JP3701654B2 - Code reading system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a code reading system for identifying and managing a large number of samples in drug discovery research and chemical substance analysis.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in drug discovery research and chemical substance analysis, etc., multiple long containers called microtubes filled with a solution in which a sample is dissolved are stored in a storage rack side by side for storage and transportation. Yes. Then, in order to identify what sample is enclosed in each microtube and what microtube is accommodated in each storage rack, the side surfaces of the microtube and the storage rack A bar code was attached to the camera, and it was read using a handy type code reader equipped with a one-dimensional line sensor, and the result was taken into a computer and managed.
[0003]
In addition, in order to identify more microtubes, a data matrix that can express more information in a smaller area than a barcode or a two-dimensional code called a QR code is affixed to the microtube to create a two-dimensional area. It was also read by a code reader equipped with a sensor.
[0004]
Furthermore, it has also been proposed to read a one-dimensional code and a two-dimensional code with a single code reader (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-319815 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a conventional code reading system, it is necessary to take out a long container (work) such as a microtube vertically stored in a storage rack one by one from the storage rack and read the identification code with a code reader. was there. When it is necessary to identify a large amount of workpieces, it takes a long time to read the identification codes.
[0007]
Further, not only is a picking device required to take out each workpiece from the storage rack, but also in order to automate the picking of the workpiece, each workpiece and the storage rack are separated for each workpiece. It was necessary to grasp and manage the relationship with the storage location, and the workability was extremely bad. In addition, when reading the identification code, since each work is taken in and out of the storage rack, there is a concern that the work storage location may be wrong, or trouble such as damage or loss of the work may occur.
[0008]
Furthermore, in recent years, in the field of drug discovery research, a new technology called combinatorial chemistry that efficiently synthesizes other types of compounds (libraries) by freely combining compounds has attracted attention. In order to achieve this, it is indispensable to develop a code reading system that can quickly and accurately identify a large number of workpieces and accurately associate and manage storage racks and individual workpieces contained in the storage racks. Yes.
[0009]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to be able to collectively read the identification code of the storage rack and the identification codes of a plurality of workpieces accommodated in the storage rack while the workpieces are accommodated in the storage rack. Another object of the present invention is to provide a code reading system capable of managing each work in association with a storage location on a storage rack.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described object, a code reading system according to claim 1 includes a plurality of containers, a storage rack for vertically storing the containers, and an identification code assigned to each of the containers and the storage rack. The storage rack has a rack identification code on the side surface as the identification code, and the container has a container identification code on the bottom surface as the identification code, The code reader includes a scanner reading surface on which the storage rack is placed, and a projection unit that projects the rack identification code onto the scanner reading surface. The code reader includes the rack identification code and the rack identification code. The container identification code is collectively read as image data through the scanner reading surface.
In addition, the container in the present invention is a small long container called a microtube for storing a compound or the like dissolved in a solvent solution, a container called a vial for storing a powdered sample, a test tube, or the like. It can select suitably according to a use.
[0011]
In addition to the configuration of the code reading system according to claim 1, the code reading system according to claim 2 decodes and stores each of the rack identification code and the container identification code from the collectively read image data. The rack is configured to manage each container stored in the storage rack in association with each other.
[0012]
In addition to the configuration of the code reading system according to claim 1 or 2, the code reading system according to claim 3 is characterized in that the projection means for projecting the rack identification code onto the scanner reading surface has an angle with respect to the scanner reading surface. And at least one optical reflector disposed so as to have.
[0013]
In addition to the configuration of the code reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the code reading system according to claim 4 is a configuration using a two-dimensional code as at least a container identification code among the identification codes. It is said.
[0014]
[Action]
Since the present invention has the above-described apparatus configuration, the following effects specific to the present invention are exhibited.
[0015]
According to the code reading system of the first aspect, the rack identification code is provided as the identification code on the side surface of the storage rack, the container identification code is provided as the identification code on the bottom surface of the container, and the storage rack is provided. A code reader having a scanner reading surface to be placed and a projection means for projecting the rack identification code onto the scanner reading surface, and the rack identification code and the container identification code as image data via the scanner reading surface. By adopting a configuration in which reading is performed in a batch, the information on the identification code of each container and the information on the identification code of the storage rack are read in association with each other without requiring handling of the container. .
[0016]
According to the code reading system of the second aspect, in addition to the operation performed by the code reading device of the first aspect, each of the rack identification code and the container identification code is decoded from the collectively read image data. In addition, since the storage rack and each of the containers accommodated in the storage rack are managed in association with each other, the identification information of each container and the storage location of the storage rack are instantaneously associated and recognized. At the same time, information on where the container is stored in the storage rack and which space is available, that is, presence information, is immediately and accurately recognized.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a code reading system as a projection unit for projecting a rack identification code onto a scanner reading surface in addition to the operation of the code reading system according to the first or second aspect. By comprising at least one optical reflector installed at an angle, the side surface of the storage rack and the bottom surface of the container are simultaneously read by one scanner reading surface.
[0018]
Since the code reading system according to claim 4 uses the two-dimensional code as the container identification code in addition to the effects exhibited by the code reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a slight amount of the bottom surface of the container is used. Identify a vast number of containers by area.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0020]
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of reading a microtube identification code using a code reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The code reading system 10 includes a plurality of microtubes 12 enclosing samples of chemicals and compounds, a storage rack 14 for vertically storing these microtubes 12, and a microtube 12 and a storage rack 14. And a code reader 20 for reading the assigned identification code. On one side of the storage rack 14, a rack identification code 18 made of a bar code is provided to identify each storage rack 14. The bottom surface of the microtube 12 has a container identification code 16 made up of a two-dimensional code for identifying individual microtubes. As the two-dimensional code, various codes registered as standards, such as a data matrix, a maxi code, a QR code, and an aztec code, can be used. Since these two-dimensional codes represent data in the vertical and horizontal directions as shown in FIG. 1, they can be displayed in a size of about 1/10 if the information amount is the same as the barcode. Therefore, a vast amount of microtubes can be identified by a two-dimensional code installed in a small area on the bottom surface of the microtube.
[0021]
The code reader 20 includes a scanner reading surface 22 on which the storage rack 14 is placed, and a projection unit 24 that projects the rack identification code 18 onto the scanner reading surface 22. As schematically shown in FIG. 3A, the projection unit 24 includes a mirror 24a installed so as to have an angle (for example, 45 degrees) with respect to the scanner reading surface, and a prism that is optically equivalent to the mirror. It is made of an optical reflector such as 24 b, and at least one is installed on the scanner reading surface 22. The rack identification code 18 is projected onto the scanner reading surface 22 by placing the storage rack 14 on the scanner reading surface 22 with the side surface having the rack identification code 18 facing the projection means 24.
[0022]
When the number of the projecting means 24 is one, it takes time to align the storage rack 14 so that the side surface having the rack identification code 18 faces the projecting means 24 every time a reading operation is performed. Therefore, by providing two to four projection means 24 so as to surround the side surface of the storage rack 14, it is possible to reduce the trouble of aligning the direction of the storage rack 14.
[0023]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, three projection means 24 are provided in a U shape so as to surround the three side surfaces of the storage rack 14, so that the storage rack 14 is placed on the scanner reading surface 22. In addition to ensuring operability, the trouble of aligning the direction of the storage rack 14 is greatly reduced. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, by providing the rack identification code 18 on the two side surfaces (14b, 14c) facing the storage rack 14 so as to be unevenly distributed on one side surface (14a) other than the two side surfaces, Regardless of the orientation of the storage rack 14, at least one rack identification code 18 faces one of the three projection means 24 installed in a U-shape and is projected onto the scanner reading surface 22. . Therefore, it can be placed on the scanner reading surface 22 without worrying about the orientation of the storage rack 14. In addition, since the two rack identification codes 18 are provided so as to be unevenly distributed on one side surface (14a), the rack identification code 18 is stored on the scanner reading surface 22 from the relative positional relationship of the rack identification code 18 with respect to the storage rack 14. The orientation in which the rack 14 is placed can be uniquely identified. Of course, it is possible to identify the orientation of the storage rack 14 placed on the scanner reading surface 22 by providing a marking for identifying the orientation of the rack on the bottom surface of the storage rack 14.
[0024]
The storage rack 14 used in the code reading system of the present invention has at least a bottom surface made of a transparent material, or has a through hole that fits on the bottom surface of each microtube. Thereby, the container identification code 16 provided on the bottom surface of each microtube 12 accommodated in the storage rack 14 and the rack identification code 18 projected by the projection means 24 are shown in FIG. Thus, it is possible to read in a batch via the scanner reading surface 22.
[0025]
As a main part of the code reader 20 other than the projection means 24, a general-purpose desktop flatbed scanner of a reading head moving type original fixed reading method using a CCD line sensor can be used as it is. The data read by the code reader 20 (scanner) is transferred to the personal computer 30 as image data through a normal interface such as USB or IEEE1394 serial interface, and subjected to predetermined image processing.
[0026]
Next, an example of image processing performed by the personal computer 30 will be described in detail. When the image data transferred to the personal computer is reproduced, for example, a screen projected on the scan reading surface as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. From this screen, the image of the position where the rack identification code 18 and the container identification code 16 should be is decoded, and the accommodation position on the microtube storage rack (for example, in the case of the example shown in FIG. Column), (A row 10 column), (A row 11 column)) and the information of the container identification code 16 of the microtube are stored in a memory in association with each other, and output to a file, display on a display, or print output on a printer Etc.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the code reading system according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, the following effects specific to the present invention are exhibited.
[0028]
According to the code reading system of the first aspect, the rack identification code is provided as the identification code on the side surface of the storage rack, the container identification code is provided as the identification code on the bottom surface of the container, and the storage rack is provided. A code reader having a scanner reading surface to be placed and a projection means for projecting the rack identification code onto the scanner reading surface, and the rack identification code and the container identification code as image data via the scanner reading surface. By adopting a configuration in which reading is performed in a lump, the reading time of identification codes for a large number of containers is dramatically shortened. Moreover, since the management of the container storage location and the like can be performed at the same time, the work efficiency is improved and the warehouse can be fully automated. Furthermore, since the container identification code can be read while the container is stored in the storage rack, the risk of the container being mistaken or lost can be reduced. In addition, the code can be read with almost no vibration or temperature change on the container, so it is particularly suitable for fields where strict management is required for the handling of workpieces (samples), such as drug discovery research. it can.
[0029]
According to the code reading system of the second aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the code reading device of the first aspect, each of the rack identification code and the container identification code is decoded from the collectively read image data. In addition, since the storage rack and each of the containers accommodated in the storage rack are managed in association with each other, the identification information of each container and the storage location of the storage rack are instantly associated and recognized. At the same time, it is possible to immediately and accurately recognize information on which place in the storage rack the container is stored and which place is vacant, that is, presence information.
[0030]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a code reading system as a projection unit for projecting a rack identification code onto a scanner reading surface in addition to the effect of the code reading system according to the first or second aspect. By comprising at least one optical reflector installed at an angle, the system configuration is simplified, and a general-purpose desktop flatbed scanner can be used, which greatly reduces costs. .
[0031]
Since the code reading system according to claim 4 uses the two-dimensional code as the container identification code in addition to the effects exhibited by the code reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a slight amount of the bottom surface of the container is used. An enormous number of areas can be identified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a code reading system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a storage rack used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a reading mechanism by the code reading system of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image read according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Code reading system 12 ... Micro tube 14 ... Storage rack 16 ... Container identification code (two-dimensional code)
18 ・ ・ ・ Rack identification code (bar code)
20: Code reader 22 ... Scanner reading surface 24 ... Projection means 30 ... Personal computer

Claims (4)

In a code reading system having a plurality of containers, a storage rack for vertically storing the containers, and a code reader for reading an identification code assigned to each of the containers and the storage rack,
The storage rack has a rack identification code on a side surface as the identification code,
The container has a container identification code on the bottom as the identification code,
The code reader has a scanner reading surface on which the storage rack is placed, and projection means for projecting the rack identification code onto the scanner reading surface,
The code reader system, wherein the code reader collectively reads the rack identification code and the container identification code as image data through the scanner reading surface. The rack identification code and the container identification code are each decoded from the batch-read image data, and the storage rack and each of the containers are managed in association with each other. Code reading system. The code reading system according to claim 1, wherein the projection unit is at least one optical reflector that is installed at an angle with respect to the scanner reading surface. The code reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a container identification code among the identification codes is a two-dimensional code.

Images