JP3373817B2 - Sorting system and sorting method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting system and a sorting method, and more particularly to sorting, inspecting, analyzing, measuring a container containing an object such as a sample to be sorted.
In order to carry out processing such as testing, reaction or production, the items are sorted and collected at the sorting destination for each item, transported to an inspection room, etc.
The present invention relates to a sorting system and a sorting method for performing processing such as inspection, analysis, measurement, test, reaction or production. In recent years, in all fields such as engineering field, medical field, agricultural field, science field, and pharmaceutical field, processing such as classification, inspection, analysis, measurement, test, reaction, or generation of various items about an object such as a sample In order to carry out the above, a sorting system and a sorting method for sorting the objects automatically and efficiently are desired.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sorting for conducting various tests on specimens has become fine, complicated and diversified, and it is becoming difficult to carry out all sorts manually. For that reason, it was necessary to perform sorting automatically. As such a sorting device, a transport line that carries a large number of containers containing specimens and transports in one direction along a line-shaped path, and the containers placed at appropriate positions around the transport line are loaded. There is a rack to be sorted, and a pickup handling arm that is provided corresponding to the position of each rack and that transfers a container from the transport line to the rack.

[0003]

By the way, since the sorting device according to the conventional example sorts containers to the final sorting position while transporting them along the transport line, the length of the line depends on the sorting destination. It was necessary to have enough length to arrange the racks corresponding to the number. In addition, a pickup handling arm corresponding to the number of each sorting destination is required. Furthermore, since the sorting device according to the conventional example sorts the containers while transporting the containers in one direction along the line, once the sorting destination is passed, the sorting device has a structure in which it cannot return. It was necessary to adopt a configuration that did not proceed until the processing was completely completed at the position.

Therefore, if the sorting is concentrated at one place, the line may be stagnated at that place, and the waiting time may be increased, which may greatly affect the processing capacity. Furthermore, once an accident such as a failure occurs, the subsequent processing becomes impossible, the whole operation stops, and there is a problem that reliability is lacking.

Further, depending on the processing situation, the processing time is not constant but changes, so that the time of the processing plan cannot be determined and there is a problem that automation control is difficult. In addition, the total processing time is the sum of the processing times at each sorting position, and the processing capacity has a problem of accelerating decrease as the sorting amount increases.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a continuous and consistent process, complete processing that cannot be prevented, and transport management in consideration of the timing of taking in and out of the line, which requires very complicated software and hardware. Had.

Further, in the conventional sorting apparatus, when the sorting destinations are various, it is necessary to arrange a large number of racks and pickup handling arms to be the final sorting destinations on the transfer line, so that the scale of the apparatus is increased. There is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the device increases and a large space is required.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and the first purpose thereof is to simplify the structure and control as a whole and to save the labor and cost for manufacturing and use. It is to provide a sorting system and a sorting method that are easy to use and can be operated efficiently.

The second purpose is to provide a sorting system and a sorting method which are predictable in time, easy to control, and easy to handle, since each sorting work is not mutually influenced by the amount and working time of other sorting works. Is to provide.

The third purpose is to, in the event that an accident such as a failure should occur, minimize the effect of the accident and immediately deal with the accident, and ensure that the work is carried out. It is to provide a reliable sorting system and sorting method that can be performed.

A fourth object is to provide a sorting system and a sorting method having flexibility, expandability and versatility, which can easily change the number of sorting destinations without changing the basic structure. It is to be.

A fifth object is to provide a versatile sorting system and sorting method capable of sorting objects such as specimens in various ways and enabling various treatments. .

A sixth object is to provide a sorting system and a sorting method capable of automating the processing of the object such as the sample as much as possible.

A seventh object is to handle a large number of small quantities of various objects such as specimens in a stable and integrated manner by handling a large number of small capacity containers. An object of the present invention is to provide a sorting system and a sorting method which are highly reliable and can reduce the device scale and the work space.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The first invention is to mount a large number of containers that contain objects such as specimens to be sorted and are provided with object information about the objects and assortment information about assortments. Then, a transporting device for transporting along a predetermined path, a container information detecting device for detecting sorting information of each container and a mounting position on the transporting device, and a container information detecting device arranged around the transporting device. Based on the detection result,
When a container is loaded from the transfer device and the container is used as a 0th container, sequentially storing a predetermined number of low-order containers in a high-order container is repeated once or more from the low order to the high order. The container is the nth container (n ≧ 1 natural number)
And one or more sorting stages for accommodating the containers to any of a plurality of sorting positions, and an nth-order container for accommodating the 0th-order containers and transferring to the sorting positions. Information for associating with each 0th container, and 0th
A position information attaching device that attaches position information including information indicating the storage position of the next container in the nth container to at least the 0th container, and at least the container information of each container based on the detection result and instruction of the container information detecting device. And a control device for controlling sorting.

Here, the "object information" is information related to the object, such as date related to the object, material (serum, urine, etc.), necessity of dispensing, and identification number related to the object. Etc. is included. "Assortment destination information" indicates a group in which the container is to be sorted or classified.
The groups are classified according to differences in inspection room, inspection group, inspection item, and the like. "(Target information and assortment information) is attached" and "(Position information is attached to each container)" are, for example, a label such as a piece of paper or film on which the information is displayed is attached to the container. In some cases, or directly on the container. The sorting information also includes sorting position, sorting time, and information regarding the container to be stored.

The meaning of attaching the position information to each container by the "position information attaching device" is, for example, that a container requiring re-inspection or sampling can be once taken out, and its position can be accurately returned again, which is rational. This is to improve reliability. Between each container and higher-order containers such as the primary container,
Correspondence is not established in advance, and which higher-order container each container is to be accommodated in is as random as where the container is placed on the carrier. To that end, the user
Since it is not necessary to know in advance the identification information of the primary container or the secondary container in which the container is to be placed and where the container is placed, the processing is greatly simplified and easy to handle. The position information attaching device may attach not only the position information but also the target information to the container. In addition, it is appropriate that the position information or the target information is represented by characters, numbers, or the like. Also,
Since the position information is “at least attached to the 0th container”, it may be attached to other than the 0th container.

The "predetermined number" of low-order containers that can be loaded or accommodated in each next container is appropriately the same number as long as they are in the same layer (order), but between different layers (order). , “Predetermined number” need not be the same. It should be noted that the (n + 1) th order container, which is a higher order container, may be placed at the sorting position and a predetermined number of nth order containers may be accommodated therein. The "positional information" may include a sorting destination position where the nth container is placed or transferred.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the containers are hierarchically housed in the higher order containers for handling such as transfer and storage, the stability and the accumulating property are high, and the processing is performed neatly. It can be sorted in an easy state.

According to the present invention, the work such as carrying for the final fine sorting is carried out on the work stage, and the work up to that is carried out by carrying the container along the carrying path of the carrying device. In this way, the container sorting work is structurally separated. Therefore, for the work of fine sorting, do not perform on the transport route, but only within the sorting stage, and by increasing the number of sorting destinations within each sorting stage without extending the route, It is possible to easily increase the number of sorting destinations.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the position information attaching device includes position information including identification information of the nth container to which identification information is added as information for associating with the nth container. And position information attaching means for attaching the position information including the detected identification information to each zeroth container.

The position information detecting means may detect the position of the 0th container in the nth container,
Further, the position information attaching means may attach codes representing the sequential arrangement according to the arrangement in which the 0th container is actually accommodated in the nth container.

In a third invention according to the above inventions, the position information attaching device is provided with identification information indicating that each zeroth order container is contained as information for associating with the nth order container. Position information detecting means for detecting position information including identification information from the primary container to the n-th container to which identification information is attached, and the position information including the detected identification information is attached to the 0th container. And a position information attaching means.

The position information detecting means may detect the accommodating position of the low-order container in the high-order container, and the low-order container may be detected according to the arrangement in which the low-order container is actually accommodated in the high-order container. The position information attaching means may attach codes representing the sequential arrangement to the 0th container.

In a fourth invention according to the above inventions, the zeroth container is a tubular container, and the first container is a rack into which the containers can be loaded in a row. The secondary container is a tray on which the transferred primary container can be loaded in rows, and the tray is preliminarily placed at the sorting position, and the position information identifies the rack in which the container is loaded. The information and the loading position of the container in the rack.

The position information may include the identification information of the tray in which the rack is stored, the storage position of the rack in the tray, or the sorting destination position of the tray. According to the invention, the containers will be arranged in a matrix within the tray. Therefore, in the present invention, the primary container is the n-th container.

In a fifth aspect based on each of the above aspects, the transfer device is a closed path transfer device which transfers along a closed path.

Here, it is preferable that the "closed path conveying device", for example, conveys the closed path once around the closed path. It is preferable that the cycle can be designated by the operator. The closed path transport device may be, for example, an annularly formed turntable or a closed path having a straight transport path.

According to the present invention, due to the use of the closed transfer device, the information on the container cannot be read, a mechanical failure occurs when the container is carried into the sorting stage, and a sorting destination other than the designated sorting destination is used. Even if there is a problem that sorting processing is not performed due to cases such as being out of scope, the loaded container will always return to the original position, so it is possible to continue processing quickly without stopping the system. it can.

According to the sixth invention, in each of the above inventions, the sorting stage is included in the sorting information in the loading time zone when the loading time zone of the container is designated in the sorting information. If the specified sorting destination is specified according to the time, it is within the sorting time zone according to the sorting destination, or if there is an instruction from the control device, the designated time The carrying-in of the container from the carrying device is executed in the belt.

According to the present invention, the container is not carried into the sorting stage until there is a carry-in time zone, a sorting time zone, or an instruction, so that the container remains in the transport device. When the transport device has a closed transport path, the container is not taken out of the transport device and is kept waiting while being transported. "The assortment is specified according to time" means, for example, separately based on a table (table) of the assortment stored in the memory and the corresponding assortment time zone, or an arithmetic expression. The container is carried into the sorting stage during the sorting time. In the case of the present invention, the sorting destination can be determined according to the time zone, so that the containers can be sorted into a larger number of sorting destinations.

In a seventh invention according to each of the above inventions, a large number of holder holes are provided on the transfer surface of the transfer device, and the container is loaded in the holder holes to place the container on the transfer device. It was done.

In an eighth invention according to each of the above inventions, the target information and the assortment information are displayed on a label portion affixed to the container, and the label portion also displays the position information. It has a space and a handwriting space.

The assortment information is information displayed by a bar code or the like that can be read by the container information detecting device, and the position information attached to the container by the position information attaching device is displayed by characters or symbols. Those are preferable. It is appropriate to display the target information in characters or symbols including barcodes or numbers.

According to the present invention, tracking of an object such as a sample becomes easy and reliable. Alternatively, the label portion may be provided with a detachable detachable portion, and the detachable portion may display any one of the above information or other information. The container and the document can be associated with each other by removing the detaching part in advance and sticking the detachable part to the document concerning the object contained in the container.

In a ninth invention according to each of the above inventions, the sorting stage movably mounts the rack capable of loading a predetermined number of containers at a standby position set for each sorting destination. A standby unit that waits for a container loaded from the transfer device until a predetermined number of containers are loaded in the rack, and a container load that transfers a container mounted on the transfer device to the rack at a corresponding standby position Device,
When a predetermined number of containers are loaded in the rack waiting in the standby unit, a batch transport unit that collectively transports the rack to the sorting position and a case where the rack is unloaded from the standby unit An empty rack supply unit for supplying a new empty rack to the standby unit for each sorting destination.

According to the present invention, rather than sorting the containers by directly transferring them to the sorting position, the containers are temporarily made to stand by at a standby position different from the sorting position, and then they are collectively the destination. The operation is disassembled so that it can be transferred to a sorting party.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, in each of the above-described aspects, a tray capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks is stacked in a plurality of stages for each sorting destination at the sorting destination position, and is equivalent to a tertiary container. A tray accumulating shelf is provided, and the batch transfer unit has an elevating and moving mechanism that moves up and down the rack.

With this, the trays can be stacked and stacked in multiple stages, so that the accumulation amount can be increased and a large amount of specimens and the like can be sorted.

In the eleventh aspect of the invention, in the respective aspects of the invention, the transporting device intermittently transports along a path for each container group including a predetermined number of containers at a designated time interval.

In the twelfth invention, in each of the above inventions, independent of each container belonging to the container group mounted on the transport device or with respect to the container group placed outside the transport surface of the transport device. It is provided with a container group independent dispenser capable of dispensing by doing so.

Here, the "container group independent dispenser" is provided with a plurality of nozzles corresponding to the number of containers belonging to the container group, and an elevating mechanism capable of independently elevating and lowering each nozzle, and each nozzle. On the other hand, the dispenser has a suction and discharge control mechanism capable of independently controlling suction and discharge. As a result, even if the amount of the target object such as the sample stored in each container varies, the liquid level of each target object is detected by the pressure sensor or the optical sensor, and suction and discharge are performed at the position corresponding to each amount. can do.

In the thirteenth invention, in each of the above inventions, the parent object housed in a container mounted on the carrier or a container placed outside the carrier is provided around the carrier. A sub-object container accommodating stage is provided for aspirating and transferring at a predetermined rate by the container group independent pipetting machine and discharging and accommodating the sub-object into a container to which sub-object information about the sub-object is attached.

In the fourteenth invention, in each of the above inventions, the container group of the transfer device is a container row in which the predetermined number of containers are arranged along a width direction orthogonal to a transfer direction along the transfer path. The container moving device selects a container to be sorted by the sorting stage from the container row that has been transported to each unloadable position by the transport device, and transfers the container in the width direction at the unloadable position. The container is loaded into a rack corresponding to the sorting destination of the standby unit, and the standby unit independently loads one container for each sorting destination along the transport direction at the unloadable position. It has an independent transfer device that can transfer, and every time one container is loaded into the rack, the rack is advanced one by one so that the end of each container queue for each sorting destination is aligned. West It is intended.

In the fifteenth invention, in each of the above inventions, the control device includes a residual container remaining on the transport device without passing through all the unloadable positions of the sorting stage and being carried into the sorting stage. Having information erasing means for erasing the information detected by the container information detecting device when passing through a predetermined information erasing line, and residual container information displaying means for displaying residual container information regarding the residual container Is.

The sixteenth aspect of the invention is to install a large number of containers, each containing a target object such as a sample to be sorted, to which target information regarding the target object and sorting destination information regarding the sorting destination are attached, and which is mounted on a predetermined route. Based on the detection result of the carrying step of carrying along the carrying step, the sorting destination information of each of the containers and the mounting position on the carrying path, and the result of the detection, it is arranged around the carrying path. When a container is loaded into any one or two or more sorting stages and the container is used as a 0th container, a predetermined number of low-order containers are stored in a high-order container to which identification information is attached. A sorting step in which the container is stored in the n-th container (n is a natural number of n ≧ 1) and transferred to any of a plurality of sorting destination positions by repeating one or more times from the low order to the high order. , Its 0th container is housed The n-th container and information associating between the 0th-order container is transferred to a sorting destination position, and a 0
And a position information attaching step of attaching position information including information indicating a storage position of the next container in the nth container to at least the 0th container. Here, the position information may include a sorting destination position occupied by the n-th container.

In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention based on the above aspect, the position information attaching step includes a position information detecting step of detecting the position information including the identification information of the nth container to which the identification information is attached, And a position information attaching step of attaching the above-mentioned position information to each zeroth container.

The eighteenth invention is the above invention, wherein in the position information attaching step, the identification information is attached from the primary container to which the identification information in which each zeroth container is accommodated is attached. a position information detecting step of detecting position information including each identification information up to the n-th container, and a position information attaching step of attaching the position information detected by the position information detecting step to the 0th container There is something.

In the nineteenth invention according to the nineteenth invention, in the sorting step, the primary container is a rack in which the containers can be loaded in a row, and the secondary container is the primary container. Is a tray that can be loaded in rows, containers are loaded in a matrix by the trays, and the trays are placed in advance in the sorting position, and the position in the position information detecting step and the position information attaching step is The information is the identification information of the rack in which the container is loaded, the storage position of the rack in the tray, or the sorting position of the tray.

In a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in each of the above aspects, the predetermined route in the carrying step is a closed route.

The twenty-first invention is based on each of the above inventions.
In the sorting process, when the container loading time zone is specified in the sorting party information, the sorting party included in the sorting party information is designated according to the time in the loading time zone. In this case, the container may be loaded from the carrier within the sorting time zone according to the sorting destination, or within the designated time zone when there is an instruction from the control device. is there.

The twenty-second invention is based on each of the above inventions.
The sorting step includes a loading step of loading the containers mounted on the path to a rack movably mounted at a standby position corresponding to each sorting destination, and a predetermined number of the containers are loaded in the rack. Until a specified number of containers are loaded into the rack, and a batch transfer process that transfers the racks to the sorting position in a batch, and the rack waits It has an empty rack supplying step of supplying a new empty rack when it is carried out from the position.

The twenty-third invention is based on each of the above inventions.
In the batch transfer step, the racks are moved up and down with respect to a tray storage shelf as a tertiary container in which trays capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks at the sorting position are stacked and stacked in a plurality of stages for each sorting destination. It is moved and stored in the corresponding tray.

The twenty-fourth invention is, in each of the above inventions,
The carrying step is performed for each container group having a predetermined number of containers,
It is carried along the route intermittently at a pitch of a designated time interval.

The twenty-fifth invention is, in each of the above inventions,
The container group independent dispensing step of independently dispensing each container belonging to the container group is provided.

The twenty-sixth invention is based on each of the above inventions,
In the independent dispensing step, the parent object contained in the container to be conveyed is sucked and transferred at a predetermined ratio, and is discharged into the container to which the child object information regarding the child object is attached to accommodate the child object container. It has a housing step. The container in which the child object is stored in this manner is handled in the same manner as the container in which the parent object is stored.

The twenty-seventh invention is, in each of the above inventions,
The container group in the carrying step is a container row in which the predetermined number of containers are arranged along the width direction orthogonal to the carrying direction along the path, and the carrying-in step is carried out to a carry-out position in the carrying step. It is a step of selecting a required container from the conveyed container row, transferring it in the width direction at the unloadable position, and loading the container into a rack corresponding to a sorting destination, and one standby step. Each time each container is loaded into the rack, the rack is independently advanced by one container for each assortment along the transport direction at the unloadable position, so that each rack for each assortment is moved forward. The end of the queue is aligned.

The twenty-eighth invention is, in each of the above inventions,
In the carrying step, the residual container remaining on the carrying without being carried into the sorting stage after passing through all the carry-out positions of the sorting stage is detected in the detecting step at the time of passing the predetermined information erasing line. The method includes an erasing step of erasing information and a display step of displaying residual container information regarding the residual container.

[0059]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sorting system and a sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment does not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a sorting system 10 according to this embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show the sorting stage 13 (14, 15, 1).
It is a top view showing 6).

As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting system 10 according to the present embodiment accommodates a liquid sample or the like which is an object to be sorted, and provides target information (sample information) about the object such as the sample. ) A large number of tube-shaped containers 1 to which a label part having letters such as numbers is attached
It has a turntable 12 as a closed path transfer device that carries 1 (0th order container) and transfers it along a closed loop path at a predetermined cycle. The label portion of each container 11 is further provided with assortment destination information regarding the assortment destination of the container 11 in the form of a machine-readable code such as a barcode.

The target information includes, for example, the container 11
Includes a sample ID, which is identification information for identifying the sample stored in, the collection date, materials (serum, urine, etc.), and the like. Also,
The assortment information is processing information for designating assortment classification, and includes, for example, a single classification (designation of a sorting stage and a group representing a sorting destination in the sorting stage), division classification (stored in the container. Sample is divided into a predetermined number, and each divided sample should be single-classified), dispensing amount (amount of sample to be discharged into the container or each aspirating amount when dividing and classifying), and dispensing Number (number of divisions of division classification)
Is.

Here, as the "sorting destination", for example, samples are sorted into a radioisotope diagnostic group, a gene diagnostic group, a cell diagnostic group, and different groups in biochemical laboratories. Is. The assortment information further includes the container 11 if necessary.
It is also possible to include in the sorting destination information the carrying-in time zone in which the objects accommodated in (1) to (3) should be carried into the sorting stage from the turntable 12. In this case, it may be a sorting destination that does not currently exist in the sorting stage. The control device gives an instruction to carry into the sorting stage according to the carry-in time zone. Also, the sorting time zone corresponding to the sorting destination is not directly included in the sorting destination information but is stored as a table in the memory of the control device, and when the sorting time period according to the sorting destination comes, the control device It may be carried out to the sorting stage, or may be a sorting destination carried out only when instructed by the control device. This allows the number of assortments to be expanded flexibly.

At a specific position above the transport surface of the turntable 12, there are, for example, three container information detecting devices for detecting container information including the sorting information and the mounting position of each container. Bar code readers 17, 18,
19 are provided. Three bar code readers 17,
The reason for providing 18 and 19 is to ensure reading.

The bar code readers 17, 18, and 19 are, for example, above the transport surface of the turntable 12 above.
Supported by rails provided along the radial direction, slidably provided, the bar code display position of each container is sequentially scanned, the processing information of each container 11, its container row and its container. The mounting position of each container belonging to the row is detected.

Around the turntable 12, each of the containers 11 carried in from the turntable 12 is provided.
Four sorting stages 13 and 14, which are sorted into
15 and 16 are arranged. Further, it has a control device 21 having a display device for performing sorting control based on the detection results of the bar code reading units 17, 18 and 19 and instructions from the user, and for displaying the residual content and the like. .

A work table 20 is arranged around the turntable 12 in order to carry in the container 11 containing the parent sample and having the bar coded label portion attached thereto, and the like. There is.

The turntable 12 has a diameter of, for example, about 1 m to 3 m. A large number of holder holes for mounting the tubular container 11 are provided on the transport surface of the turntable 12, and the container 11 is loaded and held in the holder holes. The holder hole is
For example, with a diameter of about 8 mm, the turntable 1
For example, 10 lanes are provided concentrically from the center of rotation of 2. At that time, the container 11 is in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction or the circumferential direction of the turntable 12, that is,
A container row in which 10 containers are arranged is formed along the radial direction or the width direction. In that example, a total of, for example, 30 rows of containers are mounted with a pitch of equal center angles.

The turntable 12 is driven by a motor driven by a power source (not shown) so as to be intermittently rotated for each pitch in one direction, for example. This is because when carrying out processing such as carrying out the container 11 from the turntable 12, it is necessary to stop the turntable 12 for a predetermined time and pick up the container 11 or the like. The stop time after the rotation of one pitch can be freely set, and is, for example, about 15 to 25 seconds. The cycle of the turntable 12 is such that sorting sample quantity / unit time ≧ line introduction sample quantity / unit time, more specifically, for example, sorting about 2,000 specimens is about 1
Set at a pace that will be completed in time.

The four sorting stages 13, 14, 1
5 and 16 sort the containers 11 carried in from the turntable 12 into 10 groups each, and a total of 40 groups are sorted. The four sorting stages 13, 14, 15, 16 are arranged at intervals with respect to the rotation center 22 of the turntable 12 so as to form an angle that is an integral multiple of the pitch. Depending on how the object is finally processed, for example, the sorting stages 13 and 14 accumulate the objects in the sorting place at room temperature, and the sorting stage 15 uses the dispensing stage. The objects that need to be processed are accumulated in the assortment, and the assortment stage 16 accumulates the objects in the assortment in the refrigerated state.

The container 11 placed on the turntable 12 is carried out from the carry-out positions 23, 24, 25, 26 fixed on the transport path of the turntable 12 to the sorting stages 13, 14, 15, 16 respectively. As described above, the sorting stages 13, 14, 15, and 16 are arranged.

Subsequently, based on FIGS. 2 and 3, the sorting stage 13 (same for the sorting stages 14, 15 and 16).
Will be described. The sorting stage 13 includes an empty rack supply unit 30 for supplying an empty rack (primary container) 31 having an elongated box shape, and the container moving device for carrying in the container 11 from the carry-out position 23 on the turntable 12. Independent operation type 10 pick-up device 34 and container 11 carried by the pick-up device 34
A predetermined number for each of 10 types of assortment, in this example, 1
Standby unit 36 that movably mounts zero racks 31 and waits until all containers are loaded in the racks
And each sorting position 43A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
For each of H, I, and J, a tray accumulating shelf 72 accommodating a box-shaped tray 71 (secondary container) accommodating a predetermined number of loading racks 31a loaded with the containers 11 belonging to each sorting destination.
A sorting destination position 43 provided with (third container) and a rack 31a in which 10 containers 11 are loaded in the standby part 36 thereof.
And a batch conveying section 41 for collectively conveying the sheets to the sorting position 43.

Further, the sorting stage 13 includes a discharging section 37 for discharging the rack 31a loaded with the container 11 from the standby section 36 to the batch transfer section 41, and a container for discharging the container 11 when discharging the container 11. 11 has a printing unit 40 which is a position information attaching device for printing the position information.

The empty rack supply section 30 includes an empty rack storage section 30a which stores empty racks 31, an empty rack transfer section 30b which transfers the empty racks 31 from the empty rack storage section 30a, and the empty rack transfer section 30b. A motor 30c for driving the unit 30b and a patrol light 30d for letting a worker know when the empty rack storage unit 30a runs out of empty racks 31 are provided. The Patlight 30d emits green light when the empty rack 31 occupies 70% or more of the total storage space of the empty rack storage unit 30d and yellow light when less than 70%, for example. When there is no rack, the operator is notified by red light and a warning sound to request the empty rack to be replenished. When the sorting destination is changed according to the time zone, the patrol light may be provided with a portion for issuing a signal for notifying the worker of that.

The independent operation type 10 pickup device 3
4 is the unloadable position 2 on the turntable 12.
3, 24, 25 and 26 are used to carry in the container 11 and are provided above the carrying surface of the turntable 12 along the radial direction at the carry-out possible positions 23, 24, 25 and 26. Arm 34c, and a pickup unit 34a that can move along the arm 34c and advance on the transport surface to select and hold the container 11 to pick up the container 11.
And a motor 34b for moving the pickup portion 34a, and an air cylinder 34d (FIG. 3) for the pickup portion 34a to perform a gripping operation. Therefore, the pick-up device 34 can load the container 11 selected from the turntable 12 into each rack 31 of the standby part 36, which is a standby position corresponding to each sorting destination, by simply transferring the container 11 in the radial direction. .

The pick-up unit 3 is provided so as to be independently operable for each of the independent 10-unit pick-up device 34.
4a picks up only the corresponding container 11 depending on whether or not the container 11 placed at the carry-out position of the turntable 12 is the container 11 to be sorted by the sorting stage 13. The independent 10-series pick-up arm 34 has a vertical independent slide drive mechanism, a container holding and handling mechanism (air cylinder), and a downward pressing mechanism at the time of loading into a rack. , The holding handling release mechanism is synchronized with the release, and the downward pressing mechanism is driven to move the container 1 to the rack 31.
1 is to be loaded.

The container 11 picked up by the independent 10-series pick-up device 34 extends along the radial direction of the turntable 12 until it completely traverses the distributor 32.
It moves intermittently for each individual distance. In each of the moving positions, if there is a space below the container 11 picked up by the pickup arm 34 to be loaded with the container 11 in the rack 31 corresponding to the sorting destination to which the container 11 is sorted, The corresponding container 11 is loaded into the rack 31. In this way, the picked-up container 11 is loaded on the rack 31 of the corresponding sorting destination of the sorting stage 13. Note that reference numeral 3
2a is a motor for the distribution unit 32, and 32b is a distribution unit 3
It is a rail for 2.

The standby unit 36 is the empty rack supply unit 30.
It has a distributor 32 for distributing the empty racks 31 supplied from 10 to 10 positions corresponding to the positions of the sorting destinations (10 pieces). The rack 31 is arranged such that the longitudinal direction thereof is parallel to the circumferential direction (or the transport direction or the tangential direction) of the turntable 12 at the unloadable position 23 (24, 25, 26). A rack bar code for identifying the rack 31 is attached to the rack 31 in advance.

Further, the standby unit 36 has the rack 3
It has a slide independent transfer section 33 capable of independently transferring one container by container along the longitudinal direction for each assortment. The slide-independent transfer unit 33 advances the rack 31 one container at a time every time one container 11 is loaded into the rack 31 by the pickup device 34, and forward-packs the containers. Pickup device 3
The rack 31 of the corresponding sorting destination is provided with a mechanism that does not advance unless the container 4 is loaded with the container 11. The mechanism is provided for each sorting destination and can move up and down, can be inserted into a container, is formed in the shape of the container 11 that can be loaded into the rack 31, and has ten pins 33 protruding downward.
a has 10 pins and is connected to the moving portion 33b that advances by the pitch of one container.

The pin 33a is the air cylinder 3 for vertical movement.
It is moved up and down by 3c. The pickup device 34
Thus, the loading section 69 of the rack 31 newly loaded with the containers is advanced so that only the rack loaded with the containers is advanced.
The pin 33a is lowered and inserted into the loading portion 69 (FIG. 5) adjacent to the above and the container is not yet loaded,
By moving the container 31 forward by b, only the rack 31 loaded with the container is advanced by one container. As a result, the tail end of the container queue for each sorting destination, that is, the empty position of each rack 31 into which the container 11 can be loaded is along the radial direction of the unloadable position 23, that is, the lower position of the pickup device 34. Get together. In addition, the standby portion 36 includes a roller 35 that advances the rack 31 and
The rack 3 in which all the containers are loaded by the roller 35
It has a loading completion rack collecting section 39 for collecting 1 pieces.

The discharging section 37 is movable along the arm 37b and the arm 37b, and grips the loading rack 31a gathered in the loading rack gathering section 39 so that the printing section 40 and the batch conveying section 41 can hold it. It has a grip portion 37c (FIG. 3) driven by an air cylinder or the like for discharging up to and a motor 37a for moving the grip portion 37c.

The printing unit 40 has a moving unit 40b for moving the loading rack in its longitudinal direction, a motor 40a for driving the moving unit 40b, and a laser for printing on the side surface of the container 11 by emitting a laser beam. Marker 40c
The position information is printed on the side surface of each container 11 loaded in the rack 31a by moving the rack 31a in the longitudinal direction.
Further, the printing section 40 is provided with a reading section (not shown) as the position information detecting means for reading the identification information of the rack attached to the rack 31a.

After the printing is completed, the discharging section 37
Further, the rack 31 includes a batch transport section 41 for each rack.
Is transferred to the upstream end of. The batch transfer unit 41 is a YZ-axis transfer unit 41 capable of moving the rack 31a in the YZ-axis direction.
It has a and a rail 42 for moving the YZ-axis transport unit 41a along the X-axis direction. The sorting position 43 is a three-dimensional stocker, and each of the 10 sorting positions 43A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J is shown in the Z-axis direction as shown in FIG. A tray storage shelf 72 in which trays 71 are stacked is provided.

The tray 71 can store, for example, five racks. In this case, the batch transfer unit 41 is provided so as to be movable by 5 pitches with respect to one sorting destination position. A tray bar code for identifying the tray may be attached to the tray 71 and the tray 71 may be read and managed by a tray bar code reading unit (not shown).

Further, in the sorting system 10 according to the present embodiment, the suction operation is independently performed above the turntable 12 in the radial direction with respect to each of the 10 containers belonging to the container row. 10 nozzles for discharging the container placed on the sub-sample dispensing stage are provided, and 10 nozzles are provided so as to be movable between the turntable 12 and the sub-sample dispensing stage. An independent dispenser may be provided. The dispenser is used when the sample contained in each container is divided and sorted. A container for containing the sample sucked by the dispenser is placed near the dispenser, and a sub-sample dispensing stage for attaching sub-sample information to the container is also placed. good.

Here, "independent operation type" means that each nozzle of a plurality of nozzles can be independently moved up and down, as well as sucked and ejected. Further, each nozzle is provided with a pressure sensor and an optical sensor for detecting the liquid level of each container. Thereby, even if the liquid level of the object contained in each container is different, it can be processed. In addition, each sorting stage 13, 14, 15, 16
A caster 46 and a leg portion 46 may be provided on the lower side of the lower side so as to be movable.

FIG. 4 shows a container 11 according to this embodiment. The container 11 has a main body 61 having a tapered bottom portion 60, and a cap 62 for covering the opening of the main body 61.
And have. On the side surface of the main body 61 of the container 11,
A label portion 64 with a barcode 63 is attached. The tube holder 65 holding the container 11 has a cylindrical hole 66 formed therein, and the upper portion of the cylindrical hole 66 is formed in a tapered shape. Further, the tube holder 65 is provided with a slit 67 for reading the barcode from the outside.

The label portion may be provided with a space for printing the position information described later. The position information may be printed directly on the container. A space for handwriting such as a patient name may be provided in the label portion. Furthermore, in the label part,
A cuttable part for pasting on documents such as search request forms is provided, and the identification information of the container displayed on the remaining part of the label part and the same information as the above information are attached to that part. The correspondence between the document and the container may be clarified.

FIG. 5 shows an empty rack 31 according to this embodiment. The rack 31 is partitioned by a holder portion 68 into ten loading portions 69 into which the container 11 can be loaded. Since the loading portion 69 is opened in the side surface direction, the side surface of the loaded container 11 can be seen through from the outside of the rack 31, and printing can be performed by applying laser light from the side surface. In addition, the end portion 7 of the end portions 70 a and 70 b in the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion 70 of the rack 31.
By forming 0a in a slightly wedge shape, it is easy to load a rack into a tray or the like.

FIG. 6 shows the tray storage shelf 72 (third container) which is a three-dimensional stocker. The tray storage shelf 7
2, two trays 71 can be stacked in each of 10 rows (corresponding to 10 sorting destinations). Each tray 71 can accommodate five of the racks 31. The tray storage shelf 43 includes casters 74 and legs 73.
The tray storage shelves 72 may be movable by providing the.

Further, on the upper part of the tray accumulating shelf 72, a patrol light 75 for instructing an operator to remove the tray 71 or load a new tray is provided for each of 10 sorting destinations. The patrol light 75 is provided with, for example, a red light 75r, a yellow light 75y, and a green light 75g.
If 70% or more, the green light 75g is turned on, and if less than 70%, the yellow light 75y is turned on to turn on the tray storage shelf 72.
When the tray is full, the red party 75r may be lit and displayed to instruct the removal of the tray and the loading of a new tray. Alternatively, a new tray storage shelf may be supplied.

Further, in the tray 71, for example, it is preferable that the introduction portion into which the rack is introduced is partitioned by partition walls to prevent the rack from falling over. The tray storage shelf 72 may have a cooling function when a sample requiring cooling is used. For the cooling function, for example, a cooling unit and a fan are provided on the ceiling of the tray storage shelf 72, the side surface of the tray storage shelf 72 is formed of a heat insulating material, and the tray take-out portion of the tray storage shelf 72 can be opened and closed. You may make it prevent a heat radiation by attaching a door and closing the door. Since the rack 31 and the tray 71 are not printed, they can be used any number of times. Also, the container 11 can be reused by printing on the label portion.

As a result, a large number of containers can be collected and processed in an orderly manner. Although not shown, the sorting system has an information processing device as a control device 21 for controlling each mechanism of the system. The information processing device is a computer (CPU), memory, C
DROM, MO, floppy (registered trademark) disk, storage device such as hard disk, display device such as CRT, output device such as printer, keyboard, mouse, CDRO
It has an input device such as a driver for M, MO, a floppy disk, etc. for inputting instructions and data by a worker, and a communication device such as a modem. The control device has software necessary for consistently automating processes such as unloading, transporting, reading, dispensing, assembling work, displaying and erasing based on the detected information.

In the control device, the residual container remaining on the transport device without passing through all the unloadable positions of the sorting stage to the sorting stage is stored in the predetermined information erasing line 2
7 (FIG. 1), the barcode reading unit 1
It has information erasing means for erasing the information detected by 7, 18, and 19, and residual container information display means for displaying the residual container information regarding the residual container on the display device.
Further, as described above, when the read sorting destination information includes the loading time zone, the container is loaded from the turntable 12 to the sorting stage within the loading time zone,
Instruct the container moving device. Further, for the assortment destinations included in the read assortment destination information, the corresponding assortment time zones are stored in the memory as a table,
It may be instructed to carry out the container from the turntable 12 in the corresponding sorting time zone. In addition, if the sorting destination included in the read sorting destination information does not currently exist on each sorting stage, an instruction to carry out is issued when an instruction to carry out such as a worker is given to the control device. You may comprise a control apparatus. It should be noted that the memory stores information such as the position of the assortment according to the assortment included in the assortment information. Further, information such as a sorting destination position and a sorting time zone can be input or changed by a worker through the input device.

Next, control of the sorting system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In step S1, the worker collects the container 11 in which an object (liquid) such as a specimen such as blood of the subject is stored in a non-aligned manner, and in step S2, the container 11 has a predetermined shape. The containers other than the above container are excluded or replaced to arrange only the containers 11 having a predetermined shape.

Regarding the container 11 containing the sample, etc.,
In step S3, the label portion 64 on which the barcode 63 is printed or characters are printed or described is attached to the container 11 in which the sample is stored. The work is performed on the work stage 20. At that time, the detaching portion of the label portion 64 on which the same barcode as the barcode 63 is printed may be removed and attached to the corresponding document.

In step S4, each container 11 containing the sample to which the label portion 64 with the bar code 63 printed is attached.
Is mounted on the turntable 12 from the work stage 20 by a worker by random alignment work so as to form a container row in which 10 samples are arranged in a row in the width direction. At that time, the label section 64 is mounted so that a bar code reader described later can read the bar code 63. The turntable 12 is rotated by one pitch, for example, by the control device (not shown) for about 15 seconds.
The conveyance is performed so that a predetermined unloading operation is performed by an intermittent rotation such as stopping for a fixed time such as 25 seconds or an operation that combines stop and rotation such as rotation such as stopping for a variable time.

In step S5, the loaded container 11 is loaded.
Is a bar code reader 17 which is the above-mentioned target information detecting device.
Is transported to the position. The bar code reader 17 slides along the radial rows of the containers mounted on the turntable 12 to form each container 1
Assortment information and its container 11 from the label part attached to 1
The position on the turntable 12 is detected. The sorting information and the container information about the position on the turntable 12 are sent to the control device.

In step S6, the result of the reading of the bar code is stored in each container of the arm-shaped member extending to the length above the turntable 12 so as to cover all the container rows in which one row 10 containers are arranged in the width direction. LE provided correspondingly
The worker is notified by light emission on a display unit (not shown) such as D. The display unit is provided at a position not far from the work stage 20 so that a worker on the work stage 20 can take out the container. The container displayed by light emission on this display part means a container that needs to be processed in a frozen state without being handled at room temperature,
This sorting device is a container which does not have a target sorting destination or a container which is not attached with the label portion 64 and cannot be read by a barcode. The container with this indication is removed from the turntable 12 by the worker.

Container 1 not removed in step S6
1 is further conveyed, and the process proceeds to step S7, where each unloadable position 23, 2
4, 25, 26 in each sorting stage 13, 14, 15, 1
It will be delivered to No. 6. At that time, it is determined whether or not the assortment information includes the division classification. In the case of division classification, it will be carried out to the required sorting stage 15.

In step S7, when the carry-out mechanism is out of order, the timing of carrying or stopping is different from that of the carry-out mechanism, the tray is not fully loaded, and the work such as tray removal is not performed, or the bar code is read. Residual containers that were unable to be carried out due to being unable to
Even if the bar code is readable and the carry-out mechanism is not broken, the container 1
If the sorting destination indicated by the sorting destination information attached to 1 is not within the designated sorting time zone, or if it has not reached the delivery time zone indicated in the sorting destination information, If there is no instruction, the container 11 is left as a residual container on the turntable 12,
Go to step S8.

At step S8, the container returns to the position where it is mounted on the turntable 12. Before the return, the residual container passes through the predetermined information erasing line 27 set on the transport path of the turntable 12,
After the return, in step S9, the residual content is displayed on the screen of the display device 21 of the information processing device as the control device, and the residual container 11 is detected by the bar code reading units 17, 18, and 19, The information stored in the control device regarding the residual container 11 is erased.

With respect to the residual container 11 which has returned to the original position, various measures are taken depending on the reason for the residual.
For example, if the bar code becomes unreadable, correct the direction of the container if it is mounted in a wrong direction, and if the bar code is wet, wipe it to remove water droplets. If the printing is not properly attached, attach a new barcode. In the case of a device failure, the system is stopped and repaired, and if the device cannot be repaired, it is transferred to another device. Also, if the rack is not loaded,
Load the rack, if the tray is full, remove the tray and load a new tray. If the sorting destination indicated by the sorting destination information is not within the specified sorting time zone, the delivery time zone indicated in the sorting destination information has not been reached, or there is no instruction from the control unit. Therefore, in the present situation, when there is no sorting destination, etc., the remaining container is left on the turntable 12 as it is, except that the information is erased without any treatment.

In this way, the residual container 11 is mounted again on the turntable 12 and conveyed in step S4. As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the delivery to one of the sorting stages is not performed, the turntable 12 continues to transport the container and the delivery to the other sorting stages is not performed. It will continue and will not cause a system downtime. Therefore, the influence of the failure can be minimized.

In step S8, if there is no malfunction in the container moving device such as the pickup arm, or if it is within the loading time zone, the sorting time zone, or the control designated by the sorting destination information attached to each container 11. If there is an instruction from the device, the process proceeds to step S10, and the turntable 12 causes the carry-out possible positions 23, 24, 25, 26.
Based on the sorting destination information affixed to each container 11, each container 11 transported to is carried out from the turntable 12 and carried into any one of the sorting stages 13, 14, 15, and 16.

The sorting stage 13 (14, 15, 16)
However, the above processing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

In step S21, the turntable 1
Among the containers 11 that have been transported to the unloadable position 23 above, the corresponding containers 11 to be sorted by the sorting stage 13 are to be sorted from the turntable 12 to the sorting stage 23 by the pickup arm 34. The container 11 is selected, and the container 11 is selectively lifted in the Z-axis direction and carried out. In step S22,
The container is carried into the sorting stage 13 by moving each container 11 in the radial direction or the width direction toward the sorting stage 13 by the pickup arm 34. In step S23, the container 11 is loaded into the designated rack 31. Here, each container 11 is carried into the sorting stage 13 as follows.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sorting stage 13
The containers 11 to be sorted by "1", "3",
"6", "10", "1" container is assortment H
What is to be sorted into No. 3, the container of "3" is to be sorted into assortment C, and the container of "No. 6" is assortment J
It is assumed that the containers No. 10 and No. 10 that are to be sorted into No. 10 are to be sorted into the sorting destination E. The operation in this case is as follows.

When the "first" position of the pickup arm 16 of the pickup arm 16 comes to the E position of the rack 31, it is the first stop, and the "third" container 11 is the sorting destination C of the standby section 36. Be loaded into. If the "No. 1" position of the pickup arm comes to the H position of the rack,
It is the second stop, and the “No. 1” container 11 is in the standby unit 36.
Is loaded into the assortment H. When the "1st" position of the pickup arm reaches the "2nd" position, it is the third stop, and the "10th" container 11 is loaded in the rack of the sorting destination E of the standby section 36. When the position of "No. 1" of the pickup arm comes to the position of "E", it is the fourth stop, and the container 11 of "No. 6" is placed on the rack corresponding to the assortment J of the standby unit 36. Is loaded. In this way
With a maximum of 10 stops of the pick-up arm, the racks can be fully loaded with containers mounted on the turntable in any case.

In step S23, the pickup arm 3
4, the rack 31 of the sorting destination in which the container 11 is loaded
Is advanced by one pitch of the container width. As a result, the loading section 69 of the rack 31 below the path of the pickup arm 34 can be made empty. The standby unit 36 waits the containers 11 until the ten containers 11 are loaded into the loading unit 69 of the rack 31.

At step S24, the container 1 is placed in each rack 31.
When 10 of 1 are loaded, the loading rack 31a is moved forward in step S25, and the roller 35
To the loading completion rack collecting section 39 at the downstream end of the. When the loading rack 31 is transferred forward by the independent transfer unit 33, a new empty rack 31 is transported to that position.

In step S26, the loading rack 31a moved to the loading completion rack collecting section 39 at the downstream end of the roller 35 is transferred to the printing section 40. In the printing section 40, the identification information of the rack 31a is read, and the barcode, which is the identification information of the loading rack 31a, is printed on each container 11 as a positional information by numbers or characters.

In step S27, the loading rack 31a on which the positional information is printed is intermittently transferred by the batch transport section 41 to the corresponding sorting destination position among the sorting destination positions 43 at every pitch of each rack width. It

The sorting position 43 is provided with a tray accumulating shelf 72 for accumulating and accumulating a plurality of trays for each sorting position, and the rack 31 is accommodated in the five trays 71. The rack 31 is lifted or lowered by the vertical movement mechanism of the batch transfer unit 41. The trays can be raised or lowered one by one, and a total of eight trays can be loaded.
When three trays have been loaded, a lamp is displayed to notify the operator. When the rack 31 is accommodated in 5 trays,
The tray information reading unit reads the tray bar code.
As a result, the information from the sample information to the tray is linked. From now on, 50 sample batches in the tray will be work batches. When the assortment destination is changed according to the time zone, the operator is informed that the assortment destination has been switched by the patrol light or the like.

Returning to FIG. 7, in this way, step S
At 11, the specimens are batched in each tray storage shelf 72, and brought into each laboratory by the worker at step S14,
Various processes will be performed.

[0115] In step S7, when the assortment information includes division classification, the container 11 is in the unloadable position 2
It is carried out from 5 to the required dispensing stage 15 and transferred to the sorting destination in the required dispensing stage 15 at step S10. The sorted containers 11 and step S1
In step S13, the container 11 is batched.
Is conveyed to 10 independent pipetting machines, and the pipetting machine according to the contents instructed in each container 11
Aspirate sample from. The content of the dispensing is 1: 1.
Dispensing (the contained sample is divided into 1: 1 and one sub-sample container containing the same amount of sample as the parent sample container is obtained), 1: 2 Dispensing (contained sample is 1: Divided into two,
There is one child sample container having twice the amount of the liquid contained in the parent sample container).

The dispensed sub-sample container group is transported toward the work table 20 by a sub-sample rack transport device or the like. In step S4, the dispensed sub-sample container group is carried into the turntable 12 from the work stage 20 by the worker.

These embodiments are specifically described for better understanding of the present invention, and do not limit other embodiments. Therefore, the invention can be modified within the scope of the invention. For example, in the above description, only the case where an annular turntable is used has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this case, and when a linear conveyance is performed or a linear conveyance is combined to form a closed circuit. It may be done.

Further, in the above description, the case where the 0th container is a tubular container, the 1st container is a rack, the 2nd container is a tray, and the 3rd container is a tray accumulating shelf have been described. As a fourth container, there may be provided a tray accumulator that accommodates a predetermined number of the tray accumulation shelves. Also, in the above description, only the rack identification information of the primary container is attached to the 0th container as position information, but the tray of the secondary container and the tray storage shelf of the tertiary container are attached. Alternatively, the identification information may be added to the tray accumulator of the fourth container and the identification information may be included in the position information. Further, the number of containers that can be accommodated in a rack of 10 and the number of racks that can be accommodated in a tray are not limited to this number, and various cases are possible.
Further, the mechanism of the sorting stage is not limited to the above example, and various mechanisms can be used.

[0119]

According to the first invention or the sixteenth invention, until the fine sorting, a carrying device is provided to carry along the carrying route, and the final sorting is arranged around the carrying device. The sorting work is structurally separated and carried out by one or more sorting stages.
Therefore, since the size of the transfer device does not directly depend on the number of sorting destinations, it is possible to obtain a sorting system and a sorting method that are compact as a whole, have a simple structure, and are inexpensive even when there are many sorting destinations.

Further, due to the separation of the work for transporting the containers on the transport route and the final sorting work, the fine sorting is not performed on the transport route, so that the work on the transport route can be performed for a certain period of time. Or to provide a sorting system and a sorting method in which each sorting work does not affect each other depending on the amount of other sorting work, is predictable in time, is easy to control, and is easy to handle, by performing at the timing. You can

If the number of sorting destinations in each sorting stage is increased, basic structural expansion is not required.
Since the number of sorting destinations can be changed, it is possible to provide a sorting system and a sorting method that are flexible, expandable and versatile.

Further, the position information detecting device attaches information on the relationship between each container and the container and the relationship between the sorting position to the container. Once the container is taken out and processed, its position can be accurately returned to its original position, which is highly reliable. Especially for re-examinations that occur on a daily basis, the rate of occurrence is low, so it is done manually. In that case, in order to correctly return the container once taken out to the original position again, attach it to each container. Location information provided is important.

Further, by storing the detected position information, it is possible to perform tracking and subsequent processing of an object such as a sample efficiently and efficiently, so that even if an accident or a failure occurs, it can be performed quickly. Can be dealt with. Further, by performing control based on the detected information, it is possible to speed up and improve the efficiency of the processing.

Furthermore, the concept of machine automation using bar codes and the like, and the manual work that occurs around the systemization,
By attaching the sorting position to the container and position information indicating the relationship with the container so that the contents of the sorting can be confirmed by a person, the work of the person and the work of the machine are combined without any separation. A consistent sample processing system can be constructed.

Further, according to the present invention, even small and unstable containers which are not comfortable to sit in are individually housed in a container of higher order at least once, and are sequentially handled while being bundled. Therefore, as compared with the case where the containers are individually handled, the handling and processing can be performed easily, orderly and stably. Also, a large number of small-capacity containers can be densely integrated to perform sorting with a reduced device scale and working space.

According to the second and seventeenth inventions,
Finally, since it is possible to easily associate the 0th container with the nth container in which the 0th container is housed, the content of the position information is simple and the control method is simple.

According to the third and eighteenth inventions,
Since all identification information from the primary container to the n-th container is attached to the 0-th container, the association between the n-th container and the 0-th container and the n-th container of the 0-th container. The position in the next container can be surely grasped.

According to the fourth invention or the nineteenth invention,
Since a predetermined number of containers are loaded in a rack or tray and bundled for handling, a large amount of containers can be stored, and handling and processing are facilitated as compared with the case where individual containers are handled. Racks can be further bundled and stacked. Further, the movement of the tray itself can be controlled.

According to the fifth invention or the twentieth invention,
The container is transported along a closed path. Therefore, since the container remaining on the transport path can be returned to the original position, various measures can be taken immediately for the container, which is highly reliable.

According to the sixth invention or the twenty-first invention, since the sorting destination can be made variable according to the time zone, the containers can be sorted into a larger number of sorting destinations.
In particular, when the container is transported along the closed route, the container can be put on standby until the time comes, so the worker does not have to be aware of the time.
Since the container can be handled, it is convenient without increasing the burden on the worker due to the increase in the number of sorting destinations.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, the container is loaded in a holder hole provided on the transfer surface of the transfer device. Therefore, the worker can easily and stably place and transport the container.

The eighth aspect of the present invention is provided with a label portion attached to the container. Therefore, the information can be removably attached to the container, so that the container can be easily reused and the information can be easily replaced. As a result, highly efficient processing can be performed. Furthermore, by providing the detaching section, if the detaching section is attached to another document related to the object housed in the container, the document and the container can be surely associated with each other. , More reliable.

According to the ninth invention or the twenty-second invention, the containers are not sorted so that the containers are directly transferred to the sorting destination, but after the containers are temporarily made to stand by at a standby position different from the sorting destination. It is possible to collectively transfer to a stacking unit, which is a fine sorting destination. Therefore, the sorting time required for a certain sorting destination can reduce the influence on the sorting work at another sorting destination, and the total sorting time can be shortened and made more efficient. Also, by this, the container moving device,
The structure of the sorting stage and the like can be simplified, the total transfer distance of the transfer mechanism can be shortened, and the processing can be performed efficiently.

Further, according to the present invention, a rack is movably mounted at a position corresponding to each sorting destination of the standby section,
The rack loaded with the containers is collectively transported to the stacking unit, and when the rack is unloaded from the standby unit, a new empty rack is supplied. As a result, a fixed number of containers are bundled for processing, which is efficient and easy to manage.

According to the tenth invention or the twenty-third invention, trays capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks are provided in a plurality of layers at each sorting destination. This allows the container to be stored in a more stable state,
Moreover, since they are handled collectively, handling such as transportation and storage is easy. Further, since a large number of containers can be accumulated at the sorting destination position, a large amount of containers can be sorted efficiently, quickly and in a space-saving manner.

According to the eleventh invention or the twenty-fourth invention, the work of transporting the container is performed separately from the final sorting work, and the work on the route is performed. It is set to be performed intermittently at a set time. Therefore, it is possible to temporarily stop the processing such as the loading of the container to the sorting stage and to reliably perform the processing. Further, even if the processing takes a long time, various operations can be performed at a fixed time or a fixed cycle by dividing the processing into short processing and repeating the processing, so that it is easy to control in time.

According to the twelfth invention or the twenty-fifth invention, by performing processing such as dispensing on the container,
The efficiency of the processing can be improved and the sorting process on the sorting stage can be simplified. In addition, the amount of each sample can be changed or sub-samples can be created by dividing, etc. on the transport device before sorting, so that various sorts can be performed and diverse processing can be performed. it can.

According to the thirteenth invention or the twenty-sixth invention, since the parent object can be divided into child objects around the carrying device, the container accommodating the child object can be transferred to the carrying device. By mounting on top, various sorts can be performed.

According to the fourteenth invention or the twenty-seventh invention, the racks mounted on the carrier device in a row in the width direction and provided in the standby section on the sorting stage can be carried out at the unloadable position. By arranging them along the transport direction in, the structure, operation, and control of the container moving device, the standby unit, etc. can be simplified. According to the present invention, a container can be efficiently transferred to a sorting destination with a minimum transfer distance or movement.

According to the fifteenth invention or the twenty-eighth invention, by erasing the information on the residual container once, it becomes limited information for each cycle, and the storage capacity of the apparatus can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the scale of the device and the load of software.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a sorting stage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a three-sided view of a sorting stage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a rack according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a stacking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the pick-up operation of the container by the pick-up arm according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Sorting system 11 ... Container (0th container) 12 ... Turntable (closed transfer device) 13, 14, 15, 16 ... Sorting stage 17, 18, 19 ... Bar code reader (container information detection device) 20 ... Work stage 21 ... Control device 22 ... Rotation centers 23, 24, 25, 26 ... Container unloading position 31 ... Empty rack (primary container) 31a ... Loading rack 34 ... Independent 10-series pickup device (container moving device) 36 ... Standby section 37 ... Ejection section 39 ... Loading completed rack collecting section 41 ... Collective transport section 43 ... Sorting position 64 ... Label section 71 ... Tray (secondary container) 72 ... Tray storage shelf (tertiary container)

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-6-347466 (JP, A) JP-A-4-104058 (JP, A) JP-A-5-162812 (JP, A) JP-A-6-74958 (JP , A) JP-A-7-229904 (JP, A) JP-A-9-304399 (JP, A) Fukui Sho 62-114631 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB) Name) G01N 35/04 B65G 1/137

Claims (28)

(57) [Claims] 1. A large number of containers carrying a target object such as a sample to be sorted and having target information about the target object and assortment destination information about a sorting destination are mounted and transported along a predetermined route. Transport device, a container information detection device that detects sorting information of each container and the placement position on the transport device, and a container information detection device that is placed around the transport device and that transports the information based on the detection result by the detection device. Load the container from the device,
When the container is the 0th container, by sequentially accommodating a predetermined number of the low-order containers in the high-order container from the low order to the high order one or more times, the container is changed to the n-th order container. One or more sorting stages that store up to (n ≧ 1 natural number) and transfer the container to any of a plurality of sorting positions, and the 0th-order container is stored and transferred to the sorting position Position information including at least the position information including the information for associating the n-th container with the 0-th container and the information indicating the accommodation position of the 0-th container in the n-th container to at least the 0-th container A sorting system comprising: an adhering device and a control device that controls sorting of each container based on at least a detection result of the container information detecting device and an instruction. 2. The position information adhering device detects position information including identification information of the nth container to which identification information is added as information for associating with the nth container. The sorting system according to claim 1, further comprising: position information attaching means for attaching the position information including the detected identification information to each zeroth container. 3. The position information attaching device attaches identification information from the primary container to which identification information in which each zero-order container is stored is attached as information for associating with the n-th order container. A position information detecting means for detecting position information including the respective identification information up to the n-th container, and a position information attaching means for attaching the position information including the detected identification information to the 0th container. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the sorting system is a sorting system. 4. The zeroth container is a tubular container, the first container is a rack into which the containers can be loaded in rows, and the second container is the transferred first container. A tray that can be loaded with primary containers in a row, and the tray is placed in advance at the sorting position, and the position information is
The sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein identification information of a rack in which the containers are loaded and a loading position of the containers in the rack are set. 5. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is a closed transfer device that transfers along a closed path. 6. In the sorting stage, when a container loading time zone is designated in the sorting party information, the sorting party included in the sorting party information is designated in accordance with time in the loading time zone. If it is a product, the container should be carried in from the carrier within the sorting time zone according to the sorting destination, or within the designated time zone when instructed by the control device. The sorting stage according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sorting stage is performed. 7. The container is placed on the carrier by providing a large number of holder holes on the carrier surface of the carrier and loading the container in the holder holes. The sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The target information and assortment information are displayed on a label portion affixed to the container, and the label portion also has a space for displaying the position information,
8. The sorting system according to claim 1, further comprising a handwriting space. 9. The sorting stage movably mounts the rack capable of loading a predetermined number of containers at a standby position set for each sorting destination, and loads a predetermined number of containers on the rack. Up to a standby unit for waiting the container loaded from the transfer device, a container moving device for loading the container mounted on the transfer device into the rack at a corresponding standby position, and waiting for the standby unit When a predetermined number of containers are loaded in a rack, a batch transport unit that collectively transports the rack to the sorting position, and a new empty rack when the rack is unloaded from the standby unit The sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: an empty rack supply unit that supplies each standby unit to a standby unit. 10. A tray accumulating shelf corresponding to a tertiary container for accumulating and accumulating trays capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks in a plurality of layers for each ascending destination, at the assortment position, The sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the batch transfer unit includes an elevating / lowering movement mechanism that moves up and down the rack. 11. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device conveys each container group consisting of a predetermined number of containers intermittently along the route at a designated time interval. Sorting system described in. 12. A container capable of being independently dispensed to each container belonging to the container group mounted on the transfer device or to a container group placed outside the transfer surface of the transfer device. The sorting system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a group independent dispenser. 13. A parent object contained in a container mounted on the transfer device or a container placed outside the transfer device is provided around the transfer device at a predetermined ratio by the container group independent pipetting machine. 13. A child object container accommodating stage for sucking and transferring, and discharging and accommodating the child object container into a container to which child object information regarding the child object is attached is provided. Sorting system described. 14. The container group of the transfer device is a container row in which the predetermined number of containers are arranged along a width direction orthogonal to the transfer direction along the transfer path, and the container moving device is the transfer device. Select a container to be sorted to the sorting stage from the container row transported to each unloadable position by, and transfer the container in the width direction of the unloadable position to the sorting destination of the standby unit. The standby unit has an independent transfer device capable of independently transferring one container for each sorting destination along the transfer direction at the unloadable position. 8. The racks are sequentially advanced by one container each time each container is loaded into the rack, so that the end of each container queue for each sorting destination is aligned. Assortment System. 15. The control device is arranged so that when a residual container remaining on the transport device without passing through all the unloadable positions of the sorting stage to the sorting stage passes through a predetermined information erasing line. 3. An information erasing device for erasing the information detected by the container information detecting device, and a residual container information displaying device for displaying the residual container information regarding the residual container. 14
Sorting system according to any one of. 16. A transport for accommodating a target object such as a sample to be sorted and carrying a plurality of containers to which target information regarding the target object and sorting destination information regarding a sorting destination are attached along a predetermined route. Steps, a detection step of detecting assortment information of each container and a placement position on the transportation path, and one or more or more arranged from the transportation path to the periphery of the transportation path based on the detection result. When a container is loaded into one of the sorting stages of, and the container is used as a 0th container, it is possible to store a predetermined number of low-order containers in a high-order container to which identification information is attached. By repeating one or more times toward, to accommodate the container up to the n-th container (n ≧ 1 natural number),
A sorting step of transferring to any of a plurality of sorting positions, information for associating each n-th container and its n-th container that contains the 0th container and is transported to the sorting position, and And a position information attaching step of attaching position information including information indicating a storage position of the 0th container in the nth container to at least the 0th container. 17. The position information attaching step detects the position information including the identification information of the n-th container to which the identification information is attached, and the detected position information is set to the 0th position information. The sorting method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of attaching position information to the next container. 18. The position information attaching step includes identification information from the primary container with identification information attached to each zero-order container to the n-th container with identification information attached. 17. A position information detecting step of detecting position information, and a position information attaching step of attaching the position information detected by the position information detecting step to a 0th container. The described sorting method. 19. In the sorting step, the primary container is a rack in which the containers can be loaded in a row, and the secondary container is a tray in which the transferred primary containers can be loaded in a row. Yes, the trays are used to load the containers in a matrix, and the trays are placed in advance in the sorting position.The position information in the position information detecting step and the position information attaching step is the position information indicating that the containers are loaded. 17. The identification information of the rack, the storage position of the rack in the tray, or the sorting position of the tray.
19. The sorting method according to claim 18. 20. The sorting method according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined route in the carrying step is a closed route. 21. In the sorting step, when a container loading time zone is designated in the sorting destination information, a sorting party included in the sorting party information is designated in accordance with time in the loading time zone. If the product is to be shipped, the container is loaded from the carrier device within the sorting time zone according to the sorting destination, or within the designated time zone when instructed by the control device. 21. The sorting method according to claim 16, wherein the sorting method is performed. 22. The sorting step includes a loading step of loading a container mounted on the path to a rack movably mounted at a standby position corresponding to each sorting destination, and the container to the rack. A standby step of waiting the loaded containers until a predetermined number of containers are loaded, and a batch transfer step of collectively transferring the racks to the sorting position when a predetermined number of containers are loaded in the rack, 22. The sorting process according to claim 16, further comprising: an empty rack supplying step of supplying a new empty rack when the rack is carried out from the standby position. Method. 23. In the batch transfer step, a tray accommodating tray, which is a tertiary container in which trays capable of accommodating a predetermined number of racks at the assortment position are stacked in a plurality of stages for each assortment and accumulated. 16. The rack is moved up and down to be housed in a corresponding tray.
The sorting method according to any one of 2. 24. The carrying step is carried out along a path intermittently at a pitch of a designated time interval for each container group having a predetermined number of containers.
24. The sorting method according to claim 23. 25. The container group independent dispensing process for independently dispensing to each container belonging to the container group according to claim 16 or 24. Sorting method. 26. The parent object contained in the transported container is sucked and transferred at a predetermined ratio in the independent dispensing step, and discharged into a container to which child object information regarding the child object is attached to be housed. 26. The sorting method according to claim 25, further comprising a step of accommodating a child object container. 27. The container group in the carrying step is a container row in which the predetermined number of containers are arranged along a width direction orthogonal to the carrying direction along the path, and the carrying-in step, in the carrying step, A step of selecting a required container from the container row that has been conveyed to the unloadable position, transferring it in the width direction at the unloadable position, and loading the container into a rack corresponding to a sorting destination, In the waiting step, every time one container is loaded into the rack, the rack is independently advanced for each container by one container along the transport direction at the unloadable position. The sorting method according to any one of claims 16 to 26, characterized in that the tail ends of the respective queues for the sorting destinations are aligned. 28. In the carrying step, when a residual container remaining on the carrying without being carried into the assorting stage after passing through all the carry-out positions of the assembling stage has passed a predetermined information erasing line, The sorting according to any one of claims 16 to 27, further comprising an erasing step of erasing the information detected in the detecting step and a display step of displaying residual container information regarding the residual container. Method.