JP3075545B2 - Sample transfer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample transfer device for an analytical instrument, and more particularly to a sample transfer device for performing a weighing operation or a dispensing operation with a vertically long transfer part such as a suction / discharge nozzle or a syringe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a sample transfer apparatus which is a part of an automatic analyzer or a pre-processing section of an automatic analyzer and transfers samples, reagents, etc., it is important to prevent contamination of the apparatus by these samples and reagents. Even if a trace amount of a sample or a reagent is scattered during the transfer, and enters the reaction tube in the apparatus or a test tube containing another sample and becomes contaminated, an incorrect analysis result is output. Also, it attaches to the device and infects the operator with disease,
It can also be a source of serious biohazards. Conventionally, as a countermeasure against this, a structure in which a gabber or shutter is provided in a reaction tube or test tube in which samples not to be analyzed must not be mixed,
There is a structure in which a sample suction / discharge nozzle moves away from the reaction tube or the test tube, and a structure in which a tray is provided on the entire lower side of the movement path of the suction / discharge nozzle.

[0005] As one of the measures for preventing contamination by such specimens and reagents, there is a structure shown in FIG. 10 is an L-shaped transfer plate, 20 is a suction and discharge nozzle, 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a nozzle holding arm which holds the upper end of the suction / discharge nozzle 20 at one end and the other end is engaged with the transfer plate 10 so as to be vertically transferable, and 40 is a nozzle with which the transfer plate 10 is slidably engaged. Is a horizontal transfer unit, 50 is a vertical transfer unit that transfers the nozzle holding arm 30 in the vertical direction, 60 is a pan, 70 is a pan holding arm holding the pan 60 at one end, and 80 is a lower end of the transfer plate 10 A tray holding arm drive unit 90 disposed on the protruding surface and connected to the other end of the tray holding arm 70 is a connection pipe connected to the upper end of the suction / discharge nozzle 20.

[0004] In the state shown in the figure, a cell and a test tube are arranged directly below a tray 60. This structure is operable so that the tray 60 is located directly below the suction / discharge nozzle 20. When performing a suction / discharge operation using the suction / discharge nozzle 20, the tray holding arm driving unit 80 appropriately rotates the tray holding arm 70 in the direction of the arrow to prevent the suction / discharge nozzle 20 from moving in the vertical direction. The tray 60 is moved to a position that does not exist. At the time of transferring the sample, the tray 60 is returned so as to be located immediately below the suction / discharge nozzle 20, and then a required transfer operation such as a horizontal transfer is performed. During this sample transfer, if even a small amount of the sample scatters from the suction / discharge nozzle 20, the tray 60 captures the sample.

[0005]

However, these conventional pollution control structures have complicated mechanisms and component shapes, and have a problem in cost. That is, the conventional pollution prevention structure has the following problems. For those without a saucer, a structure in which a sample that is not to be analyzed must not enter or enter with a shutter that has a drive unit is adopted, and a structure in which the suction / ejection nozzle moves over other samples while avoiding them is adopted. However, a driving unit and an extra operation are required.
Some trays require a drive to move the tray. As a result, the number of parts, the weight, and the manufacturing cost of the sample transfer device were increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small hole through which a suction / discharge nozzle can be inserted, so that a mechanism for moving the tray is not required. It is to reduce the number of parts, weight, and manufacturing cost.

[0007]

A sample transfer apparatus according to the present invention comprises an automatic analyzer or a part of a pre-processing section of the automatic analyzer, and has a vertically long transfer for performing a sampling operation or a dispensing operation. Means for capturing a sample scattered from the transfer means, and a hole through which the transfer means can be partially inserted is formed in the member.

[0008]

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Spattering of a scattered sample such as a specimen or a reagent occurs due to vibration of the suction / discharge nozzle 20 when it is moved or stopped. However, as shown in FIG. 5, since the suction / ejection nozzle 20 is long in the vertical and vertical directions, it vibrates in the horizontal direction and does not vibrate in the vertical and vertical directions.
Therefore, the force acting on the scattered sample is dominant in the horizontal direction, and the velocity component also protrudes in the horizontal direction. As a result, the sample scattered from the suction / discharge nozzle 20 does not fall directly below the suction / discharge nozzle 20. Therefore, even if a small hole is formed in the tray 60 having an appropriate inner diameter located below the suction / discharge nozzle 20, there is no problem. That is, a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the suction / discharge nozzle 20 was formed at a position directly below the suction / discharge nozzle 20 and at the center of the tray 60. With such a structure,
The pan driving unit 80 for rotating the pan 60 is unnecessary. The suction and discharge nozzle 2 is inserted into the hole formed in the pan 60.
By inserting 0 and performing a weighing operation or a dispensing operation at a predetermined position,
The dispensing or dispensing operation of the suction / discharge nozzle 20 is not hindered.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial detailed view of FIG. 1 is a transfer plate, 2 is a suction / discharge nozzle, 3 is a nozzle holding arm which holds the upper end of the suction / discharge nozzle 2 at one end, and the other end of which is engaged with the transfer plate 1 so as to be vertically transferable. Is a horizontal transfer portion on which the transfer plate 1 is slidably engaged, 5 is a vertical transfer portion for transferring the nozzle holding arm 3 in the vertical direction, 6 is a tray having an appropriate inner diameter, and 6a is the center of the tray 6. A hole which is slightly larger than the diameter of the suction / discharge nozzle 2 and which is inserted through the lower portion of the suction / discharge nozzle 2, a receiving tray holding arm 7 which holds the receiving tray 6 at one end and which is fixed to the transfer plate 1 at the other end , 9 is a connecting pipe joined to the upper end of the suction / discharge nozzle 2, 10 is a rotatable cell holder in which a plurality of cells 11 are arranged in a circular shape, 12 is a cell holder 10 is a bench that is housing the. The movement mechanisms of the horizontal transfer unit 4 and the vertical transfer unit 5 are not illustrated or described in detail.

Since the apparatus of the present invention is constructed as described above, when the transfer plate 1 is slid along the horizontal transfer section 4, the suction / discharge nozzle 2, the nozzle holding arm 3, the tray 6, the tray holding arm 7 are transported together. The suction / discharge nozzle 2 is mounted on the cell holder 10
, The vertical transfer unit 5 operates, and the nozzle holding arm 3 and the suction / ejection nozzle 2 held by the nozzle holding arm 3 start to descend. The suction / discharge nozzle 2 inserts the hole 6a of the tray 6 to weigh a sample from the predetermined cell or dispense the sample to the predetermined cell. As described above, it is not necessary to move the tray 6 from directly below the suction / discharge nozzle 2, and the tray holding arm drive unit shown in FIG. 5 is unnecessary.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 2 is a suction and discharge nozzle, 3 is a nozzle holding arm, 6 is a vertically long tray, 6a is a hole formed in a projection at the center bottom of the tray 6 and the lower part of the suction and discharge nozzle 2 is inserted, 7 is a tray holding arm, 9 is The connection pipe is connected to the upper end of the suction / discharge nozzle 2. In the present embodiment, the pan 6 is vertically long, and the hole 6a is drilled at a position slightly higher than the bottom of the pan 6, so that the scattered sample is more reliably captured by the pan 6, and the collected sample is There is no leakage from the hole 6a.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Reference numeral 6 denotes a tray, 6a is a hole formed in the center bottom of the tray 6, and a lower portion of the suction / discharge nozzle is inserted therethrough. There are a plurality of leaf springs disposed on the upper surface of the arm 7. In the third embodiment, the tray insertion portion 6b
Is sandwiched between the leaf springs 7a, and the tray 6 is detachable. The tray 6 including the tray holding portion 6b is separated from the tray holding arm 7, and is suitable for periodic cleaning. Alternatively, the tray 6 including the tray sandwiching portion 6b may be used as a consumable part, and may be replaced periodically. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the suction and discharge nozzle is used as the vertically long transfer component for performing the dispensing operation and the dispensing operation has been described. However, a syringe may be used as described at the beginning.

[0013]

As described above, the sample transfer apparatus according to the present invention has a simpler mechanism, more reasonable operation of moving parts, and has an appropriate hole formed in comparison with the conventional sample transfer apparatus of the same shape. The contamination in the sample transfer device can be prevented by using only the receiving tray. Therefore, a driving unit for moving the tray is not required, and the number of parts, the weight of the apparatus, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial detailed view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a second embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a third embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transfer plate 2 Suction discharge nozzle 3 Nozzle holding arm 4 Horizontal transfer part 5 Vertical transfer part 6 Receiving tray 6a hole 7 Receiving tray holding arm 9 Connection pipe 10 Cell holder 11 Cell 12 Bench

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic analyzer or a part of a pre-processing section of the automatic analyzer, comprising a vertically long transfer means for performing a weighing operation or a dispensing operation, and scatters from the transfer means. A sample transfer device, wherein a member for capturing a sample is provided, and a hole through which the transfer means can be partially inserted is formed in the member.