JP2015075343A - Automatic analysis system formed by connecting multiple analyzers - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic analysis system capable of performing an analysis by automatically introducing a common specimen container in series into multiple automatic analyzers.SOLUTION: An automatic analysis system comprises: multiple automatic analyzers; and a specimen conveying device that is arranged between the automatic analyzers. Each of the automatic analyzers independently comprises: a belt conveyor; a collection and analysis part; and a specimen introduction mechanism that introduces a specimen rack on the belt conveyor to the collection and analysis part. Two adjacent automatic analyzers are arranged so as to align a start end of a latter-stage-side conveyor with a terminal end side of a former-stage-side conveyor, and the specimen conveying device is arranged between the former-stage-side conveyor and the latter-stage-side conveyor. The specimen conveying device includes a conveyance mechanism that holds the specimen rack at a terminal end of the former-stage-side conveyor and conveys it to the start end of the latter-stage-side conveyor.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analysis system configured by connecting a plurality of analyzers.

  The automatic analyzer is configured to automatically sample and analyze a sample contained in a container. In such an automatic analyzer, as a mechanism for transporting a sample, a belt conveyor for mounting and transporting a sample rack holding a plurality of sample containers, and a sample rack transported to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor are taken out from the belt conveyor. A mechanism such as an arm that transports the sample to a predetermined sampling position is provided (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In such an automatic analyzer, an installation unit for an analyzer to install a sample rack is provided on the start side of the belt conveyor, and a sample rack collection unit for collecting a sample rack after sampling is provided on the end side. Yes. When the analyst installs the sample rack in the installation unit, the sample rack is transported by the belt conveyor, and is transported to another sampling position by the arm at a predetermined position, and sampling of the sample container is performed. The sample rack that has been sampled is returned again onto the belt conveyor by the arm, and is transported to the sample rack recovery section on the terminal side by the belt conveyor and collected.

JP 2011-185893 A

  If you want to sample a sample container that has been sampled by an automatic analyzer as described above and analyze it by using another automatic analyzer, the analyst has taken out the sample rack from the collection unit of the automatic analyzer and performed another automatic analysis. A system that needs to be installed in the installation section of the apparatus and that automatically introduces a sample that has been sampled by the automatic analyzer to another automatic analyzer has not been constructed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis system that can automatically introduce and analyze common sample containers in a plurality of automatic analyzers.

  The automatic analysis system according to the present invention includes a plurality of automatic analyzers and a specimen transport device arranged between the automatic analyzers. Each automatic analyzer is equipped with a belt conveyor that transports the sample rack that holds the sample container, a sample analysis unit that collects the sample from the sample container for analysis, and a sample rack on the belt conveyor that is introduced into the sampling and analysis unit. It has a unique sample introduction mechanism. In two adjacent automatic analyzers, the front end of the front conveyor, which is the belt conveyor of the front automatic analyzer, is arranged so that the beginning of the rear conveyor, which is the belt conveyor of the rear automatic analyzer, comes to the end of the front conveyor. A sample transport device is disposed between the belt conveyors. The sample transport device holds the sample rack with the position near the end of the front conveyor on the front conveyor as the transport start position and the position near the start of the rear conveyor on the rear conveyor as the transport end position. A handler that moves between the transport start position and the transport end position, a stopper that stops the sample rack at the transport start position, and a controller that controls the operation of the handler and the stopper.

  When the handler of the sample transport apparatus holds the sample rack, the handler may fail to hold the sample rack if the sample rack is not accurately arranged at the transport start position. However, it is difficult to accurately stop the sample rack at a desired position by the belt conveyor. In addition, since the belt conveyor of the automatic analyzer simultaneously carries a plurality of sample racks, the sample rack to be transported by the sample transport device reaches the transport start position until the handler holds the sample rack. During this time, if the front conveyor is stopped, processing of other sample racks cannot be performed during that time, and the analysis efficiency of the automatic analyzer on the front stage is lowered.

  The automatic analysis system of the present invention includes a stopper that stops the sample rack at the transport start position, and a start sensor that detects the arrival of the sample rack at the transport start position is provided in the vicinity of the transport start position. As a result, the sample rack can be stopped at the transport start position without stopping the front conveyor, and the stopper is released when the sample rack reaches the transport start position by the detection signal of the start sensor. It is possible to start transportation.

  If the sample rack moves while trying to hold the sample rack that has reached the transport start position by the handler, the handler may fail to hold the sample rack. Considering the transport efficiency of the sample, it is preferable that the stopper is released while the handler is holding the sample rack so that the handler can quickly perform the transport operation after holding the sample rack. If the front conveyor is operating when the stopper is released, the sample rack may move when the handler holds the sample rack, and the sample rack may fail to be held.

  In order to solve the above problem, it is conceivable to stop the transport operation of the preceding-stage conveyor when the start sensor detects the sample rack. However, since the detection range of the start sensor constituted by an optical sensor or the like has a spatial spread, the sample rack is, for example, in a state in which the sample rack is inclined obliquely with respect to the transport direction of the front conveyor. However, it is conceivable that the start sensor detects the sample rack even if it reaches the transport start position in a correct posture and is not completely in contact with the stopper. In such a state, even if the transport operation of the front conveyor is stopped and the handler tries to hold the sample rack, the holding of the sample rack fails.

  Therefore, the control unit of the sample transport device according to the present invention performs a release operation of moving the stopper to a release position that does not interfere with the sample rack after a predetermined standby time has elapsed after the start sensor detects the sample rack. Stopper releasing means to be executed, sample holding for executing the sample holding operation for holding the sample rack by moving the handler to the transport start position after a preset waiting time has elapsed after the start sensor detects the sample rack Control for controlling the operation of the pre-stage conveyor, comprising operation execution means and sample transport operation execution means for executing the sample transport operation for transporting the sample rack held by the handler to the transport end position after the sample holding operation The transport unit continues the transport operation until the waiting time elapses after the start sensor detects the sample rack, and performs the transport operation until the release operation is completed. And a conveyance stopping means configured to stop. As a result, the transport operation of the preceding-stage conveyor is continued for a fixed time after the start sensor detects the sample rack, and the posture of the sample rack at the transport start position is corrected during that time. Since the stopper release operation, sample holding operation, and sample transport operation are performed after that, the sample rack holding operation by the handler is executed when the sample rack is stopped in the correct posture at the transport start position. Failure to hold the sample rack is prevented.

  The stopper may move to a position that does not interfere with the sample rack in conjunction with the movement of the handler toward the transport start position. In that case, the sample holding operation executing means also serves as the stopper releasing means.

  In a preferred embodiment, a stopper sensor for detecting the movement of the stopper to the release position side is further provided, and the conveyance stop means carries the conveyance operation of the preceding-stage conveyor when the stopper sensor detects the movement of the stopper to the release position side. Is configured to stop.

  In a more preferred embodiment, the front conveyor and the rear conveyor are arranged side by side in the X direction, which is one direction in the horizontal plane, and the handler extends in the X direction, and the front conveyor side and the rear conveyor side The sample transport device includes a table on which the sample rack can be placed between the transport start position and the transport end position. The sample rack at the transport start position is configured to be held by the holding unit on the front-stage conveyor side, and the sample transport operation executing means places the sample rack held by the sample holding operation on the table, and then the rear-stage conveyor The sample rack is held by the holding unit on the side and transported to the transport end position.

  The automatic analysis system of the present invention is configured by connecting a plurality of automatic analyzers by a sample transport device, and the sample rack at the end of the belt conveyor of the front-stage automatic analyzer is connected to the rear-stage automatic analyzer by the sample transport device Therefore, the same specimen can be automatically introduced into a plurality of automatic analyzers for analysis. A plurality of automatic analyzers constituting the automatic analysis system hold a belt conveyor for transporting a sample rack holding a sample container, a sampling analyzer for collecting a sample from the sample container for analysis, and a sample rack on the belt conveyor. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in some automatic analyzers or sample transport devices, the sample analyzer can be used with a single automatic analyzer that does not have any problems. Sampling and analysis can be performed.

It is a perspective view which shows one Example of an automatic analysis system. It is a schematic plan view which shows the structure of the Example. It is a perspective view of the sample transport apparatus in the same Example. It is a top view which shows an example of the conveyance mechanism of the sample transport apparatus. It is a side view of the transport mechanism. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from diagonally upward direction of the conveyance mechanism. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the diagonally downward direction of the conveyance mechanism. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the structure of the stopper of the conveyance mechanism. It is a top view which shows operation | movement of the conveyance mechanism in order. It is a top view which shows the continuation of operation | movement of the sample transport apparatus. It is a top view which shows the further continuation of operation | movement of the sample transport apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the control system of the Example. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the control system of the conveyance part of a sample transport apparatus and a front | former stage side automatic analyzer. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a sample transport apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the sample holding operation | movement of a sample transport apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the sample transport operation | movement of a sample transport apparatus.

  An embodiment of an automatic analysis system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The automatic analysis system 1 includes two automatic analyzers 2a and 2b and a sample transport device 12. The automatic analyzers 2a and 2b are arranged side by side in the X direction, which is one direction in the horizontal plane, and the transport parts 6a and 6b of both the automatic analyzers 2a and 2b are connected by the sample transport device 12. In this automatic analysis system 1, a sample that has been sampled in the front-stage automatic analyzer 2a is introduced into the rear-stage automatic analyzer 2b via the sample transport device 12, and the sample is also received in the rear-stage automatic analyzer 2b. Sampling and analysis.

  The front-side automatic analyzer 2a includes a collection analysis unit 4a, a transport unit 6a, and a sample introduction mechanism 18a. The transport unit 6a includes a belt conveyor 7a (a front-stage conveyor) that transports the sample rack 20 holding the sample containers to one side in the X direction (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). The periphery of the belt conveyor 7a is covered with a cover. A sample rack arrangement unit 8a is provided on the start end side (right side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the transport unit 6a, and a sample rack collection unit 10a is provided on the end side (left side in FIG. 1). The covers of the sample rack arranging unit 8a and the sample rack collecting unit 10a can be opened and closed, and an analyst opens the cover of the sample rack arranging unit 8a and arranges the sample rack on the belt conveyor 7a. The sample rack that has been sampled can be taken out by opening the cover.

  The sample introduction mechanism 18a moves in the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction in the horizontal plane, holds the sample rack 20 on the belt conveyor 7a and introduces it to the collection analysis unit 4a side, or the sample rack 20 that has been sampled is belted. It is arranged on the conveyor 7a. A sample rack introduction section 9a is provided between the sample rack placement section 8a and the sample rack collection section 10a of the transport section 6a, and the sample introduction mechanism 18a is connected to the sample rack 20 before sampling on the belt conveyor 7a from the sample rack introduction section 9a. The sample rack 20 is transferred to the collection analysis unit 4a, or the sample rack 20 after sampling is returned to the belt conveyor 7a.

  The collection analysis unit 4a includes a sample collection unit (not shown) having an inhalation probe for collecting a sample from the sample container transferred by the sample introduction mechanism 18a, a sample rack storage unit 24a, a reagent storage unit 22a, and A measurement unit 26a is provided. A plurality of sample racks 20 transferred from the belt conveyor 7a by the sample introduction mechanism 18a are accommodated in the sample rack accommodating portion 24a. The sample rack accommodating portion 24a is a turntable, and the sample container on the sample rack 20 is arranged at a predetermined position when the inhalation probe collects the sample. Reagent containers containing various reagents are arranged in the reagent storage unit 22a. The measurement unit 26a is provided with a plurality of containers for mixing the sample collected by the inhalation probe and the reagent, and is configured to optically measure the reaction in the container. With this configuration, in the collection analysis unit 4a, the sample rack 20 is stored in the sample rack storage unit 24a by the sample introduction mechanism 18a, the sample container held in the sample rack 20 is disposed at a predetermined position, and the sample is collected by the inhalation probe. Is collected. The collected specimen is injected into a container provided in the measuring unit 26a, and after a reagent corresponding to the analysis item is added, the reaction between the specimen and the reagent is optically measured such as absorbance and fluorescence intensity.

  The rear-stage automatic analyzer 2b has the same configuration as the front-stage automatic analyzer 2a. The starting end of the belt conveyor 7b (rear side conveyor) provided in the transport unit 6b of the automatic analyzer 2b and the end of the front belt conveyor 7a are connected by the sample transport device 12.

  The sample transport device 12 includes a transport mechanism that holds the sample rack 20 that comes to the end of the front-side belt conveyor 7a and is disposed at the start end of the rear-side belt conveyor 7b, and an openable / closable shielding cover 14 that covers the transport mechanism. ing. The transport mechanism will be described later. As shown in FIG. 3, a micro switch 30 (changeover switch) is provided at an opening / closing portion of the shielding cover 14 of the housing of the sample transporting device 12. The microswitch 30 is switched on / off by contacting a pin 28 provided on the shielding cover 14 side. When the shielding cover 14 is closed, the pin 28 turns the microswitch 30 on, and when the shielding cover 14 is opened, the microswitch 30 is turned off. The transport mechanism of the sample transport apparatus 12 operates only when the shielding cover 14 is closed and the microswitch 30 is turned on, and operates when the shielding cover 14 is opened and the microswitch 30 is turned off. Is supposed to stop.

  An example of the transport mechanism of the sample transport device 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The transport mechanism 100 includes a table 102 having a horizontal plane. The table 102 is supported by a base 118. The horizontal surface of the table 102 is set to be almost the same height as the conveying surfaces of the belt conveyors 7a and 7b arranged at both ends. A position in the vicinity of one end (right side in the figure) of the table 102 in the X direction is a transport start position 103a for holding the sample rack to be transported and starting transport, and the transport start position 103a is located on the upstream side. It arrange | positions so that the terminal end of the belt conveyor 7a may come. The position near the end of the other side (left side in the figure) of the table 102 in the X direction is the sample rack transfer completion position 103b, so that the start end of the rear-stage belt conveyor 7b comes to this transfer completion position 103b. Has been placed.

  An arm member 104 and an arm member 106 extending in the X direction are disposed opposite to both side edges on the table 102. The arm member 104 and the arm member 106 are driven in the X and Y directions at the side edge of the table 102. The arm member 104 and the arm member 106 move simultaneously in the same direction in the X direction and move in a symmetrical direction around the table 102 with respect to the Y direction. Although not shown in the drawing, the arm member 104 and a mechanism such as a motor for driving the arm member 106 are accommodated in the base 118.

  The arm member 104 includes a protrusion 104a at the end of the transport start position 103a and a protrusion 104b at the end of the transport end position 103b. The protrusions 104a and 104b are fitted into recesses (not shown) provided on the side surface of the sample rack on the arm member 104 side so as to be engaged with the sample rack. The movement of the arm member 104 in the Y direction is performed between a position where the protrusions 104a and 104b are fitted in the concave portion of the sample rack and a position where the arm member 104 does not contact the sample rack itself.

  The arm member 106 includes a protrusion 106a at the end of the transport start position 103a and a protrusion 106b at the end of transport 103b. The protrusion 106a and the protrusion 106b are engaged with the rear rear surface of the sample rack. The movement of the arm member 106 in the Y direction is performed between a position where the protrusions 106a and 106b engage with the back surface of the sample rack and a position where the protrusions 106a and 106b do not contact the sample rack.

  The arm members 104 and 106 constitute a handler that holds the sample rack and slides the table 102 from the transport start position 103a to the transport end position 103b for transport. This handler includes holding portions at two locations on the transport start position 103a side and the transport end position 103b side. The holding portion on the transport start position 103a side is constituted by the projection 104a of the arm member 104 and the projection 106a of the arm member 106, and the holding portion on the transport end position 103b side is constituted by the projection 104b of the arm member 104 and the projection 106b of the arm member 106. Is done.

  Hereinafter, the arm member 104 and the arm member 106 are collectively referred to as “handlers 104, 106”, the holding portions on the transportation start position 103a side of the handlers 104, 106 are referred to as “first holding portions 104a, 106a”, and the transportation end position 103b side. The holding unit is referred to as “second holding unit 104b, 106b”.

  The first holding portions 104a and 106a insert the protrusion 104a into the concave portion on one side surface of the sample rack by sandwiching the sample rack from both sides at the ends of the arm members 104 and 106 on the transport start position 103a side. The rear rear surface on the opposite side of the rack is supported by the protrusion 106a. The second holders 104b and 106b are configured to fit the protrusion 104a into the recess on one side of the sample rack by sandwiching the sample rack from both sides at the end of the arm members 104 and 6 on the transport start position 103a side. The rear rear surface on the opposite side is supported by the protrusion 106a. The handlers 104 and 106 move in the X direction while holding the sample rack, and transport the sample rack by sliding it on the table 102. A guide rail 108 is provided at the side edge of the table 102 on the arm member 106 side so as to be fitted into a groove provided on the side surface of the sample rack that slides on the table 102 and prevents the sample rack from toppling over.

  A start sensor 110 for detecting the arrival of the sample rack at the transport start position 103a is provided on the side of the transport start position 103a. An end sensor 112 for detecting the arrival of the sample rack at the transport end position 103b is provided on the side of the transport end position 103b. A stopper 114 is provided in the vicinity of the transport start position 103a. The structure and operation of the stopper 114 will be described later.

  The start sensor 110 and the end sensor 112 can be constituted by, for example, a reflective optical sensor. In the reflection type optical sensor, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are integrally formed, and light reflected from a detection target of light from the light emitting unit is detected by the light receiving unit. In addition, the start sensor 110 and the end sensor 112 may be configured by a transmissive optical sensor. The transmissive optical sensor is configured such that the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit are configured as separate bodies and arranged to face each other, and detects light blocking by a detection target of light projection from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit. .

  A circuit board 116 is provided on the side of the base 118. The circuit board 116 constitutes a control unit (hereinafter also referred to as the control unit 116) that controls the operation of the handlers 104 and 106. The start sensor 110 and the end sensor 112 are connected to the circuit board 116 via wiring. The signals of the start sensor 110 and the end sensor 112 are taken into the circuit board 116 and used for the start of the sample rack transport operation by the handlers 104 and 106 and the determination of the presence or absence of the sample rack transport error.

  2 and 4, illustration of wiring and modules mounted on the circuit board 116 are omitted. In FIG. 3, some of the modules mounted on the circuit board 116 are illustrated, but illustration of wiring is omitted.

The structure and operation of the stopper 114 will be described with reference to FIG.
The stopper 114 is a member refracted at a substantially right angle on the way. The base end portion of the stopper 114 is held by a holding member 126 provided below the side end portion of the table 102 on the side of the transport start position 103a (the position of the sample rack 20 in FIG. 8 is the transport start position 103a). Faces the transport start position 103a. The front end of the stopper 114 extends over the belt conveyor 7a beyond the end of the belt conveyor 7a on the conveying mechanism side of the roller 140, and interferes with the sample rack 20 at the transport start position 103a so that the sample rack 20 is placed on the belt conveyor 7a. Interfering part to stop at.

  The holding member 126 holding the base end of the stopper 114 can move in the vertical direction, whereby the stopper 114 also moves up and down, and the sample rack 20 is stopped and released depending on the height of the stopper 114. The stopper 114 is in an interference position where the tip portion is lifted above the table 102 (the state shown in FIG. 8A) interferes with the sample rack 20, and the tip portion is at the same height as the table 102 or below the table 102. The state lowered to the position (the state shown in FIG. 8C) is a release position that does not interfere with the sample rack 20. When the stopper 114 is at the interference position, the sample rack 20 is stopped at the transport start position 103a, and when the stopper 114 is at the release position, the stop of the sample rack 20 at the transport start position 103a is released. The operation of moving the stopper 114 from the interference position to the release position, that is, the operation of moving the stopper 114 down is the release operation.

  A fixed shaft 130 extending in the Y direction is attached to the base 118 side, and the holding member 126 and the fixed shaft 130 are connected by a spring 128. The spring 128 connects the holding member 126 and the fixed shaft 130 in a state of extending beyond the natural length so as to apply an elastic force in the direction in which the holding member 126 is raised.

  A sliding portion 142 that moves horizontally in the X direction in conjunction with the handlers 104 and 106 is provided. The sliding portion 142 is a shaft or protrusion having a circular cross section. One end of the interlocking member 127 is connected to the side portion of the holding member 126. The interlocking member 127 extends in the transport direction (X direction) of the sample rack 20 by the handlers 104 and 106, and the upper surface 127 a is always in contact with the sliding portion 142. The upper surface 127a of the interlocking member 127 has a straight portion and a smooth slope portion that rises toward the holding member 126 side, and the upper surface 127a of the interlocking member 127 follows the horizontal movement of the sliding portion 142. 126 moves up and down.

  When the holding portions (projections 104a and 106a) on the transport start position 103a side of the handlers 104 and 106 are on the transport end position 103b side with respect to the transport start position 103a, the stopper 114 is lifted upward from the table 102 (see FIG. 8 (A)) and the stopper 114 is lowered at the same height as the table 102 or below the table 102 when the handler holding portions (projections 104a and 106a) on the transport start position 103a side reach the transport start position. The shape of the upper surface 127a of the interlocking member 127 is adjusted so as to be in the state (the state of FIG. 8C).

  A stopper sensor 144 that detects the lowering of the stopper 114 is provided in the vicinity of the holding member 126. As shown in FIG. 8B, the stopper sensor 144 detects the lowering of the stopper 114 to a certain height and issues a detection signal. The height of the stopper 114 when the stopper sensor 144 issues a detection signal is the height when the tip of the stopper 114 is slightly lowered from the highest position (the state shown in FIG. 8A). The height of the stopper 114 is such that the tip of the stopper 114 interferes with the sample rack 20 above the table 102. As will be described later, the detection signal of the stopper sensor 144 is used for operation control of the transport mechanism 100 and operation control of the transport unit of the front-side automatic analyzer 2a. The stopper sensor 144 can be constituted by, for example, a transmissive optical sensor or a reflective optical sensor.

  Next, a control system of the entire automatic analysis system 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The front-side automatic analyzer 2a is provided with a control unit 32a that controls the operation of the collection and analysis unit 4a, the transport unit 6a, and the sample introduction mechanism 18a. The rear-side automatic analyzer 2b includes the collection and analysis unit 4b, the transport unit 6b, and A control unit 32b that controls the operation of the sample introduction mechanism 18b is provided. The sample transport apparatus 12 is provided with a control unit 116 that controls the operation of the transport mechanism 100.

  The control units 32a, 32b, and 116 are connected to the arithmetic control device 34, respectively. The measurement data obtained by the collection analysis unit 4a of the front-side automatic analyzer 2a and the measurement data obtained by the collection analysis unit 4b of the rear-side automatic analysis device 2b are taken into the arithmetic control device 34 via the control unit 32a. The arithmetic and control unit 34 identifies and quantifies the components in the specimen. The arithmetic and control unit 34 is realized by a personal computer (PC), for example.

  In this automatic analysis system 1, the operation of the front-side automatic analyzer 2a and the operation of the sample transport device 12 are linked. The detection signal of the start sensor 110 is taken into the control unit 116 and is used for operation control of the transport mechanism 100, and is also sent to the control unit 32a of the upstream automatic analyzer 2a via the arithmetic control unit 34. It is taken in and used also for operation control of the conveyance part 6a (belt conveyor 7a). The detection signal of the stopper sensor 144 is taken into the control unit 116 and used for operation control of the transport mechanism 100, and is directly taken into the control unit 32a of the front-side automatic analyzer 2a to be transported. 6a is used for operation control.

  The control unit 116 of the sample transport apparatus 12 includes a sample holding operation execution unit 152 and a sample transport operation execution unit 154.

  Based on the detection signal from the start sensor 154, the sample holding operation executing means 152 waits for a preset waiting time after the sample rack arrives at the end of the belt conveyor 7a (see FIG. 8) at the transport start position 103a (see FIG. 8). After a lapse of 3 seconds, for example, the handlers 104 and 106 are moved to the transport start position 103a side, and the sample holding operation for holding the sample rack by the first holding units 104a and 106a is executed. Further, the sample holding operation executing means 152 temporarily stops the sample holding operation when the stopper sensor 144 detects the lowering of the stopper 114 based on the detection signal from the stopper sensor 144, and for a certain period of time (for example, 3 The specimen holding operation is resumed after a second).

  The sample transport operation execution means 154 is configured to execute an operation of transporting the sample rack held by the first holding units 104a and 106a to the transport end position 103b by the sample holding operation.

  The control unit 32a of the front-side automatic analyzer 2a includes a conveyance stop unit 156. The conveyance stop unit 156 is configured to stop the conveyance operation when the stopper sensor 144 detects the descent of the stopper 114 based on the detection signal from the stopper sensor 144.

  Note that the detection signal of the stopper sensor 114 may be taken into the control unit 32a via the control unit 116 and the calculation control unit 34, similarly to the detection signal of the start sensor 110.

  The analyst can manage the operation of each of the devices 2a, 2b and 116 individually via the arithmetic and control unit 34. The analyst individually manages the operations of the front-stage automatic analyzer 2a, the rear-stage automatic analyzer 2b, and the sample transport apparatus 12 via the arithmetic control device 34, so that the front-stage automatic analyzer 2a and the rear-stage automatic analyzer In addition to analyzing the sample using both 2b, by operating only one of the front-side automatic analyzer 2a and the rear-side automatic analyzer 2b and stopping the other device together with the sample transport device 12 The sample can be analyzed using only one apparatus. As a result, even if a problem occurs in one of the automatic analyzers and the sample transport mechanism 12, the sample can be analyzed using an automatic analyzer that is free of defects.

  A control system of the sample transport device 12 and the transport unit 6a of the upstream automatic analyzer 2a will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control unit 116 that controls the transport mechanism 100 includes a microcomputer 116a and a motor driver 116b. For the sake of convenience, the microcomputer 116a takes in information from the arithmetic and control unit 34 described in FIG. 12 and signals from the micro switch 30, the start sensor 110, the end sensor 112, and the stopper sensor 144. It is. The microcomputer 116a transmits a control signal based on the information and signals to the motor driver 116b. The motor driver 116b is driven by supplying a current corresponding to a control signal from the microcomputer 116a to the X-direction drive motor 101a and the Y-direction drive motor 101b of the transport mechanism 100. The X-direction drive motor 101a is a motor that drives the handlers 104 and 106 (see FIG. 4) in the X direction, and the Y-direction drive motor 101b is a motor that drives the handlers 104 and 106 in the Y direction.

  The control unit 32a of the front-side automatic analyzer 2a includes a microcomputer 146 and a motor driver 148. The microcomputer 146 takes in information from the arithmetic control device 34 (see FIG. 12) and a detection signal from the stopper sensor 144. The information from the arithmetic control device 34 also includes a detection signal from the start sensor 110 of the sample transport device 12. The microcomputer 146 transmits a control signal based on the information and signals to the motor driver 148. The motor driver 148 supplies the current corresponding to the control signal from the microcomputer 146 to the belt drive motor 150 for driving the belt conveyor 7a of the transport unit 6a and drives it.

  The sample transport mechanism 12 of the automatic analysis system 1 controls the operation of the transport mechanism 100 according to the open / close state of the shielding cover 14. An example of operation control of the transport mechanism 100 according to the open / close state of the shielding cover 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the sample transport mechanism 12, when the shielding cover 14 is closed, the transport mechanism 100 automatically performs the holding transport operation when the sample rack 20 comes to the sample start position 103a. When the shielding cover 14 is opened, the X-direction drive motor 101a and the Y-direction drive motor 101b are not energized, and the operation of the transport mechanism 100 is stopped. When the energization of the X direction drive motor 101a and the Y direction drive motor 101b is stopped, the analyst can manually move the handlers 104 and 106 in the X direction and the Y direction. When the rack 20 is held, the sample rack 20 can be removed from the handlers 104 and 106.

  Even if the transport mechanism 100 before the shielding cover 14 is opened is transporting the sample rack 20, when the shield cover 14 once opened is closed, the state of the transport mechanism 100 is reset, and the sample start position 103a. When the sample rack 20 arrives at the sample start position 103a, the holding and conveying operation is executed.

  Next, an example of the sample holding operation and the sample transport operation by the transport mechanism 100 will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. 15, 16 together with FIGS. 9, 10, and 11.

[Sample holding operation]
In the front-side automatic analyzer 2a, the sample rack 20 holding the sample container 138 for which sample collection has been completed is placed on the belt conveyor 7a, and the belt conveyor 7a is driven (FIGS. 9A and 15). Step S1). When the sample rack 20 reaches the end of the belt conveyor 7a, which is the transport start position, the sample rack 20 is stopped by the stopper 114, and the start sensor 110 detects the sample rack 20 (FIG. 9A, FIG. 15). Step S2). After the start sensor 110 detects the sample rack 20, it waits without operating the handlers 104 and 106 until a preset waiting time (for example, 3 seconds) elapses (FIG. 9A, step of FIG. 15). S3). At this time, even if the belt conveyor 7a remains driven and the sample rack 20 is not normally in contact with the stopper 114, the sample rack 20 is pressed against the stopper 114 side by driving the belt conveyor 7a. The sample rack 20 comes into normal contact with the stopper 114.

  When a predetermined waiting time (for example, 3 seconds) has elapsed after the start sensor 110 detects the sample rack 20, the handlers 104 and 106 are moved to the belt conveyor 7a side (right side in the figure) (step S4 in FIG. 15). ). When the handlers 104 and 106 move to a certain distance from the belt conveyor 7a, the stopper 114 that moves up and down in conjunction with the handlers 104 and 106 starts to descend, and the stopper sensor 144 detects the lowering of the stopper 114 (FIG. 15). Step S5).

  When the stopper sensor 144 detects the lowering of the stopper 114, the operation of the handlers 104 and 106 is stopped by the detection signal, and the front-side automatic analyzer 2a stops the operation of the belt conveyor 7a (conveyance stop). Operation) is started (FIG. 9B, step S6 in FIG. 15). When the operations of the handlers 104 and 106 are stopped, the lowering operation (release operation) of the stopper 114 is also stopped. When the stopper sensor 144 detects the lowering of the stopper 114 and the operations of the handlers 104 and 106 are stopped, the stopper 114 is not completely released, and the sample rack 20 is stopped by the stopper 114 on the belt conveyor 7a. Maintained.

  The handlers 104 and 106 wait until a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) elapses after the operation is stopped (steps S7 and S8 in FIG. 15), and after the predetermined time elapses. The operation is resumed (step S9 in FIG. 15). The time from when the handlers 104 and 106 stop operating until the operation is restarted is a time set in consideration of the time required for the operation of the belt conveyor 7a to completely stop (conveyor stop time).

  As a continuation of the operations of the handlers 104 and 106, the handlers 104 and 106 are moved to a position where the sample rack 20 is sandwiched between the first holding units 104a and 106a (FIG. 9C). At this time, the lowering operation (release operation) of the stopper 114 is also restarted, and the stopper 114 is lowered to the height of the table 102 to release the interference with the sample rack 20. Then, by narrowing the interval between the handlers 104 and 106, the first holding units 104a and 106 are engaged with the sample rack 20 to hold the sample rack 20 (FIG. 10D, step S10 in FIG. 15).

[Sample transport operation]
The handlers 104, 106 holding the sample rack 20 by the first holding units 104a, 106a are moved to the belt conveyor 7b side, and the sample rack 20 is transported to a predetermined position on the table 102 (FIG. 10E, FIG. 16). Step S11). At that position, the holding of the sample rack 20 by the handlers 104 and 106 is released, and the sample rack 20 is placed on the table 102 (FIG. 10F, step S12 in FIG. 16).

  The handlers 104 and 106 are moved to the belt conveyor 7a side so that the second holding units 104b and 106b are positioned to sandwich the sample rack 20 (FIG. 11G), and the sample rack 20 is moved by the second holding units 104b and 106b. It is held (step S13 in FIG. 16). The handlers 104 and 106 are moved to the belt conveyor 7b side, and the sample rack 20 is transported to the start end of the belt conveyor 7b, which is the transportation end position (FIG. 11 (I), step S14 in FIG. 16). 20 is arranged (step S15 in FIG. 16). When the sample rack 20 is transported to the transport end position, the end sensor 112 detects the sample rack 20, and the detection signal detects that the transport operation of the sample rack 20 is completed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analysis system 2a The front | former stage automatic analyzer 2b The back | latter stage automatic analyzer 4a, 4b Sampling analysis part 6a, 6b Conveyance part 7a, 7b Belt conveyor 8a, 8b Specimen rack arrangement | positioning part 9a, 9b Specimen rack introduction part 10a, 10b Specimen Rack collection unit 12 Sample transport device 14 Shielding cover 18a, 18b Sample introduction mechanism 20 Sample rack 22a, 22b Reagent storage unit 24a, 24b Sample rack storage unit 26a, 26b Measurement unit 28 pin (for micro switch)
30 Microswitch 32a, 32b Control unit 34 Arithmetic control device 100 Transport mechanism 101a X direction drive motor 101b Y direction drive motor 102 Table 103a Transport start position 103b Transport completion position 104, 106 Arm member (handler)
104a, 104b, 106a, 106b Protrusion (holding part)
108 Guide rail 110 Start sensor 112 End sensor 114 Stopper 116 Circuit board (control unit)
116a, 146 Microcomputer 116b, 148 Motor driver 118 Base 126 Holding member 127 Interlocking member 127 Interlocking member upper surface 128 Spring 130 Fixed shaft 140 Roller 142 Sliding part 144 Stopper sensor 150 Belt drive motor 152 Sample holding operation executing means 154 Sample transport Operation execution means 156 Transport stop means

Claims (4)

A plurality of automatic analyzers and a sample transport device arranged between the automatic analyzers,
Each of the automatic analyzers holds a belt conveyor that performs a transport operation for transporting a sample rack that holds a sample container, a sampling analyzer that collects and analyzes a sample from the sample container, and a sample rack on the belt conveyor. Each has its own sample introduction mechanism for introduction into the collection and analysis unit,
In the two adjacent automatic analyzers, the leading end of the rear conveyor, which is the belt conveyor of the rear automatic analyzer, is arranged at the end of the front conveyor, which is the belt conveyor of the front automatic analyzer. The sample transport device is placed between the belt conveyors,
The sample transporting device has a position near the terminal end of the front conveyor on the front conveyor as a transport start position, and a position near the start end of the rear conveyor on the rear conveyor as a transport end position. A handler that holds a rack and moves between the transport start position and the transport end position, a stopper that stops the sample rack at the transport start position, and a controller that controls the operation of the handler and the stopper,
In the vicinity of the transport start position, a start sensor for detecting the arrival of the sample rack at the transport start position is provided,
The control unit of the sample transport device performs a release operation of moving the stopper to a release position that does not interfere with the sample rack after a preset standby time has elapsed since the start sensor detected the sample rack. A stopper releasing means for performing a sample holding operation for holding the sample rack by moving the handler to the transport start position after a preset standby time has elapsed after the start sensor detects the sample rack. A sample transport operation executing means for executing a sample transport operation for transporting the sample rack held by the handler to the transport end position after the sample hold operation;
The front-stage automatic analyzer includes a control unit that controls the operation of the front-stage conveyor, and the control unit continues the transport operation until the waiting time elapses after the start sensor detects the sample rack. And an automatic analysis system comprising transport stop means configured to stop the transport operation before the release operation is completed. The stopper moves to a position where it does not interfere with the sample rack in conjunction with the movement of the handler toward the transport start position.
The automatic analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the sample holding operation execution unit also serves as the stopper release unit. A stopper sensor for detecting movement of the stopper toward the release position;
3. The automatic analysis system according to claim 2, wherein the conveyance stop unit is configured to stop the conveyance operation of the front-side conveyor when the stopper sensor detects the movement of the stopper toward the release position. . The front-stage conveyor and the rear-stage conveyor are arranged side by side in the X direction, which is one direction in the horizontal plane,
The handler includes a holding portion that extends in the X direction and holds sample racks at two locations on the front conveyor side and the rear conveyor side,
The sample transport device further includes a table on which the sample rack can be placed between the transport start position and the transport end position,
The sample holding operation executing means is configured to hold the sample rack at the transport start position by a holding unit on the front conveyor side, and the sample transport operation executing means holds the sample rack held by the sample holding operation. The automatic analysis system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the automatic analysis system is configured to be held by a holding unit on the rear-stage conveyor side and then transported to the transport end position after being placed on the table. .

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