JP2006234532A - Photographic device for sample - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient photographic device for a sample of satisfactory operability, capable of photographing various kinds of samples held by a plate member, such as a microplate, by a photographic means such as camera, and provided with a stock function enabling stacking up of the photographed sample by a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: This photographing device is provided with a mounting table 2 for supporting the sample 6 movably between a photographing position A and a stock position B, a photographic means 7 for photographing the sample 6 mounted on the photographing position A, a stock means 42 for pushing up the sample 6 mounted on the stock position B to be stacked, a pusher 28 for pushing out the sample 6 from the photographing position A to the stock position B, and an operation member 24 for moving the pusher 28, the sample 6 is pushed out to the stock position B by the pusher 28, the operation member 24 is independently advanced further frontward thereafter, while leaving the pusher 28, so as to carry out an pushing-up operation for the stock means 42, while being interlocked with the advancing operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for a sample to be used for blood diagnosis and the like, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus with a stock function provided with a stock means for stacking already-sampled samples.

Simply inject a specific sample such as a test reagent or test blood into each well provided on a plate member such as a microplate in a blood type determination test, etc. In addition, it is conventionally known that the inspection sample is imaged by a photographing means such as a camera and used for reporting of inspection results and storage management (Patent Document 1). There is also an automatic blood test device with a stock function that stacks measured microplates from the bottom in order to automatically transport microplates to reagent dispensing devices, reaction lines, measuring devices and visual observation devices in sequence. Known (Patent Document 2). However, the latter mechanism for transporting and stacking microplates in the latter prior art is complicated and has not been applied to an imaging device for an inspection sample.
JP 2004-144534 A Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-44033

  The present invention has been developed in view of the above-described conventional technical situation, and various samples held on a plate member such as a microplate are photographed by photographing means such as a camera, and the photographed samples. An object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use sample photographing apparatus with a good operability, which has a stock function that can be stacked by simple operation.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a mounting table that supports the sample so as to be movable between the imaging position and the stock position, an imaging unit that images the sample placed at the imaging position, and the stock position. Stock means for pushing up and stacking the placed sample upward, a pusher that pushes the sample from the photographing position to the stock position, and an operating member that moves the pusher, and the operating member moves the sample with the pusher. After pushing out to the stock position, it was constructed so that the pusher could be further moved forward alone, and the technical means of pushing up the stock means in conjunction with the forward movement of the operating member alone was adopted.

  In the present invention, the specimen is configured to be movable between the photographing position and the stock position, and the photographed specimen is pushed from the photographing position to the stock position via the pusher by the operating member, and the specimen is moved to the stock position. After that, it is configured so that the specimens that have been photographed are stacked sequentially from the bottom by continuing the forward movement of the actuating member alone while leaving the pusher. The movement of the sample to the stock position and the stacking operation of the sample can be executed. As described above, according to the present invention, the movement of the sampled sample to the stock position and the stacking operation thereof can be executed only by a series of pushing operations on the operating member, so that the operability is good and the usability is good. An imaging device with a stock function can be provided. In addition, since it operates only by a mechanical mechanism and does not need to use electrical control, there is no malfunction due to control software or the like, and a stable operation with few failures for a long time can be obtained.

  The present invention can be widely applied as an imaging apparatus with a stock function for imaging a sample such as an inspection sample by imaging means such as a camera. As a specific form of the sample, a form in which a required number of wells are arranged in an aligned state on a plate member such as a microplate is suitable, but is not limited thereto. Moreover, as a photographing means, an appropriate photographing means such as a digital camera or an optical camera can be applied. The operation with respect to the operating member may be performed manually or using a drive means capable of linear operation. The photographing apparatus may be used alone for photographing, or may be used on a line in which a reagent dispensing device or a reaction line is connected upstream of the photographing means.

  1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a left side view, and FIG. 4 is a right side view. In FIG. 1, the front cover of the stock part, the illumination means in FIG. 2, and the side cover of the stock part are removed in FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an entire photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A mounting table 2 having a flat upper surface is installed at a substantially central portion of the main body frame, and as shown in FIG. In the embodiment, the case where the photographing position A is provided on the left side of the mounting table 2 and the stock position B is provided on the right side is shown. In addition, as a form of the sample, as shown in FIG. 2, a plate member 4 having a total of 15 wells 3 arranged in a row on the upper surface in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction and five in the moving direction is a frame member 5. The case where the sample 6 formed by the above was used was shown. In other words, the imaging apparatus 1 handles the sample 6 having the test result aggregated by injecting a test reagent, test blood, or the like into each well 3 in the previous step and stirring and mixing them. In this case, first, the sample 6 is placed on the mounting table 2 and predetermined photographing is performed by the upper photographing means 7 at the photographing position A. Thereafter, the photographed sample 6 is moved to the stock position B. Thus, the sample 6 is sequentially stacked from below by being inserted and pushed up below the sample 6 already stacked.

  As the photographing means 7, an appropriate photographing means such as a digital camera may be used, and the photographing result may be output to a personal computer or the like and stored while being confirmed according to circumstances. Incidentally, the photographing means 7 is supported by a support member 10 fixed to a support column 8 by a fixing screw 9 so that the height can be adjusted, and further, a height, a front-rear position, an inclination angle, and the like are further reduced via knobs 11-13. It is configured to be adjustable. Further, on both sides of the photographing means 7, the illumination means 19, 20 can be angle-adjusted via rods 17, 18 fixed in the orthogonal direction by connecting members 15, 16 at both ends of the rod 14 attached to the column 8. It is arranged.

  Next, the sample moving means 21 for moving the sample 6 from the photographing position A to the stock position B will be described. 5 to 7 are enlarged views of the sample moving means 21 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged front view, FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged plan view, and FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged left side view. It is. As shown in FIG. 7, the sample moving means 21 includes a fitting member 23 slidably fitted to a rail 22 installed along the moving direction of the sample 6 on the machine frame side, and an upper portion of the fitting member 23. In this embodiment, the lower traveling body 26 composed of an intermediate member 25 having a handle-like actuating member 24 and a rail 27 formed on the upper surface of the intermediate member 25 are slidably fitted into the pusher 28. It is comprised from the combination with the upper traveling body 29 provided with. The lower traveling body 26 and the upper traveling body 29 constituting the sample moving means 21 are composed of a support pin 30 and an upper traveling body 29 provided on the upper surface of the intermediate member 25 as shown in FIGS. In the state where they are always pulled together by a tension spring 33 disposed between the support pins 32 provided on the lower surface of the flat plate 31 fixed to the upper surface of the flat plate 31 and locked together by locking means (not shown). Configured to move to. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a locking member 34 that can be locked to a rack, which will be described later, is provided on the lower surface of the intermediate member 25.

  Thus, after the predetermined photographing at the photographing position A is completed, the photographed sample 6 is moved from the photographing position A to the stock position by moving the operating member 24 of the specimen moving means 21 to the right in FIG. Moved to B. That is, in this embodiment, when the actuating member 24 is manually moved in the right direction in the drawing, the lower traveling body 26 and the upper traveling body 29 are guided to the rail 22 in a state of being integrated by the tensile force of the tension spring 33. The frame 5 of the sample 6 is pushed by the pusher 28 installed on the upper traveling body 29. Accordingly, the sample 6 slides on the upper surface of the mounting table 2 while being guided by the rising portions 35 and 36 on both sides of the mounting table 2, and is a stacked sample at the stock position B surrounded by the support pieces 37 to 41. It will be inserted into the lower space of 6 and stopped.

  Next, the stock means 42 for stacking the photographed sample 6 at the stock position B will be described. 8 to 10 are enlarged views of the stock means 42 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged front view, FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged plan view, and FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged right side view. is there. As described above, when the sample 6 is moved to the stock position B by the sample moving means 21 and advanced to a position where the front end of the sample 6 comes into contact with the support piece 39, the front end of the upper traveling body 29 is also as shown in FIG. Further, the forward movement is stopped by abutting against a locking member 43 installed on the machine frame side. Accordingly, when the actuating member 24 is further moved to the right in the drawing, only the lower traveling body 26 moves forward alone, leaving the upper traveling body 29, and the stacking of the sample 6 is executed. As shown in the figure, the rack 44 is attached to the guide member 45 so that the locking member 34 installed on the lower surface of the intermediate member 25 can abut at an appropriate timing as the lower traveling body 26 alone advances. It is arranged in a state of being inserted into the interior so as to be able to advance and retract. A gear 46 meshes with the rack 44, and the gear 46 rotates as the rack 44 advances, and a rope 48 having one end fixed to a cylindrical portion 47 formed on the side surface of the gear 46 is wound. ing. The other end of the rope 48 passes through a pulley 49 and is connected to an elevating plate 51 by appropriate connecting means 50. The elevating plate 51 is configured to move up and down as the rack 44 advances and retreats.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, four push-up rods 52 are installed on the upper surface of the elevating plate 51 so as to be able to penetrate the mounting table 2 and move to the space below the stock position B. The sample 6 is pushed up by the push-up rods 52 and stacked on the latching claws 53 while rotating the latching claws 53 rotatably provided on the machine frame sides on both sides of the stock position B. The sample 6 can be piled up on the locking claw 53 from below by lifting it with the sample 6 and passing it upward from the locking claw 53 and then lowering the elevating plate 51. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a vertical plate 54 is integrally provided in the vicinity of the connecting portion of the rope 48 of the elevating plate 51 and formed on both sides of the vertical plate 54. The convex portions 55 are slidably fitted in the guide vertical grooves 56, respectively, so that the lifting and lowering operation of the lifting plate 51 is performed more smoothly.

  Thus, the sample 6 that has undergone the previous process is first photographed at the photographing position A, and then manually moves the actuating member 24, and the sample 6 photographed by the pusher 28 is surrounded by the support pieces 37-41. Extruded to the stock position B and inserted into the lower space of the laminated sample 6. In this case, the lower traveling body 26 and the upper traveling body 29 move toward the stock position B along the rail 22 in a state where they are integrated by the tensile force of the tension spring 33 as described above. Then, when the sample 6 is completely inserted into the lower space at the stock position B, the upper traveling body 29 comes into contact with the locking member 43 and the advancement is stopped. By moving in the right direction, only the lower traveling body 26 moves forward while being guided by the fitting between the recess 27 formed on the lower surface of the upper traveling body 29 and the rail 27. When the advancement of only the lower traveling body 26 is started, the locking member 34 installed on the lower surface of the intermediate member 25 contacts the end of the rack 44 at an appropriate timing to advance the rack 44 and the gear 46 rotates. Then, the rope 48 is wound around the cylindrical portion 47, and as a result, the rope 48 is wound up via the pulley 49, and the elevating plate 51 is raised. When the elevating plate 51 is raised, the sample 6 moved to the lower position in the stock position B is raised by the push-up rod 52 provided on the elevating plate 51 as described above. Then, after being lifted above the locking claw 53 together with the sample 6 that has been stacked up to the previous time, the operating force on the actuating member 24 is loosened and the lifting plate 51 is lowered to sequentially place the sample 6 on the locking claw 53. It is possible to pile up from below. Thereafter, when the actuating member 24 is manually moved to the photographing position A, the lower traveling body 26 and the upper traveling body 29 are returned to the original state integrated by the tension spring 33 in the process, and thereafter as necessary. The above operation is repeated. As described above, according to the present invention, the photographed sample 6 can be moved to the stock position B with a simple operation of reciprocating the actuating member 24, and the sample 6 has been stacked up to the previous time. It is possible to sequentially stack from the lower side of the sample 6 and to stack in a stacked state from the upper side.

It is the front view which showed one Example of this invention. It is a top view of the Example. It is a left view of the same Example. It is a right view of the same Example. It is the elements on larger scale which showed the sample movement means in the Example. It is the elements on larger scale which showed the sample moving means. It is the partial expansion left view which showed the sample movement means. It is the elements on larger scale which showed the stock means of the sample in the Example. It is the elements on larger scale which showed the stock means. It is the partial expansion right view which showed the stock means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Imaging device, 2 ... Mounting stand, 3 ... Well, 4 ... Plate member, 5 ... Frame, 6 ... Sample, 7 ... Imaging | photography means, 8 ... Support | pillar, 9 ... Fixing screw, 10 ... Support member, 11-13 ... Knobs, 14 ... Rods, 15, 16 ... Connecting members, 17, 18 ... Rods, 19, 20 ... Illuminating means, 21 ... Sample moving means, 22 ... Rails, 23 ... Fitting members, 24 ... Actuating members, 25 ... Intermediate member, 26 ... lower traveling body, 27 ... rail, 28 ... pusher, 29 ... upper traveling body, 30 ... support pin, 31 ... flat plate, 32 ... support pin, 33 ... tension spring, 34 ... locking member, 35, 36 ... Rising part, 37-41 ... Supporting piece, 42 ... Stock means, 43 ... Locking member, 44 ... Rack, 45 ... Guide member, 46 ... Gear, 47 ... Cylindrical part, 48 ... Rope, 49 ... Pulley, 50 ... Connecting means, 51 ... Elevating plate, 52 ... Push-up rod, 3 ... locking claw 54 ... vertical plates 55 ... convex portion, 56 ... guide flutes, A ... shooting position, B ... stock position

Claims (1)

A sample imaging apparatus including a stocker for stacking samples, a mounting table that supports the sample so as to be movable between the imaging position and the stock position, and imaging means for imaging the sample placed at the imaging position; Stock means for pushing up and stacking the sample placed at the stock position upward, a pusher for pushing the sample from the photographing position to the stock position, and an actuating member for moving the pusher, the actuating member comprising: After the pusher is moved forward to move the sample to the stock position, the pusher is left so that it can be further moved forward, and the push-up operation of the stock means is executed in conjunction with the forward movement of the operating member alone. A sample photographing apparatus characterized by comprising.

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