JP2547406Y2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for performing a biochemical analysis or an immunological analysis, and more particularly, to an automatic analyzer having a chain transfer type autosampler mechanism. Related to the device.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

As is well known, many automatic analyzers for biochemical analysis and immunological analysis are configured to sequentially transfer a sample such as serum to a sampling position by an endless chain type holder.

However, in an automatic analyzer having the above-described conventional chain transfer type autosampler mechanism,
Since the holder is configured to be sequentially transferred to the sampling position by an endless chain, regardless of the presence or absence of an inspection request, the holder circulates, so-called "missing state" occurs frequently, and the operating efficiency is reduced. In addition, when the sample container is set in the holder, the inspector must set each time in a state where there is no tooth dropout, so that there is a problem that such an operation is very complicated. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and its purpose is to divide a holder for holding a sample container into required number of pieces so that a set corresponding to the number of inspection requests without dropouts can be obtained. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer having a simple configuration which can greatly improve the operation efficiency of this type of automatic analyzer.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a holder for connecting the required number of sample containers and a sample feeder mechanism for automatically transferring the connected sample containers to the start end of the sample transfer path. A sample transfer path having a transfer distance longer than the connection length of the connected sample containers and transferring each of the sample containers to a sampling position, and a holder disposed at a start end of the sample transfer path and at the sampling position, respectively. And a feed mechanism, and the holder feed mechanism is drive-controlled to interlock with each of the holders and intermittently transfer the sample container to the downstream side, and the sample transfer path includes a holder. Drive controlled to transfer the sample container at a speed faster than the intermittent transfer speed of the sample container by the feed mechanism It is intended to.

[Action]

Therefore, in the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, the sample container connected by the holder is automatically sent from the sample feeder to the start end of the sample transfer path, and then the first sample container is replaced with the sample container. After the holder is successively intermittently transferred to the downstream side of the sample transfer path by the holder feed mechanism arranged at the start end of the sample transfer path in order from the holder to be held, and after the engagement state between the last holder and the holder transfer mechanism is released. The connected sample container is transferred to the sampling position at a high speed, and at the sampling position, the holder holding the leading sample container is intermittently transferred to the holder feeding mechanism disposed at the sampling position by meshing with the holder. A predetermined sampling operation is performed until the sampling is completed, and the sample container after the completion of the sampling operation is intermittently transferred to the downstream side. With the following sample container is driven and controlled so as to be transferred to the sampling position.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic analyzer Z according to this embodiment includes five connected holders 1 each holding five sample containers (not shown), and the connected holder 1. A sample feeder unit 2 to be stocked, a sample feeder mechanism (not shown) including a known mechanism for automatically transferring sequentially connected sample containers housed in the sample feeder unit 2 to the sample transfer path 3, A mechanism (not shown) for driving the sample transfer path 3, a holder feed mechanism A disposed at the start end of the sample transfer path 3, and a sample container that has reached the sampling position a of the sample transfer path 3 A pipette device 4 for aspirating a sample, a reaction container 5 for dispensing the sample aspirated by the pipette device 4, and dispensing the reaction container 5 with first and second reagents b, a reaction container transfer mechanism (not shown) for transferring from the optical measurement position c to the washing position (not shown), and the reagent bolt 6 containing the first or second reagent is moved to the reagent suction position (not shown). ), A pipette device 7 for sucking the reagent from inside the reagent bolt 6 reaching the reagent suction position, and an optical measuring device 8 for optically colorimetrically measuring the color state of the sample to which the reagent has been added. And a sample stocker section 9 disposed at the end of the sample transfer path 3.
And is composed of

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the holder 1 holds a holder body 10 for each sample container, and engages with the lower end of the holder body 10 such that the holder body 10 The connecting cup 11 to be held, the holder body 10 held in pairs by the connecting cup 11, and the adjacent holder bodies 10 of the holder bodies 10 held in pairs by other connecting cups 11 are detachably connected. And a connection ring 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the holder body 10 is formed to have a substantially concave cross section, and a small-diameter portion 10b to which the connection ring 12 is locked is formed at the lower end of the large-diameter portion 10a. At the lower end of the small-diameter portion 10b, a large-diameter portion 10c that prevents the connection ring 12 from dropping and being displaced is formed to bulge, and at the lower end of the large-diameter portion 10c, a small-diameter portion 10d is formed again. At the lower end of the small diameter portion 10d, a stopper piece 10e that engages with the lower edge of the connection cup 11 is formed to bulge. In the figure, reference numeral 13 denotes a slit for giving the holder body 10 elasticity in the radial direction, and the slit 13 extends from the upper end of the large-diameter portion 10a to the middle of the small-diameter portion 10d. It is opened vertically. Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the holder main body 10, a ridge 14 and a leaf spring 15 for erecting the sample container along the axis are provided respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the connecting cup 11 has a cup body 16 formed in a substantially C-shape in a plane and is connected by a connecting piece 17, and engages and holds the two holder bodies 10. Thus, it is configured to have elasticity in the radial direction.

That is, the cup body 16 is a small-diameter portion of the holder body 10.
10d, and its upper edge 16a is
Engages the lower end of the large-diameter portion 10c, and its lower edge 16b
The holder body 10 is mounted so as to engage with the stopper piece 10e.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the connecting ring 12 is formed by connecting a ring main body 18 formed in a substantially C-shape in plan view to a connecting piece 19.
And has elasticity in the radial direction so as to removably connect adjacent holder bodies 10 held in pairs to the connection cups 11.

Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the holder 1 is connected to every five via the connection cup 11 and the connection ring 12. Of course, in this case, the connection cup 11 is not locked at the lower end of the fifth holder body 10.
Further, the number of the holder main bodies 10 to be connected is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be appropriately increased or decreased as needed.

Sample feeder section 2 and sample stocker section 9
Is formed in a tray shape, and is configured to be detachably locked to both sides of the housing of the automatic analyzer Z.
Of course, although not shown, the sample stocker 9
Is equipped with a known feeder mechanism for sequentially feeding the holder 1 reaching the end of the sample transfer path 3 in the depth direction of the sample stocker section 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sample transfer path 3 is formed to have a transfer distance longer than the connection length of the connected sample containers, and always moves the sample container to the downstream side, that is, to the sampling position a. It is configured to transfer the sample container, and is driven and controlled to transfer the sample container at a speed higher than the intermittent transfer speed of the sample container by the holder feeding mechanism A.

The holder feed mechanism A is provided at the start end of the sample transfer path configured as described above and at a position before the sampling position a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the holder feed mechanism A includes a main sprocket 21 disposed at the start end of the sample transfer path 3 and rotated by a motor 20.
A driven sprocket 22, which is rotated synchronously by 21, is provided, and a driven sprocket 24 connected to the driven sprocket 22 by a belt 23 is provided at a portion in front of the sampling position a.

Although not shown, the driven sprocket 22 is connected to the main sprocket 21 by a belt. Accordingly, when the main sprocket 21 is rotated by the motor 20 at a predetermined angle (every 60 degrees in the illustrated embodiment), the driven sprocket 21 is rotated. The driven sprocket 22 and the driven sprocket 24 are rotated synchronously at a predetermined angle to transfer the connected holder 1 in the direction of the sampling position a.

Further, as described above, by disposing the driven sprocket 24 at a position just before the sampling position a, the transfer of the holder 1 reaching the position before the sampling position a by the sample transfer path 3 is temporarily stopped, and at a predetermined timing. The sample container can be intermittently transferred to the sampling position a.

Further, in the above embodiment, the length of the sample transfer path 3 between the driven sprocket 22 and the driven sprocket 24, that is, the length of the sample transfer path 3 is longer than the length of the connected sample container. After the meshing between the main sprocket 21 and the driven sprocket 22 disposed at the start end of the sample transfer path 3 is released, until the driven sprocket 24 is engaged with the driven sprocket 24 disposed at the upstream sampling position a. During the period, the sample is transferred by the sample transfer path 3 linearly and at a speed higher than the intermittent transfer speed by the holder feeding mechanism A, so that the next sample transfer is completed before the sampling of the connected sample container is completed. When the connected sample container carried into the path 3 reaches the sampling position a, so-called toothlessness does not occur.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 25 denotes a spring ratchet arranged at the start end of the sample transfer path 3, reference numerals 26 and 27 denote holder recognition sensors for checking the presence or absence of the holder main body 10, and reference numerals 28 and 29 denote main sprockets 21. A pitch feed sensor that detects the rotation angle, 30 indicates a bar code reader or a chain ID reader that reads rack ID or bar coded sample information attached to the surface of the holder body 10, and reference numeral 31 indicates Power switch, 32 is a confirmation lamp for holder recognition sensor 26, 33 is a confirmation lamp for holder recognition sensor 27, 34
Indicates a confirmation lamp of the pitch feed sensor 28, and 35 indicates a display device including a CRT or the like for displaying analysis results, command information, and the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the configurations of the pipette devices 4 and 7, the transfer mechanism of the reaction vessel 5, the transfer mechanism of the first and second reagent bolts 6, and the optical measuring device 8 are configured in the same manner as each known mechanism. Therefore, the detailed description is omitted here.

Next, the operation of the automatic analyzer Z configured as described above will be described.

First, a pair of holder bodies 10 are attached to the two pairs of connection cups 11, respectively, and the adjacent holder bodies 10 of the holder bodies 10 held by the connection cups 11 are connected to each other by a connection ring.
The holder body 10 that is not held by the connection cup 11 is mounted on the empty ring body 18 of the last connection ring 12 that is connected by four via the 12. Thereby, the holder 1 capable of holding five sample containers is completed. Of course, all of the holder body 10
11, the holder body 10 may not be attached to one of the last coupling cups 11.

Next, a desired number of sample containers connected in this manner are prepared and set in the sample feeder unit 2,
Turn on a start switch (not shown).

As a result, the sample containers are automatically sent from the sample feeder unit 2 to the start end of the sample transfer path 3 and then arranged at the start end of the sample transfer path 3 in order from the holder 1 that holds the leading sample container. After the intermittent transfer to the downstream side of the sample transfer path 3 is sequentially performed by the transferred holder transfer mechanism A and the engagement state between the last holder 1 and the holder transfer mechanism A is released, the connected sample container is quickly moved. The sample is transferred to the sampling position a at a speed, and at the sampling position a, the holder 1 holding the first sample container is intermittently transferred to the holder feed mechanism A disposed at the sampling position a by meshing. A predetermined sampling operation is performed, and the sample container after the completion of the sampling operation is intermittently transferred to the downstream side, and the next sample container is After being transferred to the sampling position a, it is transferred to the sample stocker portion 9.

Such a series of transfer operations is performed automatically and continuously until each connected sample container is removed from the sample feeder unit 2.

Of course, after the sampled sample has been dispensed into the reaction vessel 5, the first and second reagents are added at the first and second reagent adding positions b.
And after the second reagent is added and allowed to react for a predetermined time, at the optical measurement position c, the coloration state is changed to the optical measurement device 8
Is measured by

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, the automatic analyzer according to the present invention connects the number of holders for holding the sample containers to each required number without making them endless, and connects the holders with a holder feeding mechanism and a holder feeding mechanism. A sample transfer path for transferring the sample container to the sampling position at a speed higher than the intermittent transfer speed of the mechanism; and a sample transfer path that sequentially transfers the sample container to the sampling position via the sample transfer path. Can be easily performed, and as a result, the operation efficiency of this type of automatic analyzer can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembled state of the holder body, the connection cup and the connection ring. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the connecting ring. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the holder main body is fed by the holder feeding mechanism. [Explanation of Symbols] A: Holder feed mechanism Z: Automatic analyzer a: Sampling position 1: Holder 3: Sample container transfer path 11: Connection cup 12: Connection ring

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A holder for connecting a required number of sample containers, a sample feeder mechanism for automatically transferring the connected sample containers to a start end of a sample transfer path, and a connection between the connected sample containers. A sample transfer path having a transfer distance longer than the length and transferring each of the sample containers to the sampling position, and a holder feed mechanism disposed at the start end of the sample transfer path and the sampling position, respectively. The holder feed mechanism is driven and controlled to engage with each of the holders and intermittently transfer the sample container to the downstream side, and the sample transfer path is provided with an intermittent transfer speed of the sample container by the holder feed mechanism. An automatic analyzer characterized by being driven and controlled to transfer a sample container at a faster speed.