JP2010175300A - Dispensing device, automatic analyzer, and detection method of abrasion amount of sliding screw of dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dispensing device, an automatic analyzer, and a detection method of an abrasion amount of a sliding screw of the dispensing device, capable of detecting easily the abrasion amount with elapse of time of the sliding screw of the dispensing device. <P>SOLUTION: In the specimen dispensing device 20 including the sliding screw 25 driven by a lifting motor 23, a slider 27 lifted by the sliding screw, and a sensor Su for detecting a lifting position of the slider, a liquid sample containing a reagent or a specimen is dispensed by rotation in a horizontal plane and lifting of the slider. The automatic analyzer, and the detection method of the abrasion amount of the sliding screw of the dispensing device are also provided. The dispensing device also includes a control part 15 for lifting the slider in the periphery of the sensor, and detecting the abrasion amount of the sliding screw based on the minimum driving signal amount of the lifting motor between detection and non-detection of the slider by the sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dispensing device, an automatic analyzer, and a method for detecting a wear amount of a slide screw of a dispensing device.

  Conventionally, an automatic analyzer records output from a driving unit that operates the driven mechanism for the purpose of determining in advance signs of abnormality in various driven mechanisms such as a sample dispensing mechanism and a reagent dispensing mechanism. An apparatus that determines an abnormality sign is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-184141 A

  By the way, various driven mechanisms such as the sample dispensing mechanism and the reagent dispensing mechanism, for example, the sample dispensing mechanism, raises and lowers the dispensing arm using a slide screw and determines the highest position of the dispensing arm detected by the sensor. As a reference, there is one that controls the lifting and lowering operation of the dispensing arm. In this case, the slide screw wears over time due to friction between the nut and the screw shaft during use. However, in the output record from the drive means that operates the slide screw, the amount of wear of the screw shaft is reduced. There was a problem that it was difficult to detect.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a dispensing device, an automatic analyzer, and a sliding screw for a dispensing device that can easily detect the amount of wear of a sliding screw over time in a dispensing device. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting the amount of wear.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the dispensing device of the present invention includes a sliding screw driven by a driving means, a lifting member that is lifted and lowered by the sliding screw, and a lifting position of the lifting member. In a dispensing apparatus that has a position detecting means for detecting and dispenses a liquid sample containing a reagent or a specimen by rotation in a horizontal plane and raising and lowering of the raising and lowering member, the raising and lowering member is located in the vicinity of the position detecting means And a wear amount detecting means for detecting the wear amount of the slide screw based on a minimum drive signal amount of the drive means between detection and non-detection of the lift member by the position detection means. It is characterized by.

  Further, the dispensing device of the present invention is the notifying means for notifying that the dispensing device is abnormal when the wear amount detected by the wear amount detecting means exceeds a predetermined allowable range in the above invention. It is characterized by providing.

  In the dispensing device of the present invention, in the above invention, the driving unit is a pulse motor, and the position detecting unit is an upper point sensor that detects the highest position of the elevating member as a reference position. It is characterized by.

  Moreover, the dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, a lower point sensor for detecting a lowest lowered position of the elevating member is provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the automatic analyzer of the present invention includes a sliding screw driven by a driving means, a lifting member that is lifted and lowered by the sliding screw, and a lifting and lowering of the lifting member. A specimen and a reagent that are dispensed using a dispensing device that dispenses a liquid sample containing a reagent or specimen by rotating in a horizontal plane and raising and lowering the elevating member. And analyzing the sample by measuring the optical characteristics of the reaction solution, wherein the dispensing device raises and lowers the elevating member in the vicinity of the position detecting means to detect the position. A wear amount detecting means for detecting a wear amount of the slide screw based on a minimum drive signal amount of the drive means between detection and non-detection of the elevating member by the means is provided.

  Further, the automatic analyzer according to the present invention is the above-described invention, wherein in the above invention, when the wear amount detected by the wear amount detection means exceeds a predetermined allowable range, a notification means for notifying that the dispensing device is abnormal. It is characterized by providing.

  In the automatic analyzer according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the drive means is a pulse motor, and the position detection means is an upper point sensor that detects the highest position of the elevating member as a reference position. It is characterized by.

  The automatic analyzer according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, a lower point sensor for detecting a lowest lowered position of the elevating member is provided.

  Further, in order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the sliding screw wear amount detection method of the dispensing device of the present invention detects a lifting member that is lifted and lowered by the sliding screw and a lifting position of the lifting member. A method for detecting the amount of wear of a slide screw of a dispensing device that dispenses a liquid sample containing a reagent or a specimen by rotation in a horizontal plane and raising and lowering of the elevating member. A measuring step of raising and lowering the elevating member in the vicinity of the position detecting means and measuring a minimum driving signal amount between detection and non-detection of the elevating member by the position detecting means, and based on the measured minimum driving signal amount And a detecting step for detecting the wear amount of the sliding screw.

  The slide screw wear amount detection method of the dispensing device according to the present invention is the above-described invention, in the above invention, a determination step for determining whether or not the detected wear amount is within a predetermined allowable range, and the wear amount exceeds the predetermined allowable range. And a notifying step for notifying that the dispensing device is abnormal.

  According to the present invention, the elevating member is moved up and down in the vicinity of the position detecting means, and the wear amount of the slide screw is determined based on the minimum drive signal amount of the driving means between the detection and non-detection of the elevating member by the position detecting means. Since it detects, there exists an effect that the amount of wear with time of the slide screw of the dispensing device can be detected easily.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to a sliding screw wear amount detection method of a dispensing device, an automatic analyzer, and a dispensing device of the present invention 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 configuration diagram showing a sample dispensing apparatus used in the automatic analyzer of FIG. 1 as the dispensing apparatus of the present invention.

  The automatic analyzer 1 is a device that automatically analyzes a sample such as blood or urine containing blood cell components. As shown in FIG. 1, the reagent tables 2 and 3, the cuvette wheel 4, the sample container transfer mechanism 8, the analysis optical system. 11, a cleaning mechanism 12, a first stirring device 13, a second stirring device 14, a control unit 15, and a specimen dispensing device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the reagent tables 2 and 3 includes a plurality of reagent containers 2a for the first reagent and a plurality of reagent containers 3a for the second reagent arranged in the circumferential direction. The reagent containers 2a and 3a are rotated by driving means. Transport in the circumferential direction. Each of the plurality of reagent containers 2a and 3a is filled with a reagent containing a pretreatment liquid that hemolyzes blood cell components in accordance with the test item, and information on the type, lot, and expiration date of the stored reagent is recorded on the outer surface. A recording medium (not shown) is added. Here, on the outer periphery of the reagent tables 2 and 3, a reading device that reads the reagent information recorded on the information recording medium added to the reagent containers 2 a and 3 a and outputs it to the control unit 15 is installed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cuvette wheel 4 has a plurality of reaction vessels 5 arranged in the circumferential direction, and is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means different from the driving means for driving the reagent tables 2 and 3. Then, the reaction vessel 5 is moved in the circumferential direction. The cuvette wheel 4 is disposed between the light source 11a and the spectroscopic unit 11b, and has a holding unit 4a that holds the reaction vessel 5 and an optical path 4b that includes a circular opening that guides the light beam emitted from the light source 11a to the spectroscopic unit 11b. is doing. The holding portions 4a are arranged on the outer periphery of the cuvette wheel 4 at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, and an optical path 4b extending in the radial direction is formed on the inner peripheral side of the holding portion 4a.

  The reaction vessel 5 is a rectangular cylinder made of an optically transparent material that transmits 80% or more of the light included in the analysis light emitted from the analysis optical system 11, such as glass containing heat-resistant glass, cyclic olefin, polystyrene, or the like. It is a container called a cuvette that is molded into a cuvette. In the reaction container 5, the reagent is dispensed from the reagent containers 2a and 3a of the reagent tables 2 and 3 by the reagent dispensing devices 6 and 7 provided in the vicinity. Here, the reagent dispensing devices 6 and 7 are respectively provided with dispensing probes 6b and 7b that rotate in a horizontal plane and dispense the reagent to arms 6a and 7a that are moved up and down in the vertical direction. A cleaning means for cleaning the dispensing probes 6b and 7b is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the specimen container transfer mechanism 8 transfers the plurality of arranged racks 9 while stepping one by one along the arrow direction. The rack 9 holds a plurality of sample containers 9a that store samples. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the sample container transfer mechanism 8 reads the recording medium attached to the sample container 9 a held in the rack 9 and outputs the read sample information and shape information to the control unit 15. A reading device 10 is provided as information acquisition means.

  The analysis optical system 11 is an optical system that measures light by allowing analysis light to pass through the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 in which the reagent and the sample have reacted. As shown in FIG. 1, the light source 11a, the spectroscopic unit 11b, and the light receiving unit. 11c. The analysis light emitted from the light source 11a passes through the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 and is received by the light receiving unit 11c provided at a position facing the spectroscopic unit 11b. The light receiving unit 11 c is connected to the control unit 15.

  The cleaning mechanism 12 sucks and discharges the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 with the nozzle 12a, and then repeatedly injects and sucks a cleaning liquid such as a detergent or cleaning water with the nozzle 12a, thereby performing photometry by the analysis optical system 11. The reaction vessel 5 that has been completed is washed.

  The first stirrer 13 and the second stirrer 14 stir the dispensed specimen and reagent with the stirrers 13a and 14a and cause them to react.

  The control unit 15 includes the reagent tables 2 and 3, the reagent dispensing devices 6 and 7, the sample container transfer mechanism 8, the analysis optical system 11, the cleaning mechanism 12, the stirring devices 13 and 14, the input unit 16, the display unit 17, and the sample distribution. It is connected to the injection device 20 and the like to control the operation of these parts, and a microcomputer or the like is used. In addition, the control unit 15, based on the information read from the information recording medium added to the reagent containers 2 a and 3 a, the automatic analyzer 1 so as to stop the analysis work when the reagent lot is different or when the expiration date is out of date. Or alert the operator.

  In particular, the control unit 15 also functions as a wear amount detection unit that detects the wear amount of the slide screw 25. The controller 15 moves the slider 27 up and down in the vicinity of the upper point sensor Su when determining whether or not the wear amount of the slide screw 25 is within a predetermined allowable range. At this time, the control unit 15 determines whether the wear amount is within a predetermined allowable range based on the minimum drive signal amount of the elevating motor 23 between detection and non-detection of the detection piece 27a provided on the slider 27 by the upper point sensor Su. Determine whether or not. The control unit 15 determines whether or not the on / off signal related to detection and non-detection of the detection piece 27a output from the upper point sensor Su, the minimum drive signal amount of the lifting motor 23 at that time, and the wear amount are within a predetermined allowable range. A determination history such as a result is stored. Then, in response to an output request from the input unit 16, the control unit 15 graphs these determination histories and displays them on the display unit 17, or prints out the graphed determination histories from the output unit.

  The input unit 16 is a part that performs an input operation on the control unit 15 regarding a test item, a sample dispensing procedure including sedimentation components, and the like. For example, a keyboard or a mouse is used. The display unit 17 displays analysis contents, analysis results, alarms, or the like, and a display panel or the like is used. The display unit 17 is also used when notifying that the sample dispensing apparatus 20 is abnormal. In addition, the automatic analyzer 1 also includes an output unit that prints out the analysis results as a list.

  The sample dispensing device 20 includes a liquid level detection unit that detects the liquid level of the sample in the sample container 9a, and dispenses the sample to the arm 20a driven by the drive mechanism 22, as shown in FIG. A dispensing probe 20b is provided. The arm 20 a is supported by a support column 21 that is driven to rotate up and down by a drive mechanism 22. The support column 21 is a hollow shaft having a spline formed on the outer surface.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive mechanism 22 includes a lifting / lowering motor 23, a slide screw 25, a slider 27, a guide shaft 28, a support shaft 31, and a rotation motor 34 in a housing 22 a.

  As the elevating motor 23, a stepping motor is used, and the control unit 15 controls the number of drive pulses to finely control the vertical position of the slider 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the elevating motor 23 is supported on the bottom plate 22b of the housing 22a via a spacer 22c, and the rotary shaft 23a is connected to the lower end of the screw shaft 25a by a joint 24. The slide screw 25 has a screw shaft 25a and a nut 25b. The screw shaft 25a extends downward via a bearing 26 provided on the bottom plate 22b, and an upper end thereof is rotatably supported by the partition plate 22d. The nut 25 b is attached to the slider 27.

  The slider 27 is an elevating member that moves up and down together with the nut 25b by the rotation of the screw shaft 25a. FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where the slider 27 is at the highest position. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slider 27 is provided with a detection piece 27 a that detects the highest position of the slider 27 at the end on the support shaft 31 side. For this reason, the housing 22a is provided with an upper point sensor Su in the vicinity of the detection piece 27a at the highest position. Here, the slider 27 is lowered together with the arm 20a to the position shown in FIG.

  The upper point sensor Su is a position detecting means for detecting the lifted position of the slider 27, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is detected by the detection piece 27a with the highest lifted position of the slider 27 as a reference position. The upper point sensor Su uses, for example, a proximity sensor and outputs an on / off signal related to detection and non-detection of the detection piece 27a to the control unit 15.

  Here, even if the elevating motor 23 is driven by a predetermined number of pulses, the driving mechanism 22 reduces the amount of elevation of the slider 27 accompanying the driving of the elevating motor 23 due to wear of the screw shaft 25a. Therefore, the control unit 15 wears the screw shaft 25a based on the minimum drive signal amount of the lifting motor 23 at that time based on the on / off signal related to detection and non-detection of the detection piece 27a by the upper point sensor Su. Determine the amount. For this reason, in the automatic analyzer 1, the relationship between the minimum drive signal amount of the lifting motor 23 and the wear amount of the screw shaft 25a is obtained in advance with respect to the drive mechanism 22, and stored in the control unit 15 as a table or a relational expression. deep.

  The guide shaft 28 is a shaft for guiding the vertical movement of the slider 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower end is connected to the bottom plate 22b of the housing 22a, and the upper end is connected to the partition plate 22d. At this time, a thrust bearing 29 is disposed between the guide shaft 28 and the slider 27 to ensure smooth vertical movement of the slider 27.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the support shaft 31 extends upward through a bearing 32 provided on the slider 27 and is connected to the lower end of the column 21. The lower end of the support shaft 31 is supported by a thrust bearing 33 provided on the bottom plate 22b of the housing 22a so as to be lowered downward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation motor 34 is installed on the top plate 22e of the housing 22a, and a pulley 34a is attached to a rotating shaft that extends downward from the top plate 22e. A belt 36 is stretched between the pulley 34 a and the pulley 35. The pulley 35 rotates the column 21 around the axis by the rotation of the rotation motor 34. At this time, the pulley 35 is engaged with the upper end of the support shaft 31 at the lower end of the support shaft 31 and is engaged with the support column 21 and is rotatably supported by a bearing 37 provided on the partition plate 22d of the housing 22a. Has been. For this reason, the support shaft 31 moves up and down together with the slider 27, drives the support column 21 and the arm 20a up and down, and rotates around the axis to rotate the support column 21, thereby rotating the arm 20a in the horizontal plane.

  In the automatic analyzer 1 configured as described above, the reagent dispensing device 6 sequentially dispenses the first reagent from the reagent container 2a to the plurality of reaction containers 5 conveyed along the circumferential direction by the rotating cuvette wheel 4. Note. In the reaction container 5 into which the first reagent has been dispensed, the specimen is sequentially dispensed from the plurality of specimen containers 9 a held in the rack 9 by the specimen dispensing apparatus 20.

  At this time, the specimen dispensing apparatus 20 appropriately combines the up-and-down movement of the support column 21 and the arm 20 a by the lifting and lowering of the slider 27 by the rotation of the lifting motor 23 and the rotation of the support column 21 and the arm 20 a by the rotation of the rotation motor 34. Use. As a result, the sample dispensing apparatus 20 sucks the sample from the sample container 9a held by the rack 9 that is transported to the dispensing position by the sample container transfer mechanism 8, and the sample is placed in the reaction container 5 arranged on the cuvette wheel 4. To dispense the sample.

  The reaction container 5 into which the sample has been dispensed is stirred by the first stirring device 13 each time the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped, and the first reagent and the sample react. The reaction container 5 in which the first reagent and the sample are stirred is sequentially stirred by the second stirring device 14 when the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped after the second reagent is sequentially dispensed from the reagent container 3a by the reagent dispensing device 7. Further reaction is promoted. Here, depending on the sample to be analyzed, both the first reagent and the second reagent are not necessarily dispensed, and either one of them may be present.

  Next, when the cuvette wheel 4 is rotated again, the reaction vessel 5 sequentially moves relative to the light source 11 a and the reaction vessel 5 passes through the analysis optical system 11. Thereby, the light receiving unit 11 c outputs a light amount signal to the control unit 15. The control unit 15 obtains the absorbance for each wavelength of the liquid sample in each reaction vessel 5 based on the light amount signal for each wavelength input from the light receiving unit 11c, and analyzes the component concentration and the like of the specimen. At this time, the control unit 15 stores the analysis result such as the component concentration of the analyzed sample, and displays the analysis result on the display unit 17. Thus, after the analysis is completed, the reaction vessel 5 is washed by the washing mechanism 12 and then used again for analyzing the specimen.

  At this time, the automatic analyzer 1 controls the control unit 15 from the input unit 16 at an arbitrary timing, for example, at the time of initialization of the device whose power is turned on at the start of analysis on the day or in the maintenance mode by a service person. When the determination request signal is input to, wear over time of the slide screw is detected as follows, and it is determined whether the wear amount is within a predetermined allowable range. Hereinafter, a method for detecting the amount of wear of the slide screw of the dispensing device according to the first embodiment executed by the control unit 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the elevating motor 23 to raise the slider 27 to the highest position (hereinafter referred to as “upper point”) (step S100). As a result, the detection piece 27 a of the slider 27 is detected, the upper point sensor Su is turned on, and an on signal is output to the control unit 15.

  Next, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the elevating motor 23 and lowers the slider 27 until the upper point sensor Su is turned off (step S102). At this time, the control unit 15 counts and stores the number of drive pulses as the minimum drive signal amount of the lifting motor 23. The number of drive pulses counted in this way is a value of about several pulses because the distance between the detection piece 27a and the upper point sensor Su is very close.

  Next, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the elevating motor 23 and raises the slider 27 to the upper point again (step S104). At this time, the control unit 15 similarly counts and stores the number of drive pulses as the minimum drive signal amount of the lifting motor 23.

  Then, the control unit 15 detects the amount of wear of the slide screw 25 (step S106). That is, the wear amount of the screw shaft 25a in the vicinity of the upper point is detected from the difference between the counted drive pulses (= minimum drive signal amount). That is, the control unit 15 determines the amount of wear over time of the screw shaft 25a of the slide screw 25 based on the difference in the number of drive pulses (= minimum drive signal amount) from the stored table or relational expression.

  Next, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the detected wear amount is within a predetermined allowable range (step S108). As a result of the determination, if the wear amount is within the predetermined allowable range (step S108, Yes), the control unit 15 displays on the display unit 17 that the sample dispensing device 20 is normal and notifies it (step S110). Finish the work.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination, if the wear amount exceeds the predetermined allowable range (step S108, No), the control unit 15 notifies the display unit 17 that the sample dispensing device 20 is abnormal (notified) ( Step S112). As a result of this notification, maintenance is performed by a service person. When the wear is slight, the slide screw 25 is greased, and when the wear exceeds a slight state, the sample dispensing device 20 is replaced. Then, when a maintenance end signal is input from the input unit 16, the control unit 15 ends the determination work.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the slider 27 is moved up and down in the vicinity of the upper point, and the lift motor 23 between the detection and non-detection of the detection piece 27a provided on the slider 27 by the upper point sensor Su. Since the amount of wear of the slide screw 25 is detected based on the minimum amount of drive signal (number of drive pulses) and it is determined whether the amount of wear is within a predetermined allowable range, the amount of wear of the slide screw 25 can be easily detected. Thus, it is possible to easily self-diagnose signs of abnormality in the sample dispensing device 20.

  Here, the minimum drive signal of the elevating motor 23 is lowered from the upper point of the slider 27 until the upper point sensor Su is turned off, and is moved up and down from the position where the upper point sensor Su is turned off to the upper point of the slider 27. The amount was counted because it was not possible to detect accurate wear on only one side. Further, the upper point sensor Su is used because the wear of the slide screw 25 tends to be biased toward the upper half, and the automatic analyzer 1 uses the upper point normally detected by the upper point sensor Su as a reference. This is because the lifting operation of the dispensing device 20 is controlled.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment according to the dispensing device and the sliding screw wear amount detection method of the dispensing device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although the dispensing device of the first embodiment uses the upper point sensor to detect the wear of the slide screw, the dispensing device of the second embodiment uses the upper point sensor and the lower point sensor to detect the sliding screw. Total wear is detected. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the sample dispensing apparatus of the second embodiment. In the sample dispensing apparatus of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as the sample dispensing apparatus of the first embodiment.

  Similar to the sample dispensing apparatus 20, the sample dispensing apparatus 40 is mounted on the automatic analyzer 1 and operates under the control of the control unit 15, and as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the lower point sensor Sl is provided in the casing 22a in the vicinity of the lower point).

  Hereinafter, the detection procedure of the sliding screw with time and the determination procedure for determining whether or not the wear amount is within a predetermined allowable range executed by the control unit 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the elevating motor 23 and raises the slider 27 to the upper point (step S200). As a result, the detection piece 27 a of the slider 27 is detected, the upper point sensor Su is turned on, and an on signal is output to the control unit 15.

  Next, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the elevating motor 23 and lowers the slider 27 until the upper point sensor Su is turned off (step S202). At this time, the control unit 15 counts and stores the number of drive pulses as the minimum drive signal amount of the lifting motor 23. The control unit 15 can detect the wear amount of the screw shaft 25a of the slide screw 25 based on the number of drive pulses.

  Next, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the elevating motor 23 and raises the slider 27 to the highest position again (step S204). At this time, the control unit 15 similarly counts and stores the number of drive pulses as the minimum drive signal amount of the lifting motor 23.

  Then, the control unit 15 detects the amount of wear of the slide screw 25 (step S206). That is, the wear amount of the screw shaft 25a in the vicinity of the upper point is detected from the difference in the counted number of drive pulses. At this time, the control unit 15 detects the wear amount by reading or calculating the wear amount from a table or a relational expression regarding the relationship between the number of drive pulses stored in advance and the wear amount.

  Next, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the detected wear amount is within a predetermined allowable range (step S208). As a result of the determination, if the wear amount is within the predetermined allowable range (step S208, Yes), the control unit 15 displays on the display unit 17 that the vicinity of the upper point of the screw shaft 25a of the sample dispensing device 20 is normal. Notification is made (step S210).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination, if the wear amount exceeds the predetermined allowable range (step S208, No), the control unit 15 displays that the vicinity of the upper point of the screw shaft 25a of the sample dispensing device 20 is abnormal. 17 is displayed (step S212) and the process proceeds to step S224.

  On the other hand, after displaying that the vicinity of the rising point of the screw shaft 25a is normal in step S210, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the lifting motor 23 and lowers the slider 27 to the lower point (step S214). As a result, the detection piece 27 a of the slider 27 is detected, the lower point sensor Sl is turned on, and an on signal is output to the control unit 15.

  Thereafter, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the elevating motor 23 and raises the slider 27 until the lower point sensor Sl is turned off (step S216). At this time, the control unit 15 counts and stores the number of drive pulses as the minimum drive signal amount of the lifting motor 23.

  Next, the control unit 15 detects the amount of wear of the slide screw 25 (step S218). That is, the wear amount of the screw shaft 25a in the vicinity of the lower point is detected from the difference in the counted number of drive pulses.

  Next, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the detected wear amount is within a predetermined allowable range (step S220). As a result of the determination, if the wear amount is within the predetermined allowable range (step S220, Yes), the vicinity of the lower point of the screw shaft 25a is also normal, so the control unit 15 indicates that the sample dispensing device 20 is normal and the display unit 17 This is displayed (step S222), and the determination work is terminated.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination, if the wear amount exceeds the predetermined allowable range (step S220, No), since the vicinity of the lower point of the screw shaft 25a is abnormal, the control unit 15 indicates that the sample dispensing device 20 is abnormal. A message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 17 and notified (step S224). As a result of this notification, maintenance is performed by a service person. When the wear is slight, the slide screw 25 is greased, and when the wear exceeds a slight state, the sample dispensing device 20 is replaced. Then, when a maintenance end signal is input from the input unit 16, the control unit 15 ends the determination work.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the slider 27 is moved up and down at two locations near the upper point sensor Su and the lower point sensor Sl, and the detection provided on the slider 27 by the upper point sensor Su and the lower point sensor Sl. Whether the wear amount in the vicinity of the upper point and the lower point of the slide screw 25 is within a predetermined allowable range based on the minimum drive signal amount (number of drive pulses) of the elevating motor 23 between detection and non-detection of the piece 27a. Therefore, it is possible to easily detect the amount of wear of the slide screw 25 and to easily self-diagnose a sign of abnormality of the sample dispensing device 20.

  If the number of position detecting means for detecting the lift position of the slider 27 is increased, the amount of wear along the entire length of the slide screw 25 can be detected in more detail, and the amount of wear at a desired position can be detected. Is also possible.

  Moreover, although the dispensing apparatus of Embodiment 1, 2 demonstrated the case of the sample dispensing apparatus, if it is a dispensing apparatus using a slide screw, a reagent dispensing apparatus may be sufficient.

It is a schematic block diagram of the automatic analyzer of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the sample dispensing apparatus of Embodiment 1 used with the automatic analyzer of FIG. 1 as a dispensing apparatus of this invention. It is the A section enlarged view of the dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sample dispensing device shown in FIG. 2 when the slider is lowered to a lowest position. It is a flowchart explaining the wear amount detection method of the slide screw of the dispensing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a sample dispensing apparatus of a second embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the wear amount detection method of the slide screw of the dispensing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2,3 Reagent table 4 Cuvette wheel 5 Reaction container 6,7 Reagent dispensing apparatus 8 Sample container transfer mechanism 9 Rack 10 Reader 11 Analytical optical system 12 Washing mechanism 13 First stirrer 14 Second stirrer 15 Control unit 16 Input unit 17 Display unit 20 Sample dispensing device 21 Support column 22 Drive mechanism 23 Lifting motor 24 Joint 25 Slide screw 26 Bearing 27 Slider 28 Guide shaft 29 Thrust bearing 31 Support shaft 32 Bearing 33 Thrust bearing 34 Rotating motor 35 Pulley 36 Belt 37 Bearing Su Upper point sensor Sl Lower point sensor

Claims (10)

A sliding screw driven by the driving means; a lifting member that is lifted and lowered by the sliding screw; and a position detection means that detects a lifting position of the lifting member, and rotation in a horizontal plane, and lifting and lowering of the lifting member. In a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid sample containing a reagent or specimen by
The elevating member is moved up and down in the vicinity of the position detecting means, and the wear amount of the sliding screw is determined based on the minimum drive signal amount of the driving means between the detection and non-detection of the elevating member by the position detecting means. A dispensing apparatus comprising a wear amount detecting means for detecting.   2. Dispensing according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying that the dispensing device is abnormal when the wear amount detected by the wear amount detecting means exceeds a predetermined allowable range. apparatus. The driving means is a pulse motor;
The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position detection unit is an upper point sensor that detects a highest position of the elevating member as a reference position.   The dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a lower point sensor that detects a lowest position of the elevating member. A sliding screw driven by the driving means; a lifting member that is lifted and lowered by the sliding screw; and a position detection means that detects a lifting position of the lifting member, and rotation in a horizontal plane, and lifting and lowering of the lifting member. By using a dispensing device that dispenses a liquid sample containing a reagent or sample, and by reacting the sample dispensed with the reagent and measuring the optical properties of the reaction solution to analyze the sample. There,
The dispensing device raises and lowers the elevating member in the vicinity of the position detecting unit, and based on a minimum drive signal amount of the driving unit between detection and non-detection of the elevating member by the position detecting unit An automatic analyzer comprising a wear amount detecting means for detecting a wear amount of a slide screw.   6. The automatic analysis according to claim 5, further comprising notification means for notifying that the dispensing device is abnormal when the wear amount detected by the wear amount detection means exceeds a predetermined allowable range. apparatus. The driving means is a pulse motor;
The automatic analyzer according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the position detecting means is an upper point sensor that detects a highest position of the elevating member as a reference position.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 7, further comprising a lower point sensor that detects a lowest position of the elevating member. A lifting member that is lifted and lowered by a slide screw and a position detection means that detects the lifting position of the lifting member, and a liquid sample containing a reagent or specimen is separated by rotation in a horizontal plane and lifting and lowering of the lifting member. A method for detecting the wear amount of a sliding screw of a dispensing device to be poured,
A measuring step of raising and lowering the elevating member in the vicinity of the position detecting means and measuring a minimum drive signal amount between detection and non-detection of the elevating member by the position detecting means;
A detection step of detecting the wear amount of the slide screw based on the measured minimum drive signal amount;
A method for detecting the amount of wear of a slide screw of a dispensing device. A determination step of determining whether the detected amount of wear is within a predetermined allowable range;
A notification step of notifying that the dispensing device is abnormal when the wear amount exceeds a predetermined allowable range; and
The wear amount detection method of the sliding screw of the dispensing apparatus of Claim 9 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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