JP2583896B2 - Automatic sample processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] With the progress of genetic engineering in recent years, the determination of the base sequence of a gene (DNA) has become increasingly important. However, this sequencing procedure is burdensome for chemical researchers. For example, it would take a year for 30,000 researchers to work simultaneously to determine all 3 billion bp human genes. It is said that even if there is a material to be determined, such as a human gene, it cannot be easily manipulated. Therefore, the oxygen reaction of DNA with a large amount of work in the base sequence determination operation,
Development of an apparatus that can automatically perform so-called DNA pretreatment operations such as purification operations is awaited. With this apparatus, the DNA base sequence determination speed is increased, the intellectual production is increased by reducing the burden on researchers, and the process reliability is improved. Etc. can be expected.
The present invention is for realizing the above-mentioned automatic sample processing apparatus, which handles a small amount of DNA sample easily, withstands centrifugal acceleration of the order of 10,000 G, and handles a plastic container having a lid which can be fitted with a main body for containing a liquid. Regarding the mechanism.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional automatic chemical analyzer has a function of performing automatic operations such as dispensing and reacting a sample reagent. (JP
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned DNA pretreatment operation, the sample volume handled is as small as 1 µ to 200 µ, and centrifugation is performed at an acceleration of the order of 10,000 G. Because of the separation operation and the need to avoid contamination of oxygen or reagents, a disposable plastic container that is small, withstands high-speed centrifugation, and has a lid that can be fitted with a main body containing the liquid is suitable. However, conventional automatic chemical analyzers have not considered a mechanism for handling the above-mentioned plastic container.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic sample processing apparatus including the above-described container lid opening / closing mechanism.

[Means for solving the problem]

The above object is achieved by providing a container direction adjusting mechanism for rotating the container to adjust the direction thereof and a lid opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the lid of the container along the transporter.

[Action]

When the container is conveyed to the container direction adjusting mechanism, the vertical drive mechanism is driven to bring the friction member into contact with the upper part of the container,
In addition, the rotation of the container is set to be stopped when the container is turned in a predetermined direction by descending the container rotation stop member. In this state, the friction member rotating mechanism is driven to rotate the container for a predetermined time. By the above operation, the container can be directed in a predetermined direction, and the operation of opening the container can be performed next. In this state, the container is transported to the container lid opening mechanism. Here, two types of lid opening methods are conceivable, and the operation will be described for each case.

The projecting portion of the lid of the container is hooked using a hooking member, and the lid is opened by pulling up the hooking member in the state as it is.

Using a transporter, insert the rod member into the adhesive member that bonds the lid to the container body, drive the rod member vertical drive mechanism to drive the rod member up and down, and open the lid with the leverage principle. .

After opening the lid of the container, the liquid is dispensed, and the container is transported to the container lid closing mechanism. Here, the lid push-down mechanism is driven to push down the lid of the container, close the lid, and proceed to the next operation.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram of FIG. In this embodiment, a container 1 having a lid, the container 1 is mounted on a carrier 2a, the carrier 2a is fixed to a linear pulse motor 2c by a guide member 2b, and the carrier 2a is driven by driving the linear pulse motor 2c. Using a container transporter 2 for transporting dispensing tips 3, a chip transporter 4 for transporting dispensing tips 3 (the structure is similar to the container transporter 2), a chip discarding hole 5 for discarding the dispensing tips 3, and a guide member 6a. Dispensing mechanism holding member 6c fixed to linear pulse motor 6b, dispensing tip 3 is attached and detached, and tip 6d which incorporates a plunger (not shown) for sucking and discharging liquid, vertically drives the plunger. 6e, a coupling 6f, a ball screw 6g, a bearing member 6h, a motor 6i for vertically driving the tip 6d by a mechanism similar to that for vertically driving the plunger, a coupling (not shown),
In the automatic sample processing apparatus including a ball screw (not shown), a bearing member (not shown), and a dispensing device 6 for dispensing liquid into the container 1, and a controller 7 for controlling a mechanical system, the container 1 is rotated. A container direction adjusting mechanism 8 for adjusting the direction thereof, a container lid opening mechanism 9 for opening the lid of the container 1,
A container container lid closing mechanism 10 for closing the lid of the container 1 is provided along the transporter. In addition, as a mechanism for transporting the transport table 2a, a combination of a pulse motor and a ball screw may be considered in addition to the linear pulse motor.

Next, the configuration of the container direction adjusting mechanism 8 will be described with reference to FIG. The container direction adjusting mechanism 8 includes a friction member 11 and a motor 1 for rotating the friction member, which are brought into contact with the upper portion of the container 1 carried by the container carrier 2 which is carried in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface.
2, a relief member 13 composed of an elastic member 13a and a guide member 13b,
The container rotation stop member 14, which stops rotation of the container when the overhang portion 1b of the lid 1a of the container 1 faces leftward in the drawing, the elastic member 15a, the electromagnetic solenoid 15b, and the downward direction when the electromagnetic solenoid 15b is energized. Vertical drive shaft 15c sucked into
A vertical drive mechanism for vertically moving the friction member 11, the friction member rotation motor 12, and the container rotation stop member 14.
15, a friction member rotating motor 12, a holding table 16 for holding the container rotation stopping member 14, a guide member 17 for smoothly moving the holding table 16 up and down according to the movement of the up and down drive mechanism 15, and the above-described components. It consists of a supporting stand 18.

Next, the configuration of the container lid opening mechanism 9 will be described with reference to FIG. The container lid opening mechanism 9 includes a claw 19a, an elastic member 19b.
A hooking member 19 for pulling the overhang 1c of the lid 1a of the container 1 oriented in a predetermined direction by the container direction adjusting mechanism 8 using the overhang 1b of the lid 1a, a worm wheel.
20a, a guide member 20b on which the worm wheel 20a moves,
Worm 20 that rotates and moves the worm wheel 20a
c, worm rotation motor 20 for rotating worm 20c
d, a power transmission shaft 20e for transmitting the rotational power of the motor 20d to the worm 20c, a lid hooking member drive mechanism 20 for driving the hooking member 19, and a holding table 21.

Note that, depending on the material of the container 1, the lid may not be completely opened after the lid 1a of the container 1 is opened, which may hinder the next dispensing operation. In such a case, although not shown in FIG. 1, a lid guide member 22 for keeping the lid open as shown in FIG.
It is conceivable that the lid of the container 1 to be supplied to the container is kept open.

Next, the configuration of the container lid closing mechanism 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The container lid closing mechanism 10 includes a lid pushing-down member 23 that pushes down the lid 1a of the container 1, a worm wheel 24a, a guide member 24b to which the worm wheel 24a moves, a worm 24c that rotates to move the worm wheel 24a, and a worm 24c that rotates. Worm rotation motor 24d, motor 24
The lid push-down member drive mechanism 24 for driving the lid push-down member 23 and the holding table 25 are constituted by a power transmission shaft 24e for transmitting the rotational power d to the worm 24c.

The time relationship of the operation of the embodiment described above will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. First, the container 1 is transported by one pitch and stopped for a predetermined time. During this time, the container direction adjusting mechanism 8,
The container lid opening mechanism 9, the dispensing device 6, and the container lid closing mechanism 10 are driven. First, in the container direction adjusting mechanism 8, the electromagnetic solenoid 15b is energized to suck the upper and lower drive shafts 15c, and
The friction member 11 is lowered to contact the lid 1a of the container 1, and the container rotation stopping member 14 is lowered to
When the overhang portion 1b of the lid 1a faces a predetermined direction, the container 1
So that the rotation stops. The overhang 1b of the container 1
When the container rotation stop member 14 faces the overhang portion 1b when the container rotation stop member 14 is lowered, the container rotation stop member 14 is guided along the guide member 13b.
Was configured to escape upward. In other cases, the container rotation stop member 14 is at a position where the overhang portion 1b can be stopped by the elastic member 13a. Next, the friction member rotating motor 12
Is driven to rotate the friction member 11 so that the overhang portion 1b of the container 1 is
Is made to collide with the container rotation stop member 14 to determine the direction of the container 1, and thereafter, the electromagnetic solenoid 15b is de-energized and the elastic member 15a is turned off.
The holding table 16 is raised by the repulsive force of, and returns to the original state.
In the container lid opening mechanism 9, a worm rotation motor 20 is provided.
By driving d, the hooking member 19 is hooked on the overhang portion 1c of the lid 1a of the container 1, and then the rotation direction of the worm rotation motor 20d is switched and driven in the opposite direction, and the lid 1a is pulled up. In the dispensing device 6, the linear pulse motor 6b,
The motor 6i is driven to insert the dispensing tip 3 into the distal end portion 6d, and then the liquid is transferred to the container 1 on the transfer device 2 at the lower right of FIG. Aspirate. Although a similar mechanism is provided for handling the container 1 on the transporter 2 at the lower right of FIG. 1, the description is omitted in FIGS. 1 and 6. After aspirating the liquid, the dispensing tip 3 is transferred to the transfer table 2a for transferring the container 1 for discharging the liquid.
To discharge the liquid, and finally the dispensing tip 3 is conveyed to the chip discarding hole 5 and discarded. In the container lid closing mechanism 10, the worm rotating motor 24d is driven to push the lid pushing down member 23 onto the lid 1a of the container 1 and close the lid.
The rotation direction of the worm rotation mechanism 24d is switched and driven in the opposite direction to return the lid pushing-down member 23 to the original position. After all the above-mentioned mechanical elements have completed all operations, the transporter 2 is driven to advance the one-pitch container 1. The container with the lid closed proceeds to the next operation, for example, a centrifugation operation, a mixing operation, a temperature control operation, or a dispensing operation of another sample. Since the following operation is not directly related to the present invention, the description is omitted.

Finally, another embodiment of the container lid opening mechanism 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. FIG. 7 is a view of the container lid opening mechanism 9 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the side, and FIG. 8 is a view of the container lid opening mechanism 9 as viewed in the traveling direction of the transfer device 2. The container lid opening mechanism comprises a rod member 27 having a fulcrum 26, an elastic member 28a, and an electromagnetic solenoid 28, and a rod member vertical drive mechanism 28 for moving the rod member 27 up and down. In this container lid opening mechanism, the transporter 2 is driven to attach a stick member 1d to the adhesive member 1d of the container 1.
26, then energize the electromagnetic solenoid 28
One end of 27 is lowered, and the lid 1a side of the bar member 27 is raised using the principle of leverage to open the lid 1a. After the lid is opened, the electromagnetic solenoid 28b is de-energized and the bar member 27 returns to its original horizontal state. It is also conceivable that the diameter of the rod member 27 is increased as the container advances with respect to the rod member 27 so that the lid 1a can be easily opened. Further, if the lid of the container 1 is opened due to the material of the container 1 and the lid is not completely opened, which may hinder the next dispensing operation, a rod member 29 for maintaining the lid open state. It is also conceivable that the lid 1a of the container 1 is kept open by separately providing a cover.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the automatic sample processing apparatus according to the present invention, the opening / closing operation of the container having the lid that can be fitted to the main body for storing the liquid is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a container direction adjusting mechanism, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a container lid opening mechanism, and FIG. 4 is for maintaining a container lid open state. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a container lid closing mechanism, and FIG.
Operation time chart of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, FIG.
FIG. 8 is another configuration diagram of the container lid opening mechanism. 1 ... container, 2 ... conveyor, 8 ... container direction adjusting mechanism,
9: Container lid opening mechanism, 10: Container lid closing mechanism.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container for containing a liquid, comprising a main body serving as a sample storage unit, a lid made of the same material as this, and a connecting part for linking the main body with the lid, and injecting the liquid into the container. Dispensing device, in a nucleic acid automatic processing device consisting of a transporter that transports the container or the dispensing device to change the relative position of the container and the dispensing device, along the moving path of the transporter, the container A lid opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the lid is provided, and a container direction adjusting mechanism for changing a relative position between a connection portion between the main body of the container and the lid and a movable portion of the lid opening / closing mechanism is arranged. Automatic sample processing equipment. 2. The container direction adjusting mechanism engages a means for rotating the container and a connection portion between the main body and the lid when the container turns in a predetermined direction, thereby preventing rotation of the container. Claim 1 characterized by comprising means
Item automatic sample processing apparatus. 3. An automatic sample processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lid opening / closing mechanism includes means for holding a position of the lid when the lid is opened.