JP2011110467A - Centrifugal separator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a centrifugal separator capable of identifying kinds of rotors set inside a rotor chamber and detecting whether covers, samples, and the like are correctly mounted. <P>SOLUTION: The centrifugal separator 1 having the rotor 2 that is attached to the rotary shaft of a motor 6, a bowl 14 that forms the rotor chamber 4, a door 5 that closes an opening of the bowl 14, and a controller 8 that controls the rotation of the motor 6, wherein a camera 10 that photographs an image of the rotor 2 is provided to identify the kind of the rotor 2 by performing image identification on the image that is photographed. The camera 10 is attached to the door 5, and can photograph the rotor 2 when the door is opened, and the camera 10 is disposed to be positioned outside the rotor chamber 4 when the door 5 is closed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a centrifugal separator, and more particularly to a centrifugal separator that identifies the type of a rotor set in a rotor chamber and controls operation by detecting whether a cover, a sample, and the like are correctly attached.

  A centrifuge separates and purifies a sample by inserting a sample to be separated (for example, a culture solution or blood) into a rotor through a tube or a bottle and rotating the rotor at a high speed. The set rotational speed of the rotor varies depending on the application, and a product group from a low speed (about several thousand revolutions) to a high speed (the maximum rotational speed is 150,000 rpm) is provided according to the application. There are various types of rotors used: angle rotors with tube holes with fixed angles and high rotation speeds, and swing rotors in which buckets loaded with tubes swing from a vertical state to a horizontal state as the rotor rotates. and so on. In addition, there are rotors of various sizes such as a rotor that rotates at a very high rotation speed to apply a high centrifugal acceleration to a small amount of sample, and a rotor that can handle a large volume of sample at a low rotation speed. Since these rotors are used in accordance with the sample to be separated, the rotor is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a rotating shaft of driving means such as a motor, and the rotor can be replaced.

  Each rotor has its own limiting rotational speed (maximum rotational speed) to prevent centrifugal force exceeding the strength of the material, or temperature control calculation to manage the temperature of the sample held in the rotor The temperature coefficient used for the processing is determined. When performing the centrifugation, it is necessary to grasp these values on the centrifuge side. Therefore, in the conventional centrifuge, these values are stored in the control device in advance, and the rotor installed in the rotor chamber is stored. The type is identified and data related to the corresponding rotor is read out. Various identification methods for identifying the rotor have been proposed so far. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, four magnets having different arrangement angles according to the type of rotor on lattice points at equal angular intervals on the same circumference around the rotation axis of the rotor The magnetic sensor for detecting the magnet arrangement angle is arranged in the rotor chamber at a predetermined interval equal to or greater than the equiangular interval, and the adjacent magnetic sensor has a predetermined strength relative to the detection intensity detected by the magnet. By calculating, the position of the magnet is calculated and the type of rotor is specified.

  Also, in a rotor with a rotational speed exceeding 40,000 rpm used in an ultracentrifuge, the centrifugal force acting on the rotor is designed near the fatigue limit of the material, and the strength decreases due to metal fatigue when used repeatedly. There is something that defines the life. In these rotors, the life is defined by the number of operations, the accumulated operation time, etc., and the use is stopped and discarded when the life is reached. Therefore, by reading not only the rotor type but also the serial number on the centrifuge side, and recording the number of operation of the rotor and the accumulated operation time in the centrifuge, how much the user is using the rotor. The life is managed so that it will not be used beyond the life of the rotor. Alternatively, in the case of a centrifuge that does not have the above function, the life is managed by the user recording the number of operations of each rotor, the accumulated operation time, and the like in a diary.

  On the other hand, in order to prevent energy loss due to friction with the air during high-speed rotation for centrifugal separation, so-called windage loss, the rotor has a shape with little unevenness, and a cover that covers the unevenness may be provided at the top of the rotor. is there. By attaching the cover, it is possible to operate with as little energy as possible, and it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the rotor and wind noise. If the cover is correctly installed, there will be no particular problem even if the cover is rotated at the maximum rotational speed unique to the rotor. The rotation may become unstable. In order to avoid such unstable rotation of the rotor, the type of rotor is specified by the above-described identification device, and a distance measuring device is further arranged on the door with the length measuring device facing the rotor side to measure the distance to the rotor. By comparing the distance data to the rotor measured by the long device with the distance data when the cover is attached to the rotor housed in the rotor chamber, whether the cover is attached to the rotor A technique for identifying is proposed in Patent Document 2.

JP 2004-74079 A JP 2001-104833 A

  There is a wide variety of rotor information that must be known before operating the centrifuge, and there are various types of rotors that are available on the market. It is difficult to keep. Therefore, the known centrifuge described above is provided with a dedicated rotor identification means so that necessary rotor information can be recognized to improve usability. However, the rotor identification means as in the known example has a problem that the manufacturing cost is high and the structure and the control system are complicated.

  Also, in the conventional centrifuge, the rotor is set on the rotating shaft, the door is closed, and the operation is started after the user inputs the operating condition and presses the start button. It was necessary to rotate the rotor for a while at a low speed of about 10 rpm. Therefore, a time lag has occurred before the actual acceleration of the rotor is started. At this time, if the user has set a rotational speed (or centrifugal acceleration) higher than the allowable rotational speed (or allowable centrifugal acceleration) of the rotor being used, an alarm is issued when the rotor is identified, The rotation of the rotor is stopped. Therefore, the user had to reset the operating conditions after the rotor stopped. Therefore, there has been a demand for shortening the waiting time for resetting the operating conditions.

  Furthermore, the detection method of whether or not the cover is attached according to the prior art can be identified without any problem if the distance difference between the presence and absence of the cover is a predetermined amount. For example, the rotor handle is not fully tightened and the cover is slightly loosened. Even in the state, if the distance difference from the normally tightened state is slight, there is a possibility that the cover cannot be identified as being loose. Therefore, it has been desired to realize a highly accurate determination means that can reliably identify a state in which the cover is slightly loosened.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge capable of easily identifying unique information of a mounted rotor.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge capable of identifying the unique information of the rotor before starting the rotation of the rotor.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge which stores a plurality of control information for each rotor in advance and performs control based on the identified rotor.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge capable of managing operation performance data for each installed rotor.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge capable of checking forgetting to attach a cover, a mistake in attaching a bucket, or the like before or just after starting rotation of a rotor.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge having a rotor identification means that is not easily affected by condensation in a centrifuge having a cooling device for cooling a rotor chamber.

  Of the inventions disclosed in the present application, typical features will be described as follows.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a motor, a rotor attached to the rotating shaft of the motor, a bowl forming a rotor chamber that houses the rotor, a door that closes the opening of the bowl, and the rotation of the motor are controlled. In the centrifuge having the control device, a camera for taking an image of the rotor is provided, and the type of the rotor is identified based on the image taken by the camera. The control device identifies the type of rotor by recognizing an image captured by the camera. This image recognition is preferably performed before starting the rotation of the motor.

  According to another feature of the invention, the camera can be mounted in various positions. For example, it can be attached to a door. At this time, the rotor can be photographed by the camera when the door is open, and the camera is preferably attached to the door so that the camera is located outside the rotor chamber when the door is closed. Further, the camera may be attached to the bowl and disposed inside the rotor chamber. Further, the camera may be provided with a console where the rotor can be photographed only when the door is open, for example, a console around the door and outside the rotor chamber.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the rotor model number is displayed on a part of the rotor as text, code, symbol or a combination thereof, and the control unit reads the text, code, symbol or symbol read by the camera. The model number of the rotor is identified by recognizing images of these combinations. In addition, the rotor model number is displayed as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode on a part of the rotor. A cover can be attached to the opening of the rotor. The model number of the rotor is also displayed on a part of the cover, and the model number attached to the rotor and the cover is read by the camera so that the cover is attached to the rotor. Configured to identify.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, a motor, a rotor attached to the rotation shaft of the motor, a cover that covers the opening of the rotor, a bowl that forms a rotor chamber that houses the rotor, and an opening of the bowl are provided. In a centrifuge having a door to be closed and a control device for controlling the rotation of a motor, an ID code unique to the rotor is provided on the cover, and a reader for optically reading the ID code is provided. The cover includes a cover body and a handle for attaching the cover body to the rotor, and the identifier is a letter or code formed across the cover and the handle. The cover is attached to the rotor and the handle is rotated. The identifier is configured to be readable when completely closed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the centrifuge is provided with a camera for taking an image of the rotor, and the type of the rotor is identified by the image taken by the camera, a plurality of rotors required before the centrifuge is operated. This information can be obtained with a single camera, so that a plurality of conventionally introduced identification devices are not required, and the structure and control system are simplified.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the control device identifies the type of the rotor by recognizing the image taken by the camera, the operator needs to input the rotor model number or the like to the centrifuge. Since there is no, there is a centrifuge that is easy to use.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the control device performs image recognition before starting the rotation of the motor, if there is an error such as a setting condition, a warning is issued to the operator before the rotor is rotated. Therefore, the error can be corrected quickly, and the rotor can be restarted quickly.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the camera is attached to the door, the configuration of the present invention can be easily realized only by changing the structure of the door portion.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the rotor can be photographed by the camera when the door is open, and the camera is attached so that the camera is located outside the rotor chamber when the door is closed. Therefore, the camera is not exposed to the dew condensation that occurs after the rotor chamber is cooled, so that the fear of failure can be drastically reduced and a highly reliable centrifuge can be provided.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the camera is attached to the bowl, it is possible to realize a centrifuge capable of monitoring not only the operation of the rotor but also the situation during the rotation of the rotor. This configuration is particularly effective in a centrifuge that does not cool the rotor chamber.

  According to the invention of claim 7, since the camera is provided at a location where the rotor can be photographed only when the door is open, only the other part is changed without changing the structure of the rotor chamber or the door. Thus, the centrifuge according to the present invention can be realized.

  According to the invention of claim 8, since the operation console for setting the centrifugation conditions is provided and the camera is attached to the operation console, the centrifugal separator according to the present invention can be obtained only by changing the structure of the operation console. Can be realized.

  According to the invention of claim 9, the model number of the rotor is displayed on a part of the rotor as text, code, symbol, or a combination thereof, and the control unit displays the text, code, symbol, or combination thereof read by the camera. Since the image is recognized, it is possible to perform highly accurate recognition using a known image recognition technique. Thereby, various information regarding the rotor can be provided to the centrifuge.

  According to the invention of claim 10, since the model number of the rotor is displayed on a part of the rotor by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode, it can be read with high accuracy using a camera.

  According to the invention of claim 11, a cover can be attached to the opening of the rotor, the rotor model number is also displayed on a part of the cover, and the model number attached to the rotor and the cover is read by the camera. Thus, it is possible to identify whether the cover is attached to the rotor, so that the rotor can be identified and the cover can be attached at the same time, and a highly reliable centrifuge can be realized.

  According to the invention of claim 12, since the identifier unique to the rotor is provided on the cover and the optical reader is provided to read the identifier, the present invention can be realized even if a scanning CCD sensor or the like is used instead of the camera.

  According to the invention of claim 13, the cover includes a cover main body and a handle for mounting the cover main body on the rotor, and the identifier is a character or code formed across the cover and the handle. Since the identifier can be read when the handle is attached to the rotor and the handle is rotated to close it completely, the rotor can be identified and the cover can be attached at the same time.

  According to the invention of claim 14, since the cover can be fixed to the rotor by tightening the handle one turn or less, the rotation position where reading can be performed can be set at only one place, and the operator can easily visually check it. A rotor that can be provided can be provided.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the invention, since the leader is provided on the rotor chamber side of the door, the leader can be provided at a place where reading is easy.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, since the door is provided with illumination for illuminating the rotor when the door is closed, a stable reading operation can be performed regardless of the use environment.

  The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the centrifuge 1 which concerns on the Example of this invention, and shows the state which opened the door 5. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the centrifuge 1 which concerns on the Example of this invention, and shows the state which closed the door 5. FIG. It is the image of the rotor 2 image | photographed with the camera 10 of FIG. 1, and the state which attached the cover 3 to the rotor 2 is shown. It is the image of the rotor 2 image | photographed with the camera 10 of FIG. 1, and the state which has not attached the cover 3 to the rotor 2 is shown. FIG. 3 is a top view showing a swing rotor 22 that can be attached to the centrifuge 1. 4 is a flowchart showing a rotor identification procedure using the camera 10 in the centrifuge 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the centrifuge 51 which concerns on Example 2 of this invention, and shows the state which opened the door 5. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a rotor identification procedure using a camera 52 in the centrifuge 51. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the centrifuge 71 which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. 5 is a top view showing the shape of a swing rotor 73. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the shape of a swing rotor 73. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a rotor identification procedure using a camera 72 in a centrifuge 71. It is sectional drawing which looked at the centrifuge 91 which concerns on Example 4 of this invention from the front side. It is a figure which shows the shape of the rotor 92 of FIG. 13, and shows the right half with a side view, and the left half with sectional drawing. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the rotor 92 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the laser mark 97 of FIG. FIG. 14 is a top view of the rotor 92 in FIG. 13, showing a marking state when the rotor handle 94 is loose. It is a figure which shows the laser mark 107 which concerns on the modification of Example 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the laser mark 107 which concerns on the modification of Example 4 of this invention (the 2). It is a figure which shows the laser mark 107 which concerns on the modification of Example 4 of this invention (the 3). It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the rotor handle 114 which concerns on the 2nd modification of Example 4 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description is omitted. Further, in this specification, description will be made assuming that the front-rear and up-down directions are the directions shown in FIG.

  1 and 2 are sectional views showing the structure of the centrifuge 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the door 5 is opened, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the door 5 is closed. The centrifuge 1 is provided with a bowl 14 inside a housing 13 made of box-shaped sheet metal, plastic, or the like. The bowl 14 and the door 5 define a rotor chamber 4, and the rotor chamber 4 is configured by door packing (not shown). Is sealed. The rotor 2 holds a sample to be separated and rotates at a high speed. For example, a plurality of holes (not shown) for inserting a sampling tube or the like into which the sample is inserted are formed and supported by the rotating shaft of the motor 6. A cover 3 for avoiding the influence of windage loss during rotation is mounted on the upper portion of the rotor 2. The rotor 2 is rotated by the motor 6, and the rotation of the motor 6 is controlled by the control device 8. The door 5 can be rotated in the vertical direction about the hinge 20 as a central axis. On the side (right side) of the door 5, an operation panel 9 for displaying various information while a user inputs conditions such as the rotational speed and separation time of the rotor is arranged. The operation panel 9 is composed of, for example, a combination of a liquid crystal display device and operation buttons, or a touch-type liquid crystal panel.

  The rotor chamber 4 is configured such that the upper opening can be sealed by the door 5, and the rotor 2 can be attached to or detached from the rotor chamber 4 with the door 5 opened. A cooling device 7 is connected to the rotor chamber 4 in order to keep the inside at a desired low temperature, and the inside of the rotor chamber 4 is kept at a set desired temperature by the control of the control device 8 during the centrifugal separation operation. . The temperature of the rotor 2 is monitored by the control device 8 using the output of a temperature sensor (not shown) installed in the rotor chamber 4.

  The centrifuge 1 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the camera 10 is mounted near the side of the door 5 away from the hinge 20. The camera 10 is a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor, for example. When the door 5 is opened, an image in a direction indicated by a chain line in FIG. The position where the camera 10 is fixed is relatively free, but when the door 5 is opened, the camera 10 is positioned directly above the rotor 2 accommodated in the rotor chamber 4 so that the rotor 2 can be photographed satisfactorily. It is preferable that the lens 10 (not shown) of the camera 10 is installed so that the opening faces directly below. In addition, the camera 10 may be provided with a light (not shown) that irradiates the vicinity of the rotor 2 to be photographed. Image data of the rotor 2 photographed by the camera 10 is sent to the control device 8 through a signal line. The control device 8 performs image processing on the image data received from the camera 10 to read the model and serial number indicated on the rotor 2 and whether the cover 3 is attached to the rotor 2 and whether the surface of the rotor 2 is It is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the rotor 2, such as whether the alumite treatment applied to the film and the coating film are not peeled off.

  If the identification of the rotor 2 is completed and there is no problem in the operating conditions, the door 5 can be closed and the operation can be started as it is. In the centrifuge 1 of this embodiment, some of the samples to be centrifuged must be separated while maintaining a low temperature. In this case, the cooling device 7 is operated to cool the rotor chamber 4. Perform centrifugation. When the door 5 is opened after the operation is completed, the rotor chamber 4 may be condensed. If the camera 10 is arranged so as to be inside the rotor chamber 4 when the door is closed, there is a possibility that the photographing function is hindered due to the adhesion of condensation. Some types of the camera 10 used are sensitive to moisture and moisture, and when exposed to dew condensation, there is a possibility of malfunction. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to avoid disposing the camera 10 in the rotor chamber 4, the camera 10 is configured to be located outside the rotor chamber 4 as shown in FIG. 2 when the door 5 is closed. By disposing the camera 10 at such a position, the camera 10 is not exposed to condensation that occurs after the rotor chamber 4 is cooled. In addition, since the camera 10 is always in an ambient temperature environment and is not exposed to frequent temperature changes, the camera 10 can be expected to have a long life.

  1 and 2, the front end side of the door 5 is bent at about 120 degrees rather than at a right angle, and the camera 10 is inserted into the gap between the bent portion 5 a (see FIG. 1) and the housing 13 generated by this bending. Configured to fit. However, a very small camera 10 in recent years has been put into practical use, and the camera 10 can be installed without changing the shape of the conventional door 5 almost.

  FIG. 3 is an example of image data obtained by photographing the rotor 2 with the camera 10. This embodiment is characterized in that the camera 10 is operated in a state where the door 5 is opened as in the state of FIG. Therefore, when the image is taken by the camera 10, the rotor 2 and the cover 3 are taken from directly above as shown in FIG. On the upper surface of the cover 3 attached to the rotor 2, the rotor type 11 and serial number 12 are described. These images are read by the camera 10, and the control device 8 performs image processing of the read images. The rotor type 11 and serial number 12 are identified and converted into character codes. The display of the rotor type 11 and serial number 12 only needs to allow the camera 10 to recognize the image of the rotor type 11 and serial number 12, and its size and display position are arbitrary. Further, the printing method of the rotor type 11 and serial number 12 may be drawn by paint, laser marking, or other surface treatment that changes the reflectance. .

  The model 11 and the serial number 12 are characters such as numerals, alphabets, and kanji characters, figures, or combinations thereof, and image data captured by the camera 10 can be recognized using a known character recognition technique. Then, data relating to the rotor 2 is read from the storage unit from the read type 11. The control device 8 includes a microcomputer and non-volatile storage means, and the storage means stores in advance various types of data relating to the type of rotor, operating conditions such as the maximum rotation speed that can be used, and life. Moreover, the control apparatus 8 manages the lifetime of the rotor 2 by collecting the performance data regarding the operation for each individual rotor 2 and storing it in the storage means. In the present embodiment, the rotor type 11 and serial number 12 are displayed not only on the rotor 2 but also on the cover 3, but may be displayed only on the rotor 2 without being displayed on the cover 3. Also, instead of displaying the type 11 and serial number 12 of the rotor 2 with characters, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode is attached, or a display, symbol, or shape using a known coding technique is used. It may be possible to detect optically. Further, the information displayed on the rotor 2 may be different from the information displayed on the cover 3.

  FIG. 4 is another example of image data obtained by photographing the rotor 2 with the camera 10. In this example, in order to operate the camera 10 with the door 5 opened as in the state of FIG. 1, the image taken by the camera 10 is taken from directly above the rotor 2. In the example of FIG. 4, the bottle 19 which is a sample container is exposed when the cover 3 is forgotten to be attached. If the image data photographed by the camera 10 is the case of FIG. 4, not only the rotor type 11 and serial number 12 are identified by image recognition from the image data, but also that the cover 3 is not attached. be able to. The identification that the cover 3 is not attached can be determined from the fact that the model 11 and the serial number 12 written on the cover 3 cannot be identified. As another method, the control device 8 performs the image processing for comparing the acquired image with the standard image with the cover 2 attached (the image shown in FIG. 3), thereby confirming that the cover 3 is not attached. Can be identified. Further, by comparing with the standard image, it is possible to find abnormalities such as alumite and coating film peeling 15 on the surface of the rotor 2. In order to perform image processing for comparison with such a standard image, the captured images of the rotor 2 and the cover 3 in a normal state are stored in the control device 8 in advance or when the rotor 2 is used before. It is only necessary to store photographed images and compare them. Note that various known methods can be used as a specific method of image processing for comparison with a standard image, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by providing the camera 10, in addition to the identification of the model 11 and the serial number 12 of the rotor 2, it can be used for finding various abnormalities. If the user closes the door 5 while there is a serious problem that the camera 10 has forgotten to attach the cover 3, or if a start button (not shown) is pressed after the door 5 is closed, an error message is displayed. A warning is given and the start of operation is prevented.

  In addition, if there is a minor problem that is detected by checking the state of the surface of the rotor 2 that there is an alumite or coating film peeling 15, a warning is given to the user by an error message or the like. In the case of such a minor problem, an error message may be displayed and the start of the centrifugation operation may be prevented, or the start of the centrifugation operation may be permitted only by displaying the error message. You may comprise.

  Note that various abnormal states can be identified by using image data read by the camera 10. For example, when the type of rotor is a swing rotor 22 as shown in FIG. 5 and the bucket 23 to which a plurality of bottles 19 are attached is attached only to three of the four places, the control device 8 Assuming that the bucket 23 is asymmetric, an error message indicating that the rotation balance cannot be achieved can be displayed on the operation panel 9. These abnormal states can be identified by comparing with a normal image in a normal state as described above, or by marking each bucket 23 with a mark such as a barcode. Alternatively, it may be identified using another known image recognition technique. In addition, the number of buckets 23 that are attached by processing such as adding marks or numbers to the parts that are covered by attaching the buckets 23 (for example, the part indicated by the arrow 24) or increasing the reflectance. The control device 8 may be configured to count the position.

  Next, the rotor identification procedure using the camera 10 in the centrifuge 1 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. These procedures can be executed in software by executing a computer program using a microcomputer included in the control device 8. First, the control device 8 detects whether the door 5 is opened at a specified position (step 31). The specified position is, for example, the uppermost position of the door 5, and the camera 10 can photograph the entire rotor chamber 4 as indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1 depending on the relationship with the angle of view of the camera 10 at that position. become. If the door 5 is not open or is not in the specified position, step 31 is repeated. Next, when the door 5 is opened at a specified position, it is identified whether the rotor 2 is set (step 32). If the rotor 2 is not set, the process returns to step 31. If the rotor 2 is set, the rotor 2 is irradiated with a light (not shown) provided on the camera 10, and the camera 10 is operated to move a still image (in the rotor chamber 4). Or a moving image) is photographed (step 33). Note that light irradiation is not necessarily required in an environment with sufficient brightness because the camera 10 is used to capture an image in the rotor chamber 4 satisfactorily.

  Next, the control device 8 performs image recognition processing using a still image (or moving image) photographed by the camera 10 to identify the model 11 and the serial number 12 of the rotor 2, the state of the rotor 2, and the cover 3. The presence / absence or the like of the device is identified (step 34). The control device 8 determines whether or not the type 11 of the rotor 2 can be identified (step 35). If it cannot be identified, it determines whether or not it is less than 1 minute from the first indistinguishable state (step 42). In this case, the process returns to step 31 for a retry operation (step 42). If 1 minute or more has passed while the retry operation is repeated (step 42), an error message indicating that the type 11 of the rotor 2 cannot be recognized is displayed and the process is terminated (step 43). At this time, an error message is displayed on the operation panel 9, and the user is prompted to input the model 11 and serial number 12 of the rotor 2 from the operation panel 9. May be. At the time of input by the operator, the door 5 is in an open state. Therefore, the user can easily input the model 11 and the serial number 12 while looking at the mounted rotor 2, which is very easy to use. Is good.

  In step 35, when the type of the rotor 2 can be identified, the control device 8 identifies whether or not the door 5 has moved from the specified position (the highest position), and returns to step 31 if it has not moved. When the door 5 moves, that is, when it is identified that the user has started the operation of closing the door 5, it is determined in step 37 whether the rotor 2 is set (step 37). This determination is for determining whether the user has removed the rotor 2 immediately before the door 5 is closed. If it has been removed, the process returns to step 31; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 38 (step 37). Next, the control device 8 identifies whether or not the door 5 is closed (step 38). Whether the door 5 is closed is detected by using a door opening / closing sensor (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the door 5. If the door is not closed, the process returns to step 37. As described above, in this embodiment, the rotor 2 is identified by taking an image of the rotor chamber 4 with the camera 10 before the door 5 is closed, and the subsequent closing of the door 5 is recognized. Thus, even if the rotor 2 is mounted, replaced, removed, etc. when the door 5 is open, the state of the rotor 2 and the model 11 and the serial number 12 can be reliably identified.

  If the door 5 is closed in step 38, it is determined whether or not the user has pressed the START switch for starting the centrifugal separation operation (step 39). If not, the process returns to step 38. When the START switch is pressed, the control device 8 performs various operations such as whether the rotational speed of the operating conditions set by the user exceeds the maximum rotational speed of the mounted rotor 2 or does not exceed the allowable life. When a check is made and there is a problem, an error message is displayed on the operation panel 9 before starting operation. The operation is stopped according to the degree of the problem, but if there is no problem or the problem is minor, the operation is started (step 40).

  The centrifugal operation is started by starting the motor 6, and the operation is terminated when the centrifugal operation is performed for a predetermined time at a predetermined rotational speed (step 41). When the operation is terminated, the control device 8 may store the model 11 and serial number 12 of the rotor 2 and the record of the operation data in the storage means. By recording the number of operations and the accumulated operation time in which the rotor 2 is operated by the centrifuge 1 in this way in the control device 8, the control device 8 can individually manage the life of the rotor 2. Further, since the user is automatically managed by the control device 8 without worrying about the life of the rotor 2, it is possible to realize a centrifuge that is very easy to use.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the rotor 2 accommodated in the rotor chamber 4 is photographed by the camera 10, and the model 11 of the rotor 2, the serial number 12, and the cover 3 are mounted from the image data obtained therefrom. In addition, since the camera 10 can obtain a plurality of information related to the rotor 2 necessary before the centrifuge operation, such as anodizing applied to the surface of the rotor 2 and the presence or absence of peeling of the coating film, the conventional technology The structure and the control system are simplified without the need for providing an identification means and a length measuring device with such a complicated configuration. Furthermore, since the camera 10 is disposed outside the rotor chamber 4 when the door 5 is closed, the camera 10 is not exposed to dew condensation that occurs after the rotor chamber 4 is cooled, and the probability of occurrence of a failure can be greatly reduced.

  Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description is omitted. In FIG. 7, the difference from the first embodiment is the installation position of the camera 52. In the first embodiment, the camera 10 is mounted on the door 5, and the camera 10 is disposed outside the rotor chamber 4 when the door 5 is closed. In this embodiment, the camera 52 is not attached to the door 5 but attached to a part of the operation panel 53. In the second embodiment, the operation panel 53 is provided on the right side of the door 5 when viewed from above. The camera 52 is in the vicinity of the left side of the operation panel 53 so that the entire interior of the rotor chamber 4 can be photographed from above obliquely by the camera 52 when the door 5 is open (the uppermost position). Be placed.

  As for the installation position of the camera 52 according to the second embodiment, the inside of the rotor chamber 4 can be photographed only when the door 5 is open. Further, since the camera 52 is not exposed to the inside of the rotor chamber 4, no dew condensation occurs even when the door 5 is opened after the centrifugal operation, and the inside of the rotor chamber 4 can be photographed satisfactorily. 1 can be obtained. Furthermore, by providing the camera 52 in the vicinity of the operation panel 53, wiring from the camera 52 to the control device 8 can be performed together with the operation panel 53, so that assembly efficiency is improved.

  Next, the rotor identification procedure using the camera 52 in the centrifuge 51 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. These procedures can be executed in software by executing a computer program using a microcomputer included in the control device 8. First, the control device 8 detects whether the door 5 is opened at a specified position (step 61). The specified position is, for example, the uppermost position of the door 5, and the camera 52 can photograph the entire rotor 2 at that position. If the door 5 is not open or not in the specified position, step 61 is repeated. Next, a light (not shown) provided in the camera 52 is irradiated to the rotor 2 and the camera 52 is operated to take a still image in the rotor chamber 4 (step 62).

  Next, the control device 8 performs image recognition processing using the still image photographed by the camera 52 to identify the model 11 and serial number 12 of the rotor 2, the state of the rotor 2, and whether or not the cover 3 is attached. Etc. are identified (step 63). The control device 8 determines whether or not the type 11 of the rotor 2 can be identified (step 64). If the type cannot be identified, an error message indicating that the type 11 of the rotor 2 cannot be recognized is displayed, and the process is terminated (step 64). 69).

  If the type of the rotor 2 can be identified in step 64, it is identified whether or not the door 5 is closed within a predetermined time after the type of the rotor 2 is recognized, for example, within 10 seconds (step 65). This determination is for determining whether the user has removed the rotor 2 and replaced it with another rotor immediately before closing the door 5. If the door is not closed within 10 seconds, the process returns to step 61. If the door is closed within 10 seconds, the process proceeds to step 66 (step 65). Next, the control device 8 determines whether or not the START switch for starting the centrifugal separation operation has been pressed by the user (step 66). If not, the control device 8 returns to step 65. When the START switch is pressed, the control device 8 determines whether the rotational speed under the operating conditions set by the user exceeds the maximum rotational speed of the installed rotor 2 or exceeds the allowable life. If there is a problem, a warning such as an error message is displayed on the operation panel 53 before starting operation. The operation is stopped according to the degree of the problem, but if there is no problem or the problem is minor, the operation is started (step 67).

  Next, the motor 6 is started to start the centrifugal separation operation. When the centrifugal operation is performed for a predetermined time at a predetermined rotational speed, the operation is terminated (step 68). When the operation is terminated, the control device 8 may store the model 11 and serial number 12 of the rotor 2 and the record of the operation data in the storage means.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since it is not necessary to change the shape of the door 5 for the installation of the camera 52, it is possible to minimize the increase in manufacturing cost. In step 65, the time for identifying whether the door 5 is closed is 10 seconds. However, the time is not limited to this time, and may be arbitrarily set in consideration of the situation of use. Also, instead of immediately recognizing the image after capturing the still image in step 62 to step 64, an image for a predetermined time (for example, 30 cuts per second) is stored in the control device 8, If it is detected that the door 5 is closed, the type of the rotor 2 may be detected using the latest still image accumulated. If comprised in this way, even if it replaces | exchanges the rotor 2 just before closing the door 5, there is no possibility of misrecognizing the rotor 2. FIG.

  Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description is omitted. In FIG. 9, the difference from the first embodiment is the installation position of the camera 72. In the first embodiment, the camera 10 is mounted on the door 5, and when the door 5 is closed, the camera 10 is disposed outside the rotor chamber 4. However, in this embodiment, the camera 72 is mounted on the rotor chamber 4. It was made to attach to the side wall. In the third embodiment, since the centrifuge 71 does not have a cooling device, even if the camera 72 is attached to the side surface of the rotor chamber 4, it is not affected by condensation.

  The installation position of the camera 72 is preferably as close to the upper end of the bowl 14 as possible. In FIG. 9, the example which is the swing rotor 73 is shown as a rotor with which the rotating shaft of the motor 6 was mounted | worn. By providing the camera 72 on the upper side as much as possible, all the upper surfaces of the swing rotor 73 can be photographed, so that image recognition can be performed. FIG. 10 is a top view showing the shape of the swing rotor 73. The swing rotor 73 has a shape such that the four portions serving as the bucket holding portions 73a protrude outward when viewed from above in order to hold a later-described bucket that swings in the radial direction. Further, on a part of the upper surface of the swing rotor 73, the model 74 and the serial number 75 of the swing rotor 73 are printed, for example, in numerals and / or English letters.

  FIG. 11 is a side view showing the shape of the swing rotor 73. In the figure, the swing rotor 73 is shown with the buckets 76 mounted only at at least two positions and at most three positions. Since the camera 72 according to the third embodiment shoots from diagonally above instead of directly above the swing rotor 73, when the bucket 76 is not mounted at the rotationally symmetric position as described above, the state is detected by image recognition. It is possible. In addition, providing the camera 72 inside the rotor chamber 4 means that not only while the door 5 is open, but also by taking an image when the swing rotor 73 starts to rotate, Can be confirmed by image recognition.

  Next, a rotor identification procedure using the camera 72 in the centrifuge 71 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. These procedures can be executed in software by executing a computer program using a microcomputer included in the control device 8. First, the control device 8 detects whether the door 5 is closed (step 81). The opening / closing of the door 5 can be detected by a door opening / closing sensor (not shown). If the door 5 is not closed, step 81 is repeated. When the door 5 is closed, a light (not shown) provided on the camera 72 is irradiated to the swing rotor 73, and the camera 72 is operated to take a still image of the swing rotor 73 obliquely (step 82).

  Next, the control device 8 performs image recognition processing using the still image photographed by the camera 72, and identifies the model 74 and serial number 75 of the swing rotor 73 (step 83). The control device 8 determines whether or not the type 74 of the swing rotor 73 has been identified (step 84). If the type cannot be identified, an error message indicating that the type 74 of the swing rotor 73 cannot be recognized is displayed on the operation panel 9. The process is terminated (step 89).

  Next, the control device 8 determines whether or not the START switch for starting the centrifugal separation operation has been pressed by the user (step 85). If not, the control device 8 repeats step 85. When the START switch is pressed, the control device 8 determines whether the rotational speed of the operating condition set by the user exceeds the maximum rotational speed of the installed swing rotor 73 or exceeds the allowable life. If there is a problem, a warning such as an error message is issued before starting operation. The operation is stopped according to the degree of the problem, but if there is no problem or the problem is minor, the operation is started (step 86).

  Next, immediately after the motor 6 is started up and the rotation of the swing rotor 73 is low, it is checked whether there is any abnormality in the attached state of the swing rotor 73 (step 87). If there is an abnormality in the attachment state, for example, if the attachment state of the bucket 76 is asymmetric and there is a concern about the occurrence of vibrations if rotated as it is, even if the operation is interrupted by displaying an error message etc. Good (step 89). If there is no abnormality in the attached state of the swing rotor 73, the rotation of the swing rotor 73 is accelerated as it is, and the operation is terminated when a centrifugal operation is performed for a predetermined time at a predetermined rotational speed (step 88). When ending the operation, the control device 8 may store the model 74 of the swing rotor 73, the serial number 75, and the record of the operation data in the storage means.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the camera 72 is provided in the rotor chamber 4, image recognition may be performed by the camera 72 before the door 5 is closed, image recognition may be performed before and after the door 5 is closed, Since image recognition may be performed only after closing, advanced image recognition can be performed. It should be noted that the provision of the camera 72 in the rotor chamber 4 also makes it possible to recognize the state of the rotating rotor, so that various managements can be performed using images taken by the camera 72.

  Although the centrifuge 71 according to the third embodiment is not provided with a cooling device, the camera 72 can be provided in the rotor chamber 4 even in a centrifuge having a cooling device. In recent years, since a camera unit with enhanced waterproofness has been put into practical use, the camera 72 can be installed inside the rotor chamber 4. Even in such a case, it is preferable to take measures against condensation in the rotor chamber 4. Furthermore, not only the cooling device but also a centrifuge that depressurizes the rotor chamber 4 using a vacuum pump can similarly provide the camera 72 in the rotor chamber 4. In this case, the problem of condensation can be substantially avoided by reducing the pressure in the rotor chamber 4.

  Next, Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the centrifuge 91 as viewed from the front. In this figure, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description is omitted. In FIG. 13, the difference from the first embodiment is the installation position of the camera 95. In this embodiment, the camera 95 is attached inside the door 5 immediately above the rotor 92. A light 96 that illuminates the rotor 92 from above is provided next to the camera 95.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the centrifuge rotor 92 according to the fourth embodiment, in which the right half is illustrated in a side view and the left half is illustrated in a cross-sectional view. In the rotor 92, tube holes 92a for inserting a tube containing a sample are evenly arranged on the circumference, and a cover 93 for eliminating irregularities is arranged on the upper portion of the rotor 92. The cover 93 is the center of the rotor 92. It is structured to be fastened to the rotor 92 by a female handle 92b provided in the section and a rotor handle 94 having a male screw. Although the positional relationship of the cover 93 and the rotor handle 94 changes relatively in the rotational direction, the cover 93 and the rotor handle 94 are held so as not to be separated by a retaining ring 94 a attached to the rotor handle 94. At the top of the rotor 92, a positioning pin 92c is press-fitted into one place in the circumferential direction so as to enter one hole opened in the cover 93. The positional relationship is determined as one. Note that the components of the rotor 2 are painted by, for example, black alumite treatment or paint.

  FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the rotor 92 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, a laser mark 97 is printed across the cover 93 and the rotor handle 94. The printing by the laser mark 97 is, for example, white, the actual color of the portion that appears black in the drawing is white, and the actual color of the portion that appears white in the drawing is black, which is the color of the black alumite treatment or black coating film. is there. These color relationships may be reversed, or other color combinations may be used. The laser mark 97 is printed with the rotor handle 94 attached to the cover 93 and tightened with an appropriate torque.

  As a result of printing in this way, when tightened with an appropriate torque, the handle mark 98a printed on the rotor handle 94 and the cover mark 98b printed on the cover 93 are combined as shown in FIG. Marks appear at three of the four corners. The direction of the laser mark 97 can be recognized by these three marks (direction recognition marks 98), and the laser 92 can be read regardless of the direction on the rotation axis of the motor 6. The mark column 99a consisting of 8 squares in the uppermost row in the center of the rotor handle in FIG. 16 represents the rotor type, where the marked portion is “1”, the unmarked portion is “0”, By converting from binary to decimal, the rotor registration number is obtained. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 25 rotors can be read out, and the rotor type can be recognized by collating with data registered in the centrifuge body in advance. A mark column 99b consisting of 16 squares in the second and third rows of the handle center portion represents the rotor manufacturing number. In the case of FIG. 16, by reading rightward from the upper row and subsequently reading the lower row to the right, “000000000101100” is obtained and the serial number can be recognized as “620”. As a result, even if a plurality of rotors of the same type are used in the same centrifuge, they can be identified by the production number for each rotor, and the life management of the rotor can be performed automatically.

  FIG. 17 is a top view showing the appearance of the rotor 92 of the present embodiment, and is a diagram showing a marking state when the rotor handle 94 is loose. As shown in FIG. 17, when the rotor handle 94 is not completely tightened (or excessively tightened), the direction recognition mark 98 does not form a square shape, cannot be read by the camera 95, and cannot be operated. . By adjusting the reader reading accuracy of the direction recognition mark 98 (decreasing the accuracy), it is possible to avoid deterioration in usability such as inability to drive due to slight deviation.

  The flow up to the operation in this embodiment is as follows. When the user sets the rotor 92 on the rotating shaft of the motor and closes the door 5, the periphery of the rotor handle 94 is illuminated by the light 96, and the model and serial number of the rotor 92 are instantaneously read by the camera 95. Reading the type and serial number of the rotor 92 means that the cover 93 is securely closed. Therefore, when the reading operation is completed, the cover 93 can be securely attached. Using the confirmed type and serial number of the rotor 92, the control device 8 reads information about the rotor 92 from the storage device and displays a part of the information on the operation panel 9. Since the user can input the rotation speed (or centrifugal acceleration) according to the displayed rotor information, the centrifuge 91 that is easy to use can be realized. When the user presses the START button, the rotor smoothly accelerates to the target rotational speed, so that the waiting time until the user confirms that the target rotational speed has been reached is shortened. Even after the operation of the rotor 92, operation records are automatically recorded for each rotor serial number in the control device 8 of the centrifuge 91, so that troublesome manual operation records can be omitted.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the mounting state of the cover 93 can be optically recognized using the camera 95, it is possible to reliably recognize forgetting to mount the cover 93 or mounting failure. In addition, since the components for transmitting sensors and signals for each purpose are conventionally collected in one camera 95, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Next, a modification of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a laser mark 107 according to a modification of the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 18, marks close to a triangle provided at three of the four corners are used as marks constituting the direction recognition mark 108, and in a state where the rotor handle 94 is properly tightened and the cover 93 is securely closed, FIG. However, when the rotor handle 94 is not sufficiently tightened and the cover 93 is loose, the handle mark 108a comes into contact with the cover mark 108b as shown in FIG. Cannot read. In this system, by adjusting the dimension of the margin dimension C in FIG. 19, it is possible to avoid deterioration in usability such as inability to operate due to slight deviation.

  When the fourth embodiment is used, information about the rotor 92 can be read with high accuracy by simple image processing using the camera 95. Further, by using the laser marks 97 and 107 based on a so-called one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode, the camera 95 can be simplified. For example, a known optical device such as a scanner device using laser light irradiation instead of the camera 95 can be used. An automatic reader can be used.

  In the fourth embodiment, the rotor 92 and / or the cover 93 is configured to display information on the rotor 92 using a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode. This display method is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode. Any other reading method may be used as long as it can read optically. Further, as shown in FIG. 21, when the difference between the mark position height of the rotor handle 114 and the mark position height of the cover is large, it is possible to read with a reader by forming the handle shape as shown in the figure.

  As mentioned above, although demonstrated based on the Example which shows this invention, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example, A various change is possible within the range which does not deviate from the meaning. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described with reference to an example in which the present invention is applied to a centrifugal separator with a cooling device. And may be applied to other centrifuges.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Centrifugal separator 2 Rotor 3 Cover 4 Rotor chamber 5 Door 6 Motor 7 Cooling device 8 Control device 9 Operation panel 10 Camera 11 Model 12 Serial number 13 Case 14 Bowl 15 Peeling (alumite)
19 Bottle 20 Hinge 22 Swing rotor 23 Bucket 51 Centrifuge (Example 2) 52 Camera 53 Operation panel
71 Centrifuge (Example 3) 72 Camera 73 Swing rotor 73a Bucket holding part 74 Model 75 Serial number 76 Bucket 91 Centrifuge (Example 4)
92 Rotor 92a Tube hole 92b Female thread 92c Pin 93 Cover 94 Rotor handle 94a Retaining ring 95 Camera 96 Light 97 Laser mark 98 Direction recognition mark 98a Handle mark 98b Cover mark 99a Mark field 99b Mark field 107 Laser mark 108 Direction recognition mark 108a Handle mark 108b Cover mark 114 Rotor handle

Claims (16)

A centrifuge having a motor, a rotor attached to the rotating shaft of the motor, a bowl forming a rotor chamber for housing the rotor, a door for closing the opening of the bowl, and a control device for controlling the rotation of the motor In the separator
A camera for taking an image of the rotor;
The centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the type of the rotor is identified by an image photographed by the camera.   The centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the control device identifies the type of the rotor by recognizing an image taken by the camera.   The centrifuge according to claim 2, wherein the control device performs the image recognition before starting the rotation of the motor.   The centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera is attached to the door.   The camera is mounted on the door so that the camera can take a picture of the rotor when the door is open, and the camera is located outside the rotor chamber when the door is closed. The centrifuge according to claim 4, wherein   The centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera is attached to the bowl.   The centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera is provided at a location where the rotor can be photographed only when the door is open.   The centrifuge according to claim 7, further comprising a console for setting centrifugation conditions, wherein the camera is attached to the console.   The rotor model number is displayed as a text, code, symbol, or a combination thereof on a part of the rotor, and the control unit displays an image of the text, code, symbol, or a combination read by the camera. The centrifuge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the model number of the rotor is identified by recognition.   The centrifuge according to claim 9, wherein a model number of the rotor is displayed as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode on a part of the rotor. A cover can be attached to the opening of the rotor,
A model number of the rotor is also displayed on a part of the cover, and the model number attached to the rotor and the cover is read by the camera to identify whether the cover is attached to the rotor. The centrifuge according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that A motor; a rotor attached to the rotating shaft of the motor; a cover that covers the opening of the rotor; a bowl that forms a rotor chamber that houses the rotor; a door that closes the opening of the bowl; and the motor In a centrifuge having a control device for controlling the rotation of
A rotor-specific identifier is provided on the cover,
A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein an optical reader is provided to identify the type of the rotor by reading the identifier. The cover includes a cover body and a handle for mounting the cover body to the rotor,
The identifier is a character or code formed across the cover and the handle,
The centrifuge according to claim 12, wherein the identifier is readable when the cover is attached to the rotor and the handle is rotated to be completely closed.   The centrifuge according to claim 13, wherein the cover can be fixed to the rotor by tightening the handle one turn or less.   The centrifuge according to claim 14, wherein the leader is provided on the rotor chamber side of the door.   The centrifuge according to claim 12, wherein the door is provided with illumination for illuminating the rotor when the door is closed.