JP3002287U - Tray feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Tray that does not have engaging means such as flat-bottomed trays and has different aspect ratios is reliably held in the required orientation, and the working stage is continuous. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly versatile tray supply device that can be supplied above. [Structure] When the tray at the lowermost position is placed on the support plate by raising the support plate and appropriately raising the tray of the trace tucker, both ends on the short side of the tray are set by a pair of opposing stop plates. Both ends of the long side are held by a pair of engagement pins in a direction orthogonal to the pair of stop plate directions. At this time, the pair of engagement pins located in the direction of the pair of stop plates retract into the support plate due to the weight of the tray. When the support plate is lowered to the work stage position, the tray ends on the long side of the tray are securely held by the two pairs of locking pins facing each other in the direction orthogonal to the pair of stop plates. To do.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention mounts a microplate continuously supplied on a working stage and a nozzle tip used for dispensing dilution when diluting a sample to the power of 2n in a dispensing dilution device in an automatic immunoassay device. The present invention relates to a device for continuously supplying trays and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as “tray”).

[0002]

[Prior art]

 As a device of this type, the present applicant has proposed in Japanese Patent No. 1612984, a device in which trays are vertically stacked and the trays can be taken out one by one from below. This device holds a tray at the lowest end among the trays stacked in the holder by a pair of engaging plates pivotally attached to the lower end of the trace tucker, and these elevating plates appropriately raise these trays. At this time, the engaging plate pivots to disengage from the tray at the bottom end, and when the tray at the bottom end moves onto the lift plate, the engaging plate engages with the tray above it. It is configured to take out one by one.

However, in this device, for holding the tray on the support plate, four fixed positioning pins eccentrically arranged on the support plate are fitted into the engaging holes provided on the lower surface of the tray. However, the trays that can be used were limited. In general, in an automatic immunoassay device, 8 or 12 specimens are handled as one unit, so that nozzle tips, specimens, etc. are arranged in an 8 × 12 array so that they can be adapted to either case. The trays are formed so that they can be lined up. Therefore, trays having different aspect ratios are used in the horizontally long position or the vertically long position, and new corresponding positioning means for trays without engaging means is also required.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a tray having no aspect such as a tray having a flat bottom surface and having a different aspect ratio is securely held in a desired orientation. The purpose is to provide a highly versatile tray feeder that can continuously feed onto the work stage.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The tray feeding device according to the present invention is a device for feeding trays having different aspect ratios such as a tray on which a pair of nozzle chips are placed and a reaction tray in an automatic immunoassay device, and the trays are vertically stacked. It consists of a trace tucker to be held and a distributor arranged below the trace tucker so as to transfer the trays held by the tray stacker one by one onto the work stage below the trace tucker.

The trace tucker is configured to allow the bottommost tray to move downward when the trays held therein are raised appropriately. The distributor includes a support plate on which a tray supplied from the trace tucker is placed, and the support plate between a position for appropriately raising the tray held by the trace tucker and a work stage. It is composed of a lifting device for moving up and down.

In the tray feeder according to the present invention, a support having a cross-shaped planar shape is formed such that the intervals between the end portions of the support plates facing each other are substantially equal to the long side length of the tray. A surface, the work stage has a cross-shaped space so as to form a flat surface complementary to the cross-shaped planar support surface, and the support plate support surface is provided at each end thereof. A stop plate suitably extending upwardly from the support surface and urged appropriately to project upwardly from the support surface at each intermediate position between the cross-shaped center position of the support surface and each end. The engaging pins are arranged such that the distance between the engaging pins on the ends facing each other is substantially equal to the length on the short side of the tray. Attach a locking pin that appropriately protrudes upward to the overhanging portion adjacent to the cross-shaped space of the stage. Provided so that each locking pin is positioned substantially at a right angle to two adjacent engaging pins and substantially collinear with the adjacent engaging and locking pins. Each can be provided.

[0008]

[Action]

 By raising the support plate of the distributor by the lifting device and raising the tray inside the trace tucker appropriately, the tray at the lowermost position of the trace tucker is disengaged from the trace tucker and falls onto the support plate. To do. With the dropped tray placed on the support plate, the lifting plate lowers the support plate onto the work stage. After that, predetermined processing such as dispensing and dilution is performed, and the used tray is moved horizontally in the distributor and stored in another trace tucker for collection, or other suitable means. Is thrown into a recovery chute, etc. By repeating this process, trays are continuously supplied onto the work stage.

When the tray is placed on the support plate lifted from the trace tucker, both ends on the short side of the tray are held by a pair of stop plates facing each other, and both ends on the long side of the tray are It is held by a pair of engagement pins located in a direction orthogonal to the pair of stop plate directions. At this time, the pair of engaging pins located in the same direction as the pair of stop plates are retracted into the support plate due to the weight of the tray, thereby avoiding unnecessary tilting of the tray. When the support plate is lowered to the work stage position, both ends on the long side of the tray are held by two pairs of locking pins that face each other in the direction orthogonal to the pair of stop plates, and on the work stage. Retain the position of the tray securely.

When the trace tuckers are arranged so that the vertical and horizontal relations of the trays are reversed, the tray is held at both ends on the shorter side by a pair of stop plates different from the pair of stop plates, The engaging pin is retracted into the support plate, and the pair of engaging pins holds both ends of the tray on the long side. When the support plate is lowered, both ends of the tray on the long side are held by two pairs of locking pins facing each other in the direction orthogonal to the facing direction.

[0011]

【Example】

 The tray feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention has a nozzle tip 3 detachably attached to a pipette head 2 of a dispensing diluter 1, as shown in FIG. It is provided for continuous supply. In the figure, reference numeral 4 is a supply trace tucker, reference numeral 5 is a recovery trace tucker, reference numeral 6 is a plate for measuring a 2nth power dilution reaction of a sample, reference numeral 7 is a tank for containing a diluent or a reagent, Reference numeral 8 indicates a chip recovery box, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle tips 3 are accommodated in a tray 9 arranged in 8 rows, 12 rows, 12 rows, 8 rows, or any other suitable number of rows. The trace tuckers 4 and 5 are provided with a mechanism (see FIG. 4) for taking out vertically stacked trays one by one, as proposed in the above-mentioned applicant's Japanese Patent No. 1612984.

The tray 9 is prepared by vertically stacking it on the supply trace tucker 4. A work stage 10 that can move in the horizontal direction is provided below the supply trace tucker 4, and a device 12 and a tank for continuously supplying a distributor 11 and a plate 6 are provided on the work stage 10. 7 and the chip recovery box 8 are mounted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the distributor 11 includes a support plate 13 for mounting the tray 9 supplied from the supply trace tucker 4 thereon, and a tray held by the supply trace tucker 4. It is composed of a lifting device 14 for moving the support plate 13 up and down between the work stage 10 and a position where it is appropriately raised. The support plate 13 has a cross-shaped support surface 15 formed so that the intervals between the ends facing each other are substantially the same as the length L1 on the long side of the tray 9 (see FIG. 2). The work stage 10 is provided with a cross-shaped space S formed to be a flat surface complementary to the cross-shaped planar shape of the support surface 15.

The support plate 13 has a stop plate 16 extending appropriately from each end position of the support surface 15 and at each intermediate position between the cross-shaped center position of the support surface 15 and each end part. It suitably has an engaging pin 17 spring-biased to project upward from the support surface 15 while retracting below the support surface 15 when the tray 9 is placed thereon. The engagement pins 17 are arranged such that the distance between the engagement pins on the ends of the support surfaces 15 facing each other is substantially equal to the length L2 on the short side of the tray 9 (see FIG. 2). To be done.

A locking pin 18 fixed so as to appropriately project upward is provided at an overhanging portion P adjacent to the cross-shaped space S of the work stage 10. Each locking pin 18 is arranged so as to be substantially at a right angle with respect to the two engaging pins 17 in the adjacent positions, and is substantially adjacent to the adjacent engaging pins 17 and the locking pin 18. They are arranged so as to be located on the same line.

The operation of the automatic dispensing and diluting device using the tray feeding device of the present invention configured as described above will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the tray 9 is vertically stacked on the supply trace tucker 4, and the distributor 11 is moved to a position directly below the supply trace tucker 4 by the work stage 10. It Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the support plate 13 is raised by the elevating device 14, and the tray 9 in the supply trace tucker 4 is appropriately raised so that the lowermost tray and the supply trace tucker 4 are engaged. Then, the tray at the bottom is placed on the support plate 13. At this time, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3, both ends of the tray 9 on the short side are held by a pair of stop plates 16 facing each other, and the ends on the long side are paired with the above-mentioned pair. It is held by a pair of engagement pins 17 positioned in a direction orthogonal to the direction between the stop plates 16. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the engagement pin 17 located on the lower side of the tray 9 does not retract into the support plate 13 due to the weight of the tray 9 and hinders the placement of the tray 9.

When the support plate 13 on which the tray 9 is placed is lowered to the position of the work stage 10, as shown in FIG. 6, both ends on the long side of the tray 9 are aligned with the direction between the pair of stop plates 16. The position of the tray 9 on the work stage 10 is securely held by being held by the two pairs of the locking pins 18 that are opposed to each other in the orthogonal direction.

Here, in the case where the supply trace tacker 4 is arranged so that the vertical and horizontal relations of the tray 9 are opposite, as shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. Both ends of the short side are held by a pair of stop plates 16 different from the above, and the above-mentioned pair of engaging pins retracts into the support plate 13 and another pair of engaging pins 17 causes the tray 9 to move. Both ends of the long side of are held. When the support plate 13 is lowered to the position of the work stage 10, both ends of the tray 9 on the long side are held by two pairs of locking pins 18 facing each other in the direction orthogonal to the facing direction.

Next, the work stage 10 moves so that the tray 9 held on the support plate 13 is located below the pipette head 2 of the dispensing diluter 1. When the pipette head 2 moves downward and the nozzle tip 3 stored in the tray 9 is mounted, the working stage 10 moves so that the tank 7 is located below the pipette head 2. When the pipette head 2 descends to suck up a predetermined amount of reagent or diluent from the tank 7, the operating stage 10 moves so that the plate 6 is located below the pipette head 2 and performs predetermined dispense dilution. The used nozzle tip 3 is returned to the original position of the tray 9 or is discarded in the tip recovery box 8.

When all of the stored nozzle tips 3 are used, the tray 9 is positioned below the recovery trace tucker 5 by the movement of the work stage 10, and the elevating device 14 causes the recovery trace tucker 5 to move. It is transferred inside and collected.

[0022]

[Effect of device]

 According to the present invention, since the trays are vertically stacked and held by the trace tucker, many trays can be stored in a smaller area, and a smaller automatic immunoassay device can be created. .

Further, when the tray is transferred from the trace tucker onto the support plate, the pair of opposed stop plates holds the short-side end portion of the tray, while the pair of opposed engagement pins forms the long side of the tray. In addition to holding the end, the engaging pin located under the tray retracts into the support plate due to the weight of the tray, so the tray can be held securely when the support plate is raised and lowered, and the work stage position When the tray is lowered, the two pairs of locking pins facing each other can securely hold the long side edges to fix the tray position, and even if the vertical and horizontal positions of the trays are changed, another Since it can be securely held and fixed by a pair of opposing stop plates and another pair of engaging pins that oppose each other or two pairs of locking pins that oppose another pair of opposing stop plates in another direction. , Tre It can be adapted to any direction.

Although the above-described embodiment has been described only when applied to the automatic dispensing and dilution device, it is needless to say that it can be applied to a similar device in the automatic immunity measuring device as well as the special engaging member as described above. It can be easily understood that the present invention can be applied to the continuous supply of box-shaped products not provided with, and thus can be applied to similar devices in other fields such as packing of confectionery.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial front view showing a case where a tray supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to an automatic dispensing and diluting device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a tray used in the tray supply device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a main part of a tray supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining an operating state of the tray supply device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 for explaining the operating state of the tray supply device.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 for explaining the operating state of the tray supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Dispenser Diluter 2 Pipette head 3 Nozzle tip 4 Trace tracer for supply 5 Trace tracer for collection 6 Plate 9 Tray 10 Working stage 11 Distributor 13 Support plate 14 Lifting device 15 Support surface 16 Stop plate 17 Engagement pin 18 Locking pin

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 31, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4]

[Figure 5]

[Figure 6]

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A device for supplying trays having different aspect ratios such as a tray on which a set of nozzle tips is mounted and a reaction tray in an automatic immunoassay device, the trace holding the trays in a vertically stacked manner. It is composed of a tucker and a distributor arranged below the trace tucker so that the trays held by the trace tucker are transferred one by one onto the work stage below the trace tucker, and the trace tucker is held therein. Is configured to allow the tray located at the lowermost end to move downward when the tray is properly raised, and the distributor is for mounting the tray supplied from the trace tucker. Of the support plate, and a position where the tray held by the trace tucker is appropriately raised and the work stage, the support plate is moved up and down. A tray supply device comprising: a lifting device for lifting. 2. The support plate has cross-shaped planar support surfaces formed such that the intervals between the end portions facing each other are substantially equal to the lengthwise length of the tray. The work stage has a cross-shaped space so as to form a flat surface complementary to the cross-shaped planar support surface, and the support plate is appropriately provided at each end of the cross-shaped surface upward from the support surface. An extending stop plate and spring-biased engagement pins at each intermediate position between the cross-shaped center position of the support surface and the respective ends, which spring-biased to project appropriately from the support surface. , The engaging pins are arranged such that the intervals between the engaging pins on the end portions facing each other are substantially equal to the short side length of the tray, and are adjacent to the cross-shaped space of the working stage. Locking pins are provided on the overhanging part so that they project appropriately upward, and each locking pin is adjacent Are arranged so as to be substantially at right angles to the two engaging pins and to be substantially collinear with the adjacent engaging and locking pins. The tray supply device according to claim 1.