JP2017142122A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic analyzer with which it is possible to lift a specimen container in a prescribed state and transfer it and thereby convey a large quantity of specimen containers without trouble and improve processing capability.SOLUTION: Provided is an automatic analyzer comprising: a conveyance unit having an analysis unit, multiple conveyance lines, and a transfer mechanism for transferring a specimen container S between the conveyance lines, for conveying the specimen container S provided with a flange unit to the analysis unit; a pair of holding tools 21 provided in the transfer mechanism of the conveyance unit, with one end as a fulcrum and the other end as a holding end 21a of an openable/closable specimen container S; and a tapered face 21b provided on the surfaces of the pair of holding tools 21 at which the holding ends 21a face each other, for holding the specimen container S by supporting the flange unit 32 of the specimen container S from below and grasping the same from both sides.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and more particularly, to an automatic analyzer including a transport unit for transporting a sample container into which a sample has been dispensed.

  As an automatic analyzer, a biochemical analyzer that analyzes a biological component contained in a specimen such as blood or urine is known. Such an automatic analyzer includes a transport unit for transporting a sample container into which a sample is dispensed between a dispensing position from a parent sample, a dispensing position at each analysis position, and a washing position. Yes.

  Such a transport unit includes a plurality of rows of transport paths, and has a container holding mechanism for holding and lifting the sample containers when the sample containers are transferred to different transport paths. As an example of such a container holding mechanism, there is disclosed a configuration configured to hold a sample container by changing the interval between gripping parts (holding metal fittings) fixed to one end of two base parts, for example. (See Patent Document 1 or Non-Patent Document 1 below).

JP-A-14-300189

Japan Society for Invention and Innovation Open Technical Bulletin No. 2005-500918

  By the way, in order to transport a large amount of sample containers without problems in the transport unit of the above-described automatic analyzer, it is important to transport the sample containers to different transport paths while holding the sample containers in a stable state. Therefore, the present invention provides an automatic analyzer capable of transporting a sample container in a stable state while being lifted up in a predetermined state, thereby allowing a large amount of sample containers to be transported without problems and improving processing capacity. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve such an object, an automatic analyzer of the present invention includes an analyzer, a plurality of transfer lines, and a transfer mechanism for transferring the sample container between the transfer lines, and a flange portion is provided. A transport unit that transports the sample container to the analysis unit, a pair of holders provided in the transport mechanism of the transport unit as a holding end of the sample container that can be opened and closed with one end side as a fulcrum, A taper surface that is provided on a surface of the pair of holding tools facing the holding ends and supports the flange portion of the sample container from below and holds the sample container by grasping from both sides.

  According to the automatic analyzer of the present invention configured as described above, the sample container can be transported in a stable state while being lifted in a predetermined state. It is possible to improve the processing capacity.

It is a principal part schematic block diagram of the automatic analyzer which concerns on embodiment. It is a principal part perspective view of the transfer mechanism provided in the automatic analyzer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the sample container used for the automatic analyzer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the transfer mechanism in the automatic analyzer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the transfer operation | movement of the sample container in the automatic analyzer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the sample container of the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the transfer mechanism of the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the transfer mechanism in the automatic analyzer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the transfer operation | movement of the sample container in the automatic analyzer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the automatic analyzer of the present invention will be described in the order of the schematic configuration of the automatic analyzer and the embodiments to which the present invention is applied.

<< Schematic configuration of automatic analyzer >>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied, and an automatic analyzer in which the present invention is applied to a biochemical analyzer that analyzes a biological component contained in a specimen such as blood or urine. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of FIG.

  The automatic analyzer 1 shown in this figure includes a transport unit 100 for a sample container S, a plurality of analyzers (here, two analyzers 200a and 200b), and a controller 300. Each of these is configured as follows.

<Conveyor 100>
The transport unit 100 transports the sample container S in which the sample is stored. The transport unit 100 transports the sample container S between the dispensing position P11 and the analysis units 200a and 200b. The sample accommodated in the sample container S is, for example, a child sample dispensed from the parent sample by a sample device not shown here.

  Such a transport unit 100 includes a first transport line 101, a plurality of second transport lines 102a and 102b (here, two second transport lines), a third transport line 103, a plurality of sensor units 104, Furthermore, it has the some transfer mechanism 10 provided with the holding tool characteristic in each embodiment demonstrated below.

  The first transport line 101, the plurality of second transport lines 102a and 102b, and the third transport line 103 are transport paths extending in parallel along the arrangement direction of the plurality of analysis units 200a and 200b, The sample container S placed on the container is transported in the extending direction.

[First transfer line 101]
Among these, the first transport line 101 is a series of transport paths for transporting the sample container S in the direction x1 from the sample dispensing position P11 toward the arrangement direction of the analyzers 200a and 200b. One end of the first transport line 101 is set as a dispensing position P11, and the other end reaching the analyzer farthest from the dispensing position P11 (here, the analyzer 200b) is laid as a container holding position P12 of the sample container S. ing.

  In the first transport line 101, the container holding positions P13a and P13b of the sample container S are set at positions corresponding to the analyzers 200a and 200b between the dispensing position P11 and the container holding position P12. Further, in the first transport line 101, the placement positions P14a and P14b of the sample container S are set on the downstream side in the direction x1 from the container holding positions P13a and P13b. In addition, the mounting position P14b corresponding to the analysis part (here, the analysis part 200b) farthest from the dispensing position P11 coincides with the container holding position P12.

[Second transport lines 102a, 102b]
Each 2nd conveyance line 102a, 102b is a conveyance path provided corresponding to each analysis part 200a, 200b between the 1st conveyance line 101 and each analysis part 200a, 200b. These second transport lines 102a and 102b are laid as one end on the dispensing position P11 side as a placement position P21 of the sample container S and the other end as a container holding position P22, from the placement position P21 to the container holding position P22. The sample container S is transported in the direction x1. In each of the second transport lines 102a and 102b, a collection position P23 for collecting a sample is set between the placement position P21 and the container holding position P22.

[Third transfer line 103]
The third transport line 103 is a series of transport paths extending in parallel with the first transport line 101 and is a collection line for the sample container S, and the analyzers 200a and 200b sandwich the first transport line 101. It is provided on the opposite side. This third transport line 103 is laid with one end on the dispensing position P11 side as the container holding position P31 of the sample container S and the other end as the mounting position P32, and the sample from the mounting position P32 to the container holding position P31. The container S is transported in the direction x2 opposite to the direction x1.

[Sensor unit 104]
The sensor unit 104 is a device for determining whether or not the sample container S has reached a predetermined position, and is, for example, an optical sensor. Such a sensor unit 104 is disposed, for example, in the vicinity of each container holding position P12, P13a, 13b, and detects the presence or absence of the sample container S at each of these positions.

[Transfer mechanism 10]
The transfer mechanism 10 transfers the sample storage container S from the container holding positions P13a and P13b of the first transfer line 101 to the placement positions P21 of the second transfer lines 102a and 102b. Further, the transfer mechanism 10 transfers the sample storage container S from the container holding positions P22 of the second transfer lines 102a and 102b to the placement positions P14a and P14b of the first transfer line 101. Further, the transfer mechanism 10 transfers the sample container S from the container holding position P12 of the first transfer line 101 to the placement position P32 of the third transfer line 103.

  In this way, the transfer mechanism 10 that moves the sample storage container S includes a pair of holders that will be described in detail in each of the following embodiments, and the holder holding the sample container S is connected to the first transport line 101 and each second. It is moved between the transfer lines 102 a and 102 b or between the first transfer line 101 and the third transfer line 103.

[Other]
Although illustration is omitted here, a cleaning unit is disposed between the dispensing position P11 and the analysis units 200a and 200b. Then, the specimen container S transported in the direction x2 from the placement position P32 of the third transport line 103 is transported to the cleaning unit by the transfer mechanism, and after returning to the dispensing position P11 after the cleaning process. ing.

<Analysis units 200a and 200b>
Each of the analysis units 200a and 200b includes a sample dispensing device 202, a turntable 203 in which a plurality of reaction cells are arranged, a reagent dispensing device 204, a reagent turntable 205 in which a reagent container is arranged, And an analyzer 206. Here, two analysis units 200a and 200b are shown, but three or more analysis units may be included.

  The sample dispensing apparatus 202 collects a sample from the sample container S transported to the collection position P23 of each of the second transport lines 102a and 102b in the transport unit 100, and the collected sample is a reaction cell arranged on the turntable 203. Discharge inside. The reagent dispensing device 204 collects a reagent from a reagent container arranged on the reagent turntable 205 and discharges the collected reagent into a reaction cell arranged on the turntable 203. The specimen and reagent in the reaction cell are agitated by a stirrer not shown here. The analyzer 206 measures the specimen that has reacted with the reagent.

  Each of the analysis units 200a and 200b as described above includes a plurality of reagent dispensing devices 204 and a plurality of analysis devices 206, so that a plurality of samples can be analyzed in parallel.

<Control unit 300>
The control unit 300 controls operations of the transport unit 100 and the analysis units 200a and 200b that constitute the automatic analyzer 1. Such a control part 300 is a computer provided with the input part, the display part, CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., for example.

<< First Embodiment >>
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the transfer mechanism 10 provided in the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment. The transfer mechanism 10 shown in this figure has a holder 21 for the specimen container S that is characteristic of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view for explaining an example of the sample container S held by the holder 21. Hereinafter, a configuration example of the sample container S used in the first embodiment will be described first, and then a detailed configuration of the transfer mechanism 10 including the holder 21 for holding the sample container S will be described.

<Sample container S>
3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the sample container S, FIG. 3A is a perspective view, FIG. 3B is a top view, and FIG. 3C is a side view. The sample container S shown in each of these figures, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is composed of a cell 30 in which a sample dispensed from a parent sample is stored, and a cell container 31 that stores and holds the cell 30. ing.

  The cell container 31 is for holding the cell 30 that has been depressed from above, and constitutes the outer shape of the sample container S. The cell container 31 is configured to have an outer shape of a certain size in order to transport the cell 30 storing a small amount of specimen in a stable state.

  Such a cell container 31 includes a flange portion 32 on the upper side where the cell 30 is inserted. The lower part of the flange part 32 is comprised by the cylindrical neck part 33, for example. For example, the planar shape of the flange portion 32 is polygonal so that the orientation on the conveyance line is clear.

  Such a planar shape of the flange portion 32 is a polygon having two parallel sides, for example, a substantially quadrangular shape. The substantially quadrangle is, for example, a planar shape in which four corners of the quadrangle are projected outward, and two parallel sides of the quadrangle are constricted toward the center, and the apex angle of the substantially quadrangle is preferably 90 degrees or less. . Moreover, as for the substantially square shape, the apex angle part may be comprised with the curve. In this case, the apex angle of the substantially square diameter is an angle of a portion where imaginary lines extending two opposite sides intersect.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sample container S having such a shape has two substantially rectangular parallel sides of the flange portion 32 in parallel with the extending direction of each transfer line (for example, the transfer line 101). It is transported while being placed on the transport line 101.

<Transfer mechanism 10>
The transfer mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 2 is for transferring the sample container S between transfer lines in different rows. The transport mechanism 10 holds and lifts the sample container S, carries the lifted sample container S between the transport lines, and further lowers and places the sample container S on the transport line of the transport destination. Such a transfer mechanism 10 includes a pair of holders 21 for holding the sample container S and a transport mechanism (not shown) for transporting the holders 21 between the transport lines.

  Such a transfer mechanism 10 is obtained by attaching a pair of holders 21 via a base 10a to a transport mechanism attached to a transport unit of an automatic analyzer. Here, two pairs of holders 21 show the transfer mechanism 10 attached to the transport mechanism via one base 10a. Such a transfer mechanism 10 transfers the sample container S between three rows of transfer lines.

  Of the two pairs of holders 21 shown in FIG. 2, for example, the right pair of holders 21 is moved from the container holding position P22 of the second transfer line 102b shown in FIG. 1 to the placement position P14b of the first transfer line 101. The specimen storage container S is transferred. Further, of the two pairs of holders 21 shown in FIG. 2, the pair of left side holders 21 is moved from the container holding position P12 of the first transfer line 101 to the placement position P32 of the third transfer line 103 shown in FIG. The sample container S is transferred. In addition, if it is a transfer mechanism which transfers a sample container only between two rows of transfer lines, a configuration in which only a pair of holders 21 are attached to the base 10a may be adopted. In the following, the three lines of conveyance lines will be referred to as the conveyance line 101 and the detailed configuration of the transfer mechanism 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer mechanism 10 includes a pair of holders 21, a fulcrum member 22, a spring 24, a gear 23, and a stopper 25. These configurations are as follows.

[Holding tool 21]
Each of the pair of holders 21 is a long member. Each of these holders 21 is attached to the base 10a by a fulcrum member 22 penetrating one end of the elongated shape. In this state, the pair of holders 21 is provided in a state in which the tip end portion protrudes from the base 10 a along the extending direction of the transport line 101. In a state of being attached to the base 10a, the pair of holders 21 are rotatable about a position where the fulcrum member 22 is penetrated. As a result, the pair of holders 21 are configured to be openable and closable with the other end side opposite to the one end side through which the fulcrum member 22 is passed as the holding end 21 a of the sample container S.

  The holding end 21a in the holding tool 21 is a portion that holds the sample container S, and the shape of the holding end 21a is characteristic. That is, the holding ends 21a of the pair of holding tools 21 have a tapered surface 21b having a forward taper shape facing upward when the automatic analyzer is installed. These tapered surfaces 21b are provided on the holder 21 on the side where the sample container S is held, and hold the sample container S between the opposing tapered surfaces 21b. That is, the tapered surface 21b is a holding portion of the sample container S.

  4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the transfer mechanism 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4A is a top view of the holding end 21a of the holder 21, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the holding end 21a of the holder 21. . These drawings show a state in which the sample container S is held by a pair of holders 21, as will be described in detail later. Of the two pairs of holders 21 shown in FIG. This corresponds to the state of the holder 21.

  As shown in these drawings, the tapered surface 21b of the holder 21 faces inward when the holding end 21a is closed to the state where the sample container S is held by rotating the pair of holders 21. It arrange | positions so that it may oppose. In this case, each taper surface 21 b of the pair of holders 21 extends in a parallel direction, for example, is perpendicular to the placement surface of the sample container S in the transport line 101 and extends in the same direction as the transport line 101. A plane that is plane-symmetric with respect to the plane Vs to be formed, and may be a plane.

  Such a tapered surface 21b holds the sample container S by supporting the flange portion 32 of the sample container S from below and holding it from both sides. More specifically, the pair of tapered surfaces 21b has four corners of the flange portion 32 of the sample container S described with reference to FIG. 3 as holding points 32a, and supports these holding points 32a from below and holds them from both sides. The sample container S is held. Here, the holding point 32a of the flange portion 32 held by the tapered surface 21b is a point located on the outermost side on the two opposite sides of the flange portion 32, and the planar shape of the flange portion 32 has a substantially rectangular apex angle. When the part is configured as a curved line, it is the starting point of the curved part.

  As will be described later, the angle θ of each tapered surface 21b is so small that the taper surface 21b facing the flange portion 32 of the sample container S can slide up on both sides in the operation of closing the holding end 21a. In addition, the angle θ of each tapered surface 21b is so large that the sample container S is sandwiched and held between the opposing tapered surfaces 21b when the holding end 21a is closed until the sample container S is held. The rotation of the sample container S between the tapered surfaces 21b is suppressed. Furthermore, the length L in the inclination direction of each tapered surface 21 b is set in accordance with the height h at which the sample container S is lifted from the transport line 101 in a state where the sample container S is held by the holder 21. The height h is a size that does not hinder the transport of the sample container S between the transport lines.

  In addition, when the holding end 21a is closed to the state in which the sample container S is held, the distance d between the upper ends of the tapered surfaces 21b of the pair of holding tools 21 is the same as that of the sample container S held by the holding tool 21 in a predetermined state. It is larger than the width W of the flange portion 32.

  The holding end 21a of the holder 21 as described above is provided with a concave portion 21c for preventing interference with the sample container S in a shape as necessary in a state where the sample container S is held. For example, in the sample container S, when the lower portion of the flange portion 32 held by the holder 21 is a cylindrical neck portion 33, the center of the tapered surface 21 b is formed in an arc shape at the holding ends 21 a of the pair of holders 21. A recess 21c is formed by notching the holding end 21a.

[Fulcrum member 22]
The fulcrum member 22 shown in FIG. 2 is for attaching the elongate holder 21 to the base 10a so that rotation is possible. The fulcrum member 22 is fixed to the holder 21 on the side opposite to the holding end 21a of the holder 21, and is provided in a state of penetrating the holder 21 and the base 10a. And the fulcrum member 22 fixed to one of a pair of holders 21 is being fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor arrange | positioned at the base 10a side. Thereby, one holder 21 fixed to the motor rotates in parallel to the base 10a by driving the motor.

[Gear 23]
The gear 23 is for transmitting the driving force of the motor provided in the fulcrum member 22 for fixing one holding tool 21 to the other holding tool 21. Such a gear 23 is provided so as to mesh at a position facing the pair of holders 21 at an intermediate position of the elongated holder 21. Thereby, when one holder 21 rotates by driving the motor, the other holder 21 rotates in the reverse direction in conjunction with this, and the holding ends 21a of the pair of holders 21 open and close.

[Spring 24]
The spring 24 is provided in a state in which one end sides opposite to the holding ends 21 a of the pair of holding tools 21 are connected to each other. Such a spring 24 is, for example, a tension spring, and extends by closing the holding end 21a of the holder 21 by driving a motor. Then, by releasing the fulcrum member 22 from the driving force of the motor, the holding end 21 a of the holder 21 is opened by the tensile stress of the spring 24.

[Stopper 25]
The stopper 25 restricts the holding tool 21 from rotating more than necessary when the pair of holding tools 21 are rotated in the direction in which the holding end 21a is closed by driving the motor. Such a stopper 25 stops the rotation of the holder 21 by driving the motor in a state where the tapered surface 21b of the holding end 21a is parallel. The stopper 25 keeps the distance between the holders 21 and the opposed state of the tapered surface 21b in a state where the sample container S is held.

<Transfer operation of sample container S>
FIG. 5 is an operation diagram for explaining the transfer of the sample container S by the transfer mechanism 10 having the pair of holders 21 described above. Hereinafter, the transfer of the sample container S will be described based on this figure. Note that the transfer operation of the sample container S described below is realized by the CPU configuring the control unit 300 executing a program recorded in the ROM or RAM.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the sensor unit described above detects that the sample container S has been transferred to the container holding position on the transport line 101. Thereby, the transfer mechanism 10 moves the holder 21 so that the sample container S is sandwiched between the holding ends 21a of the pair of holders 21 from both sides of the transport line 101 by driving the transport mechanism. In this state, the transfer mechanism 10 moves the holder 21 so that the tip of the tapered surface 21b of the holder 21 is approximately the same as the height of the lowermost portion of the flange portion 32 of the sample container S. As shown in FIG. 2, the sample container S transferred to the container holding position of the transport line 101 is in a state where the two opposing sides of the flange portion 32 coincide with the extending direction of the transport line 101.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the transfer mechanism 10 rotates the holder 21 by driving the motor to close the holding end 21a. Thereby, the tip of the tapered surface 21b of the holding end 21a enters below the flange portion 32 of the sample container S. Further, by closing the holding end 21a, the tapered surface 21b pushes up the flange portion 32 of the sample container S from below. As a result, the flange portion 32 slides up on the tapered surfaces 21 b on both sides, and the sample container S is lifted from the transport line 101. At this time, first, of the holding points 32a located at the four corners of the flange portion 32, two holding points 32a facing each other on the fulcrum member 22 side shown in FIG. 2 are supported by the tapered surface 21b, and then the remaining two The holding point 32a is supported by the tapered surface 21b.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the tapered surfaces 21b facing each other become parallel, the rotation of the holder 21 is stopped by the stopper. As a result, the sample container S is held by the holder 21. In this state, the sample container S is lifted from the transport line 101 at a height h. Further, the flange portion 32 of the sample container S is gripped between the tapered surfaces 21 b of the holder 21. More specifically, the sample container S is held between the pair of holders 21 while the holding points 32a at the four corners of the flange portion 32 are held by the tapered surface 21b.

  After the above, the transfer mechanism 10 moves the pair of holders 21 that hold the sample container S at the height h from the transfer line 101 to another transfer line. Next, on another conveyance line, the transfer mechanism 10 opens the holding end 21a of the holder 21 by the tensile stress of the spring 24 by releasing the fulcrum member 22 from the driving force of the motor. Thereby, the sample container S is placed on another transport line, and the transfer of the sample container S between the transport lines is completed.

<Effects of First Embodiment>
The transfer mechanism 10 in the automatic analyzer 1 of the first embodiment described above is configured to support the flange portion 32 of the sample container S with the tapered surfaces 21b of the pair of holders 21. Thereby, the transfer mechanism 10 scoops up the flange portion 32 above the tapered surfaces 21b on both sides by one operation such as closing the tips of the pair of holders 21, and the specimen container S positioned between the holders 21. Can be lifted from the transfer line 101 and held. The transfer mechanism 10 is configured to grip the flange portion 32 of the sample container S between the tapered surfaces 21 b of the pair of holders 21. Thereby, the transfer mechanism 10 can hold the sample container S held in a state of being lifted by the pair of holding tools 21 in a predetermined state without rotating in the horizontal direction between the pair of holding tools 21. .

  Particularly in the first embodiment, the flange portion 32 is held at two opposing points of the pair of tapered surfaces 21b. Thereby, in the holding operation of the sample container S by the rotation of the holder 21, the sample container S can be held without being inclined with respect to the surface Vs and the placement surface of the sample container S in the transport line 101. In addition, since the flange portion 32 is held at two points on the one tapered surface 21b, it is possible to reliably prevent the rotation of the sample container S in a state where the sample container S is held between the tapered surfaces 21b. it can.

  As described above, the transfer mechanism 10 makes it possible to move the sample container S to a different transport line while holding the sample container S in a stable state, and place the sample container S in a predetermined state on the destination transport line. As a result, according to the automatic analyzer 1 of the first embodiment, the sample container can be transferred in a predetermined state by the transfer mechanism 10 without any problem, and the processing capability can be improved.

  In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the holding points 32a at the four corners of the flange portion 32 in the sample container S are held between the opposing tapered surfaces 21b has been described. However, the transfer mechanism 10 only needs to have a configuration in which the flange portion 32 is held at at least two opposing points of the pair of tapered surfaces 21b. Thereby, in the holding operation of the sample container S by the rotation of the holder 21, the sample container S can be held without being inclined with respect to the surface Vs and the placement surface of the sample container S in the transport line 101. Further, the transfer mechanism 10 is configured to hold the flange portion 32 at one point on the other tapered surface 21b as long as the flange portion 32 is held at two or more points on at least one tapered surface 21b. May be. Thereby, rotation of the sample container S in the state which hold | maintained the sample container S between the taper surfaces 21b can be prevented reliably.

  In the first embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the case where the flange portion 32 of the sample container S has a substantially rectangular planar shape is illustrated, and the four corners of the flange portion 32 are set as the holding points 32 a. The transfer of the sample container S in the case has been described. However, the holding points 32a of the sample container S by the tapered surface 21b are not limited to the four corners of the flange portion 32. For example, a protrusion is projected on the lower surface side of the flange 32, and this protrusion can be used as a holding point. Good.

≪Modification≫
6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating a sample container S ′ according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 6A is a perspective view, FIG. 6B is a top view, and FIG. 6C is a side view. As shown in each of these drawings, the cell container 31 of the sample container S is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and the lower portion of the flange portion 32 is a prismatic neck portion 33, for example. May be.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the transfer mechanism 10 according to a modification of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the transfer mechanism 10 in this case has a prismatic neck portion as a recess 21 c for preventing interference with the sample container S in a state where the sample container S is held by a pair of holders 21. What is necessary is just to provide the recessed part 21c which notched the center of the taper surface 21b along 33. FIG. That is, the recess 21 c for preventing interference with the sample container S may be provided along the shape of the neck portion 33 of the holding container S. Thereby, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained regardless of the shape of the neck portion 33 of the sample container S.

<< Second Embodiment >>
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the transfer mechanism 20 in the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment. The transfer mechanism 20 of the automatic analyzer shown in this figure is different from the transport mechanism of the first embodiment in that a stopper portion 21d is provided at a holding end 21a of a pair of holding tools 21 'for holding a sample container S. The other configurations are the same. Therefore, in the following, the configuration of the pair of holders 21 ′ in the transfer mechanism 20 will be described.

<Transfer mechanism 20>
[Holding tool 21 ']
The pair of holders 21 'in the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in that a stopper portion 21d is provided on the holding end 21a. The stopper portion 21d is a wall portion that rises substantially vertically from the uppermost portion of the tapered surface 21b. The stopper portion 21d is such that the flange portion 32 of the sample container S gets over due to vibration or the like when the holder 21 'is moved while the sample container S is held on the tapered surfaces 21b of the pair of holders 21'. It has a height H with no gap. The stopper portion 21d does not need to be provided in the entire extending direction of the tapered surface 21b, and may be provided corresponding to the position where the flange portion 32 of the sample container S is held.

  Further, when the holding end 21a is closed to the state where the sample container S is held, the support of the flange portion 32 by the tapered surface 21b is not hindered between the flange portion 32 and the stopper portion 21d of the sample container S. It is assumed that a gap is provided.

<Transfer operation of sample container S>
FIG. 9 is an operation diagram for explaining the transfer of the sample container S by the transfer mechanism 20 having the pair of holders 21 ′ described above. As shown in this figure, the transfer of the sample container S by the transfer mechanism 20 of the second embodiment is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the transfer of the sample container S will be described based on this figure. Note that the transfer operation of the sample container S described below is realized by the CPU configuring the control unit 300 executing a program recorded in the ROM or RAM.

  First, as shown in FIG. 9A, the sensor unit described above detects that the sample container S has been transferred to the container holding position on the transport line 101. Thereby, the transfer mechanism 20 moves the holder 21 'from both sides of the transport line 101 so that the sample container S is sandwiched between the holding ends 21a of the pair of holders 21' by driving the transport mechanism. In this state, the transfer mechanism 20 moves the holder 21 ′ so that the tip of the tapered surface 21 b of the holder 21 ′ is approximately the same as the height of the lowermost portion of the flange portion 32 of the sample container S. Note that the sample container S transferred to the container holding position of the transport line 101 is in a state where two opposing sides of the flange portion 32 coincide with the extending direction of the transport line 101.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, the transfer mechanism 20 rotates the holder 21 'by driving the motor to close the holding end 21a. As a result, the tip of the tapered surface 21 b of the holder 21 ′ enters below the flange portion 32 of the sample container S. Further, by closing the holding end 21a, the tapered surface 21b pushes up the flange portion 32 of the sample container S from below. As a result, the flange portion 32 slides up on the tapered surface 21 b and the sample container S is lifted from the transport line 101. At this time, first, of the holding points 32a located at the four corners of the flange portion 32, two holding points 32a facing each other on the fulcrum member 22 side shown in FIG. 2 are supported by the tapered surface 21b, and then the remaining two The holding point 32a is supported by the tapered surface 21b.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9C, when the opposing tapered surfaces 21b become parallel, the rotation of the holder 21 'is stopped by the stopper. As a result, the sample container S is held by the holder 21 '. In this state, the sample container S is lifted from the transport line 101 at a height h. Further, the flange portion 32 of the sample container S is held between the tapered surfaces 21b of the holder 21 '. More specifically, the sample container S is held between the pair of holders 21 ′ with the tapered surfaces 21 b supporting the four corners of the flange portion 32.

  After the above, the transfer mechanism 20 moves the pair of holders 21 ′ holding the sample container S from the transfer line 101 to another transfer line. Next, on another transport line, the transfer mechanism 20 opens the holding end 21a of the holder 21 'by the tensile stress of the spring 24 by opening the fulcrum member 22 from the driving force of the motor. Thereby, the sample container S is placed on another transport line, and the transfer of the sample container S between the transport lines is completed.

<Effects of Second Embodiment>
In the transfer mechanism 20 in the automatic analyzer of the second embodiment described above, the stopper portion 21d raised from the uppermost portion of the tapered surface 21b on the holding ends 21a of the pair of holders 21 ′ for holding the sample container S. Is provided. Thereby, in a state where the sample container S is held on the tapered surfaces 21b of the pair of holding tools 21 ', a force that rotates the sample container S between the tapered surfaces 21b due to vibration or the like when moving the holding tool 21' worked. Even in this case, rotation of the sample container S can be reliably prevented by the stopper portion 21d.

  As a result, according to the automatic analyzer of the second embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the sample container can be more reliably transferred in a predetermined state by the transfer mechanism 20 without any problem, and the processing capability is improved. Can be achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic analyzer 10, 20 ... Transfer mechanism 21, 21 '... Holder 21a ... Holding end 21b ... Tapered surface 21d ... Stopper part 32 ... Flange part 100 ... Conveyance part 200a, 200b ... Analysis part 101 ... 1st conveyance line 102a, 102b ... second transport line 103 ... second transport line S ... sample container

Claims (7)

The analysis department;
A transport unit having a plurality of transport lines and a transport mechanism for transporting a sample container between the plurality of transport lines, and transporting a sample container provided with a flange to the analysis unit;
A pair of holders provided in the transfer mechanism of the transport section as a holding end of the sample container that can be opened and closed with one end side as a fulcrum; and
An automatic analyzer comprising: a taper surface provided on a surface of the pair of holding tools facing the holding ends and supporting the flange portion of the sample container from below and holding the sample container by gripping from both sides . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the tapered surfaces of the pair of holders hold both ends of the flange portion of the sample container by point contact. 3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein in a state where the sample container is held between the tapered surfaces of the pair of holders, the flange portion of the sample container is held at two points facing the tapered surfaces. . The state in which the sample container is held between the tapered surfaces of the pair of holders, the flange portion of the sample container is held on at least one tapered surface by two or more point contacts. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1. The flange portion of the sample container has a substantially rectangular planar shape,
The state in which the sample container is held between the tapered surfaces of the pair of holders, the four corners of the flange portion of the sample container are held by point contact with the pair of tapered surfaces. The automatic analyzer according to item. The automatic analyzer according to claim 5, wherein the flange portion of the sample container has a planar shape with four corners of a substantially square shape protruding outward. The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pair of holders includes a stopper portion raised from an uppermost portion of the tapered surface.

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