JP3056670B2 - Automatic sample transporter - Google Patents

Automatic sample transporter

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Publication number
JP3056670B2
JP3056670B2 JP7174083A JP17408395A JP3056670B2 JP 3056670 B2 JP3056670 B2 JP 3056670B2 JP 7174083 A JP7174083 A JP 7174083A JP 17408395 A JP17408395 A JP 17408395A JP 3056670 B2 JP3056670 B2 JP 3056670B2
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
rack
transport
belt
transport belt
sample
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
JP7174083A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JPH095333A (en
Inventor
喜行 沢田
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Horiba Ltd
Original Assignee
Horiba Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Horiba Ltd filed Critical Horiba Ltd
Priority to JP7174083A priority Critical patent/JP3056670B2/en
Publication of JPH095333A publication Critical patent/JPH095333A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP3056670B2 publication Critical patent/JP3056670B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Description

【発明の詳細な説明】DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

【0001】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】この発明は、生化学分析装置等の
分野で用いられる検体の自動搬送装置、特に多数の検体
入りラックを搬送ベルト上で適正な距離に切り離すこと
のできる自動搬送装置に関する。
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic transport apparatus for specimens used in the field of biochemical analyzers and the like, and more particularly to an automatic transport apparatus capable of separating a large number of sample racks at an appropriate distance on a transport belt. .

【0002】[0002]

【従来の技術】血液や尿等の体液を分析する生化学分析
装置では多数且つ多種類の検体を試験管或いはセルに入
れ、これらの試験管等を数本まとめてラックに収容し、
更に試験管等より各種の分析のため試料を分注して試薬
の添加、攪拌、分析、洗浄等の操作を行う。これらの操
作を行う生化学分析装置は検体入り試験管等を収容した
ラックの搬送も含めて自動的に行われる。例えば、図3
に示すように、多数のラック5はストッカ1において検
体入り試験管4等を収容し、ロボットハンド等で搬送ベ
ルト6aに載せ、検査項目毎に分けて搬入ストッカ2に
集積し、ここから別の搬送ベルト6b及び6cに載せ、
更に各種の分析部3へ移動する搬送ベルト6dにラック
5を移し替える。そして分析部3で処理を終えた後のラ
ック5は搬送ベルト6eから6f更に6gに載せて試験
管4等の交換或いは洗浄等の処理過程を経て元のストッ
カ1へと搬送される。
2. Description of the Related Art In a biochemical analyzer for analyzing body fluids such as blood and urine, many and many kinds of specimens are put into test tubes or cells, and several of these test tubes and the like are put together in a rack.
Further, samples are dispensed from a test tube or the like for various analyses, and operations such as reagent addition, stirring, analysis, and washing are performed. The biochemical analyzer that performs these operations is automatically performed including transport of a rack containing test tubes containing samples and the like. For example, FIG.
As shown in the figure, a large number of racks 5 accommodate the test tubes 4 containing samples in the stocker 1 and place them on the transport belt 6a by a robot hand or the like, and accumulate them in the carry-in stocker 2 for each inspection item. Put on the conveyor belts 6b and 6c,
Further, the rack 5 is transferred to the transport belt 6d that moves to the various analysis units 3. After the processing by the analysis unit 3, the rack 5 is placed on the transport belts 6e to 6f and 6g, and is transported to the original stocker 1 through a process such as replacement or cleaning of the test tube 4 or the like.

【0003】従来の検体入りラックの搬送装置として
は、搬送ライン上のラック送り、戻り等をイニシャライ
ズ或いはリセットする際の時間短縮化を図るものとして
検体搬送装置の送りラインと戻りラインの個々にラック
有無検知用ビ−ムセンサを装置に内蔵したもの(特開平
4−1571号)や、X方向の搬送ラインとY方向の搬
送ラインとを直行させ、それぞれの目的とする方向に検
体が移送できるように各搬送ベルト上にセンサとソレノ
イドストッパを配置し交差位置で衝突しないように制御
した臨床検査用検体搬送システムが知られている(特開
平4−172253号)。
[0003] As a conventional transport device for a rack containing a sample, a rack is separately provided for each of a feed line and a return line of a sample transport device in order to reduce the time required for initializing or resetting a rack feed and return on a transport line. A beam sensor for detecting presence / absence is built in the apparatus (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-15771), or a transport line in the X direction and a transport line in the Y direction are made to go in a straight line so that the sample can be transported in the respective intended directions. A sample transport system for a clinical test in which a sensor and a solenoid stopper are arranged on each transport belt and controlled so as not to collide at an intersection position is known (JP-A-4-172253).

【0004】[0004]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】ラックに収容した検体
を処理(吸引、試薬の添加、攪拌、分注等)する場合、
検査項目により処理時間に差が生じることが多い。従っ
て、検体入りラックを搬送ベルトで搬送する場合、各搬
送ベルトでの搬送速度は異なることが多いためラックと
次のラックとの距離や間隔は伸ばしたり縮めたりしなが
ら搬送しなければならない。連続したラックを切り離す
一般的手段としては、2つの搬送ベルト、例えば図3に
おける二つの搬送ベルト6cと6dとの速度を、図4に
示すように、それぞれv1 及びv2 とするとv1 >v2
或いはv1 <v2 とすることが多かった。しかしながら
このように速度差によりラックとラックとの間隔を決め
るとラックが次の搬送ベルトに乗り移るときスム−ズに
動作せずトラブルの原因となるという問題があった。
When processing a sample stored in a rack (aspiration, addition of a reagent, stirring, dispensing, etc.),
There is often a difference in processing time depending on the inspection item. Therefore, when transporting the sample-containing rack by the transport belt, the transport speed of each transport belt is often different, so that the distance and the interval between the rack and the next rack must be transported while extending or contracting. As a general means for separating the continuous racks, as shown in FIG. 4, if the speeds of two conveyor belts, for example, the two conveyor belts 6c and 6d in FIG. 3, are respectively v 1 and v 2 , v 1 > v 2
Alternatively, v 1 <v 2 was often set. However, when the distance between the racks is determined based on the speed difference as described above, there is a problem that the rack does not operate smoothly when moving on to the next conveyor belt, which causes a trouble.

【0005】この発明は上記する課題に着目してなされ
たものであり、多数のラックを次々と搬送させ、あるコ
ンベヤベルトから他のコンベヤベルトに移送して処理す
る場合、或るラックと次のラックとの間隔を適正な距離
とすることのできる自動搬送装置を提供することを目的
とする。
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and when a large number of racks are transported one after another and transferred from one conveyor belt to another conveyor belt for processing, a certain rack and a next rack are processed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic transfer device capable of setting a proper distance from a rack.

【0006】[0006]

【課題を解決するための手段】即ち、この発明は上記す
る課題を解決するために、検体入りラックを複数の搬送
ベルトを用いて所定の処理工程へ搬送する検体の自動搬
送装置において、前記搬送ベルトのうちある搬送ベルト
上に、搬送されるラックを感知したとき該搬送ベルトと
該搬送ベルトの前の搬送ベルトとを同時に停止させ所定
時間停止後該搬送ベルトの前の搬送ベルトを逆転駆動さ
せ且つ所定時間の逆転駆動後これら二つの搬送ベルトを
元の方向に駆動させる手段に接続したセンサを設置した
ことを特徴とする。
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an automatic sample transport apparatus for transporting a sample-containing rack to a predetermined processing step using a plurality of transport belts. When a rack to be conveyed is detected on a certain conveyor belt among the belts, the conveyor belt and the conveyor belt in front of the conveyor belt are simultaneously stopped, and after stopping for a predetermined time, the conveyor belt in front of the conveyor belt is reversely driven. Further, a sensor connected to a means for driving these two conveyor belts in the original direction after the reverse rotation driving for a predetermined time is provided.

【0007】[0007]

【作用】上記手段とした検体の自動搬送装置に関し、図
1及び図2においてある搬送ベルトを6d、該ある搬送
ベルト6dの前の搬送ベルトを6cとして動作を説明す
ると次のようになる。 搬送ベルト6cから移送されてきたラック5が搬送ベ
ルト6dに移し替えられ先端部(面)がセンサ7に触れ
ると搬送ベルト6cと搬送ベルト6dは共に一旦停止す
る。次に、所定時間(例えば1又は2秒)後搬送ベル
ト6cの駆動用モ−タ或いは駆動機構9は該搬送ベルト
6cを逆転させる(図2)。搬送ベルト6dのラック
5と前の搬送ベルト6c上のラック5との距離が意図す
る所定距離(L)となったら該搬送ベルト6cを一旦停
止させる。この間に搬送ベルト6d上のラック5は別の
方向へ移動させ処理する。そしてこれら二つの搬送ベル
ト6c及び6dは再び元の通り駆動させる。再び搬送
ベルト6cのラック5が前記搬送ベルト6dの上に移送
され、該ラック5の先端部(面)がセンサ7に触れると
前記乃至の動作を繰り返す。尚、搬送ベルト6c及
び6dの停止と搬送ベルト6cの逆転開始までの時間は
ラック5とその前のラック5とをどの程度の距離引き離
す必要があるかによって決める。
The operation of the automatic sample transporting apparatus as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which a certain transport belt is 6d, and a transport belt before the certain transport belt 6d is 6c. When the rack 5 transferred from the conveyor belt 6c is transferred to the conveyor belt 6d and the tip (surface) touches the sensor 7, both the conveyor belt 6c and the conveyor belt 6d temporarily stop. Next, after a predetermined time (for example, 1 or 2 seconds), the driving motor or the driving mechanism 9 of the transport belt 6c reverses the transport belt 6c (FIG. 2). When the distance between the rack 5 of the conveyor belt 6d and the rack 5 on the previous conveyor belt 6c reaches the intended predetermined distance (L), the conveyor belt 6c is temporarily stopped. During this time, the rack 5 on the conveyor belt 6d is moved in another direction for processing. Then, these two conveyor belts 6c and 6d are driven again as before. When the rack 5 of the conveyor belt 6c is transferred onto the conveyor belt 6d again, and the tip (surface) of the rack 5 touches the sensor 7, the above operations are repeated. The time between the stop of the conveyor belts 6c and 6d and the start of the reverse rotation of the conveyor belt 6c is determined by the distance between the rack 5 and the rack 5 before it.

【0008】[0008]

【実施例】以下、この発明の具体的実施例について図面
を参照しながら説明する。図1はこの発明の検体の自動
搬送装置において或る二つの搬送ベルト、例えば上記し
た図3における搬送ベルト6cから次の搬送ベルト6d
へ検体入り試験管4を収容したラック5を移し替える状
態を示す。搬送ベルト6cにより搬送されてきたラック
5は次の搬送ベルト6dに移し替えられるが、該搬送ベ
ルト6dの端部にはセンサ7が配置されている。このセ
ンサ7はラック5が搬送ベルト6cから該搬送ベルト6
dに移し替えられ、最終端に来たとき該ラック5の端部
(面)が触れる位置に設置してある。該センサ7はラッ
ク5の端部が触れたとき(ラック5を感知したとき)搬
送ベルト6c及び6dを駆動するモ−タ若しくは駆動機
構9及び10を制御する演算処理装置(CPU)8に接
続してある。図ではセンサ7は接触形のセンサとしてあ
るが、光電センサ等の他の光センサであっても良い。
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an automatic sample transport apparatus according to the present invention in which two transport belts, for example, the transport belt 6c shown in FIG.
The state in which the rack 5 accommodating the test tube 4 containing the sample is transferred is shown. The rack 5 transported by the transport belt 6c is transferred to the next transport belt 6d, and a sensor 7 is arranged at an end of the transport belt 6d. The sensor 7 detects that the rack 5 has moved from the conveyor belt 6c to the conveyor belt 6c.
The rack 5 is placed at a position where the end (surface) of the rack 5 touches when reaching the final end. The sensor 7 is connected to a motor for driving the conveyor belts 6c and 6d or an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 8 for controlling driving mechanisms 9 and 10 when the end of the rack 5 is touched (when the rack 5 is detected). I have. In the figure, the sensor 7 is a contact type sensor, but may be another optical sensor such as a photoelectric sensor.

【0009】前記搬送ベルト6dに移されたラック5の
先端部(面)がセンサ7に触れると搬送ベルト6c及び
6dは一旦停止すると共に、前の搬送ベルト6cを駆動
するモ−タ或いは駆動機構9は該搬送ベルト6cを逆転
させる。即ち、図1において、搬送ベルト6d上ではラ
ック5が移動中であり、搬送ベルト上では別のラック
5、5等が移動中である。そしてラック5と前のラック
5との距離を引き離す必要が生じたとする。前記センサ
7は搬送ベルト6c及び6dを駆動するモ−タ或いは駆
動機構9及び10を制御するCPU8に接続されている
が、この場合、次のように動作させる。 (1)搬送ベルト6cから移送されてきたラック5が搬
送ベルト6dに移し替えられ先端部(面)がセンサ7に
触れると搬送ベルト6cと搬送ベルト6dは共に一旦停
止する。 (2)次に、所定時間(例えば1又は2秒)後搬送ベル
ト6cの駆動用モ−タ或いは駆動機構9は該搬送ベルト
6cを逆転させる(図2)。 (3)搬送ベルト6dのラック5と前の搬送ベルト6c
上のラック5との距離が意図する所定距離(L)となっ
たら該搬送ベルト6cを一旦停止させる。この間に搬送
ベルト6d上のラック5は別の方向へ移動させ或いは処
理する。そしてこれら二つの搬送ベルト6c及び6dは
再び元の通り駆動させる。 (4)再び搬送ベルト6cのラック5が前記搬送ベルト
6dの上に移送され、該ラック5の先端部(面)がセン
サ7に触れると上記(1)乃至(3)の動作を繰り返
す。 以上のような動作において、搬送ベルト6c及び6dの
停止と搬送ベルト6cの逆転開始までの時間はラック5
とラック5とをどの程度の距離引き離す必要があるかに
よって決めればよい。
When the leading end (surface) of the rack 5 transferred to the conveyor belt 6d touches the sensor 7, the conveyor belts 6c and 6d temporarily stop and a motor or a driving mechanism for driving the previous conveyor belt 6c. 9 reverses the conveyor belt 6c. That is, in FIG. 1, the rack 5 is moving on the transport belt 6d, and another rack 5, 5, etc. is moving on the transport belt. Then, it is assumed that the distance between the rack 5 and the previous rack 5 needs to be increased. The sensor 7 is connected to a motor for driving the conveyor belts 6c and 6d or a CPU 8 for controlling the driving mechanisms 9 and 10. In this case, the sensor 7 is operated as follows. (1) When the rack 5 transferred from the transport belt 6c is transferred to the transport belt 6d and the tip (surface) touches the sensor 7, both the transport belt 6c and the transport belt 6d temporarily stop. (2) Next, after a predetermined time (for example, 1 or 2 seconds), the driving motor or the driving mechanism 9 of the transport belt 6c reverses the transport belt 6c (FIG. 2). (3) Rack 5 of transport belt 6d and previous transport belt 6c
When the distance from the upper rack 5 reaches the intended predetermined distance (L), the transport belt 6c is temporarily stopped. During this time, the rack 5 on the transport belt 6d is moved or processed in another direction. Then, these two conveyor belts 6c and 6d are driven again as before. (4) The rack 5 of the conveyor belt 6c is transferred onto the conveyor belt 6d again, and when the tip (surface) of the rack 5 touches the sensor 7, the above operations (1) to (3) are repeated. In the above operation, the time between the stop of the conveyor belts 6c and 6d and the start of the reverse rotation of the conveyor belt 6c is determined by the rack 5
The distance may be determined depending on how much distance it is necessary to separate the rack 5 from the rack 5.

【0010】尚、上記実施例において搬送ベルト6c及
び6dが停止し、更に搬送ベルト6cは逆転させたが、
該搬送ベルト6cとその前の搬送ベルト(図示せず)も
該搬送ベルト6cと同じ動作を行うようにしても良い。
また、搬送ベルトが多数配置されている場合、必要に応
じて任意の連続する二つの搬送ベルトの組を上記動作を
行うようにしても良い。
In the above embodiment, the transport belts 6c and 6d are stopped, and the transport belt 6c is further rotated.
The transport belt 6c and the preceding transport belt (not shown) may perform the same operation as the transport belt 6c.
Further, when a large number of transport belts are arranged, the above-described operation may be performed on a set of any two continuous transport belts as necessary.

【0011】[0011]

【発明の効果】以上詳述したようにこの発明の検体の自
動搬送装置によれば、ある搬送コンベヤから次の搬送コ
ンベヤに移送させる際の移動をスム−ズに行い、且つ連
続して搬送されるラックを一つずつ適正な距離に保持し
て搬送ベルト上のラックを処理することができる。ま
た、搬送装置全体もコンパクトにまとめることができ
る。
As described above in detail, according to the automatic sample transport apparatus of the present invention, the transfer when transferring from one transport conveyor to the next transport conveyor is performed smoothly and the sample is continuously transported. The racks on the conveyor belt can be processed while holding the racks one by one at an appropriate distance. In addition, the entire transport device can be compactly assembled.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of the drawings]

【図1】この発明の検体の自動搬送装置において、或る
搬送ベルトから次の搬送ベルトへ検体入りラックを移送
する状態を示す図である。
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a sample-containing rack is transferred from a certain transport belt to the next transport belt in the automatic sample transport apparatus of the present invention.

【図2】この発明の検体の自動搬送装置において、隣り
合う二つの搬送ベルトが共に一旦停止した後前の搬送ベ
ルトを逆転させ二つのラックの距離を伸ばした状態を示
す図である。
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the distance between two racks is increased by reversing the previous transport belt after the two adjacent transport belts have once stopped in the automatic sample transport apparatus of the present invention.

【図3】検体入りラックを搬送し、処理する生化学分析
装置の配置例を示す図である。
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a biochemical analyzer for transporting and processing a sample-containing rack.

【図4】従来の自動搬送装置において、或る搬送ベルト
から次の搬送ベルトへ検体入りラックを移送する場合ラ
ックとその前のラックとの間隔を広げる手法を示す図で
ある。
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method of increasing the distance between a rack and a rack in front of the rack when a sample-containing rack is transferred from one transport belt to the next transport belt in the conventional automatic transport apparatus.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

4 試験管 5 ラック 6c、6d 搬送ベルト 7 センサ 8 CPU 9、10 駆動機構 4 Test tube 5 Rack 6c, 6d Conveyor belt 7 Sensor 8 CPU 9, 10 Drive mechanism

Claims (1)

(57)【特許請求の範囲】(57) [Claims] 【請求項1】 検体入りラックを複数の搬送ベルトを用
いて所定の処理工程へ搬送する検体の自動搬送装置にお
いて、 前記搬送ベルトのうちある搬送ベルト上に、搬送される
ラックを感知したとき該搬送ベルトと該搬送ベルトの前
の搬送ベルトとを同時に停止させ所定時間停止後該搬送
ベルトの前の搬送ベルトを逆転駆動させ且つ所定時間の
逆転駆動後これら二つの搬送ベルトを元の方向に駆動さ
せる手段に接続したセンサを設置したことを特徴とする
検体の自動搬送装置。
1. An automatic sample transport apparatus for transporting a sample-containing rack to a predetermined processing step using a plurality of transport belts, wherein when a rack to be transported is detected on a transport belt among the transport belts, The transport belt and the transport belt in front of the transport belt are simultaneously stopped, and after stopping for a predetermined time, the transport belt in front of the transport belt is driven in reverse direction, and after the reverse drive for a predetermined time, these two transport belts are driven in the original direction. An automatic sample transport device, comprising a sensor connected to a means for causing the sample to be transported.
JP7174083A 1995-06-16 1995-06-16 Automatic sample transporter Expired - Fee Related JP3056670B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP7174083A JP3056670B2 (en) 1995-06-16 1995-06-16 Automatic sample transporter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP7174083A JP3056670B2 (en) 1995-06-16 1995-06-16 Automatic sample transporter

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH095333A JPH095333A (en) 1997-01-10
JP3056670B2 true JP3056670B2 (en) 2000-06-26

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JP7174083A Expired - Fee Related JP3056670B2 (en) 1995-06-16 1995-06-16 Automatic sample transporter

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Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3410018B2 (en) * 1998-04-20 2003-05-26 株式会社日立製作所 Sample dispensing device and sample processing system
JP5198096B2 (en) * 2008-03-07 2013-05-15 シスメックス株式会社 Analysis equipment
JP5192263B2 (en) * 2008-03-07 2013-05-08 シスメックス株式会社 Analytical apparatus and sample transport method
JP5198095B2 (en) * 2008-03-07 2013-05-15 シスメックス株式会社 Analysis apparatus and analysis method
JP5198094B2 (en) * 2008-03-07 2013-05-15 シスメックス株式会社 Analysis equipment
JP5373561B2 (en) * 2008-11-17 2013-12-18 シスメックス株式会社 Conveying device and sample analyzer using the same
JP5373560B2 (en) * 2008-11-17 2013-12-18 シスメックス株式会社 Conveying device and sample analyzer using the same
JP5520363B2 (en) * 2012-12-14 2014-06-11 シスメックス株式会社 Sample transport device
JP5945573B2 (en) * 2014-09-12 2016-07-05 シスメックス株式会社 Analysis apparatus and analysis method

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Publication number Publication date
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