JP2967606B2 - Plate feeding device for aggregation pattern determination - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plate feeding device for judging an aggregation pattern, and more particularly to a plate feeding device for judging an aggregation pattern having a structure for carrying in and out a plate stocker containing a plurality of plates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, as a method for detecting and analyzing various components, viruses, and the like in blood, a relatively large number of determination methods based on the aggregation pattern of blood have been conventionally performed. Standards are set. This determination of the presence or absence of aggregation is often made by visual determination with the naked eye. Specifically, the presence or absence of aggregation is determined as the area of a portion equal to or less than the reference luminance based on the predetermined luminance based on the distribution of particles in the reaction vessel (well).
In addition, it often depends on comprehensive judgment by human eyes, for example, by comparing with a standard aggregation pattern or a standard non-aggregation pattern, or by creating a continuous serial dilution series of a specimen sample.

[0003] On the other hand, this visual judgment involves inconveniences such as the necessity of a high level of skill and the judgment of individual differences. For this reason, recently, automation of determination using a one-dimensional light receiving element (one-dimensional CCD sensor) has been promoted.

[0004]

However, the automation in the above-mentioned conventional example is of a type in which the plate on which the sample for agglutination pattern determination is attached is manually placed on the agglutination pattern determination location. Many. For this reason, there is an inconvenience that a lot of time and labor are required for the work of placing and carrying the plate. For this reason, there has been a disadvantage that the work efficiency is poor even if the automation of the determination is achieved.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to improve the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular, to carry out a large number of plates one by one quickly in the automatic loading / unloading operation in the automatic determination of the aggregation pattern. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plate feeding device for judging an aggregation pattern, which is capable of continuously processing a large number of processed plates in a short time.

[0006]

A guide means for guiding the movement of a plate provided with a sample for determining an aggregation pattern along a transport path thereof, and a plate provided along the guide means and allowing the plate to be positioned at an aggregation pattern determination point. Transfer force urging means, a plate stocker detachably provided near one end of the guide means on the upstream side of the conveyance path, and sequentially ejecting the plates from within the plate stocker and removing the plates. A plate transfer mounting means mounted on one side of the guide means, and a stocker lift mechanism for setting a plate unloaded from the plate transfer mounting means in a state in which the plate can be automatically unloaded in the plate stocker. .
This stocker lift mechanism drives a pair of arms each having a claw at two places on the opposing surface side, and moving these arms toward or away from each other as necessary while maintaining the parallel state. An arm drive support portion and an arm vertical transfer support portion that moves the arm drive support portion up and down as necessary are provided. Further, the plate stocker has a plate carrying-out cutout portion having a predetermined width extending from one side to the other side which can be engaged with the plate transfer / placement means along the above-mentioned conveying path on the bottom surface. The other surface has a plate carrying-in / carrying-out opening communicating with the above-described plate carrying-out cutout. Further, a configuration is adopted in which locking cutout portions of a predetermined size are provided at two places on both side surfaces parallel to the transport path, corresponding to the claw portions of the stocker lift mechanism. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0007]

The second and subsequent plates in the plate stocker are sandwiched and lifted by a pair of arms having claws of the lift mechanism for the stocker, leaving the lowermost plate. As a result, only one plate with the sample is left on the bottom surface in the plate stocker. The plate left on the bottom surface is slightly lifted upward by the plate transfer and placement means, and is transferred to the guide means downstream of the transport path. Hereinafter, such operations are sequentially repeated, and the plates in the plate stocker are automatically sent out sequentially to the guide means side in accordance with the operations of the stocker lift mechanism and the plate transfer / placement means.

[0008]

First Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the entire system will be described with reference to FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a guide means 2 for guiding the transfer of the plate 1 to which the sample for the aggregation pattern determination is attached along the transport path, and the plate 1 provided along the guide means 2 is provided on the plate 1. On the other hand, the transfer force urging means 3 for urging the transfer force from one side to the other side, and the plate 1 which is provided at the aggregation pattern determination point 4 provided in advance on the transport path and which is transferred, determines the aggregation pattern determination. A plate stopping mechanism 5 having a stopper portion 5A for stopping at a location 4;

A main controller (not shown) is provided for regulating the operations of the plate stopping mechanism 5 and the transfer force urging means 3 as necessary. Reference numeral 10 denotes an aggregation pattern determination unit for determining the aggregation pattern of the sample on the plate 1. The aggregation pattern determination means 10 is detachably mounted on the aggregation pattern determination location 4 from a direction orthogonal to the above-described transport path.

At the left end of the guide means 2 in FIG.
One box-shaped plate stocker 6 in which a plurality of plates 1 are stacked and stored is detachably provided. At the right end of the guide means 2 in FIG. 4, another plate stocker 7 formed in the same manner is detachably provided. The plate stocker 7 is for storing the plate 1 after the aggregation pattern determination is completed, while the plate stocker 6 is for storing the plate 1 before the aggregation pattern determination.

At the left end of one plate stocker 6 in FIG. 4, one stocker lift mechanism 8 for sequentially selecting the transfer plates 1 one by one from the plate stocker 6 is provided. In addition, at the right end of the other plate stocker 7 in FIG. 4, the other stocker lift mechanism 9 for sequentially stacking the plates 1 after the completion of the aggregation pattern determination from below is provided.

A belt conveyor mechanism 11 having a vertically movable belt conveyor section 11A is provided below one of the plate stockers 6 in FIG. The belt conveyor mechanism 11 is provided in a state where the belt conveyor section 11A extends from the plate stocker 6 to a lower portion of the guide means 2. Then, at the time of operation, the plate 1 is first raised to push up the plate 1 located at the lowermost position in the plate stocker 6 from below, and the plate 1 is moved to the belt conveyor section 11.
A, after which it is transported to the upper part of the guide means 2 and then the belt conveyor 11A is moved down to place the plate 1 on the guide means 2 relatively slowly. It is supposed to.

Further, the lower part of the other plate stocker 7 in FIG. 4 is also provided with a belt conveyor mechanism 12 having a belt conveyor part 12A which can be moved up and down. As shown in FIG. 4, the belt conveyor mechanism 12 has a belt conveyor section 12A extending from the plate stocker 7 to a lower portion of the guide means 2. Then, at the time of operation, the plate 1 is placed on the belt conveyor portion 12A in a manner of first rising and pushing up the plate 1 on the guide means 2 from below, and thereafter, the plate 1 is transferred into the plate stocker 7,
Thereafter, the belt conveyor 12A is moved down to place the plate 1 in the plate stocker 7.

More specifically, as the plate 1, in this embodiment, a plastic plate in which a plurality of reaction vessel portions (wells) are arranged in a grid pattern and bent with a relatively thin member is used. in use. The plate 1 is generally formed in a square shape. Further, the guide means 2 for guiding the transfer of the plate 1 includes:
The opposing surface is provided with a cutout having an L-shaped cross section, so that it comprises two guide members 2A and 2B having a protruding portion formed at the lower end. It can guide the transfer. The guide means 2 is equipped such that its upstream side and downstream side abut against the plate stockers 6 and 7, respectively. Reference numerals 2A ₁ and 3A ₂ denote legs supporting the guide members 2A and 2B (note that the legs 2A ₁ and 3A _{2 in} FIG. 4).
Overlap).

Above the guide means 2, a transfer force urging means 3 for urging the plate 1 with the transfer force is provided. The transfer force urging means 3 includes two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32 which are disposed in an upper portion slightly outside the guide means 2 and are provided in parallel with the guide means 2, and the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32. Guide rail support members 31A, 31B for separately supporting both ends of the guide rails 31, 32, respectively.
And first and second transfer mechanisms 33 and 34 mounted on the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32 to urge the plate 1 with transfer force, and the first and second transfer mechanisms 3
3 and 34 are provided with first and second transfer force transmitting mechanisms 35 and 36 for transmitting the transfer force separately. Here, in FIG. 4, the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32 overlap. Further, the guide rail support members 31A and 32A are further provided with the guide rail support members 31A and 32A.
B and 32B overlap each other.

The first transfer mechanism 33 has a function of transferring the plate 1 sent out from the plate stocker 6 to the aggregation pattern judging point 4 located at the center of the guide means 2. The second transfer mechanism 34
Has a function of transferring the determined plate 1 from the pattern determination portion 4 to the plate stocker 7 and transferring the plate 1 to a position where the plate 1 can be stored in the plate stocker 7.

Here, the transfer force urging means 3 will be described in more detail. The first transfer mechanism 33, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the two cylindrical guide rails 31, 32, as shown in FIGS. a pressing shaft 33 ₁ is, pressing shaft support member 33 for guiding the pressing pressure bearing 33 ₁ is fixed supporting both ends of the pressing shaft 33 ₁ of two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32 on movable back and forth ₂ and 33 _3, the retainer 33 ₄ which is suspended and fixed to the central portion of the pressing shaft 33 _1, equipped rotatably with the pressing shaft 33 ₁ is provided at both ends of the stopping member 33 ₄ a pressing plate mounting member 33 _5, 33 _6, located in the central portion of the guide means 2 (a direction in FIGS. 4 to 6) the while pressing plate is supported on the mounting member 33 _5, 33 ₆ to press the plates 1 described above and a plate pressing plate 33 ₇ to transfer to agglutination pattern determination portion 4 Have. Code 3
3 ₈ shows the function when the original position return of the plate pressing plate 33 ₇ buffer member to absorb the impact caused by the return operation of the plate pressing plate 33 _7.

The first transfer mechanism 33, which is a part of the transfer force urging means 3, has a first transfer force transmission mechanism 35 which is disposed and mounted along one of the cylindrical guide rails 31. Are connected. This first transfer force transmission mechanism 35
The winding together along one cylindrical guide rails 31 and the transport wire 35 ₁ disposed, is equipped at the right end in FIG. 1 of one of the cylindrical guide rail 31 take up the transfer wire 35 ₁ a driving pulley 35 ₂ for wire feeding amount corresponding took, one of the tubular guide 4 of the rail 31 is equipped on at the left end run of the transfer wire 35 ₁ the transfer wire 35 ₁ Turn half volume and a wire driven pulley 35 ₃ supporting the.

The both end portions of the transfer wire 35 ₁ is connected to the thrust shaft lower end of the support member 33 ₂ described above via a buffer coil spring 35 _4, 35 _5, respectively. Also, the driving pulley 35 ₂ wire is attached to the drive shaft of the wire drive motor 35 _6. This wire drive motor 35 ₆
And driving pulley 35 ₂ wire, U-shaped member 35 ₇
The guide member 2A is provided at the right end in FIG. In addition, the driven pulley for wire 35
_3, 4 of the guide member 2A via the L-shaped member 35 ₈
It is equipped at the left end in

[0020] Thus, the wire drive motor 35 ₆ rotates forward, the first transfer mechanism 33 is urged to the transport wire 35 ₁ of the first transfer force transmission mechanism 35 is moved in the direction of arrow A The plate 1 is transferred from the left to the right in FIG. On the other hand, when the first transfer mechanism 33 returns to the original position, the wire drive motor 3
5 ₆ rotated in reverse. Accordingly, the first transfer mechanism 33 moves in the direction B in FIGS. 4 to 6. And
When the next place where the plate 1 is to be placed is moved in the direction B, the plate 1 is turned to the position shown by the arrow C in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the second transfer mechanism 34, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, is mounted on two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32 at right angles. a pressing shaft 34 ₁ disposed so as to, the pressing shaft 34 ₁
A pressing shaft support member 34 _2, 34 ₃ the pressing pressure bearing ₃₄₁ to guide the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32 on movable back and forth with both end portions fixed support, the pressing shaft 34 ₁
The detent member 34 _4, which is suspended fixed to the center portion, the pressing plate mounting member 34 ₅ that is provided rotatably in the pressing shaft 34 ₁ is provided at both ends of the stopping member 34 _4, 34 ₆
When the plate is transferred to the agglutination pattern determination portion 4 positioned at the center of the pressing plate mounting member 34 _5, 34 while pressing the plate 1 described above it is supported in ₆ (Fig. 4 to 3 A direction) guide means 2 and a pressing plate 34 _7. Reference numeral _{34. 8} shows a function upon the original position return of the plate pressing plate 34 ₇ buffer member to absorb the impact caused by the return operation of the plate pressing plate 34 _7.

The first transfer mechanism 34 which forms a part of the transfer force urging means 3 has a second transfer force transmission mechanism 36 which is disposed and mounted along the other cylindrical guide rail 32. Are connected. This second transfer force transmission mechanism 36
Like the first transfer force transmission mechanism 35 described above, has a transfer wire 36 _1, also the pressing shaft support member described above via a buffer coil spring 36 _4, 36 ₅ the transport wire 36 ₁ etc. for connecting the lower end of the 34 _2, and is able to function in exactly the same is formed identically to the first transport force transmission mechanism 35 described above. As a result, the plate 1 for which the determination of the aggregation pattern has been completed can be transferred to the right in FIGS. 4 and 7.

Next, a description will be given of a plate stopping mechanism 5 provided with a stopper portion 5A for stopping the plate 1 at the aggregation pattern determining portion 4. This plate stopping mechanism 5
It is mainly composed of a solenoid or the like, and a stopper portion 5A is connected to the iron core portion. Further, the plate stop mechanism 5 is provided with a plate detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the arrival of the plate 1 at a predetermined position on the transport path of the plate 1. Then, based on the output signal of the plate detection sensor and the command of the main control unit, the plate stop mechanism 5 operates to cause the stopper 5A to protrude or retreat.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a plate stocker 6 containing a plurality of plates 1 therein. The plate stocker 6 is adapted to be freely mounted removably on the support member 6 _and 62. The plate stocker 6 has a structure in which a plurality of plates 1 can be stacked and stored as described above. Reference numeral 6A indicates a stocker main body, and reference numeral 6B indicates a lid portion that is freely opened and closed in the stocker main body 6A. At the lower end of one of the two opposing side surfaces of the stocker main body 6A, a plurality of plates 1 of the second stage or more from below are locked so as to be sandwiched from the side ends, and temporarily moved upward. Resection 6A ₁ , 6
A _2, respectively.

The stocker body 6A and its lid 6
The bottom surface in FIG. 8 of FIG.
Except for a part on the A ₁ , 6A ₂ side, a large cut is made along the above-described transport path. Then, through the excised portion or bottom side cutouts 6A _3, the belt conveyor unit 11A
The entire belt portion performs a raising and lowering operation while maintaining the horizontal state, whereby the plate 1 located at the lowermost end is carried out to the outside as shown by an arrow C in FIG. Here, the bottom side cutout 6A is provided at the lower end of the surface of the plate stocker 6 orthogonal to the above-described transport path.
Plate indexer opening 6A ₄ leading to ₃ is provided. In addition, the corners of the lower plate loading and unloading opening 6A _4, are provided plate locking rising portion 6A ₅ as shown in FIG. Plate stocker 7
Are formed exactly the same as the plate stocker 6 and can function the same. Reference numeral 6C indicates a handle.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show one of the stocker lift mechanism 8 and the stocker carry-in mechanism 18 provided on the stocker carry-in side (the left end side in FIG. 4) (in FIG. 4, the stocker carry-in mechanism 18 is shown). Is omitted).

One of the stocker lift mechanisms 8 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a pair of stocker lift mechanisms 8 arranged in parallel and equipped with claw portions 8A ₁ , 8A ₂ or 8B ₁ , 8B ₂ at two places on the opposite surface side. Arm portions 8A and 8B, and these arm portions 8A and 8B
Arm driving support 8 for driving the motors in a direction approaching or moving away from each other as necessary while maintaining the parallel state.
C and an arm vertical supporting unit 8 for moving the entire arm driving supporting unit 8C upward or downward as necessary.
D and the entire arm drive support 8C and the vertical transfer support 8D for the arm.
And a rotation drive support portion 8E for reciprocating by 80 °.

Claw portions 8A ₁ , 8A ₂ or 8B ₁ , 8B
₂ is the cutouts 6A ₁ , 6A of the plate stocker 6 described above.
At intervals according to the position of A _2, respectively the arm portions 8A,
Equipped at one end of 8B.

The arm drive support 8C supports two round bar-shaped racks 8C ₁ and 8C ₂ which support the arms 8A and 8B at the other ends and urge the operation thereof (see FIGS. 1 and 2). and), a pinion 8C ₃ for driving the rack 8C _1, the rack 8C ₁ disposed between 8C _2, 8C ₂ in the opposite direction (see FIG. 2), these racks 8C _1, 8C ₂ and pinion 8C ₃ Arm support case 8C ₄ containing
When, and a plate for holding a motor 8C ₅ to forward or reverse drive as needed pinion 8C ₃ is equipped on the arm supporting case 8C _4.

[0030] Here, the rack 8C ₁ of round bar has one end fixed to the arm portion 8B, the other end portion is loosely inserted in the arm portion 8A. Also, a round bar-shaped rack 8C
₂ has one end fixed to the arm 8A and the other end loosely inserted into the arm 8B. Therefore, when activates the holding motor 8C ₅ plate rotates the pinion 8C ₃ in a predetermined direction, the arm portion 8A, 8B is urged by the rack 8C _1, 8C _2, the direction or away from approaching to each other Move in the direction.

Reference numerals 8C ₆ and 8C ₇ denote arm portions 8A and 8C.
2 shows a guide bar (not shown in FIG. 1) for supporting and guiding B. The guide bars 8C ₆ and 8C ₇ are slidably supported by the arm support case 8C ₄ described above. The arm portions of the guide bars 8C ₆ , 8C ₇ can smoothly engage with the racks 8C ₁ , 8C ₂ and the pinion 8C ₃ and transmit their power.

Further, the vertical transfer support portion. 8D arm, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lift box 8D fixedly supporting the arm supporting case 8C ₄ of the arm driving support part 8C
_1, a ball screw mechanism 8D ₂ for urging the movement to the upward or downward in the lifting box 8D _1, two guide rods 8D for guiding the vertical movement of the lift box 8D _1
3, 8D and _4, the holding plate 8D ₅ for holding the guide rod 8D _3, 8D ₄ of the ball screw mechanism 8D ₂ and two, lifting body case while accommodating these respective components support is opened and a 8D _6. Reference numeral 8D ₇ shows the lift driving motor for driving the ball screw mechanism 8D _2.
As a result, the plate 1 in the plate stocker 6 is held and held in the plate stocker 6 by the one stocker lift mechanism 8 including the arm vertical transfer support 8D and the arm drive support 8C as described above. It is possible to raise the plate stocker 6 by a predetermined distance, and in some cases, it is possible to hold the entire plate stocker 6 and transfer it in the vertical direction.

Next, the stocker loading mechanism 18 disclosed at the left end of FIG. 1 will be described. This stocker loading mechanism 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes a carry-in belt mechanism 1 on which the stocker 6 is placed and carried.
8A and guide members 18B and 18C provided at both ends of the carry-in belt mechanism 18A. When the stocker 6 is fed to a predetermined position, it is immediately detected by a predetermined sensor, and is moved from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 by the action of the above-described arm vertical transfer support 8D and the above-described arm drive support 8C. It is designed to be carried to the position shown by the two-dot chain line. The large broken arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the vertical movement support 8D for the arm rotated by the rotation drive support 8E, the rotation direction P of the arm drive support 8C and the stocker 6, and the return direction Q thereof.

The other stocker lift mechanism 9 (see FIG. 4) is also the stocker lift mechanism 8 shown in FIG.
It is formed exactly the same and can function the same. The stocker loading mechanism 18 disclosed at the left end of FIG.
A stocker unloading mechanism formed exactly the same as the above may be provided at the right end of the stocker lift mechanism 9 in FIG. In this case, except for the difference between the loading operation and unloading operation of the stocker,
The operation is almost the same.

Next, the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 and 12 will be described. The belt conveyor mechanisms 11 and 12
They are formed in the same manner, and are provided at symmetric positions in FIG.

One of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11
Is a belt conveyor unit 11 on which the plate 1 is placed and transported.
A, a conveyor drive motor 11B for driving the belt conveyor 11A, a conveyor support 11C for supporting the belt conveyor 11A and the conveyor drive motor 11B, and a support for the conveyor 11C. A vertical urging mechanism 11D that moves the entire body in the vertical direction while maintaining it is provided.

Here, the vertical movement urging mechanism 11D is the same as that shown in FIG.
Swingably configured two swing links 11 ₁ was, 11 ₂ as shown in 0, the eccentric cam 11 ₃ is in contact mounted on the lower end of one of the swing link 11 _1, the eccentric Cam 1
And a cam drive motor 11 ₄ for rotationally driving the 1 ₃ at a predetermined timing. Here, one swing link portion 1
1 ₁ is mounted on the center of gravity position of the belt conveyor mechanism 11. Thus, by rotating the eccentric cam 11 ₃ activates the cam drive motor 11 _4, a belt conveyor mechanism 1
1 is capable of ascending or descending while maintaining a substantially parallel state. The other swing link 11
₁ performs auxiliary operations one swing link 11 ₁ described above, it serves to effectively prevent the rolling and pitching of the belt conveyor mechanism 11.

The maximum width of the one belt conveyor mechanism 11 (ie, the width of the conveyor support 11C) is set to be smaller than the width between the two guide members 2A and 2B of the guide means 2 described above. The width of the plate stocker bottom resections 6A ₃ formed on the bottom surface of 6 described above is set larger than the maximum width of the one of the belt conveyor mechanism 11. Therefore, the belt conveyor mechanism 11 for this one is, during its upward toward the bottom side cut portion 6A ₃ a plate stocker 6 upwardly moves smoothly parallel plate 1 located in the lower part of the plate stocker 6 simultaneously Is picked up from below and placed on the belt conveyor section 11A, and then transferred along the arrow G to the guide means 2 side.

During this time, the other plate 1 in the plate stocker 6 is temporarily lifted by one stocker lift mechanism 8 as shown in FIG. This state is continued until the plate 1 is carried out of the plate stocker 6 and one of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 is lowered. Then, along with the overall lowering operation of the one belt conveyor mechanism 11, the plate 1 is placed on the guide means 2 in parallel and gently as a whole. For this reason,
The plate 1 is gently placed on the guide means 2 without any vibration.

The other belt conveyor mechanism 12 which is formed identically to the one belt conveyor mechanism 11 and is provided at a symmetrical position as shown in FIG. 4 functions in the same manner as the one belt conveyor mechanism 11 and has already been judged. The plate 1 is placed on the bottom of the other plate stocker 7 from above the guide means 2. Also in this case, the other stocker lift mechanism 9 functions effectively, and is temporarily lifted by the other stocker lift mechanism 9 until the determined plate 1 is stored in the other plate stocker 7. . This state is caused by the other belt conveyor mechanism 12
Is continued until falls.

Next, the overall operation of the above embodiment will be described. First, the plate stocker 6 carried in by the stocker carrying-in mechanism 18 is greatly lifted by the stocker lift mechanism 8 in a form of scooping, and is lifted by 180.
It is disposed close to the upstream side of one end of the guide means 2 after being rotated.

Next, the plate 1 in the plate stocker 6 is lifted up to some extent by the stocker lift mechanism 8 except for the plate 1 in the lower position. At the same time, one of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 starts running the belt conveyor section 11A and starts the ascent operation. Then, while lifting the lower plate 1 in the plate stocker 6, the belt conveyor unit 1 is lifted.
1A, and then transferred onto the guide means 2.

In this case, the plate 1 is placed on the guide means 2 relatively slowly while maintaining its horizontal state. When the plate 1 is placed on the guide means 2, the first transfer mechanism 33 constituting a part of the transfer force urging means 3 urges the first transfer force transmission mechanism 35 subsequently. Then, the plate 1 is moved from right to left in FIG.
Stopped upstream of plate 1. Subsequently, the first transfer force transmission mechanism 35 operates to send the plate 1 to the right direction in FIG.

At the aggregation pattern determination section 4, a plurality of aggregation patterns on the plate 1 are read by the aggregation pattern determination means 10 and the quality is determined according to a predetermined reference pattern. When the reading operation of the aggregation pattern is completed, the second transfer mechanism 34 constituting a part of the transfer force urging means 3 is urged by the first transfer force transmission mechanism 36 so that the plate 1 is once viewed on the plate 1. 4 moves from the right to the left and stops at the upstream side of the plate 1.

Subsequently, the second transfer force transmitting mechanism 36 operates to transfer the plate 1 to the right in FIG. 4, ie, to the right end on the guide means 2, via the second transfer mechanism 34. As soon as the plate 1 is transported to the right end on the guide means 2, the other belt conveyor mechanism 12 immediately starts running the belt conveyor section 12A and starts a lifting operation. Then, the plate 1 on the guide means 2 is placed on the belt conveyor section 12A while being lifted, then transferred to the plate stocker 7, and lowered again to store the plate 1 at the lowest position in the plate stocker 7.

In the process of storing the plate 1 in the plate stocker 7, the other plates 1 in the plate stocker 7 are temporarily moved slightly upward by the stocker lift mechanism 9. * As soon as the plate 1 sent by the other belt conveyor mechanism 12 is stored at the lowest position in the plate stocker 7, the other plate 1 is lowered onto the lowest plate 1, whereby one sheet is placed. The transfer and determination process of the plate 1 is completed. Hereinafter, the transfer and determination steps of the second and third plates 1 are repeatedly performed according to this.

[0047]

The present invention is constructed and functions as described above. According to this, according to the present invention, a large number of plates having a sample for judging agglutination pattern are simultaneously loaded into one side of the guide means by the action of the plate stocker. It is possible to insert the claw of the lift mechanism for the stocker from the cutout for locking provided on the side surface of the plate stocker and lift the entire other plate except for the plate located at the lowest position, Therefore, it is possible to reliably send out a plurality of plates to which the sample for determination is attached one by one from the plate located at the lowest position to the guide means side via the plate transfer / placement means, and therefore, the sample is attached. It is possible to provide an unprecedented excellent plate feeding device for judging agglutination pattern that can process a large number of plates continuously. That.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of loading a plate stocker in FIG. 4;

FIG. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view showing an arm drive support portion of one of the stocker lift mechanisms in FIGS. 4 and 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially omitted perspective view showing an arm vertical transfer support portion of one of the stocker lift mechanisms in FIGS. 4 and 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a first transfer mechanism part forming a part of the transfer force urging means in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second transfer mechanism part forming a part of the transfer force urging means in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a plate stocker in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a plate transfer / placement unit in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plate 2 Guide means 3 Transfer force biasing means 4 Aggregation pattern judgment place 6 Plate stocker 6A ₁ , 6A ₂ Locking cutout 6A ₃ Bottom side cutout 6A ₄ Plate loading / unloading cutout 6A ₅ Plate locking rise part 8 stocker lift mechanism 8A, 8B arm _{8A 1, 8A 2, 8B 1} , 8B 2 claw portion 8C arm driving support part 8D arm vertical transfer support portion

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hideo Suda 2-1, Sakuranamiki, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Suzuki Technical Research Institute (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Yokomori 2nd Sakuranamiki, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa No. 1 Suzuki Corporation Technical Research Institute (56) References JP-A-58-102161 (JP, A) JP-A-2-259575 (JP, A) JP-A-64-109264 (JP, A) 3-120472 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01N 35/00-35/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A guide means for guiding the movement of a plate on which a sample for agglomeration pattern determination has been attached to a location for determination of an agglomeration pattern along its transport path, and at one end of the guide means upstream of the transport path. A plate stocker detachably mounted in proximity to the plate stocker; plate transfer mounting means for sequentially carrying out the plates from the plate stocker and mounting the plate on one side of the guide means; And a stocker lift mechanism for setting the plate carried out by the means to a state in which the plate can be automatically carried out in the plate stocker.
A pair of arm portions each having a claw portion at two positions on the opposing surface side, an arm drive support portion for driving each arm portion in a direction to approach or separate as necessary while maintaining the parallel state, An arm vertical transfer support unit for vertically moving the arm drive support unit as necessary, and the plate stocker can be engaged with the plate transfer mounting means on the bottom surface along the transfer path. It has a plate carrying-out cutout having a predetermined width over the other side, and has a plate carrying-in / out opening opening to the plate carrying-out cutout on one and the other surface orthogonal to the carrying path, and at the same time, is parallel to the carrying path. An agglomeration pattern determination plate feeding device, characterized in that locking cutouts of a predetermined size are provided at two places on both side surfaces corresponding to the claw portions of the stocker lift mechanism. . 2. The plate feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the plate stocker has a plate locking rising portion at a corner at a lower end of the plate loading / unloading opening.