JP3496447B2 - Sample rack transport method and automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an automatic analyzer for transporting a sample rack holding a sample to be analyzed, and particularly to a sample rack in which a plurality of analysis units are arranged along a main transport line. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and an automatic analyzer for automatically carrying through a main carrying line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of arranging a plurality of analysis units along a transport line and dispensing a sample on a sample rack transported by the transport line to the analysis unit, see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-26882. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 63-271164 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-92171 are known.

Among them, the multi-item automatic analyzer described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-26882 puts sample racks on the transfer line one after another and stops the sample racks on the transfer line to remove the sample on the sample rack. The method of dispensing to the analysis unit is adopted. Further, the automatic analysis system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-271164 forms a circulation path by connecting a plurality of belt conveyors via transition rollers, and a plurality of analysis units are formed along the circulation path. Place the sample rack and transport the sample rack sent out from the rack supply section in the circulation path, stop the movement when the sample rack comes in front of the analysis unit, and dispense the sample from the sample rack on the circulation path to the analysis unit. The method is adopted. Further, the container transport system described in JP-A-7-92171 has a plurality of analysis units arranged along a transport line, and each analysis unit is provided with a sub-line having an identification information reading device. A method is adopted in which a number of containers corresponding to the analytical processing capacity per fixed time is taken into the subline, and after the sample dispensing work on the subline is completed, the containers are transferred to the transfer line.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the transport method according to Japanese Patent Publication No. 82, since the sample dispensing work is performed while the sample rack is stopped on the transport line, even if the dispensing work of the subsequent sample rack is completed, a plurality of samples related to the preceding sample rack Since the path of the subsequent sample rack is blocked until the sample dispensing work for the analysis item is completed, the subsequent sample rack is not transported during that time and waited on the transport line.

In the transport method according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-271164, the identification information of the sample rack is read by the bar code reader after the transport of the sample rack through the circulation path is started, and the sample rack is transported to the corresponding analysis unit. However, when the relevant analysis unit is performing the dispensing operation, the sample rack that has started to be transported must be retained on the circulation path, and thus the transport of the subsequent sample rack is hindered.

In the carrying method according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-92171, a predetermined number of containers are sent to the sub line of the analysis unit according to the analysis processing capacity of each analysis device.
After being sent to the sub-line, the identification information of the container will be read and it will be judged whether or not the container conforms to the inspection target of the analysis unit. It will be transported to the required route. It is an object of the present invention to transport a sample rack as a whole without being obstructed by a stagnation of another sample rack and preventing the route from being transported to an unnecessary route for the sample rack. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of transporting a sample rack and an automatic analyzer that can save time.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a main transfer line for transferring a sample rack is arranged between a rack supply section and a rack storage section, and a plurality of analysis units are arranged along the main transfer line. Applied to the automated analyzer.
In the present invention, the sample rack holding the sample is placed on the main transport line from the delivery port of the rack supply unit and transported to the analysis unit that is more suitable for the transport operation of the main transport line. A dispensing area is provided corresponding to each analysis unit, and the sample on the sample rack is dispensed to the reaction section of the analysis unit in these dispensing processing areas. The dispensing processing area has a receiving port for receiving the sample rack from the main transport line and a sending port for sending the sample rack to the main transport line. The rack storage section has a receiving port for receiving the sample rack from the main transport line.

Each transport path is defined by a combination of one of the plurality of sending ports and one of the plurality of receiving ports, and a plurality of transport paths are formed as a whole. The control device that controls the transport of the sample rack selects a transport route suitable for the sample rack positioned on any of the output ports from a plurality of broadcast routes, and directs the sample toward the receiving port of the selected transport route. The rack is transported through the main transport line. This transfer is executed in a state where no other sample rack exists on the main transfer line, and when there are a plurality of sample racks waiting to be transferred, the one that has been loaded earlier is transferred first. Further, this transportation is executed after it is confirmed that the receiving port, which is the receiving destination, is in the receivable state of the sample rack.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment based on the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an analyzer which is an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the control unit 1 that controls the operation of each mechanical unit in the automatic analyzer includes a storage unit 81, a transfer permission / inhibition communication unit 82, a transfer instruction unit 83, and the like, and the analysis input by the operation unit 2 is performed. Based on the request information, the sample is transported to the analysis unit 100 and / or the analysis unit 200, the analysis results are collected from those analysis units, and CR is added.
The result is output to the screen display unit 85 such as T and the printer 86. The control unit 1 adds and stores the loading numbers in the order in which the racks are loaded from the rack supply unit 3 in order to transfer the sample racks between the units, and the transportability communication unit 82 determines whether the sample racks of each unit can be sent and received. Collect the situation. Whenever the transport process of the main transport line 13 is completed, the transport instruction unit 83 issues an instruction to transport the next sample rack to the selected transport path.

From the operation unit 2, the analysis item requested for each sample, the sample ID for identifying the sample, and the sample attribute information (sex, age, sample type, etc.) are input. Control unit 1
Based on the instructions from the analysis unit 1
After being analyzed at 00 and 200, the analysis result is output.
Rack supply unit 3 into which sample racks holding samples are loaded
In this case, the user can place a plurality of racks, and the sample racks are supplied to the main transport line 13 in the order in which they are placed as the transport process of the apparatus proceeds.

The operation of the main transport line 13 is controlled by the control unit 1 and transports only one sample rack at a time. The rack storage section 5 for storing the processed sample racks stores the sample racks processed by the analysis units 100 and 200, and the user can take out the processed racks for each rack tray. it can. Each analysis unit receives the sample rack from the main transport line 13, performs the dispensing process, and then returns the rack to the main transport line 13 again. Each of the analysis units 100 and 200 analyzes only the analysis items assigned by the control unit 1 among the analysis items input from the operation unit 2. Analysis unit 100, 200
Can be provided with a computer as a child control unit that shares a part of the control unit 1. In this case, when sending and receiving a rack between the main transfer line and the analysis unit, a rack sending request and a rack receiving request are sent by the parent control unit. It is possible to report to a certain computer, and the parent control unit can select one set from those requests and can control the unit to coordinately exchange the racks while communicating with each unit.

An example of the sample rack is shown in FIG. The sample rack 9 can hold a plurality of sample containers 76, and the sample containers 76 are loaded in a plurality of loading holes each having a notch 78 that is a window for reading the barcode 77.
Each sample container 76 contains a sample to be analyzed by an analysis unit such as serum, plasma, or urine. Each sample rack 9 is provided with a plurality of holes as code information representing individual rack numbers and a barcode label 75 on which a barcode is printed. This rack number identification information is read by a known reading device. A magnetic recording medium or a barcode label 77 is attached to the outer wall of the sample container 76 as a sample identification information medium.
This sample identification information is read by a known reading device. Since the analysis item requested to be inspected for each sample is stored in the control unit 1, by recognizing the sample ID corresponding to each sample container, the sample rack 9 holding the sample container is applicable. It can be associated so as to be conveyed to an analysis unit that performs analysis processing of analysis items.
One of the methods of recognizing the sample ID is a method of directly reading the identification information of the sample container, and the other is the combination of the arrangement position of each sample container on the sample rack and the rack number corresponding to the sample ID in advance. This is a method of additionally storing and reading the rack number. Although the example of FIG. 9 holds five test tubes, the number of sample containers is not limited to this, and a rack holding one or more or ten sample tubes may be used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure near the main transfer line in the automatic analyzer of FIG. Rack supply unit 3
Is for moving a plurality of rack trays 11 and 12 capable of arranging a plurality of sample racks 9 aligned in a specific direction, a loading transport path 6, and a sample rack on each rack tray toward the loading transport path 6. The operating arms 61 and 62 are provided.
One end side of the input transport path 6 is adjacent to the main transport line 13 and serves as a delivery port 10 in which the sample rack 9 is temporarily stopped before being transported by the main transport line 13. The other end of the loading / conveying path 6 is an emergency sample loading port 4 into which a sample rack for emergency inspection is loaded. The sample rack loaded into the emergency sample loading port 4 is detected by the rack detector 33, and the detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 1, whereby the control unit 1 racks for general samples from the rack trays 11 and 12. It is programmed to give priority to transporting the sample rack for emergency inspection. The rack trays 11 and 12 are removable and can be replaced with another rack tray.

The sample rack pushed out from the rack tray 11 to the loading conveyance path 6 is detected by the rack detector 32, and the sample rack pushed out from the rack tray 12 to the loading conveyance path 6 is detected by the rack detector 31. The rack mover 14 including the movable hook 8 has a movable hook 8
The belt to which is attached is reciprocated and rotated by a drive source, and the sample rack on the input transport path 6 is moved to the main transport line 1
Move to 3. With respect to the sample rack 9 positioned on the delivery port 10, the rack identification information or the sample container identification information is read by the identification information reading device 50 such as a barcode reader, and the control unit 1 recognizes the sample ID. At the same time, as the information on the order of loading on the main transport line 13, a loading number consisting of a series of numbers is added. This input number does not have to be a serial number if the order is known, and may be the time, for example. The types of analysis items that can be analyzed by each analysis unit are registered in the storage unit 81 of the control unit 1, and the sample on the sample rack 9 is detected by any of the analysis units 100 and 200 in accordance with the recognition of the sample ID. Whether or not the analysis processing should be performed is determined by the control unit 1, and the receiving port that is the receiving destination of the corresponding sample rack 9 is determined.

The rack storage section 5 has a plurality of rack trays 20 and 2 capable of storing a large number of sample racks aligned in a specific direction.
1, a storage / transportation path 7, and pushers 23 and 24 for pushing the sample rack on the storage / transportation path 7 into the rack tray. On the main transport line 13 side of the storage transport path 7, there is a receiving port 22 that receives the sample rack from the main transport line. The arrival of the sample rack at the receiving port 22 is detected by the rack detector 56. Rack mover 28
Attaches the sample rack on the receiving port 22 to the rack tray 20.
Of the rack transporter 14 and has a structure similar to that of the rack mover 14. Rack detector 3
8, 39 detects that the rack trays 20, 21 are filled with racks.

A plurality of analysis units 100 and 200 are arranged along the main transport line 13. Analysis unit 100
Is a rotatable reagent turntable 101 capable of positioning a reagent bottle corresponding to an analysis item at a reagent suction position, a reaction disk 103 having a large number of reaction vessels arranged in a circle,
A reagent dispensing mechanism 102 that dispenses a desired reagent solution on the reagent turntable 101 into a reaction container on a reaction disk 103 by a pipette nozzle, and a sample rack on a dispensing processing area 71 to a reaction container on a reaction disk 103. It has a sample dispenser 104 for dispensing a sample with a pipette nozzle. The analysis unit 200 includes a reagent storage 201 in which a large number of reagent bottles are placed, a reaction disc 203 in which a large number of reaction vessels are arranged in a circle, and piping from each reagent bottle in the reagent storage 201 to the reaction disc 203. It has a reagent dispensing mechanism 202 including a system and a dispenser pump, and a sample dispenser 204 that dispenses a sample from a sample rack on the dispensing processing area 72 to a reaction container on the reaction disk 203 with a pipette nozzle. A multi-wavelength photometer, a container cleaning mechanism, a stirring mechanism, and the like are arranged near the reaction disks 103 and 203, and these constitute a reaction unit in each analysis unit. The reaction liquid produced by mixing the sample and the reagent in the reaction container is measured by selecting a wavelength corresponding to each analysis item with a multi-wavelength photometer.

Dispensing area 71 provided between the main transfer line 13 and the reaction section of the analysis unit 100, and dispensing processing area provided between the main transfer line 13 and the reaction section of the analysis unit 200. 72 is the same structure.
The main transport line 13 is constituted by a single belt that is rotated in a fixed direction by using a pulse motor as a drive source, and the moving distance of the sample rack can be changed according to the number of pulses given to the drive source. A plurality of rack detectors are arranged along the main transport line 13. The rack detector 51 detects that the sample rack is on the main transport line, and the rack detectors 34 and 36 are the dispensing processing areas 71 and 7.
The rack detector 3 that detects the sample rack to be transferred to 2
Reference numerals 5 and 37 detect that the sample rack has been moved from the dispensing processing areas 71 and 72 onto the main transport line 13.

The dispensing processing areas 71 and 72 are provided with receiving ports 16a and 16b and dispensing ports 17a and 17 of the sample rack.
b and the sample rack delivery ports 18a and 18b are provided in correspondence with each other. The rack detectors 52 and 54 detect that the sample rack is received in the receiving ports 16a and 16b, and the rack detectors 53 and 55 are sending ports 18a and 18b.
Detects that a rack has arrived. Rack mover 25a,
25b is a mechanism for moving the sample racks of the receiving ports 16a, 16b to the dispensing ports 17a, 17b.
6a and 26b are mechanisms for moving the sample racks of the dispensing ports 17a and 17b to the delivery ports 18a and 18b. These rack moving devices have a structure in which a belt having a movable hook for pushing and moving the end of the sample rack is wound around a shaft of a motor and a pulley, and the belt is rotated and reciprocated.

The sample transfer mechanisms 15a and 15b dispense the sample rack stopped on the main transport line 13 into the dispensing processing area 7
1, 72 is a mechanism for transferring to the receiving ports 16a, 16b, and the sample transfer mechanisms 19a, 19b are for the dispensing processing area 7
This is a mechanism for moving the sample racks on the delivery ports 18 a and 18 b of the Nos. 1 and 72 to the main transport line 13. These sample transfer mechanisms have the same structure except that the direction in which the sample rack is moved is different.

As the sample transfer mechanism, a pickup robot or a sample rack pushing mechanism can be adopted. An example of the sample transfer mechanism is shown in FIG. In FIG.
A connection passage 64 having a width that allows the sample rack 9 to move between the main transport line 13 and the receiving port 16a of the dispensing area.
Are formed. A sample transfer mechanism 15a having a belt 68 wound between a drive shaft 66 of a motor and a pulley 67 is arranged above the connection passage 64. Belt 6
A gripping member 65 composed of a pair of openable and closable fingers is attached to 8. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the grip member 65 is waiting for the sample rack 9 to arrive on the main transport line 13, and the grip member 65 is in the open state. FIG. 7B shows a state in which the grip member 65 is closed and the sample rack 9 is being moved. FIG. 7C shows a state in which the sample rack 9 is carried to the receiving port 16a and released from the gripping member 65.

The automatic analyzer of FIG. 2 has a reaction part for measuring a reaction liquid of a sample and a reagent corresponding to an analysis item, a mechanism for dispensing the sample into a reaction container of the reaction part, and a reaction container of the reaction part. And a mechanism for dispensing a reagent selected according to the analysis item. When the sample rack is positioned at any of the plurality of sending ports 10, 18a, 18b, the control unit 1 determines the receiving port that should receive the sample rack,
Select from a plurality of receiving ports 16a, 16b, 22. In this case, since there are a plurality of transport paths formed by the combination of one sending port and one receiving port, depending on the number of sending ports and receiving ports, the control unit 1 may use one of the sending ports. A receiving port that matches the sample rack waiting for transportation is selected from a plurality of transportation routes. The sample information of each sample rack is stored in the identification information reading device 50.
Since the control unit 1 recognizes based on the reading of, the selection of the transport path can be easily performed.

The main transport line 13 starts driving when only a single sample rack is received from one sending port, and stops driving when the sample rack reaches a target receiving port or its corresponding position. During this period, the main transport line 13 continuously transports the sample rack without stopping it halfway. Control unit 1
Controls the operations of the rack mover 14 and the sample transfer mechanisms 19a and 19b so that another sample rack is not transferred to the main transfer line while one sample rack is being transferred. Since only a single sample rack can be placed on the main transport line, when a sample rack is delivered from the main transport line to the receiving port, the receiving signal output from the rack detector at that receiving port is received. The control unit 1 determines that the sample rack does not exist on the main transport line 13.
The control unit 1 determines by which analysis unit the sample rack positioned at the delivery port 10 of the rack supply unit 3 should be subjected to analysis processing. The rack is immediately transported to the receiving port 22 of the rack storage section 5 by the main transport line without being stopped. In the automatic analyzer of FIG. 2, the presence or absence of sample racks on each sending port is monitored by a rack detector, and when there are sample racks waiting to be transported on a plurality of sending ports, based on a predetermined priority route. The control unit 1 determines which delivery port on which delivery port should be preferentially delivered to the main transport line. One form of the priority route is the loading order of sample racks. From the transportable sample racks, the control unit preferentially selects the sample rack with the smallest input number, that is, the sample rack loaded first, and places it on the main transport line to transport it to the target receiving port. Control.

The automatic analyzer of FIG. 2 handles the calibration sample specially. When the sample rack holding the calibration sample is identified by the identification information reading device 50, all the sample racks are stored until the sample rack holding the calibration sample is stored in the rack storage section 5. Controlled to pass the analysis unit. Under such control, a sample for which an analysis request is not made may be taken into the analysis unit, but such a sample is not subjected to the dispensing process and is put on the main transport line again.

The operation of the automatic analyzer of FIG. 2 will be described in detail below.

In the rack supply section 3 shown in FIG. 2, the sample rack 9 placed on the rack tray 11 or 12 is
When it is carried to the loading transfer path 6 by the movable arm and recognized by the rack detector 31 or 32, the rack moving device 14 moves and is moved to just before the main transfer line 13 by the movable hook 8. When the rack loading operation is performed for one of the rack trays but the detector cannot detect the rack, it is determined that all the racks in the rack tray 11 have been loaded, and the rack is loaded from the other rack tray 12. Switch to do. Further, when the sample rack is placed on the emergency sample inlet 4, it is detected by the rack detector 33 and is transferred on the main transfer line in preference to the general samples on the rack trays 11 and 12. When the arrival of the sample rack at the delivery port 10 immediately before the main transport line is detected by the identification information reading device 50 also serving as a detector, a rack transport request from the rack supply unit 3 to the main transport line 13 is issued. , Wait for sending permission. Identification information reader 50
Thus, the read sample ID is stored in the storage unit 81 of the control unit 1, and at the same time, the loading number is also stored so that the loading order can be known.

On the other hand, the analysis units 100 and 200 and the rack storage section 5 all issue a rack acceptance request because there is no sample rack in each section immediately after the operation of the analyzer is started. Each of the rack trays 20 and 21 of the rack storage unit 5 detects that the rack is full by the rack detectors 38 and 39 attached to the rear portions, and one storage unit and both storage units are filled. When this happens, a warning indicating that loading is not possible is displayed on the display unit 85.

The control unit 1 for controlling the main transport line periodically inspects requests from each sending port and each receiving port at a predetermined cycle, and when there is a sending request, the analysis input in advance is carried out. Based on the request, the receiving destination of the sample rack at the sending port that issued the sending request is collated, and if the corresponding receiving port is acceptable, the sample rack is transported.

When the sending port of the rack supply unit 3, that is, the sample rack waiting in front of the entrance of the main transport line 13 has an analysis request to the analyzing unit 100, the sending port 10 sends it to the receiving port 16a of the analyzing unit 100. A transport request will be generated. When the sample rack requests the analysis unit 200 for analysis without requesting the analysis unit 100 for analysis, a transfer request from the main transfer line 13 to the receiving port 16b of the analysis unit 200 is generated.

The sample rack taken into the analysis unit 200 is transferred to the dispensing port 17b by the hook of the rack mover 25b, and the sample is dispensed by the dispenser 204. In this example, since the sample rack holding five test tubes is used, the contents of the sample are moved one by one from the test tubes by the movement of the dispensing nozzle.
3 are dispensed into the reaction vessels arranged on the circumference of the circle 3, and the reaction proceeds while the reagent in the reagent storage 201 is dispensed by the reagent dispensing mechanism 202 to analyze the desired item. The sample rack, which has been dispensed with 5 test tubes, has a delivery port 18
The dispensing port 17b is transferred to the sample rack that is transported to the sample b and is loaded next. At this point, the analysis unit 200 issues a transportation request to the main transportation line 13 and waits for permission to send.
When the delivery is permitted, the sample rack is moved from the delivery port 18b to the main transport line 13 by the sample transfer mechanism 19b, and goes to the outlet of the main transport line, that is, the receiving port 22 of the rack storage section 5. This sample rack is the analysis unit 2
After arriving at 00, the main transfer line 1
Since 3 is empty, the main transport line 13 can be used to transport the next sample rack. Further, in the present example, five test tubes are used as one sample rack, and therefore, it is calculated that the loading or unloading is performed every dispensing processing time for five tubes. Therefore, the operation of the main transfer line is performed every five pipetting processing time without depending on the pipetting cycle of each analysis unit, so that there is a margin of transportation that does not depend on the detailed pipetting cycle time. Will be realized.

Similarly, if there is a request to the analysis unit 100 for a sample rack that is waiting to be loaded into the main transport line 13 at the delivery port 10 of the loading transport path 6 of the rack supply section 3, the same sequence is performed. Thus, the sample rack is carried into the receiving port 16a of the analysis unit 100.
The sample rack taken into the analysis unit 100 is dispensed as in the case of the analysis unit 200. Since this analysis unit 100 has a dispenser 104, a reaction disk 103, and a reagent dispensing mechanism 102 which are different from the analysis unit 200, the dispensing cycle time (the time from one dispensing to the next dispensing) is an analysis unit. Different from 200. However, like the analysis unit 200, since the dispensing processing area 71 is independent of the main transport line 13, dispensing independent of transport on the main transport line and dispensing of other analysis units is performed. The sample rack that has been dispensed is the sending port 1
8a, and the main transfer line 13 from the delivery port 18a.
Request is sent to wait for transmission permission.

When the sending out from the sending port 18a is permitted, if all the requested items are dispensed in the analysis unit 100, the sample rack is transferred to the rack storage section 5 through the main transfer line. It However, when there is an analysis request for the next analysis unit 200 for the sample that has been dispensed to the analysis unit 100, the analysis unit 1
A transfer request is made from the sending port 18a, which is the exit of 00, to the receiving port 16b, which is the entrance of the analysis unit 200. This request is also accepted and carried when there is no other sample in the main transport line 13 and the receiving port 16b can receive the sample rack.

If the sample rack that is waiting to be loaded into the main transport line 13 on the delivery port 10 of the loading transport path of the rack supply unit 3 is a rack that holds a sample for which no analysis request has been made in both the analysis units 100 and 200. Sending port 10 if available
From the main transfer line to the receiving port 22 which is the exit of the main transfer line. When this request is accepted, the sample rack is transported to the receiving port 22 by the main transport line and stored in the rack tray 20 or 21 by the pressing device 23 or 24. In either case, the receiving port can receive the sample rack and the main transfer line 1
The transport is executed only when another sample rack is not placed on the sample rack 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the processing from the acceptance of the transport request to the instruction of transporting the sample rack. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the transfer request is (1) from the sending port 10 to the receiving port 16 of the analysis unit 100.
a, (2) from the sending port 10 to the receiving port 16b of the analysis unit 200, (3) from the sending port 10 to the receiving port 22 of the rack housing 5, (4) the analysis unit 10
0 from the sending port 18a to the receiving port 16b of the analysis unit 200, (5) from the sending port 18a of the analysis unit 100 to the receiving port 22 of the rack storage unit 5, (6)
There are six types of requests from the sending port 18b of the analysis unit 200 to the receiving port 22 of the rack storage section 5. These requests are accepted one by one and carried, but when there are a plurality of requests at the same time, the request to be executed first is narrowed down to one based on the priority order. The processing shown in FIG. 3 can be roughly divided into two processings.
When the receiving destination of the sample rack for which the transport request has been made is acceptable, stores the route from the sending port i to the receiving port j and receives the transport request. In the transport path determination and transport instruction processing 302, if the rack transport processing is not in progress,
The sample rack with the smallest entry number is searched for from among the received transport routes, the transport route is determined, and the main transport line 13
Instruct to carry. All the transport requests are accepted and the sample rack is transported by activating the process corresponding to this flowchart periodically in the control unit 1 or whenever the state of the analysis unit is changed.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the detailed operation of the process 301 in FIG. Here, the transport requests of all the sending ports are inspected. First, the first sample rack sending port number is assigned to i (401). With this,
The request from each sending port is stored, but when there is no standby rack on the sending port, the transport request is not stored. If there is a transport request to the port i (402), the ID of the sample on the rack standing by at that port is inspected, and the receiving destination of the sample of this sample ID, that is, the analysis request item, is analyzed next by which analysis unit. It is checked whether it is stored or stored, the receiving destination is substituted for j (403), and it is checked whether the receiving port j corresponding to the receiving destination j can accept the sample rack (404). As a result of the check, if it is acceptable, the identification information reading device 50
At step 405, the transport request for transport routes i to j is stored together with the loading number stored in the control unit 1 when the sample identification information is read. In other words, this means that the transport route with the input number is the route that has received the transport request. This completes the processing of the transport request of the sending port i. After this, it is checked whether there is the next sending port number (40
6) If there is a next sending port, the sending port number is substituted for i (407), and the processing from step 402 is repeated. In this way, the process 301 is ended after repeating the carrying request until the last sending port is checked,
Next, the process proceeds to 302. In the figure, the sending port number is a number in which the sending ports 10, 18a, 18b are serially numbered. On the other hand, the receiving port number (j in the figure)
Is a serial number attached to the receiving ports 16a, 16b, 22.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the detailed operation of the process 302 in FIG. Here, the main transport line 1
It is checked whether or not 3 is transporting the sample rack, and if it is transporting, the process 302 is ended (501). If it is not being transported, the transport route is determined. First, in order to determine the first route, the first sending port number is assigned to i, the corresponding acceptance number is assigned to j, and a sufficiently large number such as 100000 is assigned as the initial value of the input number (502). Next, it is checked whether or not the entry number is attached to the route from the sending port i to the receiving port j (503). As a result, if the entry number is not attached, the next path is searched (506), and if attached, the entry number and the value of n are compared (504). As a result, if the sample is smaller than n, that is, the sample has been input earlier, the input number is assigned to n, the sending port number i is assigned to out, and the receiving port number j is assigned to in (505). Then check if there is a next route.
If there is a next route in step 506, the sending port number of the next route is assigned to i, the receiving port number is assigned to j (507), and the processes of steps 503 to 507 are repeated. If there is no next route, it means that all routes can be checked, so in and out at that time
Is assigned to I as the carry-in decision sending port number of the decided carrying route and to J as the carry-out decision receiving port number, and a carrying instruction is issued to the main carrying line (50
8).

In this way, the sample rack loaded first can be preferentially processed, and the transport of the sample can be realized in a short time from when the result is output. In addition, each sample rack is processed in the shortest waiting time,
It is possible to increase the number of specimens that can be transported and processed per unit time.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the control of the sample rack transportation accompanying the transportation. Here, from the dispensing processing area 71 of the analysis unit 100 of FIG.
The case where the sample rack 9 is transported to the dispensing processing area 72 of 00 will be described. The transport processing of the sample rack begins with receiving a transport request from each port (601).
When receiving the transport path numbers I and J from the sending port 18a to the receiving port 18b determined by the preparatory processing in FIG. 3, the control unit 1 shifts the control state of the main transport line to the transport processing in progress (602). Next, an instruction for rack delivery is issued from the delivery port 18a, which is the delivery source of the sample rack, and the sample transfer mechanism 19a moves the sample rack 9 from the delivery port 18a onto the main transport line 13 (603). When the rack detector 35 confirms that there is no sample rack in the delivery port 18a, the control unit 1 recognizes the completion of transfer. After the transfer of the sample rack to the main transport line 13 is confirmed, the main transport line is driven by the distance to the position corresponding to the receiving port 16b, which is the receiving destination J, and stopped (604).

By the rack detector 36, the main transfer line 13
If the upper sample rack is detected, the sample transfer mechanism 15
Receiving port 1 for sample rack from main transport line for b
6b is instructed to be transferred (605). At the same time, an instruction to return the sample transfer mechanism 19a on the dispensing processing area 71 side to the original state is issued. Sample transfer mechanism 1 on the analysis unit 200 side
The rack detector 54 detects that the sample rack has been transferred to the receiving port 16b by the 5b, and the dispensing processing area 7
It is recognized that the sample rack has been loaded in 2. Along with this, the control unit 1 ends the rack transport operation on the transport route from I to J, that is, the transport route from the sending port 18a to the receiving port 16b. Then, the control unit transits the control state of the main conveyance line to the conveyance stop state and enters a standby state for the next conveyance instruction (606). In this way
Each sample rack is transported by driving the main transport line while communicating with each mechanism related to transport from the acceptance of the transport request of the sample rack to the end of transport to the receiving destination for one transport route. To prevent unnecessary waiting time.

In the automatic analyzer of FIG. 2, when a specific rack holding a special sample is identified by the identification information reading device 50, the sample rack holding this calibration sample is stored in the storage section 5. During this period, the rack that entered earlier than the sample rack that holds the calibration sample cannot pass the sample rack that holds the calibration sample, and the rack that comes after the sample rack that holds the calibration sample is for calibration. Since the sample rack holding the sample cannot be overtaken, it has a function of controlling the transport of the sample rack so that all the sample racks pass through all the analysis units. There are a plurality of examples of such overtaking prohibition, but one example is a case where a control sample is measured for every fixed number of samples for calibration of a calibration curve. In this case, the control sample rack cannot overtake the sample rack that entered before to maintain a fixed number, and the sample rack that entered after the control sample cannot overtake the rack for the control sample. The transport is controlled as described above. In order to deal with such a sample, in the present embodiment, special transportation is performed when a specific rack is loaded. As a result, the racks before and after the control sample are stored in the order of loading, so that the same usability as in the case of only the general sample can be provided.

According to the above-described embodiment, the dispensing of the sample in the dispensing processing area and the transport of the sample rack by the main transport line can be performed without synchronization, and the sample rack whose destination is determined can be designated. Bypassing the unanalyzed analysis unit and transporting it to the next analysis unit,
It is possible to eliminate an unnecessary waiting time when moving the sample rack. Further, when a plurality of transportable racks occur, the sample rack loaded first is preferentially transported, so that the time existing in the analyzer is minimized and the analysis result is reported in a short time. It will be possible.

FIG. 8 is a diagram comparing the dispensing processing time of the sample rack in the case where the present invention is not applied (a) and the case where the present invention is applied (b). All of them are simulation results of carrying processing of the sample rack group with respect to the automatic analyzer in which four analysis units are arranged along the main carrying line. In the comparative example of FIG. 8A, sample racks are regularly sent from the rack supply section to the main transport line, a plurality of sample racks are arranged on the main transport line, and the sample racks remain on the main transport line. This is a method of performing sample dispensing processing. Therefore, the rack that has entered the main transport line later reaches the dispensing process only after the dispensing of the previous rack is completed. In (a), 9 racks are required to process 6 racks No. 1 to No. 6.
It takes 0 seconds.

On the other hand, in the application example of the present invention shown in FIG. 8B, the time required to process 6 racks is 48 seconds, which is 42 seconds shorter than that in FIG. 8A. Figure 8
The horizontal axis in indicates the elapsed time (seconds) from the start of analysis,
The vertical axis shows that four analysis units (No. 1 to No. 4 units) from the upstream side of the main transport line are sequentially connected via the main transport line. In the display of FIG. 8, the white rectangles represent the time during which the rack remains in each analysis unit for sample dispensing, and the numbers in the rectangles represent the rack numbers. The shaded rectangular portion is the time during which the rack is being transported by the main transport line. The number attached to the outside of the rectangle indicates the rack number at the time when the transfer is started in this system. In this example,
In the analysis unit No. 1, the rack of No. 1 is 15 seconds, N
The rack of o.2 is dispensed for 9 seconds. In the analysis unit No. 2, the No. 2 rack is dispensed for 6 seconds, the No. 3 rack for 15 seconds, and the No. 4 rack for 3 seconds. Also, in the analysis unit No. 3, 12 racks of No. 4 are used.
Second, rack of No. 5 is dispensed for 12 seconds. Furthermore, in the analysis unit No. 4, the rack of No. 5 is 3 seconds,
The No. 6 rack is dispensed for 15 seconds.

In the case of the control example (a) of FIG. 8, the next rack cannot be dispensed unless the dispensing of the previous rack is completed, whereas in the case of the application example (b) of the present invention. Since the sample racks that have not been designated for analysis can be skipped and the relevant sample rack can be immediately transported to the receiving analysis unit, the waiting time when the rack is moved can be shortened, and the total time from the start of transport to the rack storage can be shortened. it can. Further, when there are a plurality of racks that can be transported, the rack loaded first is preferentially transported, so that the time from the loading of each rack until the result is obtained can be shortened.

[0045]

According to the present invention, of the sample racks that have become ready to be carried out, the sample rack that has been loaded first is given priority to be transferred on the main transfer line, so that each sample stays in the device. The time can be shortened, and the number of processed samples can be increased as a whole. In addition, when a specific sample rack is recognized, the transport is controlled so that all sample racks pass through all analysis units, so the order of sample racks does not change before and after the specific sample rack, and can be easily loaded. You can check the interval.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic analyzer which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration near a main transfer line of the automatic analyzer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a preparation process for determining a transport path of a sample rack.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of detailed operations of the reception process of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of detailed operations of the transport determination process of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a transport control process of a sample rack associated with transport.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an example of the sample transfer mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a diagram comparing processing times of sample racks when the present invention is not applied and when the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a sample rack.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... control unit, 3 ... rack supply unit, 4 ... emergency sample inlet,
5 ... rack storage section, 6 ... loading transfer path, 7 ... storage transfer path,
9 ... Sample rack, 10, 18a, 18b ... Delivery port,
13 ... Main transport line, 14, 25a, 25b, 26a,
26b, 28 ... Rack movers, 15a, 15b, 19
a, 19b ... Sample transfer mechanism, 16a, 16b, 22 ... Receiving port, 17a, 17b ... Dispensing port, 31, 32, 3
3,34,35,36,37,38,39,51,5
2, 53, 54, 55, 56 ... Rack detector, 50 ... Identification information reading device, 71, 72 ... Dispensing processing area, 10
0,200 ... Analytical unit, 103, 203 ... Reaction disk.

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A 63-52061 (JP, A) JP-A 7-92171 (JP, A) JP-A 4-172252 (JP, A) JP-A 4-65676 (JP , A) JP 7-103985 (JP, A) JP 2-25755 (JP, A) JP 4-319667 (JP, A) JP 5-264558 (JP, A) JP 9-43249 (JP, A) JP-A-9-33539 (JP, A) JP-A-4-1571 (JP, A) JP-A-5-119043 (JP, A) JP-A-6-3361 (JP, A) A) JP 63-271164 (JP, A) JP 5-26882 (JP, A) JP 4-329359 (JP, A) JP 8-33402 (JP, B2) JP 3031237 (JP , B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 35/00-35/10 JISST file (JOIS)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sample rack, which holds a sample to be analyzed by any of a plurality of analysis units arranged along a main transport line, is transferred from a rack supply section to each analysis unit via the main transport line. In the method of transporting a sample rack, the sample rack is transported to a corresponding dispensing processing area, and the dispensed sample rack is transported from the dispensing processing area to the rack storage section via the main transport line. A delivery port for delivering a sample rack from the supply unit to the main transport line, a delivery port for delivering a sample rack from each dispensing processing area to the main transport line, and each dispensing process from the main transport line The area includes a receiving port for receiving the sample rack and a receiving port for receiving the sample rack from the main transfer line to the rack storage section. Selecting a transport path that matches the sample rack on the delivery port where the sample rack is located, from among a number of transport paths, and is selected under the condition that no other sample rack exists on the main transport line. When the relevant sample rack is transported from the sending port of the transport path to the receiving port via the main transport line, and when the waiting sample racks are on multiple sending ports, the loading order for transport A method of transporting a sample rack, characterized in that a sample rack loaded first based on information is transported with priority. 2. The method of transporting a sample rack according to claim 1, wherein all the sample racks have all the analyzers from the time the calibration sample rack holding the calibration sample is loaded until the time when the sample rack is stored. A method for transporting a sample rack, characterized in that the sample rack is transported so as to pass therethrough. 3. A main transport line capable of transporting a sample rack holding a sample, a plurality of analysis units arranged along the main transport line, and a supply unit for supplying the sample rack to the main transport line. In an automatic analyzer equipped with a rack storage section for storing sample racks transported on the main transport line, a plurality of analysis units are provided with a dispensing processing area having a receiving port for receiving a sample rack from the main transport line. Is provided corresponding to each of the above, and a control device for confirming whether or not the receiving port corresponding to the sample rack positioned at the sending port of the rack supply section is in the accepting state of the sample rack can be received. Sometimes the control is performed so that the sample rack on the delivery port of the rack supply section is transported to the corresponding receiving port by the main transport line. Device drives the main transport line, and when there are sample racks waiting to be transported on multiple output ports, the sample rack that was loaded first based on the loading order information to the main transport line is transported with priority. An automatic analyzer characterized by being configured as follows. 4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3, wherein all the sample racks pass through all the analyzers from the time the calibration sample rack holding the calibration sample is loaded until it is stored. An automatic analyzer characterized in that it is configured to be transported as described above.