JP2574577Y2 - Automatic opening device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic opening device capable of continuously pulling out a rubber stopper fitted to an opening of a container such as a blood collection tube without touching the opening. The present invention relates to an automatic opening apparatus capable of separating a plurality of containers having different sizes and lengths for each type and automatically removing all rubber stoppers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a rubber stopper is fitted to an opening of a container for storing blood, such as a vacuum blood collection tube, for the purpose of preventing blood sample from flowing out.

By the way, this rubber stopper is removed, for example, when setting a blood collection tube to an automatic analyzer.
At present, the operation of removing the rubber plug is conventionally performed manually.

[0004] However, when the operation of removing the rubber stopper is performed manually, there is a risk that the blood sample may be touched and infected with various diseases, and the operation of removing the rubber stopper may involve removing many blood collection tubes. In addition to this, the operation is very complicated, and there is a risk that blood contact infection may occur when collecting the collected rubber stoppers. In such cases, since the blood collection tube is often held in various racks, there is a problem that the operation of removing the rubber stopper becomes extremely complicated and the frequency of blood contact infection increases. Was.

[0005] For this reason, the applicant of the present invention has previously disclosed that a plurality of blood collection tubes are automatically pulled out of the rack without touching the rubber plugs of the plurality of blood collection tubes, and the rubber plugs that have been pulled out are removed.
There has been proposed a highly safe automatic opening apparatus that can be collected and discarded without touching hands, and that does not cause any risk of accidentally damaging a blood collection tube (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-3).
No.61092).

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art In many cases, racks having different diameters or lengths corresponding to the purpose of blood collection are often used as the racks for erecting and holding a plurality of blood collection tubes. Containers with different lengths are generally
At present, it is often the case that the same rack is mixedly installed.

On the other hand, on the other hand, the above-mentioned automatic opening apparatus is configured so as to correspond to one kind of standardized container in terms of its function, so that containers having different diameters and lengths are mixed as described above. In the case of standing upright on a rack, it is necessary to transfer the same type of container to another rack, which makes the operation extremely complicated, and the significance as an automatic opening device. Has been greatly impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and its purpose is to be applied to a case where containers having different diameters and lengths are mixedly installed on a rack. , Each container is automatically separated for each type, so that it can be automatically pulled out without touching the rubber stopper of each container at all. It is intended to provide a plug device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in the automatic opening apparatus according to the present invention, there is provided a parent rack which stands and holds a plurality of containers having different diameters, lengths, and the like.
A parent rack transfer device for transferring the parent rack to the sorting position, a transfer means for transferring the same type of container to a dedicated child rack at the sorting position, and a child rack for sequentially transferring the child racks to the opening position It is characterized by comprising a transfer means and an opening means for removing a rubber stopper from a container held by a child rack having reached an opening position.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic opening apparatus according to this embodiment has a parent rack which stands up and holds two types of containers 14A and 14B having different diameters and lengths in which rubber stoppers 16 are densely mounted. 15C and the the parent rack 15C a plurality ordered container stocker a, the parent rack transport means B ₃ for transporting up sequentially selected position set parent rack 15C into the container stocker a, the container 14A in the sorting position ,
A container transfer device (not shown) for transferring the same type of container 14B from the parent rack 15C, and a dedicated child rack 15A for the container 14A that stands and holds the containers 14A and 14B selected by the container transfer means. and dedicated and child rack 15B of the container 14A, the work already parent Lux stocker _{C 3} for housing an empty parent rack 15C after the container 14A, and 14B were transferred to the child rack 15A, 15B, said child rack 15A, each container 14A held in 15B, sequentially unplugging work already child through the position 14B Lux stocker _C 1, C
_And child rack transfer means B ₁ , B _{2 for} transferring up to ₂ child rack transfer lines B ₁ , B ₁ , B ₂
Automatic cap removal device 1A made is interposed in the middle portion of the B _2, 1B
And rubber plug collecting containers 8A and 8B (see FIG. 2) for collecting the rubber plug 16 pulled out by the automatic opening devices 1A and 1B.

Therefore, the parent rack 15C, which holds the containers 14A and 14B in a mixed state, identifies the container 14A or the container 14B at the sorting position of the container stocker A, and then, based on the sorting information, The empty parent rack 15C, which has been automatically transferred to the dedicated child racks 15A and 15B via the container transfer device, is now empty.
₃ through sequentially transferred to the work already parent Lux stocker C ₃ from the selection position.

Means for discriminating the containers include, for example, a method of optically reading a bar code attached to each of the containers 14A and 14B with a bar code reader, and a method of determining the diameter of each of the containers 14A and 14B itself. A known discriminating means such as directly measuring the length and length of the electric and optical elements can be applied.

Further, since the container transfer device can be constituted by, for example, various known pickup robots, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. Of course, the container transfer device is configured to be driven and controlled based on the container identification information read by the above means so as to transfer the containers 14A and 14B to the dedicated child racks 15A and 15B without fail. Have been.

The racks 15A, 15B, 15
The transfer mechanism of C can be configured by appropriately combining a known belt conveyor and a known extruding mechanism using an actuator or the like, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In this manner, the rubber stopper 16 is removed from the container 14A transferred to the slave rack 15A via the container transfer device, and the rubber stopper 16 is removed from the container 14B transferred to the slave rack 15B. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the unplugging device 1B is provided between the child rack transfer means B ₁ and B ₂ , and has a flat base member having a rubber mat 3 adhered to a lower surface thereof. 2, a pair of supports 4, 5 erected at both ends on the front side of the base member 2, and are rotatably supported on the upper portions of the supports 4, 5 via a shaft 6. And a rotating member 7.

Each of the base members 2 is located at a position closer to the front side than the portion where the support members 4 and 5 are erected.
Each of the racks 15A and 15B is loaded into and out of the space from a horizontal horizontal position by each of the rack transfer means B ₁ and B ₂ . Respectively.

Each of the rotating members 7 has a horizontal plate 10
A locking member 11 extending downward from a front edge of the horizontal plate portion 10; a support piece portion 12 extending downward from both depth-side ends of the horizontal plate portion 10; An operating portion 13 fixed to the upper surface of the plate portion 10 and a driving device for reciprocatingly rotating the operating portion 13 within a predetermined range are respectively provided. 12 is supported below.

The drive device for reciprocatingly rotating the operating portions 13 includes a link 18 having one end rotatably supported by each operating portion 13 and the other end of the link 18 being rotatable. The rotating body 19 is supported by a shaft, and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotating body 19 is provided. Of course, each drive device is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and any known mechanism can be applied as long as it is a mechanism that reciprocates each of the operation units 13 within a predetermined range. .

On the other hand, each of the rotating members 7 is stopped in a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, that is, each of the horizontal plate portions 10 is stopped in a horizontal state, and is not rotated further counterclockwise from the horizontal state. It is regulated by a stopper body (not shown). Of course, the clockwise rotation in FIG. 2 is not restricted.

Each of the stoppers is formed by processing each of the shafts 6, and a projection (not shown) is formed on each of the supports 4 and 5 on the side of the shaft insertion hole. When the shaft 7 is in the horizontal state, the processed portion of each shaft 6 can be configured to engage with the protrusion formed on the shaft insertion hole side of each of the supports 4 and 5 to maintain the horizontal state. Or a projection or step (not shown) on the side of the opposing surface of each of the supports 4 and 5
Is formed, and when each of the rotating members 7 is in a horizontal state, the lower surface of each of the horizontal plate portions 10 is brought into contact with a projection or a step formed on each of the support members 4 and 5 so as to be in a horizontal state. May be configured to be held.

Each of the locking members 11 is connected to each of the rotating members 7.
When each of the stoppers 11a is set in the horizontal state, each of the locking ends 11a is, as shown in FIG. Each locking end 11a of the locking body 11 is formed in a saw-tooth shape so that the horizontal plate portion 10 is in a horizontal state. Each container 14 set at the opening position when
A, without contacting the upper end of 14B, and each container 14A,
Each of the rubber plugs 16 attached to 14B is set at a height position that cuts into the head. Of course, although not shown, a known pressure sensor is disposed at each locking end 11a of each locking body 11, and the pressure sensor contacts each locking end 11a of each locking body 11 with the pressure sensor. Are the containers 14A and 14B
By being configured to be able to select either the rubber stopper 16 or the rubber stopper 16, the opening operation of each rotating member 7 can be controlled, and the container 14A, 14B can be surely prevented from being damaged.

On the other hand, the rubber stopper collecting containers 8A and 8B
Has a substantially concave cross section and a substantially convex planar shape,
The length dimension of each rear end portion 8a is determined by abutting each corner fitting 17 fixed to both sides of the rear end portion of each base member 2a, and each front end portion 8b is supported by each of the support members. It is formed to have the same length dimension as the front end of the bodies 4 and 5.

Each of the rubber stopper collecting containers 8A, 8B
Each front plate 8c is formed to be inclined, and each of the locking members 11 engages with the step 16a of each of the rubber plugs 16,
When each of the rubber plugs 16 is pulled out by being rotated about each of the shafts 6 as a fulcrum, the pulled-out rubber plugs 16 fall under their own weight in the direction of each of the rubber plug collection containers 8A and 8B, and each of the front plates 8c. Of each rubber stopper collection container 8A, 8
B is configured to be housed inside. Of course, each of the rubber plug collecting containers 8A and 8B is not limited to the shape of the illustrated embodiment, but may be any shape as long as each rubber plug 16 pulled out by each locking body 11 can be securely stored. Any suitable shape can be used.

The thus configured automatic opening device 1A,
1B drives each link 18 by the rotation of the rotating body 19, and the rubber stopper 16 moves the container 14A, Pulled out from 14B. Therefore, the operation of each of the operating portions 13 is performed by the racks 15A, 1
This is performed in synchronization with the loading / unloading operation of 5B.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 5, each of the actuating portions 13 first engages with the locking end 11a of each of the locking members 11 into the head of each rubber plug 16, and from this state, ,
Each rubber plug 16 is rotated by a required angle in the opening direction, and
As shown in FIG. 7, after being pulled up once from the openings of the containers 14A and 14B, each locking body 11 is returned to the horizontal position as shown in FIG. The upper end 11 of each locking body 11 is rotated by rotating in the opening direction.
a is securely engaged with the step 16a of each rubber stopper 16 and then, as shown in FIG.
Driving control is performed so as to be completely pulled out from the openings of A and 14B. This is because when the rubber plugs 16 are made of, for example, raw rubber having high elasticity,
And the containers 14A and 14B have a large adhesive force,
In one rotation operation, there is a possibility that each rubber plug 16 may be left unextracted. In order to completely prevent this,
The operation of each locking body 11 is controlled as described above.

In this embodiment, although not shown, for example, a rubber stopper detecting means such as a limit switch is provided at the end of the rack transfer path of the stoppering device in order to determine whether the rubber stopper is left unextracted. When there is a rubber stopper left unattached, the remaining rubber stopper comes into contact with the limit switch to turn off each drive device and automatically stop the transfer of the container holding the remaining rubber stopper. At the same time, the rotation member may be stopped at the rotation upper limit position of the locking body, and this state may be notified by an alarm or a lamp. Of course, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the presence or absence of the above-mentioned remaining rubber stopper is detected by a detection unit such as an optical sensor.

Therefore, in the automatic opening apparatus according to this embodiment, even if the containers 14A and 14B having different diameters and lengths are mixedly installed in the parent rack 15C, the containers are automatically removed. And a dedicated child rack 15 for each same type
A and 15B, and the containers 14A and 14B transferred to the child racks 15A and 15B are dedicated to the intermediate portions of the transfer lines. With the opening devices 1A and 1B, all the rubber plugs 16 attached to the containers 14A and 14B can be pulled out by one opening operation, and as a result, the containers 14A and 14B can be removed from one rack to the other rack. Since there is no need to manually transfer to this type, this kind of work efficiency can be greatly improved.

In the above embodiment, two kinds of containers 14A and 14B having different diameters and lengths are connected to the dedicated child racks 15A and 14B.
A case of automatically transferring to A and 15B has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a case where more different types of containers are mixed. Of course.

[0030]

As described above, according to the automatic opening apparatus according to the present invention, even if containers having different diameters and lengths are mixedly installed on the rack, each container can be opened. Is automatically separated for each type, and then it can be automatically pulled out without touching the rubber stopper of each container at all. It is greatly simplified and the working time can be greatly shortened, and since there is no manual operation, there are many excellent effects such as a possibility that blood infection does not occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view showing a schematic configuration of an automatic opening apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the automatic opening device, partially cut away.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a main part of the automatic opening device.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the locking body of the automatic opening device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the locking end of the locking body is cut into the head of the rubber stopper in the step of pulling out the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube by the automatic opening device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the rubber stopper is pulled out halfway by the locking member in the step of pulling out the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube by the automatic opening device.

FIG. 7: In the step of pulling out the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube by the automatic opening device, the stopper is moved back to the original position, and the stopper end of the stopper is engaged with the step of the rubber stopper. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the rubber stopper has been pulled out of the container in the step of pulling out the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube by the automatic opening device.

[Explanation of symbols]

B ₁ , B ₂ Child rack transfer means B ₃ Parent rack transfer means C ₁ , C ₂ Worked child rack stocker C ₃ Worked parent rack stocker 1A, 1B Opener 14A, 14B Container 15A, 15B Child rack 15C Parent rack 16 Rubber stopper

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A parent rack for standing and holding a plurality of containers having different diameters, lengths, and the like, a parent rack transfer device for transferring the parent rack to a sorting position, and dedicated containers of the same type at the sorting position. Transfer means for transferring to a child rack,
An automatic configuration comprising child rack transfer means for sequentially transferring the child rack to the opening position, and opening means for removing the rubber plug from the container held by the child rack that has reached the opening position. Opening device.