JP2010060334A - Stirring device, method for monitoring number of rotation of stirring device and analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stirring device capable of monitoring the number of rotations without upsizing a drive part of a stirring rod, a method for monitoring the number of rotations of the stirring device and an analyzer. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided the stirring device for stirring a solution to be stirred by rotating the stirring rod in the solution to be stirred, the method for monitoring the number of rotations of the stirring device and the analyzer. The stirring device 12, wherein the reflecting mirror 12e integrally rotated along with the stirring rod 12b is provided to the stirring rod, includes a number-of-rotation monitoring device which includes the optical sensor 13a arranged at the position facing to the stirring rod 12b to detect the reflecting mirror 12e in a non-contact state and an arithmetic part for operating the number of rotation of the stirring rod based on the detection signal of the reflecting mirror detected by the optical sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stirring device, a method for monitoring the number of rotations thereof, and an analysis device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an analyzer includes a stirring device that stirs a reagent and a sample. For example, a stirring device that stirs a reagent and a sample with a stirring rod is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-57249 A

  By the way, the stirring device of Patent Document 1 reciprocates the stirring rod between the reagent bottle and the washing tank by rotating the arm-shaped stirring mechanism around the rotation axis. At this time, in the stirring device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a detection plate for monitoring the number of rotations of the stirring rod and a detector using an optical sensor are arranged in the stirring mechanism unit. For this reason, the stirring device of Patent Document 1 has a problem that the stirring mechanism that rotates the stirring rod becomes large and weight increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a stirrer capable of monitoring the rotation speed without increasing the size of the drive unit of the stirrer, a method for monitoring the rotation speed, and an analyzer. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the stirring device of the present invention is a stirring device that rotates the stirring rod in the stirred liquid to stir the stirred liquid, and the stirring rod includes: A detection unit that rotates integrally with the stirring bar is provided, is disposed at a position facing the stirring bar, and detects the detection unit in a non-contact manner; and the detection unit detected by the detection unit A rotation speed monitoring means having a calculation means for calculating the rotation speed of the stirring rod based on the detection signal is provided.

  Moreover, the stirring device of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the detection means is disposed at a position facing the detected portion when the stirring rod is immersed in the liquid to be stirred. To do.

  In the stirring device of the present invention, in the above invention, the rotation number monitoring means determines that the rotation is abnormal when the rotation number of the stirring rod is out of a predetermined numerical range, and stops the stirring operation of the stirring device. An abnormality determination control means is provided.

  In the stirring device of the present invention, in the above invention, the stirring rod is attached to and detached from a support member and is rotatably supported, and the abnormality determination control means is configured so that the number of rotations of the stirring rod is a predetermined numerical value. It is determined that the stirring rod is abnormally mounted on the support member, and the stirring operation of the stirring device is stopped.

  Further, the stirring device according to the present invention provides a notification means or a warning for notifying a rotation abnormality or mounting abnormality alarm when the abnormality determination control means determines that the stirring rod is rotating abnormally or mounting abnormal. A display means for displaying is provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the method for monitoring the number of revolutions of the stirring device according to the present invention is the rotation of the stirring device for stirring the stirred liquid by rotating the stirring rod in the stirred liquid. A method of monitoring the detected portion that rotates integrally with the stirring rod in a non-contact manner, and the rotation of the stirring rod based on the detection signal of the detected portion detected in the detecting step And a calculation step of calculating a number.

  In addition, the method for monitoring the number of revolutions of the stirring device according to the present invention is the above invention, wherein when the number of revolutions of the stirring bar is outside the predetermined numerical range, it is determined that the rotation is abnormal, and when the number of the stirring bar is a predetermined number, An abnormality determination control step of determining an abnormal mounting on the member and stopping the stirring operation of the stirring device is included.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the analyzer of the present invention stirs and reacts the sample and the reagent, measures the optical characteristics of the reaction solution, and analyzes the reaction solution. An analyzer, wherein the sample or the reagent is stirred using the stirring device.

  The stirrer of the present invention is arranged at a position facing the stirrer, and detects the number of rotations of the stirrer based on the detection means for detecting the detected part in a non-contact manner and the detection signal of the detected part detected by the detection part. A rotation number monitoring means having a calculation means for calculating, the rotation number monitoring method of the stirring device is a detection step of detecting a detected portion that rotates integrally with the stirring rod in a non-contact manner, and a detection detected in the detection step And a calculation step of calculating the number of rotations of the stirring bar based on the detection signal of the section. Moreover, the analyzer of the present invention stirs the specimen or reagent using the stirrer, so that it is possible to monitor the rotation speed without increasing the size of the drive unit of the stir bar.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 concerning the stirring apparatus of the present invention, its rotation speed monitoring method, and the analysis apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of the stirring rod and the optical sensor of the rotation speed monitoring device in the automatic analyzer of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer 1 includes a rack supply device 2, a reaction unit 4, a first reagent cool box 7 and a second reagent cool box 8, a first stirrer 11, a second stirrer 12, and a rotation speed. A monitoring device 13, an optical measurement unit 14, and a control unit 16 are provided. In the automatic analyzer 1, the sample dispensing device 3 is provided between the rack supply device 2 and the reaction unit 4, and the first reagent dispensing device 5 is disposed between the reaction unit 4 and the first reagent cooler 7. However, a second reagent dispensing device 6 is provided between the reaction unit 4 and the second reagent cold storage 8 respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the rack supply device 2 has a plurality of racks 2a arranged, and a sample container 2b holding a sample is mounted on each rack 2a. The rack supply device 2 sequentially conveys the rack 2a along the path indicated by the arrow, and the sample held in each sample container 2b by the probe 3a of the sample dispensing device 3 is dispensed into the reaction container C of the reaction unit 4. The

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reaction unit 4 has a heat retaining member 4a and a cuvette wheel 4b. The heat retaining member 4a is disposed inside and outside the cuvette wheel 4b in the radial direction, and a photometric opening 4c is formed at a position corresponding to the optical measuring unit 14. The cuvette wheel 4b rotates while holding a plurality of reaction vessels C at a predetermined temperature (37 ° C.), for example, rotates in one cycle clockwise (1 turn-1 cuvette) / 4 minutes, and counterclockwise in four cycles. Rotate one cuvette in the direction.

  The first reagent dispensing device 5 and the second reagent dispensing device 6 are arranged between the reaction unit 4 and the first reagent and the second reagent by the probes 5a and 6a. Dispense from the reagent cooler 8 into the reaction vessel C.

  Since the first reagent cool box 7 and the second reagent cool box 8 have the same configuration, the first reagent cool box 7 will be described, and the second reagent cool box 8 will be described in detail with reference numerals corresponding to the corresponding components. The detailed explanation is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first reagent cooler 7 is provided with a plurality of reagent bottles 7 a holding the first reagent, and a predetermined reagent is dispensed into the reaction container C by the probe 5 a of the first reagent dispensing device 5. Noted. Here, the probes 3a, 5a and 6a of the specimen dispensing device 3 and the reagent dispensing devices 5 and 6 are washed with running water with washing water supplied from a washing water tank after dispensing. Each of the plurality of reagent bottles 7a is filled with a predetermined reagent corresponding to an inspection item, and an information recording medium (not shown) such as a barcode label for displaying information on the stored reagent is attached to the outer surface. In the reaction container C into which the first reagent has been dispensed, the sample and the first reagent are stirred by the first stirring device 11. A reading device 9 that reads information from the information recording medium attached to each reagent bottle 7 a and outputs the information to the control unit 16 is installed on the outer periphery of the first reagent cooler 7. The reading device 10 reads information from the information recording medium attached to each reagent bottle 8a in the second reagent cooler 8.

  The first stirrer 11 and the second stirrer 12 have support members 11a and 12a that are substantially triangular in a plan view and are supported by a support column at the center, moved up and down precisely by a stepping motor, and rotated around the support column. is doing. The support members 11a and 12a are rotated by a gear train accommodated therein, and as shown in FIG. 1, the stirring rods 11b and 11c and the stirring rod 12b for stirring the sample and the reagent dispensed in the reaction container C are triangular. It is detachably mounted on the apex side and is rotatably supported. One stirring bar 11c is supported by a support member 11a via a holder, and a reflector 11e made of a mirror or the like is installed on the upper part of the holder. The stirring rod 12b is configured in the same manner, and is supported by the support member 12a via a holder 12d as shown in FIG. A reflector 12e made of a mirror or the like is installed as a detected part on the holder 12d. As shown in FIG. 3, the agitation bar 12b is cleaned by cleaning water supplied from a cleaning water tank in the cleaning tanks Wt1 and Wt2 provided on the movement locus of the agitation bar 12b as the support member 12a rotates as shown in FIG. Washed with running water. The stirring rods 11b and 11c are also washed with running water with washing water in a similarly arranged washing tank. Here, in FIG. 3, the dotted line M shows the movement locus of the reaction vessel C by the cuvette wheel 4b, and the same applies to the drawings used in the following description.

  The rotational speed monitoring device 13 is disposed at a position facing the stirring rods 11b and 11c and the stirring rod 12b of the first stirring device 11 and the second stirring device 12, respectively, and detects the reflecting plate 11e and the reflecting plate 12e in a non-contact manner. Is a rotational speed monitoring means for monitoring the rotational speed of the stirring rods 11b, 11c and the stirring rod 12b. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical sensor 13a, the received light signal processing unit 13b, the calculation unit 13c, and the abnormality determination control unit 13d are provided. Have. As the received light signal processing unit 13b, the calculation unit 13c, and the abnormality determination control unit 13d, an ECU or the like having a calculation function and a timer function is used. Hereinafter, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 for monitoring the rotation speed of the stirring rod 12b will be described.

  The optical sensor 13a is a detecting means such as an optical fiber sensor or a laser sensor that serves as both a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for detecting the reflector 12e provided on the stirring rod 12b in a non-contact manner. As shown in FIG. 5, the optical sensor 13 a is disposed at a position facing the reflecting plate 12 e when the support member 12 a is lowered and the stirring rod 12 b is immersed in the liquid to be stirred L of the reaction vessel C. The optical sensor 13a receives the light reflected by the reflecting plate 12e where the emitted light is rotated, and outputs an optical signal of the received light to the received light signal processing unit 13b. At this time, since the reflecting plate 12e rotates together with the stirring rod 12b, the reflected light becomes intermittent light and is received by the optical sensor 13a.

  The light reception signal processing unit 13b performs A / D conversion on the optical signal of intermittent reflected light input from the optical sensor 13a, and outputs the signal to the calculation unit 13c. The calculation unit 13c calculates the number of rotations of the reflector 12e, that is, the stirring rod 12b, based on the digitally converted optical signal input from the received light signal processing unit 13b. When the rotation speed of the stirring bar 12b calculated by the calculation unit 13c is zero or outside a predetermined numerical range set in advance, the abnormality determination control unit 13d has an abnormality in mounting the stirring bar 12b on the support member 12a or an abnormal rotation of the stirring bar 12b. And the stirring operation of the second stirring device 12 is stopped via the control unit 16.

  At this time, for example, when the stirring rod 12b is forgotten to be attached to the support member 12a, the optical sensor 13a cannot detect the reflecting plate 12e. For this reason, the optical sensor 13a outputs an error signal, or the rotation speed of the stirring bar 12b calculated by the calculation unit 13c becomes zero. Therefore, the abnormality determination control unit 13d determines that the stirring rod 12b is abnormally mounted when an error signal is input or when the rotation speed of the stirring rod 12b is zero. Further, for example, because the agitation rod 12b is not attached to the support member 12a, the agitation rod 12b comes into contact with the reaction vessel C when the support member 12a is lowered. As shown in FIG. Even when the light beam floats up from the support member 12a, the reflector 12e cannot be detected, and an error signal is input or the rotation speed becomes zero (hereinafter, this case is collectively referred to as “when the rotation speed is zero”). . For this reason, also in this case, the abnormality determination control unit 13d determines that the stirring rod 12b is abnormally mounted. On the other hand, the abnormality determination control unit 13d determines that the rotation is abnormal when the rotation speed of the stirring rod 12b is outside the numerical value range in the case of normal rotation set in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical measurement unit 14 includes a light source 14a and a photometric sensor 14b. The light source 14a emits analysis light for analyzing the reaction solution in the reaction container C in which the reagent and the sample have reacted. The photometric sensor 14b measures the luminous flux emitted from the light source 14a and transmitted through the reaction liquid in the reaction vessel C through the opening 4c.

  The cleaning / drying unit 15 is a part that cleans and dries the inside of the reaction vessel C. The cleaning / drying unit 15 sucks and discards the reaction solution from the reaction vessel C in which the reaction solution has been photometrically measured. After the inside is cleaned by the above, pressurized air is blown and dried. In the reaction container C whose interior has been washed in this way, a new specimen is again dispensed by the probe 3a of the specimen dispensing apparatus 3 and used for analysis.

  As the control unit 16, for example, a microcomputer having a storage function for storing the analysis result is used, and the photometric sensor 14b, the bar code label reading devices 9, 10, the first stirring device 11, the second stirring device 12, and the rotation. The number monitoring device 13, the analysis unit 16a, the input unit 17, the display unit 18, and the like are connected. The control unit 16 controls the operation of each unit of the automatic analyzer 1 and regulates the analysis work when the reagent lot or expiration date is out of the installation range based on the information read from the information recording medium. The automatic analyzer 1 is controlled or a warning is issued to the operator. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 16 has an analysis unit 16a. The analysis unit 16a analyzes and stores the concentration of the component of the specimen from the absorbance (optical characteristics) of the reaction liquid of the specimen and the reagent in the reaction container C obtained based on the light intensity signal measured by the photometric sensor 14b. deep.

  The input unit 17 is a part that performs an operation of inputting the number of samples, examination items, and the like to the control unit 16, and for example, a keyboard or a mouse is used. The display unit 18 displays analysis contents including analysis items and analysis results, alarms including rotation abnormality or mounting abnormality of the stirring bar, and a display panel having a speaker for notifying the alarms is used.

  The automatic analyzer 1 configured as described above operates under the control of the control unit 16, and the first reagent is provided in each of the plurality of reaction vessels C conveyed along the circumferential direction by the rotating cuvette wheel 4b. After the first reagent is sequentially dispensed from the reagent bottle 7a by the dispensing device 5, the sample is sequentially dispensed from the plurality of sample containers 2b held in the rack 2a by the sample dispensing device 3. In the reaction container C into which the sample has been dispensed, the second reagent dispensing device 6 dispenses the second reagent sequentially from the reagent bottle 8a.

  During this time, when the cuvette wheel 4b is stopped, the reaction container C into which the reagent or sample has been dispensed is stirred by the first stirring device 11 or the second stirring device 12, and the cuvette wheel 4b is rotated again. Passes through the optical measuring unit 14. At this time, the reaction liquid in which the reagent in the reaction container C has reacted with the sample is measured for optical characteristics by the optical measurement unit 14, and components are analyzed by the analysis unit 16 a based on the optical signal input from the optical measurement unit 14. Concentration etc. are analyzed. The reaction container C for which the measurement of the reaction liquid has been completed is transferred to the cleaning / drying unit 15 and cleaned, and then used again for analyzing the specimen.

  At this time, when the automatic analyzer 1 stirs the liquid to be stirred such as the reagent or the sample in the reaction vessel C, the rotation number monitoring device 13 causes the first stirring device 11 or the second stirring device 12, for example, the second stirring device. The number of rotations of the stirring rod 12b of the apparatus 12 is monitored. At this time, the monitoring of the rotational speed by the rotational speed monitoring device 13 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when the second stirring device 12 stirs the liquid to be stirred in the reaction vessel C, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 detects the reflection plate 12e of the stirring rod 12b in a non-contact manner (step S100). Next, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 calculates the rotation speed of the stirring rod 12e from the detected detection signal of the reflecting plate 12e (step S102).

  Next, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 determines whether or not the calculated rotation speed of the stirring rod 12e is zero (step S104). When the rotation speed is zero (step S104, Yes), the rotation speed monitoring device 13 determines that the stirring rod 12b is abnormally mounted (step S106). After the determination, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 causes the display unit 18 to notify or display an alarm indicating that the stirring rod 12b is abnormally mounted (step S108). This alerts the operator to the need for maintenance of the second agitator 12. If it is determined that the mounting is abnormal, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 instructs the second stirring device 12 to stop the stirring operation (step S110). At this time, the rotational speed monitoring device 13 also instructs the automatic analyzer 1 to stop, and ends the monitoring of the rotational speed of the stirring rod 12b by the reflector 12e. Here, the stirring operation stop of the second stirring device 12 and the stop of the automatic analyzer 1 are executed via the control unit 16. In this way, the second stirrer 12 is maintained by stopping the automatic analyzer 1.

  On the other hand, when the rotational speed is not zero (step S104, No), the rotational speed monitoring device 13 determines whether or not the rotational speed of the stirring rod 12b is outside the predetermined numerical value range (step S112). If the rotational speed is outside the predetermined numerical range (step S112, Yes), the rotational speed monitoring device 13 determines that the stirring rod 12b is rotating abnormally (step S114). After the determination, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 causes the display unit 18 to notify or display an alarm indicating that the stirring bar 12b is rotating abnormally (step S116). This alerts the operator to the need for maintenance of the second agitator 12. And the rotation speed monitoring apparatus 13 instruct | indicates the stop of the stirring operation of the 2nd stirring apparatus 12 (step S110).

  If the rotational speed is within the predetermined numerical range (step S112, No), the rotational speed monitoring device 13 determines whether or not stirring of all the reaction vessels C has been completed (step S118). In this determination, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 requests analysis information from the control unit 16 and makes a determination based on the analysis information. When stirring of all the reaction vessels C has not been completed (No at Step S118), the rotation speed monitoring device 13 repeats the steps after Step S100. When the stirring of all the reaction vessels C has been completed (step S118, Yes), the rotation speed monitoring device 13 ends the monitoring of the rotation speed of the stirring rod 12b by the reflector 12e.

  As described above, the automatic analyzer 1, the first stirrer 11, and the second stirrer 12 are the rotation speed monitoring device 13 in which the optical sensor 13a detects the reflection plate as the detected portion attached to the stirrer bar without contact. Since the reflectors 11e and 12e are detected by the optical sensor 13a in a non-contact manner, the rotation speed of the stirring bar can be monitored without increasing the size of the drive unit.

(Modifications 1 and 2)
Here, the stirrer according to the first embodiment is moved up and down at a position facing the reflecting plate 12e as shown in FIG. 8 instead of the optical sensor 13a serving as the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the rotational speed monitoring device 13. You may use the light emitting element 13e as a light source spaced apart, and the light receiving element 13f as a detection means. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a light emitting element 13e serving as a light source and a light receiving element 13f serving as a detection means that are horizontally spaced apart from each other at a position facing the reflecting plate 12e may be used. In this case, the light emitting element 13e and the light receiving element 13f are smaller than the optical sensor 13a, which is suitable when it is difficult to mount the optical sensor 13a.

It should be noted that the detected portion of the stirring rod may be only one reflecting plate in which one surface is white and the other surface is black, instead of the reflecting plates 11e and 12e made of a mirror or the like.
(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment according to the stirring device and the analysis device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The stirrer and analyzer of the first embodiment detect the rotation speed of the stirrer bar by reflection of light, but the stirrer and analyzer of the second embodiment detect the rotation speed of the stirrer bar by light transmission. ing.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a stirring rod used in the stirring device of the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a side view of the main part showing the arrangement of the stirring rod and the detection means of the rotation speed monitoring device. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the agitation device, the agitation rod cleaning tank, and the detection means of the second embodiment. Here, the automatic analyzer of each embodiment described below has the same basic structure as the automatic analyzer 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the automatic analyzer according to each embodiment described below will be described using the same reference numerals for the same components as the automatic analyzer 1 while omitting the illustration of the automatic analyzer.

  Hereinafter, the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 2 is demonstrated using the 2nd stirring apparatus 12. FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the second stirring device 12 has a partition plate 12 f as a detected portion, instead of the reflecting mirror 12 e. The partition plate 12f is a plate material that is curved so that the thickness in the center in the horizontal direction of a plate material that is long in the horizontal direction is thin, and a light transmission hole 12g is formed in the center. Then, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the rotation speed monitoring device 13 lowers the support member 12a and immerses the stirring rod 12b in the liquid L to be stirred in the reaction vessel C, the transmission hole of the partition plate 12f A light emitting element 13e and a light receiving element 13f are arranged at a position facing 12g.

  Accordingly, when the partition plate 12f rotates together with the stirring rod 12b, the light emitted from the light emitting element 13e is intermittently transmitted through the transmission hole 12g and incident on the light receiving element 13f by the rotation of the partition plate 12f. For this reason, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 calculates the rotation speed of the stirring rod 12b by the calculation unit 13c based on the signal of light incident on the light receiving element 13f intermittently.

  Thus, since the stirrer and analyzer according to the second embodiment include the rotation number monitoring device 13 that detects the partition plate 12f as the detected portion attached to the stirrer bar in a non-contact manner by the light receiving element 13f. The rotation speed of the stirring rod can be monitored without increasing the size of the drive unit.

  Note that the stirring device and the analysis device of the second embodiment may detect the rotation speed of the stirring rod using an encoder instead of the partition plate 12f. Further, the partition plate 12f may be a plate material having a uniform thickness instead of the plate material curved so that the thickness at the center in the horizontal direction is thin.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the stirring device and the analysis device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although the stirrer and analyzer of the first and second embodiments detect the number of rotations of the stirrer with light, the stirrer and analyzer of the third embodiment detect the number of rotations of the stirrer with radio waves. . FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a stirring rod used in the stirring device of the third embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of the stirring rod and the detection means of the rotation speed monitoring device.

  Hereinafter, the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 3 is demonstrated using the 2nd stirring apparatus 12. FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the second stirring device 12 has an RFID 12i attached to the radio wave shielding plate 12h as a detected portion. The rotation speed monitoring device 13 uses a reader 13g as shown in FIG. 14 as detection means for detecting the RFID 12i in a non-contact manner. At this time, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 arranges the reader 13g at a position facing the RFID 12i when the support member 12a is lowered and the stirring rod 12b is immersed in the liquid L to be stirred in the reaction vessel C.

  Thereby, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 receives the response radio wave from the RFID 12i that has received the radio wave from the reader 13g. However, since the stirring rod 12b is rotating, the response radio wave from the RFID 12i is intermittent. Therefore, the rotation speed monitoring device 13 can calculate the rotation speed of the stirring bar 12b in the calculation unit 13c based on the intermittent response radio wave from the RFID 12i received by the reader 13g.

  Thus, the stirrer and analyzer according to Embodiment 3 can also monitor the rotation speed of the stirrer without increasing the size of the drive unit. At this time, the RFID 12i may preliminarily write information for identifying the stirring bar 12b, and may be used for determining the quality of the installation location and calculating the usage period.

  When the stirring bar 12b is forgotten to be attached to the support member 12a or when the stirring bar 12b is lifted from the support member 12a, the rotational speed of the stirring bar 12b is zero in the second and third embodiments, and the abnormality determination control unit 13d determines that the stirring rod 12b is abnormally mounted.

  Moreover, although the stirring apparatus of Embodiments 1-3 demonstrated the case of the supporting member which supported the several stirring rod, the supporting member which supported one stirring rod may be sufficient. Moreover, although the automatic analyzer 1 demonstrated what has the 1st reagent cool box 7 and the 2nd reagent cool box 8, the reagent cool box may be one.

It is a schematic block diagram of the automatic analyzer of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing an arrangement of a stirring bar and an optical sensor of a rotation speed monitoring device in the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the optical sensor which is a 2nd stirring apparatus, the washing tank of a stirring bar, and a detection means. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a rotation speed monitoring apparatus. It is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2 which shows a mode that a reflecting plate is detected non-contactingly with an optical sensor. It is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2 which shows the mounting abnormal state of a stirring rod. It is a flowchart explaining the monitoring of the rotation speed of the stirring rod by a rotation speed monitoring apparatus. It is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2 which shows the 1st modification of the rotation speed monitoring apparatus in the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a top view corresponding to FIG. 3 which shows the 2nd modification of the rotation speed monitoring apparatus in the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stirring rod used in the stirring device of Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a principal part side view which shows arrangement | positioning of the stirring means and the detection means of a rotation speed monitoring apparatus. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 2, the washing tank of a stirring rod, and a detection means. 6 is a perspective view of a stirring rod used in the stirring device of Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a schematic side view which shows arrangement | positioning of the stirring means and the detection means of a rotation speed monitoring apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2 Rack supply device 3 Sample dispensing device 4 Reaction part 5 First reagent dispensing device 6 Second reagent dispensing device 7 First reagent cold storage 8 Second reagent cold storage 9,10 Reader 11 First Stirring device 11a, 12a Support member 11b, 11c Stirring rod 11e, 12e Reflector 12 Second stirring device 12b Stirring rod 12d Holder 12f Partition plate 12g Transmission hole 12h Radio wave shielding plate 12i RFID
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Rotational speed monitoring apparatus 13a Optical sensor 13c Calculation part 13d Abnormality determination control part 13e Light emitting element 13f Light receiving element 13g Reader 14 Optical measuring part 15 Cleaning / drying unit 16 Control part 17 Input part 18 Display part C Reaction container L Stirring liquid M Movement path of reaction vessel Wt1, Wt2 Cleaning tank

Claims (8)

A stirring device for rotating the stirring rod in the stirred liquid to stir the stirred liquid,
The stirring bar is provided with a detected portion that rotates integrally with the stirring bar,
The rotation speed of the stirring bar is calculated based on a detection means that is disposed at a position facing the stirring bar and detects the detected part in a non-contact manner, and a detection signal of the detected part detected by the detection means. An agitation device comprising a rotation speed monitoring means having a calculation means.   2. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is disposed at a position facing the detected portion when the stirring bar is immersed in the liquid to be stirred.   The rotation speed monitoring unit includes an abnormality determination control unit that determines a rotation abnormality when the rotation number of the stirring bar is outside a predetermined numerical range and stops the stirring operation of the stirring device. A stirrer described in 1. The stirring bar is attached to and detached from the support member, and is supported rotatably.
The abnormality determination control means determines that the stirring rod is abnormally mounted on the support member when the number of rotations of the stirring rod is a predetermined value, and stops the stirring operation of the stirring device. 3. The stirring device according to 3.   4. A notification means for notifying a rotation abnormality or a mounting abnormality alarm or a display means for displaying an alarm when the abnormality determination control means determines that the stirring rod is rotating abnormally or mounting abnormal. Or the stirring apparatus of 4. A method for monitoring the number of revolutions of a stirrer that stirs the liquid to be stirred by rotating a stirring rod in the liquid to be stirred,
A detection step of detecting the detected portion rotating integrally with the stirring rod in a non-contact manner;
A calculation step of calculating the number of rotations of the stirring rod based on the detection signal of the detected portion detected in the detection step;
A method for monitoring the number of revolutions of a stirring device.   When the rotation speed of the stirring bar is outside the predetermined numerical range, it is determined that the rotation is abnormal, and when it is a predetermined numerical value, it is determined that the stirring bar is abnormally mounted on the support member, and the stirring operation of the stirring apparatus is stopped. The method according to claim 6, further comprising an abnormality determination control step.   An analyzer for analyzing a reaction liquid by stirring and reacting a specimen and a reagent, measuring an optical characteristic of the reaction liquid, and using the stirring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. And agitating the sample or the reagent.

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