JP2007290818A - Take-in/take-out system for cassette block case - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely, securely and efficiently perform storage management of extremely large quantities of cassette blocks of extremely various types. <P>SOLUTION: Shelf devices 4 for storing the cassette block cases 4a are fixed on a floor face 4 at predetermined intervals. X and Y direction guide rails 7, 8 for supporting and moving a case conveying device 6 are mounted on a ceiling 5, and a Z direction guide rail 9 is erected on the floor face 4. The case conveying device 6 is equipped with a transfer vehicle 12 traveling along the X direction guide rail 7 and a transfer vehicle 13 traveling along the Y direction guide rail 8. The transfer vehicle 13 is mounted with a hoisting machine 14 lifting/lowering the case conveying device 6 along the Z direction guide rail 9, and a storage box 16 mounted with a transhipment device 17 is mounted to the lower part of the hoisting machine 14 via a wire rope 15. Due to this configuration, work for taking in and taking out the cassette block cases 4a related to a series of inspection work can be safely and efficiently performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage and retrieval system for a case that stores a cassette block formed by solidifying a specimen with paraffin on a specimen processing cassette for pathological examination. More specifically, the efficiency of inspection work related to many cassette blocks that are stored and stored in a case for future re-inspection, removed from the case, re-inspected, and then stored and stored again. The present invention relates to a cassette block case storing and taking out system for improvement.

  In recent years, with the progress of an aging society, the number of histopathological examinations tends to increase in proportion to this, and the number of cassette blocks for creating microscopic specimens for histopathological examinations has increased rapidly. Such a cassette block is stored for a certain period of time in preparation for re-inspection in the future, as a precedent for inspection, as academic material, or for recurrence.

Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, as a case 105 for storing a cassette block 104 in which a specimen 102 is embedded in paraffin 103 on a cassette 101 for a specimen for histopathological examination, a synthetic resin is used. Multiple stages (for example, approximately 30 width, 60 depth, 60 height: unit cn)
Usually, 5 to 6 levels of shelf portions are formed, and a drawer 106 is slidably provided on each shelf portion (see, for example, Utility Model Document 1).

  The case 105 in which these cassette blocks 104 are stored is arranged so that the two back surfaces thereof are in close contact with each other, and can be pulled out from the opposite direction side, and more than one step in the height direction (usually 5 steps). In this form, multiple cases are arranged in the horizontal direction so that the side surfaces of the case 105 are in close contact with each other (stacked and further connected horizontally) Is called ream). Furthermore, a space as a drawer space S is provided, and a plurality of series are formed adjacent to each other.

In one drawer 106 of the case 105, 100 to 200 cassette blocks 104 are stored. Therefore, in the case 105 with six drawers, the number of storage is 600 to 1200, and the total quantity is enormous. .
Utility Model Registration No. 2604446

  By the way, when the upper case 105 is stacked in multiple stages, a stepladder is used because it is in a high position, but it is dangerous, and the drawer 106 is turned over, the drawer 106 comes out of the case, or the drawer 106 is When the drawer is pulled out, there is a case where the case 105 falls due to the deviation of its center of gravity, and when the lower case is formed, there is a problem that the drawer 106 becomes difficult to pull out due to the weight of the upper case 105.

  Further, as described above, since the number of cases 105 and the number of cassette blocks 104 accommodated therein are enormous, it is necessary to go to the site to store or take out the desired cassette block 104 and to place it there. It was extremely inefficient to search for, store, and take out the device.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage and removal system for a cassette block case that can safely and reliably and efficiently carry out storage management operations for a large number of cassette blocks.

  In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 of the present invention includes a shelf device having position information and forming a plurality of storage spaces, and a cassette block in which a specimen is solidified with paraffin on the cassette, and is used for identification. A cassette block case with a code label attached thereto, a case transporting device for loading and unloading the cassette block case into and from the shelf device, and the case transporting device can run on a fixed path in the horizontal directions X, Y and vertical directions Z A guide rail provided so as to be movable, a data input unit for inputting position information of the shelf device and attributes of the cassette block case, a storage unit for recording data from the data input unit, and the storage A label creating means for creating the code label based on the data of the section, an operating section for operating the case transporting device when entering and leaving, and the operation A cassette block comprising: a drive control unit that controls the case conveying device in response to a loading / unloading signal from the main unit; and a main control unit that performs overall control of the storage unit, the drive control unit, the label creating unit, and the like. The contents are a case storage system.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a cassette block case that has been stored at a predetermined position of the shelf device by placing the specific shelf at a position where the storage time of the shelf device is short and inputting a specific signal from the data input unit. 2. The cassette block case storage and removal system according to claim 1, wherein the cassette block case moves to the specific shelf.

  Claim 3 as a preferred embodiment is provided with a display device in which the data of the storage unit storing the attribute of the cassette block case and the position information of the shelf device corresponding to the data are viewed in a list. Or a cassette block case storing and taking out system described in 2.

  In the cassette block case storage and removal system of the present invention, when storing a set block, the cassette block is manually stored in a predetermined cassette block case determined in advance, and thereafter the case transport device is automatically set in units of cases. Move to the designated position in the shelf device that forms a plurality of storage spaces, and store and store, and conversely, if the cassette block stored in the case is necessary, from the designated position of the shelf device Each case is delivered by the case conveying device, and then a desired cassette block is manually taken out from the case.

  Therefore, even when handling the upper case as before, there is no trouble of using a stepladder, turning over the drawer, pulling out the drawer, or losing the case out of balance, and a series of inspection work It is possible to safely and efficiently carry out the storage / removal operation according to the above.

  In addition, if a specific shelf is placed in a position where the storage time of the shelf device is short, for example, if it is urgently known that it is always necessary, the target cassette block case is specified in advance. By moving to the shelf, the movement time of the case conveying device is shortened, so that work efficiency can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the display device is provided, the data of the storage unit in which the attribute of the cassette block case is stored and the position information of the corresponding shelf device can be viewed in a list so that the shelf availability can be confirmed. There is an effect that the overall management state can be grasped quickly.

  The cassette block case storage / extraction system of the present invention has position information determined from the X, Y, and Z coordinates, a shelf device having a plurality of storage spaces for storing the cassette block case, and a code label for identification. Cassette block case, case transport device for loading and unloading the cassette block case into and from the shelf device, and guide rail provided so that the case transport device can freely move on a fixed path in the horizontal direction X 1, Y 2 and vertical direction Z 2. And a control system based on the data input unit for inputting the position information of the shelf device and the attribute of the cassette block case, the storage unit for recording the data from the data input unit, and the data in the storage unit Label creation means for creating code labels, operated so that the case transporter operates when loading and unloading cassette block cases Work unit, and a main control portion for controlling the drive control unit and their general to control the case feed device by entry and leaving signal from the operation unit.

  Conventionally, as a case transfer device, a stacker crane is preferably used in production plants for automobiles, electrical equipment, publications and other foodstuffs, logistics, and in the X and Y axis directions from the viewpoint of hygiene and space saving. The guide rail for moving is arranged on the ceiling of the building, and a sticker overhead crane is suitable.

  Hereinafter, the cassette block case storage and removal system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these.

A cassette block case storage and removal system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Figure 1 shows the relationship between the arrangement of shelving units into and out of cassette block cases and the guide rails that are attached to the ceiling when the case transporter that controls the entry and exit of these cases moves in the X and Y directions. FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing its control system.

  As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a case 4a is stored adjacent to or in one end of the inspection room 1 where the inspection work is carried out, with one row of shelves 2 at both ends and two rows of shelves 3 inside. The shelf device 4 is fixed to the floor surface at a predetermined interval. Further, an X-direction guide rail 7 for supporting and moving the case transfer device 6 is provided on the ceiling 5 on the near side of the shelf device 4, and the ceiling directly above the center at a predetermined interval between the shelf and the shelf. 5, Y-direction guide rails 8 are respectively attached to the ceiling 5 by means of suspenders 33, and a Z-direction guide rail 9 is attached between the shelves of the shelf device 4 in the height direction.

  In addition, a position sensor that detects the position of the case transporting device 6 is provided at the intersection of the X-direction guide rail 7 and the Y-direction guide rail 8 that are orthogonal to each other so that the case transporting device 6 can be smoothly transferred. Further, a transfer mechanism unit 10 including a damper mechanism (not shown) for reducing a stop shock is provided, and a position label 11 indicating position information is attached to each independent shelf of the shelf device 4.

  The case transfer device 6 includes a motor-driven transfer vehicle 12 that travels along the X-direction guide rail 7 and a motor-driven transfer vehicle 13 that travels along the Y-direction guide rail 8. When traveling along the Y-direction guide rail 8, the transport vehicle 12 and the transport vehicle 13 travel together, and when traveling along the Y-direction guide rail 8, the transport vehicle 13 moves away from the transfer mechanism 10. To do.

  The transfer vehicle 13 is equipped with a motor-driven hoisting machine 14 for raising and lowering the case conveying device 6, and a storage box 16 coupled to the wire rope 15 for accommodating the cassette block case 4a is provided with a Z-direction guide rail. Since the four corners are supported by 9, it is possible to run stably up and down.

  Further, when the cassette block case 4a is loaded into and unloaded from the shelves 2 and 3 in the storage box 16, the small industrial robot has operations such as moving the articles forward, gripping, lifting, moving backward, and releasing. The transshipment device 17 using is mounted.

  In addition, each motor 18 of the transfer vehicles 12 and 13, the hoisting machine 14, the battery 19 that supplies power to the transshipment device 17, the reading sensor (not shown) that detects the position label 11, the controller, and other abnormalities Various detection sensors for detecting the state and the like include elements for safely traveling the case transport device 6.

  In addition, in order to minimize the loading / unloading time of the shelf device 4, for example, a part of the shelf device 4 is designated as the specific shelf 20 in the lower left six shelves in FIG. If a specific signal is input from the (PC) terminal, the cassette block case 4a stored in a predetermined position of the shelf device 4 is transshipped to the specific shelf 20.

Next, a control system for operating the system of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the position information (shelf number) that specifies the individual shelves forming the shelf device 4 by the X, Y, and Z coordinates, and the cassette block case 4a in which the specimen is hardened with paraffin on the cassette are specified. Data input part 21 for inputting attributes such as the name of the specimen organization, the name of the provider, the name of the requester, the reception date, the inspector, the date of first receipt, the date of latest receipt, the number of times of use, etc. A storage unit 22 for recording data input from the input unit 21 and a label creating means 23 for creating a code label to be attached to the cassette block case 4a based on the data in the storage unit 22 are provided. An operation unit 24 that operates the case transport device 6 to operate when leaving the vehicle and a drive control unit 25 that controls the case transport device 6 by an input / output signal from the operation unit 24 are provided to control the entire configuration. Configure as device 26 .

  The drive control unit 25 controls the controller 27 of each operating device that constitutes the case transporting device 6 and controls the data input unit 21, the storage unit 22, the label creating unit 23, and the operation unit 24 described above. All are controlled by the main control unit 28.

  In addition, a display device 29 is provided adjacent to the control device 26 for confirming input data and viewing a list of data and shelf numbers, and the control device 26 is further away from this place. It is also connected to a plurality of personal computer terminals 30 arranged at the site of inspection work, inspection management room, and the like.

  Next, the operation and action of the system configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. Note that the base point (1, 1, 1) of the coordinate axis as the position information is defined as the lowest shelf among the six specific shelves 20 described above.

  Assuming that the operator wants to store the cassette block case 4a that has been inspected and wants to unload the case at the coordinates (5, 3, 6), the operator must correspond to the coordinates (5, 3, 6) in advance. While driving the determined shelf number from the operation unit 24, the operation start button in the operation unit 24 is pushed. Then, the case transfer device 6 in the home position HP as shown in FIG. 1 is raised from the base point (1, 1, 1) to 6 at the coordinate Z by the hoisting machine 14, and then the transfer vehicle 12 starts running. And stop at position 5 at coordinate X. Subsequently, the transfer vehicle 13 advances by 3 at the coordinate Y and stops.

  Here, the cassette block case 4a to be delivered on the shelf of coordinates (5, 3, 6) is stored in the storage box 16 by the transshipment device 17 using its arm. Thereafter, the operation is performed in the reverse order and returned to the previous home position HP. Here, the transshipment device 17 places the cassette block case 4a on the table 31 beside the home position HP, and completes a series of delivery operations.

  Then, when a task such as storing a new cassette block in the cassette block case 4a that has been delivered is completed, the entry procedure may be performed instead of the aforementioned delivery procedure from the operation unit 24.

  In addition, since the position label 11 indicating the position information is affixed to each shelf of the shelf device 4, for example, when inspecting the case transport device 6, the operation is continued by switching to manual operation. can do.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the guide rails that serve as the travel guides for the case transport device 6 are provided on the ceiling instead of the floor surface, so that sanitary conditions can be maintained and space can be saved, and the case transport device 6 can be installed near the ceiling. If it is stopped in the raised state, the floor space of the empty space of the shelf device 4 can be easily cleaned. The drive battery 19 may be charged periodically as necessary.

  According to the cassette block case storage / removal system of the present invention, the cassette block is automatically stored / removed, so that a great labor saving is achieved and the workability of the inspection work can be dramatically improved. .

It is a top view which shows the structure of the storage / extraction system of the cassette block case in embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the system. It is a control block diagram which shows the control system of the system. It is a perspective view which shows the storage condition of the case which accommodates the conventional cassette block. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing the state where the conventional cassette block is stored in the drawer of the case.

Explanation of symbols

1 Examination room 2 Single row shelf 3 Double row shelf 4 Shelf device
4a Cassette block case 5 Ceiling 6 Case transfer device 7 X direction guide rail 8 Y direction guide rail 9 Z direction guide rail 10 Transfer mechanism 11 Position label 12 X transfer vehicle 13 Y transfer vehicle 14 Hoisting machine 15 Wire rope 16 Storage box DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 Transshipment device 18 Motor 19 Battery 20 Specific shelf 21 Data input part 22 Storage part 23 Label preparation means 24 Operation part 25 Drive control part 26 Controller 27 Each controller of case conveyance apparatus 28 Main controller 29 Display apparatus 30 PC terminal 31 Table 32 Partition 33 Lifting tool 101 Cassette 102 Sample 103 Paraffin 104 Cassette block 105 Case 106 Drawer

Claims (3)

  A shelf apparatus having position information and forming a plurality of storage spaces, a cassette block case in which a cassette block in which a specimen is fixed with paraffin is stored on a cassette, and a code label for identification is affixed, and the cassette block case A case transport device that moves in and out of the shelf device, a guide rail that is provided so that the case transport device can move on a fixed path in the horizontal directions X, Y, and the vertical direction Z, and the position of the shelf device. A data input section for inputting information and attributes of the cassette block case, a storage section for recording data from the data input section, and a label creating means for creating the code label based on the data in the storage section, An operation unit that operates so that the case conveyance device operates when entering and leaving, and the case conveyance device is operated by an input / output signal from the operation unit. And Gosuru drive control unit, said storage unit, drive controller, storage retrieval system cassette block case, characterized in that a main control portion for controlling the general such label creation means.   The cassette block case stored in a predetermined position of the shelf device moves to the specific shelf when a specific shelf is arranged at a position where the storage time of the shelf device is short and a specific signal is input from a data input unit. The cassette block case storage and removal system according to 1. The storage of the cassette block case according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display device in which data of the storage unit in which the attribute of the cassette block case is stored and position information of the shelf device corresponding to the data can be viewed in a list. Take-out system.

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