JP2006026851A - Batch picking tool for microtube - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a batch picking tool for a microtube, collectively transferring all of microtubes from a tube rack where microtubes are arranged and stored in a matrix to another tube rack. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of elastic cylindrical projections 112 are disposed to be inserted in clearances of all microtubes MT arranged and stored in the tube rack. The outside diameter of the cylindrical projection is larger than the diameter of a circle circumscribing a clearance formed by four microtubes, and a plurality of push pins 122 are pushed to abut on the head of the microtube held on the cylindrical projection into the clearance between the projections of the cylindrical projections, thereby pushing back the microtube held on the cylindrical projection to release the holding state. Thus, the above problem is solved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a picking tool suitable for pulling out a microtube into which a medicine, a sample, etc. are injected all at once from a tube rack, and in particular, a microtube used in a drug storage device such as a research facility or a pharmaceutical factory. It relates to a picking tool for use.

  Tube racks for storing and transporting a large number of microtubes into which chemicals, samples, etc. are placed side by side in a highly integrated rate in fields such as chemical research and drug discovery research. Is used. Then, this tube rack is stored in an automatic rotating shelf maintained at a predetermined temperature and humidity, and a desired tube rack is transferred from the automatic rotating shelf to the loading / unloading port using a transfer device, and work is performed at the loading / unloading port. 2. Description of the Related Art A drug storage device is provided in which a person takes out a desired microtube or stores a microtube in a predetermined position of a tube rack.

The tube rack of microtubes used in such a drug storage device is configured to integrate as many microtubes as possible with a storage form consisting of rows and columns called matrix arrangements with a slight gap between adjacent microtubes. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-90205 A

  However, when it is necessary to collectively transfer the microtubes accommodated in such a tube rack to a larger rack, at present, the microtubes are manually extracted and transferred one by one. Therefore, there is a problem that a considerable amount of labor is required for the transfer work.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a collective picking tool for micro tubes that can transfer all micro tubes from a tube rack in which micro tubes are arranged and stored in a matrix to other tube racks at once. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a collective picking tool for microtubes capable of picking up all of a plurality of microtubes arranged and stored in a matrix in a tube rack at a time. A plurality of elastic cylindrical protrusions are arranged so that they can be inserted into all gaps of the microtubes arranged and accommodated in the tube rack, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical protrusions is determined by four microtubes. The cylindrical shape is larger than the diameter of a circle circumscribing the formed gap, and is brought into contact with the head of the microtube held by the cylindrical protrusion and pushed into the gap between the protrusions of the cylindrical protrusion. A plurality of push-out pins for releasing the gripping state by pushing back the microtube gripped by the protrusion is provided.

  The present invention is a collective picking tool for a microtube capable of picking up all of a plurality of microtubes arranged and stored in a matrix form in a tube rack at once, and an elastic cylindrical projection is attached to the above-mentioned tube. A plurality of microtubes arranged in black are arranged so that they can be inserted into all the gaps, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical projection is larger than the diameter of the circle circumscribing the gap formed by the four microtubes. The microtube held by the cylindrical protrusion is pushed back into the gap between the protrusions of the cylindrical protrusion and pressed against the head of the microtube held by the cylindrical protrusion to release the gripped state. Since there are a plurality of push-out pins, the cylindrical protrusion is inserted into the gap formed by the microtube. By pushing from above while along the outer peripheral surface of the over blanking the head, the cylindrical projection is elastically deformed, can be gripped all 1 rack fraction microtube at a time.

  In addition, by pushing the push pin, the microtubes held by the elastic force of the cylindrical protrusion are pushed back, and the holding state of each microtube can be released at once.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance when 96 microtubes housed in a matrix of 8 rows and 12 columns in a tube rack are held by the microtube batch picking tool 100 according to the present embodiment. 2 is a side view of the micro tube batch picking tool 100 shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from the side, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the micro tube batch pick tool 100 shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view when the gripping state of the microtube is released.

  The collective picking tool 100 for microtubes can insert elastic cylindrical protrusions 112 into all the gaps of the microtubes MT arranged and accommodated in the tube rack in a matrix, that is, in a matrix of 9 rows and 13 columns. There are 117 picking plates 110 arranged in each. The outer diameter of the cylindrical projection 112 is larger than the diameter D of the circle circumscribing the gap formed by the four microtubes MT1 to MT4 as shown in FIG. By pushing in from above, the cylindrical protrusion 112 is elastically deformed, and it is possible to grip all the microtubes for one rack at a time.

  The picking plate 110 abuts against the head of the microtube MT held by the cylindrical protrusion 112 in the gap between the protrusions of the cylindrical protrusion 112 and pushes it into the microplate held by the cylindrical protrusion 112. Holes through which a plurality of push pins 122 for pushing back the tube MT to release the gripping state are inserted at the same pitch as the arrangement pitch of the microtubes in the tube rack. The push pin 122 is inserted into the hole drilled in the picking plate 110 and one end is fixed to the push plate 120. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the cylindrical protrusion 112 is pushed into the gap of the microtube MT from right above, one end of each push pin 122 abuts against the head of each microtube MT. The pushing plate 120 is in contact with the picking plate 110.

  The extrusion plate 120 is substantially the same size as the picking plate 110 and has a convex portion that engages with a guide groove 132 formed in a U-shaped handle 130 fixed to the picking plate 110. It is guided in the guide groove 132 and can be moved in the vertical direction. On the other hand, in order to release the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that is, the state in which all the microtubes MT are gripped by the cylindrical protrusion 112, the handle 130 is supported by one hand and the extrusion plate 120 is supported by the other hand. , Each push-out pin 122 pushes down the head of the microtube MT, and the gripping state of the microtube MT is released as shown in FIG.

  The material of the cylindrical protrusion 112 is not limited as long as it has sufficient elasticity to securely grip the microtube, but a resin such as urethane, rubber, or the like is suitable. It is particularly preferable to use a transparent material because it is easy to confirm the gripping state of the microtube. Moreover, the length of the cylindrical protrusion 112 needs to be long enough to maintain the posture of the microtube MT, and is preferably equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the microtube. Furthermore, the tip of the cylindrical protrusion 112 is preferably chamfered as shown in FIG. 2 in order to facilitate insertion into the gap of the microtube.

  An embodiment which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an external appearance when 96 micro tubes accommodated in a matrix of 8 rows and 12 columns in a tube rack are held by the micro tube batch picking tool 200 according to the present embodiment. 6 is a side view of the micro tube batch picking tool 200 shown in FIG. 5 when viewed from the side, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of the micro tube batch pick tool 200 shown in FIG. FIG. In the present embodiment, members common to the first embodiment have the reference numerals in the 200s, the same last two digits, and are not described in detail.

  In the present embodiment, the cylindrical protrusion 112 located on the outermost side in the first embodiment is eliminated, and an outer frame 215 having a slight inclination is installed instead. Therefore, the number of cylindrical protrusions 212 is 77 in 7 rows and 11 columns. By using the outermost frame as the outer frame 215, the microtube MT can be gripped more stably.

It is an external view of the picking tool for microtubes which is one Example of this invention. It is a side view of the picking tool for microtubes shown in FIG. It is a top view when the picking tool for microtubes shown in FIG. 1 is seen from right below. FIG. 3 is a side view when the gripping state is released in the microtube picking tool shown in FIG. 2. It is an external view of the picking tool for microtubes which is another Example of this invention. It is a side view of the picking tool for microtubes shown in FIG. It is a top view when the picking tool for microtubes shown in FIG. 5 is seen from right below.

Explanation of symbols

100, 200 ... Micro tube picking tools 110, 210 ... Picking plates 112, 212 ... Cylindrical protrusions 120, 220 ... Extrusion plates 122, 222 ... Extrusion pins 215 ... Outer frame MT ・ ・ ・ Micro tube

Claims (1)

In the collective picking tool for micro tubes that can pick up all of the plurality of micro tubes arranged and stored in a matrix form in the tube rack at once,
A plurality of elastic cylindrical protrusions are arranged so that they can be inserted into all gaps of the microtubes arranged and stored in the tube rack,
The outer diameter of the cylindrical protrusion is larger than the diameter of a circle circumscribing a gap formed by four microtubes,
A plurality of push-out pins are provided in the gaps between the protrusions of the cylindrical protrusions to abut the heads of the microtubes held by the cylindrical protrusions and push the microtubes back to release the gripped state. Collective picking tool for micro tubes, characterized by

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