JP2005156196A - Specimen conveyer, and specimen conveying method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently supply and recover a specimen to/from each dispenser in parallel, in a specimen conveyer having the plurality of dispensers, and for conveying automatically the specimen to the respective dispensers. <P>SOLUTION: This specimen conveyer is constituted as two stages of lines with a supplying conveyance line and a recovering conveyance line lapped as an upper conveying line and a lower conveying line. The supplying conveyance line of an original specimen rack is constituted as the upper conveying line and the supplying conveyance line of an empty specimen rack is constituted as the lower conveying line. A rotary mechanism with a vertical operation mechanism is arranged between the upper conveying line and the lower conveying line. The recovering conveyance line of a sub-specimen rack from the dispenser to the rotary mechanism with the vertical operation mechanism is constituted as the lower conveying line, and the recovering conveyance line to a recovered specimen rack storage part of the sub-specimen rack moved upwards and rotated by the rotary mechanism with the vertical operation mechanism is constituted as the upper conveying line. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample transport apparatus and a sample transport method.

  A plurality of dispensing devices that dispense blood, urine, and the like in clinical examinations into a necessary number of specimens according to various examination items and uses are used.

  As a conventional specimen transport technology, the subject to be transported is blood or urine (hereinafter referred to as “test object”) for clinical tests, so liquid spillage or mixing with other specimens is not allowed. As described in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3, on the transport line, transport on the same plane and on the same transport line is fundamental. The prior art is a technique related to a specimen transport method to a plurality of analyzers or specimen pretreatment apparatuses, and a technique related to a specimen transport apparatus for a plurality of dispensing apparatuses with a complicated transport line configuration. I can't find it.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a sample providing rack that can hold a plurality of sample containers with sample identification information, a reading device that reads the sample identification information of each sample container on the sample providing rack, and sample identification information Means for transporting the sample providing rack after reading to the container transfer position, an empty rack supply device for supplying the receiving rack to each of the plurality of receiving positions in an empty state, and the container transfer position Based on the container distribution container for extracting the sample container from the sample providing rack and distributing it to the receiving racks at the plurality of receiving positions, the sample identification information read by the reader, and the classification information designated in advance. A control unit for controlling the operation of the container dispensing device so that each sample container on the sample providing rack is moved to a receiving rack at a receiving position determined in advance, and a sample at each receiving position. Means for moving the receiving racks after receiving the containers to the corresponding predetermined locations, and an empty rack storage unit for storing the sample providing racks in an empty state in which the sample containers are extracted. A clinical laboratory device is described.

  Patent Document 5 discloses a first parent sample container supply port connected to means for supplying a parent sample container containing a parent sample, and a first child sample container supply port connected to first child sample container supply means. A first parent sample container discharge port for discharging the parent sample container; a first transport means connected to the parent sample container supply port for transporting the parent container along the first transport path; and a first transport A first sorting unit provided in a path for sorting a parent sample from a parent sample container; and a parent sample container having a parent sample that is not sorted by the first sorting unit from the first transport path to the first A first parent sample discharge means for discharging to the first parent sample container discharge port before reaching the sorting means and the child sample container supply port are connected to transfer the child sample container along the second transfer path. Sample recognition of the parent sample provided in the second transport means and the second transport path and sorted by the first sorting means And a second parent sample container supply connected to the first parent sample container outlet. The first sample dispensing and dispensing device comprises first dispensing means for dispensing into the child sample container according to the information. A second child sample container supply port connected to the second child sample container supply means; a second parent sample container discharge port for discharging the parent sample container; and the second parent sample container supply port. A third transport means for transporting the parent sample container along the third transport path; a second sorting means provided on the third transport path for separating the parent sample from the parent sample container; A second parent sample discharging means for discharging a parent sample container having a parent sample not sorted by the sorting means to the second parent sample container discharge port before reaching the second sorting means from the third transport path; A fourth transport means connected to the second child sample container supply port and for transporting the child sample container along the fourth transport path; A second sample sorting / dispensing device provided with a second dispensing means provided in the transport path for dispensing the parent sample sorted by the second sorting means into the child sample container according to the sample recognition information; There is described a sample sorting apparatus comprising:

  Patent Document 6 discloses a sample transport rack that stores and transports a plurality of samples at the same time, a transport line that transports the transport rack, a sample storage section that is disposed on both sides of the transport line, A horizontal holding member provided in the vicinity of the transfer line and provided above the line so as to be orthogonal to the transfer line, a vertical holding member provided to be movable in the horizontal direction by engaging with the horizontal holding member, and the vertical holding member. In a sample sorting apparatus comprising a chuck holding member provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction and extracting a sample from the sample transport rack and moving it to the sample storage unit side, and a control unit for controlling the sort station, The sorting station includes a plurality of chucking hands provided corresponding to the number of samples that can be stored in the sample transport rack. A sorting station having two chuck units that extract a sample to be sorted from a rack and move it to the sample detailed sorting unit side, and one of the two chuck units faces the sample rack on the transport line. Is a sampling station that is integrally provided at a predetermined interval so as to face the sample detail sorting unit or the buffer storage unit, and a sample extracting unit with respect to the chuck unit facing the sample transport rack on the transport line. When the command is given, the other chuck unit is given a command to store the extracted sample in the sample detail sorting unit or the buffer storage unit, and the sorting station moves to a different facing position for sorting, as described above. A sample storage command is sent to the chuck part from which the sample has been removed, and Describes a sample sorting apparatus which is configured by providing a control unit for controlling the conveyance of the sample transport rack sequential downstream sorting station with providing an extraction command analytes in part.

JP 2003-57251 A JP 2002-357612 A JP 2002-90374 A Japanese Patent No. 3047571 Japanese Patent No. 3038108 Japanese Patent No. 3424623

  In accordance with a given dispensing instruction, the dispensing device sucks a necessary amount of the specimen from the original specimen in the original specimen rack, and removes the specimen sucked into the empty specimen rack in the empty specimen rack having a different shape for each examination apparatus. An operation for creating a discharge child sample is performed. When supplying and collecting a sample rack to and from a dispensing device, according to one example, one original sample rack supply line on the supply side, four empty sample rack supply lines, and an original sample rack after dispensing on the collection side Ten collection lines are required for one collection line and four child sample rack collection lines. For this reason, when there are a large number of original samples to be dispensed, a means to secure the entire dispensing processing capacity by increasing the number of dispensing apparatuses can be considered. The layout of the supply line and collection line to the injection machine is very complicated and the area occupied by the transfer line is large, so a large space is required to install the dispenser. On the other hand, it has been practically difficult to realize a sample transport apparatus capable of supplying and collecting samples in parallel.

  An object of the present invention is to efficiently supply samples to a plurality of dispensing devices, particularly in parallel to a plurality of dispensing devices, in order to realize dispensing processing of a large number of samples in a short time. The object is to provide a sample transport apparatus that can be collected in a space-saving manner. Moreover, it is providing the sample conveyance method.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a sample transport device that divides a sample (hereinafter referred to as an original sample) into a plurality of samples (hereinafter referred to as child samples) corresponding to test items. A rack (hereinafter referred to as an empty sample) that accommodates and transports the original sample, the child sample, and an empty sample (hereinafter referred to as an empty sample) to the dispensing apparatus that performs the processing described in FIG. (Hereinafter referred to as the original sample rack, the child sample rack, and the empty sample rack, respectively) for collecting and transporting the supply transport line and the original sample rack and the child sample rack after dispensing from the dispensing device. A supply sample rack storage unit having a mechanism for feeding the transfer line, the original sample rack and the empty sample rack into the supply transfer line, and the dispensed original sample rack and child sample rack are recovered from the recovery transfer line. Have a mechanism to In the sample transport apparatus provided with the recovered sample rack storage unit, the supply transport line and the recovery transport line are configured as two-stage lines that are wrapped by an upper transport line and a lower transport line, The original sample rack supply transport line is configured as an upper transport line, the empty sample rack supply transport line is configured as a lower transport line, and a vertical movement mechanism is provided between the upper transport line and the lower transport line. A rotation mechanism is provided, and the collection transfer line of the child sample from the dispensing device to the rotation mechanism with the up-and-down operation mechanism is configured as a lower-stage transfer line, and is moved up and rotated by the rotation mechanism with the up-and-down operation mechanism Provided is a sample transport apparatus in which a recovery transport line to a recovered sample rack storage unit for a child sample is configured as an upper transport line.

  The dispensing apparatus is arranged in parallel with one another, and a transport line for supplying the original sample rack to the dispensing apparatus is provided, and the supply of the original sample rack from the supply sample rack storage unit of the original sample rack is provided. The original sample rack is transported by the supply transport line, and a rotation mechanism is provided between the supply transport line of the original sample rack and the supply transport line of each original sample rack to the dispensing device, and the original sample rack is Provided with a configuration for carrying.

  A recovery transport line to the recovery sample rack storage section of the child sample rack is disposed in parallel with the supply transport line of the original sample rack, and a rotation mechanism with a vertical movement mechanism is provided in the recovery transport line. Is provided.

  In addition, the supply sample rack storage section of the original sample rack is disposed on the upper transport line, the recovery sample rack storage section of the original sample rack and the child sample rack is disposed on the upper transport line, and the empty sample rack is supplied. A sample rack storage unit is disposed on the lower conveyance line.

  In addition, a plurality of empty sample rack supply buffers are connected to the empty sample rack supply transfer line, and a part of the empty sample rack supply transfer line is arranged in parallel with the plurality of empty sample rack supply buffers. The supply line of the unit is connected via a rotation mechanism.

  In addition, the original sample input area, the sample recovery area, the original sample rack, and the child sample rack that are formed on the upper conveyance line are divided into the empty sample supply area formed on the lower conveyance line and the part of the empty samples. It is arranged so as not to wrap in the vertical direction with the empty sample transport area including the rack supply transport line.

The sample transport method of the present invention further stores the original sample rack, the child sample rack, and the empty sample rack, respectively, for a dispensing apparatus that performs processing for dividing the original sample into a plurality of child samples corresponding to the test items. The sample rack supply transport line to be transported in this manner, the recovery transport line to store and transport the original sample rack and the child sample rack after being dispensed from the dispensing device, and the original sample rack and the empty sample rack. Supply sample rack storage unit having a mechanism for feeding the sample into the supply transport line, and a recovered sample rack storage unit having a mechanism for recovering the dispensed original sample rack and child sample rack from the recovery transport line; In the sample transport method by the sample transport apparatus comprising: the supply transport line and the recovery transport line are configured as a two-stage line of an upper transport line and a lower transport line, The sample rack is transported on the supply transport line of the original sample rack disposed on the upper transport line, and the empty sample rack is transported on the transport transport line of the empty sample rack disposed on the lower transport line. The child sample rack is transported on the collection line for collecting the child sample rack from the dispensing device arranged on the lower transport line, and is moved to the upper transport line via a rotating mechanism with a vertical movement mechanism. A step of transporting the collected child sample racks on the collection transport line and storing them in the collected sample rack storage section of the child sample rack on the upper transport line.
The original sample rack includes a step in which the original sample rack is turned 90 degrees by the rotation mechanism provided on the supply line for supplying the original sample rack and is conveyed to the dispensing device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dispensing apparatus, in particular, a two-stage transportation type specimen transportation apparatus for efficiently operating a plurality of dispensing apparatuses in parallel. Can be realized. In addition, since the space saving property when the sample transport apparatus is installed is realized, a dispensing system in which a plurality of units are combined in a narrow space can be constructed. In addition, since the structure of the transfer device in the dispensing device is unitized for each dispensing device, it is possible to flexibly cope with the addition of the dispensing device.

  The layout of the dispenser that is the target of sample transport is preferably arranged in a matrix of n rows x m rows in view of installation efficiency. The sample transport line to the dispenser of the arrangement is composed of a supply line and a recovery line for the horizontal direction dispenser, and a vertical supply line and a recovery line perpendicular to the horizontal direction transfer line. When the types of samples to be transported in the transport line are different, interference occurs between the vertical transport line and the horizontal transport line, so that a vertical difference is provided between the vertical transport line and the horizontal transport line. To do. Therefore, the supply line of the original sample before dispensing, which has the largest volume of sample and is most affected by impact during sample transportation, is installed at the same level as the dispensing position of the dispensing device and moves up and down during sample transportation. It is set as the structure which does not require. In addition, by collecting the original sample rack and child sample rack after dispensing with a small amount of sample and supplying the empty sample rack, a recovery line and a supply line are arranged under the original sample supply line. Even if the inspection object being transported is spilled, the transport line is configured so as not to affect the original sample before dispensing.

  For the merge of the horizontal and vertical transport lines of the same type of sample rack, a rotation mechanism and a stopper mechanism are provided at this merge point, and the sample is rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees on the rotation mechanism to change the direction. To achieve. Also, the height of the conveyance line in the horizontal direction is different from that in the vertical direction, and the sample on the rotation mechanism is moved up or down after rotation by changing the rotation mechanism to a rotation mechanism with a vertical movement mechanism at the junction. By absorbing the height difference of the transport line.

  As described above, when the sample is supplied to or collected from the dispensing apparatus, 10 transport lines are necessary when considered simply. However, in order to reduce the space occupied by the transport line as much as possible, there are different types of empty sample supply lines. Each empty sample rack is configured to supply a single transport line without providing a transport line. In addition, the recovery lines of the original sample rack and the child sample rack are configured so that they are transported using a single recovery line as in the case of the empty sample rack. With the above configuration, the layout of the transport line can be simplified and the area occupied by the transport line can be greatly reduced.

  The empty sample rack input line, the recovery line, and the original sample rack and the empty sample rack from the supply line to the dispensing device and the original sample rack and the child sample rack from the dispensing device to the recovery line are collected as follows. Corresponds to the height difference from the dispensing position and the integration of the transfer line.

1. Since the sample supply line is at the same height as the dispensing position, it is pushed into the original sample dispensing position by the pusher mechanism provided at the loading position.
2. Since the empty sample rack transport line is lower than the dispensing position, the supply robot hand mechanism provided at the loading position holds one sample rack and places it at the child sample dispensing position corresponding to each type.
3. Since the dispensing position of the child sample rack is higher than the child sample rack collection line, the child sample at each child sample dispensing position is held on the one rack by the collection robot hand mechanism on the child sample collection line.

  In the multi-stage type sample transport apparatus characterized by the above-described configuration, by providing a control device including a control unit for controlling the transport of the sample to the input destination dispensing device and the determined input destination dispensing device, a plurality of dispensing devices are provided. When performing dispensing processing in parallel on the dispensing device, leveling the number of dispensing processes per unit time of each dispensing device and operating the dispensing device efficiently, and if a failure occurs in the dispensing device, A function for separating the corresponding dispensing device and backing it up with another dispensing device is realized.

  The original sample rack to be loaded is set in the supply sample rack storage unit by a person in advance. The control unit inputs the original sample into the original sample transport line in the order set in the supply sample rack storage unit, and the original sample rack attached to the original sample rack by the barcode reader provided at the supply sample rack storage unit outlet at that time The unique ID barcode is read, and the corresponding dispensing instruction information is fetched from the host computer using the original sample rack ID as a key. The control unit sends the fetched original sample ID and the dispensing instruction information to the loading destination dispensing apparatus determination unit and waits for the loading destination dispensing apparatus instruction from the loading destination dispensing apparatus determination unit.

  The loading destination dispensing device determination unit determines the dispensing device to be transported next at the timing when the original sample ID to be loaded into the original sample supply line is received from the control unit. In the initial state where the original sample racks are not loaded in all the dispensing apparatuses, the dispensing apparatuses to be loaded are determined according to a predetermined order, and the original sample racks are supplied to all the dispensing apparatuses one by one. An instruction is given to the control unit. After supplying one rack at a time to all of the dispensing devices, the dispensing-destination dispensing device determination unit determines the dispensing device to which the original sample is to be loaded next based on the dispensing information received from the control unit. The dispensing-destination dispensing apparatus determination unit calculates the total estimated dispensing time for all the original samples currently loaded in the dispensing apparatus from the dispensing information received from the control unit. Next, the dispensing apparatus that has the shortest time as a result of subtracting the time required to reach the dispensing apparatus from the supply specimen rack storage unit set in advance from the estimated dispensing time calculated above is next set to the original sample rack. Is determined as a dispenser to be charged, and an instruction is given to the control unit.

  The control unit should proceed with the original sample rack ID read by the bar code reader provided in the branching part of the supply transport line and the feeding robot hand mechanism part with respect to the dispensing apparatus instructed by the loading destination dispensing apparatus determination unit. The route is determined and the original sample rack is transported and loaded into the dispensing device.

  The control unit constantly monitors the transport state of the original sample and the operating state of the dispensing apparatus. When a failure occurs in the dispensing device and the dispensing process in the dispensing device cannot be continued, a stop report of the dispensing device is sent to the dispensing destination dispensing device determination unit. The dispensing destination determination device determination unit stores the received dispensing device stop report and stops supplying the original sample to the dispensing device until a recovery report is received from the control unit again. By distributing dispensing instructions to other dispensing devices, mutual backup of the dispensing devices can be realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration of a sample transport apparatus 1 configured by a two-stage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall schematic configuration of FIG. However, FIG. 2 is for making it easy to understand the entire configuration visually, and the configuration does not partially match the configuration of FIG. For example, two dispensing device columns are displayed in FIG. 1, whereas three dispensing device columns are displayed in FIG.

  First, the original sample used in this specification is a sample collected and accepted in a hospital or clinical laboratory center, and the child sample is a sample obtained by dividing the original sample into a plurality of items corresponding to the test items, An empty sample is a rack for storing a plurality of empty samples before making a child sample and transporting them in a lump.

  1 and 2, the two-stage type sample transport apparatus 1 is structurally composed of an original sample input area 77, a sample recovery area 79, an empty sample supply area 78, a sample transport area 76a for a source sample rack, and a child sample rack. A part of the empty sample transport area 76b for empty sample rack transport and the dispensing device area 75 are configured, and are arranged on two stages of an upper transport line and a lower transport line. Although it is a superposition method, it has one feature in that it has a minimum number of stages, that is, an upper stage and a lower stage, which makes the configuration clear and a small structure.

  The sample loading / recovery areas 77 to 79 for loading and collecting the sample racks are collectively arranged at one place on one side in order to improve the work efficiency by hand. In addition, in order to reduce the area occupied by the sample input / recovery areas 77 to 79, the upper and lower sides are installed at the same height as the dispensing position. An original sample loading area 77, an original sample rack and a child sample rack collection area 79 are arranged in the upper stage, and an empty sample rack supply area 78 is arranged in the lower stage, so that the original sample rack before dispensing is distributed to the dispensing apparatus. In the unlikely event that the upper and lower movements are not required during transportation, even if the upper inspection object is spilled, consideration is given to minimizing the influence by placing an empty sample in the lower stage.

  In FIG. 1, the dispensing area 75 is provided with two parallel dispensing device rows. Each of the dispensing device rows is composed of dispensing devices 7, 10, 11, and 13. 1 dispenser 7 and No. 1 2 dispensing apparatus 10 and No. 2 3 dispenser 11 and No. 3 dispenser. Each of the four dispensing devices 13 is arranged in series. In FIG. 2, three dispensing device rows are displayed.

  In the original sample area 77, an original sample supply buffer 28, a reject source sample storage unit 29, and a supply source sample storage unit 31 are arranged. In FIG. 2, the original sample supply lane is shown.

  In the empty sample supply area 78, two transport conveyors 91 and 92 arranged in parallel, 1-No. 4 empty sample rack supply buffers 52, 54, 56, 58, reject no. 1 empty sample rack storage 59, supply No. 1 empty sample rack storage 60, reject No. 2 empty specimen storage unit 62, supply No. 2 empty sample rack storage unit 63, reject No. 3 empty sample rack storage unit 65, supply No. 3 empty sample rack storage unit 66, reject empty sample rack storage unit 68, supply No. No. 4 empty sample rack storage unit 69, No. 4 1-No. Four barcode readers 61, 64, 67, 70 are provided.

  In the specimen collection area 79, the conveyor 40, No. 4 is provided. 1 collected child sample rack storage unit 142, No. 1 2 recovery child sample rack storage unit 143, No. 2 3 recovery child sample rack storage unit 144, No. 3 4 collected child sample rack storage unit 145, No. 4; 1 reject child sample rack storage unit 146, No. 1 2 reject child sample rack storage unit 147, No. 2 No. 3 reject child sample rack storage unit 148, No. 3 A 4-reject child sample rack storage unit 149, a collection source sample rack storage unit 50, and a reject source sample rack storage unit 51 are arranged. In FIG. 2, a dispensed rack collection lane is shown. This is a lane for collecting the child sample and the original sample rack that have been dispensed. As these lanes, a child sample tray (1), a child sample tray (2), a child sample tray (3), and two original sample trays are shown.

  In the sample supply area 76a of the original sample rack and the child sample rack, the transport conveyors 23, 27, 33, 36, the 90-degree rotation mechanism 21, 24, the 180-degree rotation mechanism 37, and the stoppers 22, 26, 35, 39 are arranged. Is done. A 90-degree rotation mechanism 24 is provided between the transfer conveyors 23 and 27, a 90-degree rotation mechanism 21 is provided at the end of the transfer conveyor 23, the transfer conveyor 18 is rotated in the 90-degree rotation direction of the transfer conveyor 27, and the transfer conveyor. The conveyor 15 is disposed in the direction of 90 ° rotation at 23 degrees. The conveyors 33 and 36 are connected by a rotating mechanism 34 with an up-and-down motion mechanism, and a conveyor conveyor 40 is arranged on the other side in the 180-degree rotation direction of the conveyor conveyor 36.

  In the empty specimen transport area 76b, transport conveyors 44 and 48 and a 90-degree rotation mechanism 45 and a 180-degree rotation mechanism 49 that connect them are disposed. In the lower conveyance line, conveyance conveyors 19 and 16 are disposed between the 90-degree rotation mechanisms 42 and 45 and the respective dispensing devices 11, 13, 7 and 10. The conveyance conveyor 19 and the conveyance conveyors 16 are in a perpendicular relationship (crossing) in the vertical direction of the conveyance conveyors 23 and 36. A transport conveyor 91 is arranged in the 180 ° rotation direction of the transport conveyor 48. No. 1-No. 4-empty sample rack supply buffers 52, 54, 56, 58 and reject numbers. 1-No. 4 empty specimen storage section and supply No. 1-No. A transfer conveyor 92 is disposed between the four empty specimen storage units 59 to 69.

  The control device 71 is provided with an input dispensing device determination unit 72 and a control unit 73, and is connected to the host computer 74.

  In FIG. 3, an empty sample tray (2) and an empty sample (3) are displayed as empty rack supply lanes. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 25, 38, 46, 64, 67 and 70 are bar code readers. A microchip may be used instead of the bar code. Here, a barcode will be described as a representative.

  The sample transport areas 76a and 76b are configured to transport samples by a combination of a transport conveyor and a rotation mechanism or a rotation mechanism with a vertical movement mechanism. From the original sample rack supply buffer 28 to the original sample rack before dispensing, the original sample rack supply line passes through the transfer conveyor 27 → rotation mechanism 24 (branch point) → transfer conveyor 18 to No. 3 dispenser 11 and No. 3 dispenser. The route for transporting to the four-dispensing device 13 and the rotation mechanism 24 (branch point) → the transport conveyor 23 → the rotation mechanism 21 → the transport conveyor 15 and the No. 1 dispenser 7 and No. 1 It is assumed that there is a route for transporting to the two-dispensing device 10. The empty sample rack transport supply line passes through the empty sample rack supply buffers 52, 54, 56, 58 via the 180-degree rotation mechanism 49 → the transport conveyor 48 → the rotation mechanism 45 (branch point) → the transport conveyor 16. No. 1 dispenser 7 and No. 1 No. 2 via the route for conveying to the two-dispensing device 10 and the rotation mechanism 45 (branch point) → conveying conveyor 44 → rotating mechanism 42 → conveying conveyor 19. 3 dispenser 11 and No. 3 dispenser. It is assumed that there is a route for transporting to the four-dispensing device 13. After dispensing, the collection line of the original sample rack and the child sample rack is No. 3 dispenser 11 and No. 3 dispenser. From the four-dispensing device 13, the transported conveyor 20 → the rotating mechanism 32 with the vertical motion mechanism → the rotating mechanism 34 with the vertical motion mechanism (branch point) → the transport conveyor 36 → the 180-degree rotating mechanism 37 → the recovered child sample via the transport conveyor 40 The rack transport units 142 to 146, the collection source sample rack storage unit 50, the reject child sample rack storage units 146 to 149, and the reject source sample rack storage unit 51 are transported to the route No. 1 dispenser 7 and No. 1 Similarly, the two-dispensing device 10 is configured to have a route for transporting it to the collected sample rack storage unit via the transport conveyor 17 → the rotating mechanism 34 with the vertical mechanism.

The height of the transfer line is as follows.
1. The original sample rack supply line is installed at the same level as the upper level.
2. The empty rack supply line will be installed at the same level as the lower level.
3. In order to avoid interference with the transport conveyors 23 and 27 of the original sample rack supply line for the recovery line, the transport conveyors 17 and 20 are installed at the lower level, and the transport conveyor 33 after the rotating mechanisms 32 and 34 with the vertical movement mechanism. , 36 are installed at the upper level.
In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the one-dot difference line indicates the height of the lower stage and the solid line indicates the height of the upper stage.

  The dispensing device area 75 has a configuration in which four dispensing devices are installed in the horizontal direction and two in the vertical direction. In the embodiment of the present invention, one type of original sample rack and four types of empty sample racks are used in the dispensing apparatus, and a dispensing process for creating a maximum of three child samples from one original sample is performed. It is assumed.

  FIG. 3 shows the structure of the dispensing device. The dispensing device 118 has a dispensing area 95 used as an area for performing dispensing processing at the center, and a pre-dispensing original sample rack buffer area 117 used as an input portion of the original sample rack before and after that, and an empty sample. A rack buffer area 108 and a post-dispensing sample rack buffer area 106 to be used as a discharge unit for the post-dispensing sample rack are arranged. A sample rack moving mechanism 96 to 100 that can move the area in units of one rack in order is installed to move the sample rack in the dispensing apparatus. A pusher mechanism 115 that performs processing for transferring the original sample before dispensing from the original sample supply line 81 to the original sample rack buffer area 117 before dispensing is installed. A supply robot hand mechanism 90 that performs processing for grasping an empty sample rack from the empty sample rack supply line 82 and placing the empty sample rack at positions 86 to 89 corresponding to each empty sample rack in the empty sample rack buffer area 108 is installed. A collection robot hand mechanism 106 that performs processing for grasping each post-dispensing sample rack from positions 101 to 105 corresponding to each post-dispensing sample rack in the post-dispensing sample rack buffer area 116 and placing the sample rack on the sample rack collection line 83 is provided. Install. By providing the above-described mechanism in the dispensing device, the specimen can be continuously input and discharged from the dispensing device without interruption.

  Next, the supply operation of the original sample rack to the dispensing device associated with the processing of the control device 71 will be described using FIG. 1 and FIG. A part of the control operation in the dispensing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  The original sample rack is set in the original sample storage unit 31 in advance by human work. It is assumed that the original sample storage unit 31 has a mechanism that allows samples to be loaded one rack at a time on the conveyor according to an instruction from the control unit 73. The control unit 73 stops the stopper 41b in advance and puts one original sample rack into the transport conveyor 30 from the original sample storage unit 31. The control unit 73 reads the original sample rack ID stopped at the position of the stopper 41b with the barcode reader 41, and makes an inquiry to the host computer 74 regarding the dispensing information of the original sample stored in the rack using the original sample rack ID as key information. When there is no corresponding dispensing information or when the barcode of the rack ID cannot be read, the control unit 73 passes the stopper 41b and causes the reject source sample rack storage unit 29 to reject the original sample rack. When the dispensing information has been normally captured from the host computer 74, the original sample rack ID and the dispensing information are sent to the dispensing destination dispensing device determination unit 72. The loading destination dispensing device determination unit 72 determines a dispensing device to which the original sample rack should be loaded at the timing when the information is received from the control unit 73.

  FIG. 5 shows the processing of the input destination dispensing device determination unit 72. The input destination dispensing apparatus determination unit 72 performs different input destination dispensing in the initial state where the input of at least one original sample rack is not completed for each distribution apparatus and in the steady state after completion of the input of the original sample rack. It has a device determination method. In the case of the initial state, a dispensing device to be sequentially loaded is determined according to a predetermined loading pattern until loading into all the dispensing devices is completed. On the other hand, in the steady state, the dispensing-destination dispensing device determination unit 72 stores the dispensing information of the original sample rack for which the dispensing-destination dispensing device has already been determined for each dispensing device, and controls based on this dispensing information. When the dispensing destination determination device determination request is received from the section 73, the expected dispensing time until dispensing is completed for all the original sample racks being loaded into the dispensing device is calculated and aggregated for each dispensing device. . This time is assumed to be a dispensing completion expected time Tbi (i is a dispensing device No.). Here, the time to reach each dispensing device from the supply sample rack storage unit is set in advance as Tri (i is a dispensing device No.). Next, the dispensing allowance time Tyi (i is the dispensing apparatus No.) of each dispensing apparatus is calculated by the following (1). The dispensing apparatus with the smallest dispensing allowance time Tyi is determined as the dispensing apparatus into which the original sample rack should be loaded next.

Tyi = Tbi-Tri ――――― (1)
Table 1 shows the dispensing information for one rack of the original sample in the multistage sample transport apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In Table 1, the expected dispensing completion time Tbijk for one original sample as a base for calculating the expected dispensing completion time Tbi in Table 1 (i is the dispensing apparatus number, j is the dispensing buffer number, and k is the original sample rack hole position. ) Will be described. Dispensing information is given from the host computer in units of original sample racks. In the embodiment of the present invention, ten samples can be stored in the original sample rack, so that there are instructions for dispensing 10 bottles per original sample rack. In the dispensing instruction shown in Table 1, the hole position indicates the position of the hole for storing the sample in the sample rack. The original sample aspiration amount indicates the amount (μL) of an object that needs to be aspirated from the original sample at the time of dispensing. The child sample channel is No. for the child sample transport mechanisms 97 to 100 in the dispensing area 95 in FIG. The discharge destination child sample rack type of the aspirated object is shown by assigning numbers 1 to 4 as channels in ascending order. The child sample hole position indicates the hole position of the child sample rack that discharges the aspirated test object. Here, the expected dispensing completion time Tbijk for one original sample can be calculated from the number of suctions n, the number of movements between channels m, and the number of ejections 1 during the dispensing process. A sample at the original sample hole position 1 in Table 1 will be described as an example. In the embodiment of the present invention, when the amount of an object to be inspected that can be sucked by one suction is 2000 μL, the number of suctions n can be calculated by the equation (2).
n = 2500/2000 = 2 ――――― (2)
(However, the calculation result is rounded up to one decimal place)

Since the number of channel movements m does not add the number of movements between the same channels, the number of channel movements m is 3 when moving from the original sample → channel 1 → channel 1 → original sample → channel 3 as in this example. The number of discharges l is 3. By applying the above numerical values to the following calculation formula, it is possible to calculate the expected dispensing completion time Tbijk for one original sample.
Tbijk = t1 × n + t2 × m + t3 × l ――――― (3)
However, t1: suction time per time (second)
t2: Movement time between channels (seconds)
t3: Discharge time per second (seconds)
And set in advance as parameters.

  Tbijk calculated by the above equation (3) is totalized for each dispensing apparatus i, and the above-mentioned Tbi is calculated. Using this Tbi and the above-described dispensing device arrival time Tri, which is a constant for each dispensing device, the dispensing allowance time Tyi of each dispensing device is calculated by the above equation (1).

When a failure occurs in the dispensing device and the dispensing process cannot be continued, the function of removing the dispensing device from the dispensing target dispensing device group and backing up with another dispensing device is realized by the following method. The control unit 73 constantly monitors the transport state of the original sample and the operating state of the dispensing apparatus. When a failure occurs in the dispensing device and the dispensing process in the dispensing device cannot be continued, a stop report of the dispensing device is sent to the dispensing destination dispensing device determination unit 72. The dispenser dispensing device determination unit 72 stores the received dispensing device stop report, and stops the supply of the original sample to the dispensing device until the controller reports a restoration report on the dispensing device again. By distributing the subsequent dispensing instructions to other dispensing devices, mutual backup of the dispensing devices can be realized.
The input destination dispensing device determination unit 72 instructs the control unit 73 to specify the input destination dispensing device determined by the method described above as the next dispensing device into which the original sample rack should be input.

  The control unit 73 stores the transport route to the dispensing device instructed from the dispensing destination dispensing device determination unit 72 using the original sample ID as a key. Next, the stopper 41 is put in a passing state, and the original sample rack is loaded into the original sample rack loading buffer 28 in a pre-packed manner. In FIG. Taking the case of transporting to a three-dispensing device as an example, the transport route is the original sample supply buffer 28 → transport conveyor 27 → rotating mechanism 24 → transport conveyor 18 → No. The 3 dispensing device 11 is obtained. The following description will be made assuming that the original sample rack transports the original sample rack. The control unit 73 sequentially inputs the original sample racks from the original sample rack input buffer 28 into the transport conveyor 27 in a first-in first-out manner. The controller 73 stops the stopper 26 in advance, reads the original sample ID with the barcode reader 25 when the original sample rack stops at the stopper 26 position, and searches the previously stored transport route with the sample rack ID. And determine the direction of travel. Since the transport route of the original sample is a route that travels toward the transport conveyor 18 side, the control unit 73 passes the stopper 26 in the state of passing the original sample to the rotation mechanism 24 and then moves the rotation mechanism 24 in the traveling direction. On the other hand, it is rotated 90 degrees to the right and put into the transfer conveyor 18. No. The conveying operation in the three-dispensing device 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. Assume that the dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. The control unit 73 keeps the stopper 110 in a stopped state in advance. When the original sample rack loaded on the transfer conveyor 81 stops at the position of the stopper 110, the barcode reader 111 reads the original sample ID, searches for the previously stored transfer route by the sample rack ID, and is a dispensing device to be loaded. Make a decision. If it is not a dispenser to be charged, the stopper 110 is put in a passing state, and the original sample is passed to the next dispensing apparatus. In the case of a dispenser to be charged, the original sample rack is pushed into the pre-dispensing original sample rack buffer area 117 by the pusher mechanism 115 while the original sample rack is stopped, whereby the conveyance of the original sample rack is completed.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the vertical positional relationship between the supply line of the original sample rack and the empty rack supply line, the original sample, and the child sample rack recovery line with respect to the dispensing apparatus. In FIG. 6, the arrangement | sequence of the dispensing apparatus is shown in the example of 3 vertical lines. This is basically the same as the example shown in FIG. 2, and will not be described repeatedly. The description of Example 1 shall be incorporated.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a multistage transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view three-dimensionally showing a sample insertion area 77, a sample collection area 79, and an empty sample supply area 78 in FIG. It is a detailed block diagram of the dispensing apparatus of FIG. It is a time chart figure which shows supply operation | movement of the original sample rack with respect to a dispensing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the injection destination dispensing apparatus determination part 72 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a vertical positional relationship between an original sample rack supply line and an empty rack supply line and an original sample and child sample rack collection line with respect to a dispensing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  1 ... Sample transport device, 7 ... No. 1 dispenser, 10 ... No. 2 dispenser, 11 ... No. 3 dispenser, 13 ... No. 4 dispensing device, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 27, 30, 33, 36, 40, 44, 48 ... conveyor, 21, 24, 42, 45 ... 90 degree rotation mechanism, 22 , 26, 35, 39, 41b, 43, 47, 50, 53, 55, 57, 93, 110 ... stopper, 25, 38, 46, 64, 67, 70, 92, 111 ... bar code reader, 28 ... original Specimen supply buffer, 29 ... Reject source sample storage unit, 31 ... Supply source sample storage unit, 32, 34 ... Rotation mechanism with vertical movement mechanism, 37, 49 ... 180 degree rotation mechanism, 50 ... Collection source sample rack storage unit, 51 ... reject source specimen rack storage section, 59 ... reject number. 1 empty sample rack storage section, 60. 1 empty sample rack storage unit, 62... 2 empty sample rack storage section, 63... 2 empty sample rack storage unit, 65... 3 empty sample rack storage section, 66. 2 empty sample rack storage section, 68... Reject empty sample rack storage section, 69. No. 4 empty sample rack storage section, 52, 54, 56, 58. 1-No. 4 empty sample rack supply buffer, 71 ... control device, 72 ... destination dispensing device determination unit, 73 ... control unit, 74 ... host computer, 75 ... dispensing device area, 76a, 76b ... sample transport area, 77 ... original Sample input area, 78 ... Empty sample rack supply area, 79 ... Original sample rack, empty sample rack recovery area, 81 ... Original sample supply line, 82 ... Empty sample rack supply line, 83 ... Original sample, child sample rack recovery line, 84: Original sample rack position before loading, 86, 87, 88, 89 ... Position after empty sample loading, 90 ... Sample loading robot hand, 95 ... Dispensing area, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99, 100 ... Sample rack Movement mechanism, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 ... position before sample rack collection after dispensing, 106 ... sample collection robot hand, 108 ... empty sample rack buffer area, 1 9: Position after collection of original sample and child sample rack, 112 ... Area before loading of original sample rack, 115 ... Pusher, 116 ... Sample rack buffer area after dispensing, 117 ... Position after loading of original sample rack, 118 ... Dispensing device, 142. 1 collected child sample rack storage unit, 143. 2 recovery child sample rack storage unit, 144. 3 collection child sample rack storage unit, 145... Collection child sample rack storage unit, 146. 1 reject child sample rack storage unit, 147. 2 reject child sample rack storage unit, 148. 3 reject child sample rack storage unit, 149. 4 reject child sample rack storage unit, 191... Position before empty sample rack input.

Claims (6)

For a dispensing apparatus that performs processing for dividing a sample (hereinafter referred to as an original sample) into a plurality of samples (hereinafter referred to as child samples) corresponding to the examination item, the original A rack for storing and transporting a sample, a child sample, and an empty sample (hereinafter referred to as an empty sample) before producing the child sample (hereinafter referred to as an original sample rack, a child sample rack, and an empty sample rack, respectively). A supply transport line, a recovery transport line for storing, transporting, and transporting the original sample rack and the child sample rack after being dispensed from the dispensing device, and the supply transport line for the original sample rack and the empty sample rack. A sample transport device comprising a supply sample rack storage unit having a mechanism for loading into a container, and a recovered sample rack storage unit having a mechanism for recovering the dispensed original sample rack and child sample rack from the recovery transport line smell ,
The supply transport line and the recovery transport line are configured as a two-stage line that is wrapped by an upper transport line and a lower transport line,
Configure the original sample supply transport line as the upper transport line, configure the empty sample rack supply transport line as the lower transport line,
A rotation mechanism with a vertical movement mechanism is disposed between the upper conveyance line and the lower conveyance line,
The recovery transport line of the child sample rack from the dispensing device to the rotation mechanism with the up-and-down operation mechanism is configured as a lower transfer line, and the recovery sample of the child sample rack that is moved up and rotated by the rotation mechanism with the up-and-down operation mechanism Configure the collection transport line to the rack storage as the upper transport line,
A transport line for supplying the original sample rack to the dispensing apparatus is provided, and the original sample rack is transported by the transport line for supplying the original sample rack from the supply sample rack storage section of the original sample rack. A sample transport apparatus characterized in that a rotation mechanism is provided between the transport line for transport and the transport line for supplying the original sample rack to the dispensing device to transport the original sample rack.   2. The recovery transport line to the recovery sample rack storage unit of the child sample rack is arranged in parallel with the supply transport line of the original sample rack, and the recovery transport line is provided with a vertical movement mechanism. A specimen transport apparatus characterized by comprising a rotating mechanism.   2. The supply sample rack storage unit of the original sample rack is disposed on the upper transport line, the collected sample rack storage unit of the original sample rack and the child sample rack is disposed on the upper transport line, and an empty sample is defined. A sample transport apparatus comprising a rack-supplied sample rack storage section disposed on a lower transport line.   2. The empty sample rack supply transfer line according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of empty sample rack supply buffers are connected to the empty sample rack supply transfer line, and a part of the empty sample rack supply transfer line is arranged in parallel with the plurality of empty sample rack supply buffers. The sample transport device is connected to a supply transport line of another part via a rotation mechanism.   5. The transport area of the original sample input area, the sample recovery area, the original sample rack, and the child sample rack formed on the upper transport line is defined by the empty sample supply area formed on the lower transport line and the part. A sample transport apparatus, wherein the sample transport apparatus is disposed so as not to wrap in an up-down direction with an empty sample transport area including a supply transport line of the empty sample rack. Sample rack for storing and transporting the original sample, the child sample, and the empty sample before making the child sample, for a dispensing apparatus that performs processing to divide the original sample according to the test item into a plurality of child samples A supply transport line, a recovery transport line for storing, transporting, and transporting the original sample rack and the child sample rack after being dispensed from the dispensing device, and the supply transport line for the original sample rack and the empty sample rack. A sample transport device comprising a supply sample rack storage unit having a mechanism for loading into a container, and a recovered sample rack storage unit having a mechanism for recovering the dispensed original sample rack and child sample rack from the recovery transport line In the sample transport method by
The supply transport line and the recovery transport line are configured as a two-stage line of an upper transport line and a lower transport line,
The original sample rack is transported on the transport line for supplying the original sample rack disposed on the upper transport line, and the empty sample rack is transported on the transport line for supplying the empty sample rack disposed on the lower transport line. Transport the
The child sample rack is transported on the transport line for collecting the child sample rack from the dispensing device disposed on the lower transport line, and is disposed on the upper transport line via a rotating mechanism with a vertical movement mechanism. Transported on the collection line of the collected child sample rack, and stored in the collected sample rack storage part of the child sample on the upper conveyance line,
A specimen transport method characterized by the above.
The sample transport method is characterized in that the original sample rack is turned 90 degrees by a rotation mechanism provided on the supply transport line of the original sample rack and transported to the dispensing device.

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