth aspect based on the invention, in the position information attaching step, a position information detecting step of detecting position information including the identification information of the n-th container to which identification information has been added, And a position information attaching step of attaching the obtained position information to each of the 0th order containers.

In an eighteenth aspect based on the invention, in the position information attaching step, the identification information from the primary container to which the identification information for accommodating each of the zero-order containers is attached is attached. a position information detecting step of detecting position information including each piece of identification information up to the n-th container, and a position information attaching step of attaching the position information detected by the position information detecting step to the 0th container. Is what it is.

According to a nineteenth aspect, in each of the above aspects, in the sorting step, the primary container is a rack capable of loading the containers in a row, and the secondary container is the primary container. Is a tray capable of loading in a row, containers are loaded in a matrix by the tray, and the tray is previously placed at the sorting position, and the position in the position information detecting step and the position information attaching step is The information is identification information of the rack in which the container is loaded, the storage position of the rack in the tray, or the sorting position of the tray.

According to a twentieth aspect, in each of the above aspects, the predetermined path in the transporting step is a closed path.

The twenty-first invention is the above-mentioned invention,
In the sorting step, when the loading time zone of the container is specified in the sorting destination information, the sorting destination included in the sorting destination information is specified according to the time in the loading time zone. In such a case, the transfer of the container from the transfer device is performed within the sorting time zone corresponding to the sorting destination or, when instructed by the control device, within the instructed time zone. is there.

The twenty-second invention is the invention according to each of the above inventions,
The sorting step is a loading step of loading the containers mounted on the path to a rack movably mounted at a standby position corresponding to each sorting destination, and the rack is loaded with a predetermined number of the containers. And a batch transport step of transporting the racks to the sorting position at a time when the racks are loaded with a predetermined number of containers. And a vacant rack supply step of supplying a new vacant rack when unloaded from the position.

The twenty-third invention is characterized in that, in each of the above-mentioned inventions,
The batch transporting step moves the rack up and down on a tray storage shelf as a tertiary container in which trays capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks at the sorting destination position are stacked and stored in a plurality of stages for each sorting destination. It is moved and stored in the corresponding tray.

The twenty-fourth invention is the above-mentioned invention,
The transporting step is for each container group having a predetermined number of containers,
The sheet is conveyed intermittently along the route at a specified time interval pitch.

A twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned invention,
The method has a container group independent dispensing step of dispensing independently for each container belonging to the container group.

The twenty-sixth invention is the above-mentioned invention, wherein
In the independent dispensing step, the parent target container accommodated in the container to be transported is suctioned and transferred at a predetermined ratio, and is discharged and stored in a container to which child target information relating to the child target is attached. It has an accommodation step. The container in which the child object is accommodated in this way is handled in the same manner as the container in which the parent object is accommodated.

The twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned invention,
The container group in the transporting step is a container row in which the predetermined number of containers are arranged along a width direction orthogonal to a transporting direction along the path, and the loading step includes, in the transporting step, a position at which the container can be unloaded. A required container is selected from the conveyed container row, transferred in the width direction at the unloadable position, and the container is loaded into a rack corresponding to a sorting destination. Each time the container is loaded into the rack, the rack is independently advanced by one container for each assorting destination along the transport direction at the unloadable position, so that each rack is The end of the queue is aligned.

The twenty-eighth invention is characterized in that, in each of the above inventions,
In the transporting step, a residual container that has passed through all the unloadable positions of the sorting stage and has not been loaded into the sorting stage and has remained on the transport, and has passed through a predetermined information erasing line, is detected in the detecting step. The method includes an erasing step of erasing information and a displaying step of displaying residual container information on the residual container.

[0059]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sorting system and a sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments do not limit the invention unless otherwise specified. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a sorting system 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show the sorting stages 13 (14, 15, 1).
It is a top view which shows 6).

As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting system 10 according to the present embodiment accommodates a liquid sample or the like as an object to be sorted, and sets target information (sample information) on the target such as the sample. )), A large number of tubular containers 1 to which a label portion on which characters such as numbers are written is attached.
It has a turntable 12 as a closed-path transport device that carries the first (0th-order container) and transports the same at a predetermined cycle along an annular closed path. The label portion of each container 11 is further provided with machine-readable code, such as a bar code, on the destination information on the destination to which the container 11 is to be sorted.

The target information includes, for example, the container 11
Is a sample ID, collection date, material (serum, urine, etc.) which is identification information for identifying the sample contained in the container. Also,
The sorting destination information is processing information for designating a sorting classification, and includes, for example, a simple classification (designation of a sorting stage and a group representing a sorting destination within the sorting stage), a division classification (stored in the container). Divide the sample into a predetermined number, and perform single classification for each divided sample), dispensed volume (amount of sample to be discharged to the container or each aspirated amount at the time of divided classification), and dispensing Number (number of divisions of division classification)
It is.

Here, the “sorting destination” refers to a case where a sample is sorted into, for example, a radioisotope diagnosis group, a genetic diagnosis group, a cytodiagnosis group, and a different group of biochemistry laboratories. It is. The assortment information further includes a container 11 if necessary.
May be included in the sorting destination information in which a loading time zone in which the objects stored in the storage table are to be transferred from the turntable 12 to the sorting stage. In this case, a sorting destination that does not exist in the sorting stage at present may be used. The control device issues an instruction to carry in to the sorting stage according to the carrying-in time zone. Also, the sorting time zone corresponding to the sorting destination is stored as a table in the memory of the control device without directly including it in the sorting destination information, and when the sorting time zone corresponding to the sorting destination comes, the control device is activated. The product may be carried out to the sorting stage, or may be carried out only when instructed by the control device. As a result, the number of destinations can be flexibly expanded.

At a specific position above the transport surface of the turntable 12, as a container information detecting device for detecting the container information including the sorting destination information and the mounting position of each container, for example, three devices are provided. Barcode reading units 17, 18,
19 are provided. Three barcode reading units 17,
The reason why 18 and 19 are provided is to perform reading reliably.

The bar code readers 17, 18, 19 are, for example, above the transport surface of the turntable 12.
It is supported by a rail provided along the radial direction, is slidably provided, sequentially scans the bar code display position of each container, and processes the processing information of each container 11, the container row and the container. It detects the mounting position of each container belonging to the row.

The containers 11 carried from the turntable 12 are placed around the turntable 12 respectively.
Sorting stages 13 and 14 for sorting into
15 and 16 are arranged. Further, the control device 21 has a control device 21 having a display device for performing sorting control based on the detection results of the barcode reading units 17, 18, and 19 and instructions from the user, and displaying remaining contents and the like. .

A work table 20 is arranged around the turntable 12 for carrying a container 11 containing a parent sample and attaching a label portion with a bar code to the turntable 12. I have.

The diameter of the turntable 12 is, for example, about 1 m to 3 m. A large number of holder holes for mounting the tube-shaped container 11 are provided on the transfer surface of the turntable 12, and the container 11 is loaded and held in the holder hole. The holder hole is
For example, with a diameter of about 8 mm, the turntable 1
For example, ten lanes are provided concentrically from the rotation center of No. 2. At that time, the container 11 is in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction or the circumferential direction of the turntable 12, that is,
A container row in which ten containers are arranged along the radial direction or the width direction is formed. In that example, a total of, for example, 30 container rows are mounted at a pitch of an equal central angle.

The turntable 12 is driven by a motor driven by a power supply (not shown) so as to rotate intermittently, for example, in one direction at the pitch. This is because when carrying out processing such as unloading the container 11 from the turntable 12, it is necessary to stop the turntable 12 for a predetermined time and pick up the container 11 or the like. The stop time after the rotation of one pitch can be freely set, for example, about 15 to 25 seconds. More specifically, the cycle of the turntable 12 is such that sorting sample quantity / unit time ≧ line-introduced sample quantity / unit time, for example, sorting about 2,000 samples by about 1
Set at a pace that will complete in time.

The four sorting stages 13, 14, 1
Reference numerals 5 and 16 sort the containers 11 carried in from the turntable 12 into ten groups, each of which is a total of 40 groups. The four sorting stages 13, 14, 15, 16 are arranged at an interval with respect to the rotation center 22 of the turntable 12 so as to have an angle that is an integral multiple of the pitch. Depending on how the object is finally processed, for example, the sorting stages 13 and 14 are for accumulating the objects at the sorting room at normal temperature, and the sorting stage 15 is for dispensing. The sorting target stage 16 is for stacking the objects to be sorted at the sorting destination in a refrigerated state.

The container 11 placed on the turntable 12 is unloaded from the unloadable positions 23, 24, 25, 26 fixed on the transport path of the turntable 12 to the sorting stages 13, 14, 15, 16. So that the sorting stages 13, 14, 15, 16 are arranged.

Subsequently, based on FIGS. 2 and 3, the sorting stage 13 (the same applies to the sorting stages 14, 15, and 16).
Will be described. The sorting stage 13 includes an empty rack supply unit 30 for supplying an elongated box-shaped empty rack (primary container) 31 and the container moving device for loading the container 11 from the unloadable position 23 on the turntable 12. Independently-operated 10-unit pick-up device 34 as a unit, and the container 11 carried by the pick-up device 34
Is a predetermined number for each of the 10 sort destinations. In this example, 1
A standby unit 36 for movably mounting the zero loadable rack 31 and waiting until all the containers are loaded in the rack;
And each sorter position 43A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
A tray storage shelf 72 in which box-shaped trays 71 (secondary containers) each storing a predetermined number of loading racks 31a loaded with containers 11 belonging to each sorting destination are stored for each of H, I, and J.
(Tertiary container) is provided at the sorting destination position 43, and a rack 31a in which ten containers 11 are loaded at the standby portion 36 thereof.
And a batch transport unit 41 for transporting the batch to the sorting destination position 43 at a time.

Further, the sorting stage 13 includes a discharge section 37 for discharging the rack 31a loaded with the containers 11 from the standby section 36 to the batch transfer section 41, and a discharge section 37 for discharging the containers 11 A printing unit 40 is a position information attaching device for printing the position information.

The empty rack supply section 30 includes an empty rack storage section 30a storing empty racks 31, an empty rack transport section 30b for transporting empty racks 31 from the empty rack storage section 30a, and an empty rack transport section 30b. A motor 30c for driving the unit 30b and a patrol light 30d for notifying an operator when the empty rack 31 is insufficient in the empty rack storage unit 30a are provided. For example, the patrol light 30d emits green light when the empty rack 31 occupies 70% or more of the total storage space of the empty rack storage unit 30d, and emits yellow light when the empty rack 31 is cut off 70%. If there is no rack, the worker is notified with a red light and a warning sound to request replenishment of empty racks. When the sorting destination is changed according to the time zone, a portion for issuing a signal for notifying the worker to that effect may be provided on the patrol light.

The independent operation type 10-unit pickup device 3
4 is the unloadable position 2 on the turntable 12
3, 24, 25, 26, and is provided above the transport surface of the turntable 12 along the radial direction at each of the unloadable positions 23, 24, 25, 26. Arm 34c, and a pick-up section 34a that moves along the arm 34c and can advance on the transport surface, and selects and grips the container 11 to pick up the container 11.
And a motor 34b for moving the pickup section 34a, and an air cylinder 34d (FIG. 3) for the pickup section 34a to perform a gripping operation. Therefore, the pick-up device 34 can load the selected containers 11 from the turntable 12 into the respective racks 31 of the standby portion 36 at the standby positions corresponding to the respective sorting destinations by simply transferring the selected containers 11 in the radial direction. .

The pickup unit 3 operably operated independently for each of the independent 10-unit pickup units 34.
4a picks up only the corresponding container 11 according to whether or not the container 11 placed at the unloadable position of the turntable 12 is to be sorted to the sorting stage 13. The independent 10-unit pick-up arm 34 has a vertical independent slide drive mechanism, a container clamping handling mechanism (air cylinder), and a downward pressing mechanism at the time of loading on the rack. In synchronization with the release of the nipping handling release mechanism, the downward pressing mechanism is driven to move the container 1 into the rack 31.
1 is loaded.

The container 11 picked up by the stand-alone 10-unit pick-up device 34 extends along the radial direction of the turntable 12 until the container 11 completely crosses the distribution section 32.
It moves intermittently for each individual distance. At each of the moving positions, if there is an empty space under the container 11 picked up by the pickup arm 34 in the rack 31 corresponding to the sorting destination to which the container 11 is to be sorted, in which the container 11 is to be loaded, The corresponding container 11 is loaded into the rack 31. In this way, the picked-up container 11 is loaded on the rack 31 of the corresponding sorting destination of the sorting stage 13. Note that reference numeral 3
2a is a motor for the distribution unit 32, and 32b is a motor for the distribution unit 3.
2 rails.

The standby section 36 is provided with the empty rack supply section 30
Has a distribution unit 32 for distributing the empty racks 31 supplied from the company to ten positions corresponding to the sorting destination (ten) positions. The rack 31 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction thereof is parallel to the circumferential direction (or the conveying direction or the tangential direction) at the unloadable position 23 (24, 25, 26) of the turntable 12. The rack 31 is provided with a rack barcode for identifying the rack 31 in advance.

Further, the standby section 36 has a rack 3
1 has a slide independent transfer section 33 that can transfer one container independently for each sorting destination along the longitudinal direction. The slide independent transfer section 33 is configured to advance the rack 31 one by one by one every time one container 11 is loaded on the rack 31 by the pickup device 34 to front-load the containers, Pickup device 3
As long as the container 4 is not loaded with the container 11, the rack 31 of the corresponding sorting destination is provided with a mechanism that does not advance. The mechanism comprises ten pins 33 which are provided for each sorting destination, are vertically movable, can be inserted into a container, are formed in the shape of the container 11 which can be loaded into the rack 31, and protrude downward.
The ten pins are connected to the moving part 33b which advances only by the pitch of one container.

The pin 33a is used to move the air cylinder 3 up and down.
It is moved up and down by 3c. The pickup device 34
Thus, the loading section 69 of the rack 31 newly loaded with containers is moved so that only the rack loaded with containers is advanced.
The pin 33a is inserted downward into the loading section 69 (FIG. 5) adjacent to the moving section 33 where the container has not yet been loaded.
By moving the container forward, only the rack 31 loaded with the container advances by one container. Thereby, the last position of the queue of containers for each sorting destination, that is, the empty position of each rack 31 in which the containers 11 can be loaded is set along the radial direction of the unloadable position 23, that is, along the lower position of the pickup device 34. All together. The standby unit 36 includes a roller 35 for moving the rack 31 forward,
The rack 35 in which all the containers are loaded by the rollers 35
1 is provided.

The discharge section 37 is movable along the arm 37b and the arm 37b. The discharge section 37 grips the loading rack 31a assembled in the loading rack gathering section 39, and sends it to the printing section 40 and the batch transport section 41. It has a gripper 37c (FIG. 3) driven by an air cylinder or the like that discharges the air, and a motor 37a that moves the gripper 37c.

The printing section 40 includes a moving section 40b for moving the loading rack in the longitudinal direction, a motor 40a for driving the moving section 40b, and a laser for emitting a laser beam to perform printing on the side surface of the container 11. Marker 40c
The position information is printed on the side surface of each container 11 loaded in the rack 31a by moving the rack 31a in the longitudinal direction.
The printing section 40 is provided with a reading section (not shown) as the position information detecting means for reading identification information of the rack attached to the rack 31a.

After the end of printing, the discharge unit 37
Further, the rack 31 is provided with the rack-by-rack batch transfer section 41.
To the upstream end of the The batch transport unit 41 includes a YZ-axis transport unit 41 capable of moving the rack 31a in the YZ-axis direction.
a and a rail 42 for moving the YZ-axis transport unit 41a along the X-axis direction. At the sorting position 43, a three-dimensional stocker is provided as shown in FIG. 6 in the Z-axis direction for each of the 10 sorting positions 43A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J. Is provided with a tray storage shelf 72 on which trays 71 are stacked.

The tray 71 can accommodate, for example, five racks. In this case, the batch transport section 41 is provided so as to be movable by five pitches with respect to one sorting destination position. The tray 71 may also be provided with a tray bar code for identifying the tray, and read and managed by a tray bar code reading unit (not shown).

Further, in the sorting system 10 according to the present embodiment, the suction operation is independently performed on the ten containers belonging to the container row in the radial direction above the turntable 12 along the radial direction. In addition, ten nozzles are provided for performing a discharging operation on a container placed on the child sample dispensing stage, and ten nozzles are provided movably between the turntable 12 and the child sample dispensing stage. An independent dispenser may be provided. The dispenser is used when performing a fractional sorting on a sample contained in each container. A container for accommodating the sample aspirated by the dispenser is placed near the dispenser, and a child sample dispensing stage for attaching child sample information to the container is arranged. good.

Here, "independent operation type" means that not only the plurality of nozzles can be independently raised and lowered but also can suction and discharge. Each nozzle is provided with a pressure sensor and an optical sensor for detecting the liquid level of each container. Thus, even if the liquid level of the object contained in each container varies, the processing can be performed. Each of the sorting stages 13, 14, 15, 16
A caster 46 and a leg 46 may be provided on the lower side to be movable.

FIG. 4 shows a container 11 according to the present embodiment. The container 11 includes a main body 61 having a bottom 60 formed in a tapered shape, and a cap 62 covering an opening of the main body 61.
And On the side surface of the main body 61 of the container 11,
A label portion 64 on which a bar code 63 is written is attached. The tube holder 65 holding the container 11 has a cylindrical hole 66 formed therein, and the upper portion of the cylindrical hole 66 is formed in a tapered shape. Further, the tube holder 65 is provided with a slit 67 for reading the bar code from the outside.

The label portion may be provided with a space for printing position information described later. The position information may be printed directly on the container. The label section may be provided with a space for handwriting such as a patient name. In addition, the label part
A cuttable portion for pasting to a document such as a search request form is provided, and in that portion, identification information of the container displayed on the remaining portion of the label portion and the same information as the above information are attached. Alternatively, the correspondence between the document and the container may be clarified.

FIG. 5 shows an empty rack 31 according to the present embodiment. The rack 31 is partitioned by a holder section 68 into ten loading sections 69 in which the containers 11 can be loaded. Since the loading portion 69 is open in the side surface direction, the side surface of the loaded container 11 can be seen through the outside of the rack 31 and printing can be performed by applying a laser beam from the side surface. Also, the end 7 of the longitudinal end 70a, 70b of the bottom 70 of the rack 31
By forming Oa slightly wedge-shaped, the rack can be easily loaded on a tray or the like.

FIG. 6 shows the tray storage shelf 72 (tertiary container) as a three-dimensional stocker. The tray storage shelf 7
In 2, two trays 71 can be stacked in ten rows (corresponding to ten sorting destinations). Each tray 71 can accommodate five racks 31. The tray storage shelf 43 includes casters 74 and legs 73.
May be provided so that the entire tray storage shelf 72 can be moved.

Further, a patrol light 75 for instructing a worker to remove the tray 71 or to load a new tray is provided at an upper portion of the tray storage shelf 72 for each of ten sorting destinations. The patrol light 75 is provided with, for example, a red light 75r, a yellow light 75y, and a green light 75g.
Is greater than 70%, the green light 75g is turned on, and if less than 70%, the light is switched to the yellow light 75y.
When is loaded, the red party 75r may be illuminated to indicate removal of the tray and loading of a new tray. Alternatively, a new tray storage shelf may be supplied.

It is preferable that the tray 71 is, for example, partitioned by a partition at an introduction portion into which the rack is introduced to prevent the rack from tipping over. When a sample requiring cooling is used for the tray storage shelf 72, a cooling function may be provided. The cooling function is provided, for example, by providing a cooling unit and a fan on the ceiling of the tray storage shelf 72, forming the side surface of the tray storage shelf 72 with a heat insulating material, and opening and closing the tray extracting portion of the tray storage shelf 72. A door may be attached, and the door may be closed to prevent heat radiation. Since no printing is performed on the rack 31 and the tray 71, the rack 31 and the tray 71 can be used any number of times. Also, if the container 11 is also printed on the label portion, it can be reused.

Thus, a large number of containers can be collected and processed in an orderly manner. Although not shown, in the sorting system, the control device 21 for controlling each mechanism of the system has an information processing device. The information processing device is a computer (CPU), a memory, a C
DROM, MO, floppy (registered trademark) disk, storage device such as hard disk, display device such as CRT, output device such as printer, keyboard, mouse, CDRO
It has an input device for inputting instructions and the like and data by an operator such as a driver such as a M, MO or a floppy disk, and a communication device such as a modem. The control device has software necessary to consistently automate processes such as unloading, transporting, reading, dispensing, sorting, displaying, and erasing containers based on the detected information.

In the control device, residual containers remaining on the transfer device without passing into the sorting stage after passing through all the unloadable positions of the sorting stage are stored in a predetermined information erasing line 2.
7 (FIG. 1), the barcode reading unit 1
It has an information erasing means for erasing the information detected by 7, 18, and 19, and a residual container information display means for displaying residual container information on the residual container on the display device.
Also, as described above, when the loading time zone is included in the read sorting destination information, the container is loaded from the turntable 12 to the sorting stage during the loading time zone.
Instruct the container moving device. In addition, for a sorting destination included in the read sorting destination information, a corresponding sorting time zone is stored as a table in the memory,
In the corresponding sorting time zone, it may be instructed to carry out the container from the turntable 12. Further, when the sorting destination included in the read sorting destination information does not exist on each sorting stage at present, an instruction such as a worker is carried out so as to carry out when there is a carrying out instruction from the control device. A control device may be configured. The memory stores information such as the location of the assortment destination according to the assortment destination included in the assortment destination information. Information such as a sorting destination position and a sorting time zone can be input or changed by an operator using the input device.

Next, control of the sorting system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In step S1, the worker picks up the container 11 containing the object (liquid) such as the sample such as the blood of the subject without alignment, and in step S2, places the container 11 in the container 11 in a predetermined shape. The container which is not the container is removed or replaced, and only the container 11 having a predetermined shape is arranged.

The container 11 containing the sample and the like
In step S3, a bar code 63 is printed on the container 11 containing the sample, or a label portion 64 on which characters are printed or written is affixed to the container 11. The work is performed on the work stage 20. At this time, the removal portion of the label portion 64 on which the same bar code as the bar code 63 is printed may be removed and attached to a corresponding document.

In step S4, each of the containers 11 containing the sample to which the label portion 64 on which the barcode 63 is printed is attached.
Is mounted on the turntable 12 from the work stage 20 by a worker so as to form a container row in which 10 samples are arranged in a row in the width direction by random alignment work. At this time, the label unit 64 is mounted so that a bar code reader described later can read the bar code 63. The turntable 12 is rotated by, for example, one pitch by the control device (not shown) for about 15 seconds to
The conveyance is performed so that a predetermined unloading operation or the like is performed by an intermittent rotation of stopping for a fixed time such as 25 seconds or an operation combining rotation and stop such as rotation of stopping for a variable time.

In step S5, the loaded container 11
Is a bar code reader 17 which is the device for detecting target information, etc.
Transported to the position. The bar code reader 17 slides along each of the radially arranged container rows mounted on the turntable 12 while sliding each container 1.
1. Sorting information and the container 11 from the label attached to 1.
Is detected on the turntable 12. The sorting destination information and the container information on the position on the turntable 12 are sent to the control device.

In step S6, the result of the reading of the bar code is transferred to each container of the arm-shaped member extending to a length covering all the container rows such that 10 containers are arranged in a row in the width direction above the turntable 12. LE provided correspondingly
The worker is notified by light emission on a display unit (not shown) such as D. The display unit is provided at a position not far from the work stage 20 so that an operator at the work stage 20 can take out the container. Containers displayed by light emission on this display unit are containers that need to be processed in a frozen state without being handled at room temperature,
This container is a container that does not have a target sorting destination or a container that has no label part 64 attached thereto and cannot be read by a barcode. The container with this indication is removed from the turntable 12 by the operator.

Container 1 not removed in step S6
1 is further conveyed, and the process proceeds to step S7, where each of the unloadable positions 23, 2
At 4, 25 and 26, each sorting stage 13, 14, 15, 1
6 will be carried out. At this time, it is determined whether or not the assortment information includes the division classification. In the case of the division classification, it is carried out to the necessary dispensing / sorting stage 15.

In step S7, when the unloading mechanism is out of order, when the transporting or stopping timing is shifted from the unloading mechanism, when the operation of removing the tray due to the full load is not performed, and the apparatus is not operated, or when the bar code is read. Residual containers that were not able to be carried out because they were not possible
Even if the barcode is readable and the unloading mechanism is not malfunctioning, the container 1
If the sorting destination indicated by the sorting destination information attached to 1 is not within the designated sorting time zone, or does not reach the loading time zone indicated in the sorting destination information, If not indicated, the container 11 is left on the turntable 12 as a residual container,
Proceed to step S8.

In step S8, the container returns to the position where the container is mounted on the turntable 12. Before the return, the residual container passes through a predetermined information erasing line 27 set on the transport path of the turntable 12,
After the regression, in step S9, the residual contents are displayed on the screen of the display device 21 of the information processing device as the control device, and the residual container 11 is detected by the barcode reading units 17, 18, 19, The information about the remaining container 11 stored in the control device is deleted.

Various measures are taken for the residual container 11 that has returned to the original position, according to the reason for the residual.
For example, if the bar code cannot be read, correct the direction of loading of the container if it is not correct.If the bar code is wet, wipe it off to remove water droplets. In the case of improper printing, a new barcode is pasted. In the case of a failure of the device, the system is stopped and repaired. If the rack is not mounted,
Load the rack and if the tray is full, remove the tray and load a new tray. When the sorting destination indicated by the sorting destination information is not within the specified sorting time zone, when the delivery time zone indicated in the sorting destination information has not been reached, or when there is no instruction from the control device. In the case where the sorting destination does not exist at present, the remaining container is left on the turntable 12 without any processing, except that the information is erased.

In this way, the remaining container 11 is mounted on the turntable 12 again in step S4 and transported. As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the unloading to any one of the sorting stages is not performed, the turntable 12 continues to transport the container, and the unloading to the other sorting stage is not performed. It will continue and will not bring down the entire system. Therefore, the influence of the failure can be minimized.

In step S8, if there is no failure in the container moving device such as the pickup arm, or within the carry-in time zone, the sorting time zone specified by the sorting destination information affixed to each container 11, or the control. If there is an instruction from the device, the process proceeds to step S10, where the turntable 12 is used to enable the respective unloadable positions 23, 24, 25, 26.
Each of the containers 11 transported to the respective containers 11 is carried out of the turntable 12 based on the sorting destination information attached to each of the containers 11 and carried into any of the sorting stages 13, 14, 15, and 16.

The sorting stage 13 (14, 15, 16)
The above processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

At step S21, the turntable 1
Of the containers 11 conveyed to the unloadable position 23 above, the corresponding containers 11 to be sorted at the sorting stage 13 are to be sorted from the turntable 12 to the sorting stage 23 by the pickup arm 34. The containers 11 are sorted, and the containers 11 are selectively lifted in the Z-axis direction and carried out. In step S22,
The containers are carried into the sorting stage 13 by moving each container 11 in the radial direction or the width direction toward the sorting stage 13 by the pickup arm 34. In step S23, the container 11 is loaded on the designated rack 31. Here, each container 11 is carried into the sorting stage 13 as follows.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sorting stage 13
The containers 11 to be sorted by “No. 1”, “No. 3”,
“No. 6” and “No. 10”, and the “No. 1” container is the sorter H
, The “No. 3” container is to be sorted to the sorter C, and the “No. 6” container 11 is to be sorted to the sorter J.
The container 11 of “No. 10” is to be sorted to the sorting destination E. The operation in this case is as follows.

When the position of “No. 1” of the pick-up arm of the pick-up arm 16 comes to the position of “E” of the rack 31, this is the first stop, and the “No. To be loaded. When the position of "1" of the pickup arm comes to the position of H on the rack,
This is the second stop, and the “No.
Is loaded into the sorting destination H. When the “No. 1” position of the pickup arm reaches the “D” position, this is the third stop, and the “No. 10” container 11 is loaded into the rack of the sorting destination E of the standby unit 36. The case where the position of “No. 1” of the pickup arm comes to the position of “E” is the fourth stop, and the container 11 of “No. 6” is placed on the rack corresponding to the sorting destination J of the standby unit 36. Will be loaded. In this way,
With up to ten stops of the pick-up arm, the rack can be fully loaded with containers mounted on the turntable in any case.

In step S23, the pickup arm 3
4, the rack 31 of the sorting destination into which the container 11 is loaded.
Is advanced by one pitch of the container width. Thus, the loading section 69 of the rack 31 under the path of the pickup arm 34 can be made empty. Until ten containers 11 are loaded in the loading unit 69 of the rack 31, the standby unit 36 makes the containers 11 stand by.

At step S24, the container 1 is placed in each rack 31.
When 10 are loaded, in step S25, the loading rack 31a is moved forward to
To the loaded-completion rack assembly 39 at the downstream end of the rack. When the loading rack 31 is transferred forward by the independent transfer section 33, a new empty rack 31 is transferred to that position.

In step S26, the loading rack 31a, which has moved to the loaded rack collecting section 39 at the downstream end of the roller 35, is transferred to the printing section 40. In the printing unit 40, the identification information of the rack 31a is read, and a bar code, which is the identification information of the loading rack 31a, is printed on each container 11 as position information by numbers or characters.

In step S27, the loading rack 31a on which the position information is printed is intermittently transported by the batch transport unit 41 at intervals of one pitch of each rack width to the corresponding destination position among the destination positions 43. You.

At the sorting position 43, a tray storage shelf 72 for stacking and stacking a plurality of trays at each sorting position is provided, and the rack 31 is accommodated in the five trays 71. The rack 31 is moved up or down by the up-down movement mechanism of the batch transfer section 41. The tray goes up or down every single step, so that a total of 8 trays can be loaded,
When three trays are loaded, a lamp is displayed to notify the operator. When the rack 31 is stored in the five trays,
The tray information reading section reads a tray bar code.
As a result, information from the sample information to the tray is linked. From now on, 50 sample batches in the tray will be work batches. In the case where the sorting destination is changed according to the time zone, the worker is notified by the above-mentioned patrol light or the like that the sorting destination has been switched.

Returning to FIG. 7, step S is thus performed.
At 11, the samples are batched on each tray storage shelf 72, and are carried into each laboratory by an operator at step S14.
Various processes are performed.

When the sorting destination information includes the division classification in step S7, the container 11 is placed in the unloadable position 2
5 is transferred to the above-mentioned necessary dispensing and sorting stage 15, and is transferred to the destination on the necessary dispensing and sorting stage 15 in step S10. The sorted containers 11 are used in step S1.
After being batched in step 1, the container 11
Is transported to a 10-unit independent type dispenser, which dispenses the container 11 according to the contents indicated in each container 11.
Aspirate the sample from The content of the dispensing is 1: 1
Dispensing (the accommodated sample is divided into two parts 1: 1 and one child sample container containing the same amount of sample as the parent sample container is obtained), 1: 2 dispensing (the accommodated sample is divided into 1: Split into two,
(One child sample container having twice the amount of the liquid stored in the parent sample container is obtained).

The group of dispensed child sample containers that have been dispensed is transported in the direction of the work table 20 by a child sample rack transport device or the like. In step S4, the dispensed child sample container group is carried into the turntable 12 from the work stage 20 by the operator.

These embodiments have been specifically described for better understanding of the present invention, and do not limit another embodiment. Therefore, it can be changed without changing the gist of the invention. For example, in the above description, only the case where an annular turntable is used has been described.However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and a straight path is formed, or a closed path is formed by combining a straight transfer path. You may do it.

In the above description, the case where the 0th container is a tubular container, the primary container is a rack, the secondary container is a tray, and the tertiary container is a tray storage shelf has been described. Alternatively, a tray storage that stores a predetermined number of the tray storage shelves may be provided as the fourth container. Further, in the above description, only the identification information of the rack of the primary container is attached to the 0th container as the position information, but the tray of the secondary container and the tray storage shelf of the tertiary container are attached. Alternatively, identification information may be added to the tray storage of the fourth container and the identification information may be included in the position information. Furthermore, the number of containers that can be accommodated in the rack and the number of racks that can be accommodated in the tray are not limited to this number, and various cases are possible.
Also, the mechanism of the sorting stage is not limited to the above example, and various mechanisms can be used.

[0119]

According to the first invention or the sixteenth invention, a transport device is provided and transported along a transport route until fine sorting is performed, and the final sorting is arranged around the transport device. The sorting operation is structurally separated so as to be performed by one or more sorting stages.
Therefore, since the size of the transfer device does not directly depend on the number of sorting destinations, a sorting system and a sorting method which are compact, simple in structure and inexpensive as a whole can be obtained even when there are many sorting destinations.

Further, due to the separation of the operation of transporting the containers on the transport path and the final sorting operation, fine sorting is not performed on the transport path, so that the work on the transport path can be performed for a certain period of time. Or, to provide a sorting system and a sorting method that are time-predictable, easy to control, and easy to handle, by performing each sorting operation at a timing so that each sorting operation does not affect each other depending on the amount of other sorting operations. Can be.

Further, if the number of sorting destinations in each sorting stage is increased, the basic structural expansion is not performed, and
Since the number of sorting destinations can be changed, it is possible to provide a sorting system and a sorting method with flexibility, expandability, and versatility.

Further, the position information detecting device is configured to attach information on the relationship between each container and the container and the relationship between the container and the sorting position to the container. Once the container is taken out and processed, its position can be accurately returned to the original position, so that the reliability is high. In particular, the re-examination that occurs on a daily basis is performed manually, because the incidence is low, but in this case, the container that has been taken out must be attached to each container in order to correctly return it to its original position again. The location information provided is important.

Further, by storing the detected position information, tracking of an object such as a specimen and subsequent processing can be performed efficiently and efficiently, so that even in the event of an accident or breakdown, it can be performed quickly. I can deal with it. In addition, by performing control based on the detected information, it is possible to speed up processing and increase efficiency.

Further, the concept of machine automation using bar codes and the like and the manual work that occurs around the systemization are
By attaching the sorting information to the container and position information indicating the relationship with the container, the contents of the sorting can be confirmed by humans, so that the work of humans and the work of the machine can be connected without any separation. A consistent sample processing system can be constructed.

Further, according to the present invention, even an unstable container that is individually small and has a poor seating is accommodated at least once in a hierarchically higher-order container, and handled while being sequentially bundled. Therefore, the handling and processing can be performed easily, orderly, and stably as compared with the case where the containers are individually handled. In addition, a large number of small-capacity containers can be densely stacked, and sorting can be performed with a reduced apparatus scale and work space.

According to the second invention and the seventeenth invention,
Finally, since it is possible to easily associate the 0th container with the nth container in which the 0th container is accommodated, the content of the position information is simple and the control method is simple.

According to the third invention and the eighteenth invention,
Since all identification information from the primary container to the n-th container is added to the 0-th container, the association between the n-th container and the 0-th container and the n-th container of the 0-th container are added. The position in the next container can be surely grasped.

According to the fourth or nineteenth invention,
Since a predetermined number of containers are loaded on a rack or a tray and bundled and handled, it is easier to accumulate a large amount of containers and to handle and process compared to a case where the containers are individually handled. Racks can be further bundled and stacked. Furthermore, control such as movement of the tray itself can be performed.

According to the fifth invention or the twentieth invention,
The container is transported along a closed path. Therefore, the containers remaining on the transport path can be returned to the original position, and various measures can be taken immediately for the containers, so that the reliability is high.

According to the sixth invention or the twenty-first invention, the sorting destination can be changed according to the time zone, so that the containers can be sorted into a larger number of sorting destinations.
In particular, when the container is transported along a closed route, the container can be made to wait until the time comes, so the worker does not need to be aware of the time,
Since the containers can be sorted, it is convenient that the burden on the worker is not increased by increasing the number of sorting destinations.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the container is loaded into a holder hole provided on a transfer surface of a transfer device. Therefore, the worker can easily and stably place and transport the container.

In the eighth invention, a label portion to be attached to a container is provided. Therefore, the information can be detachably attached to the container, so that the container can be easily reused and the information can be easily replaced. Thereby, highly efficient processing can be performed. Furthermore, by providing the detachable portion, by attaching the detached portion to another document related to the object contained in the container, the document can be reliably associated with the container. , More reliable.

According to the ninth invention or the twenty-second invention, the containers are temporarily moved to a standby position different from the sorting destination, instead of being sorted so that the containers are directly transferred to the sorting destination. , And can be collectively transferred to the collecting section, which is a fine sorting destination. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence of the sorting time required at one sorting destination on the sorting work at another sorting destination, and to shorten the total sorting time and increase the efficiency. In addition, this allows the container moving device,
The structure of the sorting stage and the like can be simplified, and the total transfer distance of the transfer mechanism can be shortened to perform the processing efficiently.

Further, according to the present invention, a rack is movably mounted at a position corresponding to each sorter in the standby section.
A rack loaded with containers is conveyed to the stacking unit at a time, and when the rack is unloaded from the standby unit, an empty rack is newly supplied. In this way, since the processing is performed by bundling a certain number of containers, it is easy and efficient.

According to the tenth invention or the twenty-third invention, trays capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks are provided at the sorting position in a plurality of layers for each sorting destination. This allows the container to be stored in a more stable state,
And since they are handled collectively, handling such as transportation and storage is easy. Also, since a large number of containers can be accumulated at the sorting position, a large number of containers can be sorted efficiently and quickly in a space-saving manner.

According to the eleventh invention or the twenty-fourth invention, the operation of transporting the containers is performed independently of the final sorting operation, and the operations on the route are not performed. It is set to be performed intermittently at a set time. Therefore, the processing such as the loading of the container into the sorting stage can be stopped once and reliably performed. Further, even if the processing takes a long time, various operations can be performed at a fixed time or a fixed cycle by dividing the processing into a short processing and repeating the processing.

According to the twelfth invention or the twenty-fifth invention, by performing processing such as dispensing on the container,
The efficiency of the processing can be improved, and the sorting processing on the sorting stage can be simplified. Also, before sorting, the amount of each sample can be changed or a child sample can be created on the transport device by division or the like, so that various sorts can be performed, and various processes can be performed. it can.

According to the thirteenth invention or the twenty-sixth invention, the parent object can be divided into child objects around the transfer device, so that the container accommodating the child object can be transferred to the transfer device. Various sorts can be performed by mounting on the top.

According to the fourteenth invention or the twenty-seventh invention, the containers are mounted in a row in the width direction on the transfer device, and the rack provided in the standby section on the sorting stage can be moved to its unloadable position. By arranging them along the transport direction in, the structure, operation, and control of the container moving device, the standby unit, and the like can be simplified. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a container can be efficiently transferred to a sorting destination with the minimum transfer distance or movement.

According to the fifteenth invention or the twenty-eighth invention, the information relating to the residual container is erased once, so that the information becomes limited information for each cycle, and the storage capacity of the apparatus can be reduced. Therefore, the scale of the apparatus can be reduced, and the load on software can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a sorting stage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a three-side view of a sorting stage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a rack according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an accumulation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a container pick-up operation by the pick-up arm according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Sorting system 11 ... Container (0th-order container) 12 ... Turntable (closed-circuit conveyance apparatus) 13, 14, 15, 16 ... Sorting stage 17, 18, 19 ... Barcode reading part (container information detection apparatus) 20 ... Work stage 21 ... Control device 22 ... Rotation center 23,24,25,26 ... Possible to carry out container 31 ... Empty rack (primary container) 31a ... Loading rack 34 ... Independent 10-unit pickup device (container moving device) 36 ... Standby unit 37 ... Ejection unit 39 ... Loaded rack assembly unit 41 ... Batch transport unit 43 ... Assortment position 64 ... Label unit 71 ... Tray (secondary container) 72 ... Tray storage shelf (third container)

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2G058 CA02 CB04 CB15 CB16 CF09 CF12 CF16 CF25 EA02 ED07 ED16 GB03 GB10 GC02 GC03 GC05 GC06 GC09 3F022 DD03 EE01 FF01 KK11 MM01 MM03 MM11 MM30 MM43 MM70 PP04

Claims (28)

[Claims] An object, such as a specimen, to be sorted, is accommodated therein, and a large number of containers to which object information on the object and information on the sorting destination are attached are mounted and transported along a predetermined route. Transfer device, a container information detecting device that detects the sorting destination information of each container and the placement position on the transfer device, and a transfer device that is arranged around the transfer device and that performs the transfer based on the detection result by the detection device. Bring in containers from the device,
In the case where the container is the 0th container, the container is sequentially repeated one or more times from the low order to the high order at least once in the high order container, so that the container is the nth container. (N ≧ 1 natural number), and one or more sorting stages for transferring the container to any of a plurality of sorting positions, and the zeroth container is stored and transferred to the sorting position Position information that attaches at least the 0th-order container to the 0th-order container, including information relating the n-th container to the 0th-order container and information indicating the storage position of the 0th-order container in the nth-order container. A sorting system comprising: an attaching device; and a control device that controls sorting of each container based on at least a detection result and an instruction of the container information detecting device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position information attaching device detects position information including identification information of the n-th container to which identification information is attached, as information for associating with the n-th container. 2. The sorting system according to claim 1, further comprising: position information attaching means for attaching the position information including the detected identification information to each of the 0th order containers. 3. The position information attaching device attaches identification information from the primary container to which identification information for accommodating each of the zero-order containers is attached as information for associating with the n-th container. Position information detecting means for detecting position information including each identification information up to the n-th container, and position information attaching means for attaching the position information including the detected identification information to the zeroth container. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The zero-order container is a tubular container, the primary container is a rack capable of loading the containers in a row, and the secondary container is a transferred container. A tray in which the primary containers can be loaded in a row, the tray is previously placed at the sorting position, and the position information is:
4. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein identification information of a rack in which the container is loaded, and a loading position of the container in the rack. 5. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the transport device is a closed-path transport device that transports along a closed path. 6. In the sorting stage, when a loading time zone of a container is specified in the sorting destination information, a sorting destination included in the sorting destination information is specified in the loading time zone according to time. If it is the case, the transfer of the container from the transfer device is performed within the sorting time zone according to the sorting destination, or when the instruction from the control device is received, within the specified time zone. The sorting stage according to claim 1, wherein the sorting stage is performed. 7. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of holder holes are provided on a transfer surface of the transfer device, and the containers are loaded on the transfer device by loading the containers into the holder holes. The sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The target information and the sorting destination information are displayed on a label attached to the container, and the label further includes a space for displaying the position information.
8. The sorting system according to claim 1, further comprising a handwriting space. 9. The sorting stage movably mounts the rack capable of loading a predetermined number of containers at a standby position set for each sorting destination, and loads the rack with a predetermined number of containers. A standby unit that waits for the containers loaded from the transport device, a container moving device that loads the containers mounted on the transport device into the rack at the corresponding standby position, and a standby at the standby unit. When a predetermined number of containers are loaded in the rack, a batch transport unit that transports the rack to the sorting destination in a lump, and a new empty rack when the rack is unloaded from the standby unit. The sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an empty rack supply unit that supplies a standby unit to each sorting destination. 10. A tray storage shelf corresponding to a tertiary container for stacking trays capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks in a plurality of stages for each of the sorting destinations is provided at the sorting destination position, The sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the batch transport unit includes a lifting / lowering mechanism that moves the rack up and down. 11. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the transport device intermittently transports a container group including a predetermined number of containers at a designated time interval along the route. The sorting system described in 1. 12. A container that can be independently dispensed to each container belonging to the container group mounted on the transfer device or to a container group placed outside the transfer surface of the transfer device. 12. The sorting system according to claim 1, further comprising a group independent dispenser. 13. A parent object contained in a container mounted on the transfer device or a container mounted outside the transfer device at a predetermined rate around the transfer device by the container group independent dispenser. 13. A child object container housing stage for sucking, transferring, and discharging and housing in a container to which child object information on the child object is attached is provided. The sorting system described. 14. The container group of the transfer device is a container row in which the predetermined number of containers are arranged in a width direction orthogonal to a transfer direction along a transfer path thereof, and the container moving device is a transfer device. A container to be sorted to the sorting stage is selected from the container row conveyed to each of the unloadable positions, and the container is transferred in the width direction of the unloadable position to the sorting destination of the standby unit. The standby unit has an independent transport device capable of independently transporting one rack by one container for each sorting destination along the transport direction at the unloadable position. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each time a plurality of containers are loaded into the rack, the rack is moved forward by one container in order, so that the end of each container queue for each sorting destination is aligned. Sorting described in System. 15. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a residual container remaining on the transfer device after passing through all the unloadable positions of the sorting stage and not being loaded into the sorting stage passes through a predetermined information erasing line. And an information erasing means for erasing the information detected by the container information detecting device, and a residual container information display means for displaying residual container information on the residual container. 14
Sorting system according to any of the above. 16. A conveyance system for accommodating an object such as a sample to be sorted, mounting a large number of containers to which object information on the object and sorting information on the sorting destination are attached, and conveying the container along a predetermined route. A step of detecting sorting information of each container and a placement position on a transport path; and, based on a result of the detection, one or more or more arranged around the transport path from the transport path. When a container is carried into one of the sorting stages and the container is designated as a 0th-order container, a predetermined number of lower-order containers are stored in a higher-order container to which identification information is attached from a lower order to a higher order. By repeating at least once toward the n-th container (n ≧ 1 natural number),
A sorting step of transferring to any of the plurality of sorting destination positions, information relating the n-th container to be stored in the zero-order container and transferred to the sorting position and each of the zero-order containers, and A position information attaching step of attaching position information including information indicating an accommodation position of the 0th container in the nth container to at least the 0th container. 17. The position information attaching step includes: a position information detecting step of detecting position information of the n-th container to which identification information is attached, the identification information including the identification information; 17. The sorting method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of attaching a position information to a next container. 18. The position information attaching step includes each piece of identification information from the first container attached with identification information accommodating each zero-order container to the n-th container attached with identification information. 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: a position information detecting step of detecting position information; and a position information attaching step of attaching the position information detected by the position information detecting step to a 0th container. Sorting method described. 19. In the sorting step, the primary container is a rack capable of loading the containers in rows, and the secondary container is a tray capable of loading the transferred primary containers in rows. Yes, containers are loaded in rows and columns by the tray, and the tray is previously placed at the sorting position. In the position information detecting step and the position information attaching step, the position information indicates that the container is loaded. 17. The rack identification information, the rack storage position in the tray, or the tray sorting position.
19. The sorting method according to claim 18. 20. The sorting method according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined route in the transporting step is a closed route. 21. In the sorting step, when the container loading time zone is specified in the sorting destination information, the sorting destination included in the sorting destination information is designated according to the time in the loading time zone. If it is to be carried out, the container is loaded from the transfer device within the sorting time zone according to the sorting destination, or when instructed by the control device, within the specified time zone. 21. The sorting method according to claim 16, wherein: 22. The sorting step, comprising: loading a container mounted on the path to a rack movably mounted at a standby position corresponding to each sorting destination; and loading the container into the rack. Until a predetermined number of containers are loaded, a standby process of waiting for the loaded containers, and, when the racks are loaded with a predetermined number of containers, a batch transport process of transporting the racks to the sorting destination position at once, 22. The sorting apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an empty rack supply step of supplying a new empty rack when the rack is unloaded from the standby position. Method. 23. The batch transfer step, wherein a tray capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks at the sorting destination position is stacked on a plurality of stages for each sorting destination and stored in a tray storage shelf as a tertiary container. The rack is moved up and down to be accommodated in a corresponding tray.
2. The sorting method according to any one of 2. 24. The transporting process according to claim 16, wherein each of the containers having a predetermined number of containers is intermittently transported along the route at a specified time interval pitch.
24. The sorting method according to claim 23. 25. The container according to claim 16, further comprising a container group independent dispensing step of independently dispensing each container belonging to the container group. Sorting method. 26. In the independent dispensing step, the parent object contained in the conveyed container is suctioned and transferred at a predetermined ratio, and discharged and accommodated in a container provided with child object information on the child object. 26. The sorting method according to claim 25, further comprising a child object container housing step. 27. The container group in the transporting step is a container row in which the predetermined number of containers are arranged along a width direction orthogonal to a transporting direction along the path, and the loading step includes: A step of selecting a necessary container from the container row conveyed to the unloadable position, transferring the container in the width direction at the unloadable position, and loading the container into a rack corresponding to a sorting destination; The waiting step is such that each time one container is loaded into the rack, the rack is moved forward by one container independently for each sorting destination along the transport direction at the unloadable position, The sorting method according to any one of claims 16 to 26, wherein the end of each queue for each sorting destination is aligned. 28. In the transporting step, when a residual container remaining on the transport without passing through the entire unloadable position of the sorting stage and being loaded into the sorting stage passes through a predetermined information erasing line, 28. The sorting method according to claim 16, further comprising an erasing step of erasing information detected in the detecting step, and a displaying step of displaying residual container information on the residual container. Method.