JP4469963B2 - Sample transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample transport device, particularly an automatic analyzer in which a plurality of analysis units are arranged in series along a transport line of a sample container and a sample in the sample container transported by the transport line is analyzed. The present invention relates to a sample transport device suitable for application.

  As such an automatic analyzer, for example, a plurality of reaction units are provided along the transfer line unit, a bypass line is provided adjacent to each reaction unit, and a sample container to be sampled in each reaction unit is provided in the reaction unit. A system in which sampling is performed by bypassing a corresponding bypass line is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the present applicant also includes, for example, an analysis target sample passage path including a sample collection position and a non-analysis target sample passage path including no sample collection position in at least one of a plurality of analysis units arranged in series. Are provided in parallel, sample distribution means is provided on the sample container introduction side of the analysis unit, and the sample containers sequentially supplied to the sample distribution means are connected to the analysis items and the analysis units specified in advance for each sample. There has been proposed an automatic analyzer that feeds either an analysis target sample passage path or a non-analysis target sample passage path in accordance with an analysis item that can be analyzed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2-25755 JP-A-2-110376

  However, in the automatic analyzer disclosed in Patent Document 1, the sample container to be sampled in each reaction unit is sampled after being bypassed from the transfer line unit to the bypass line corresponding to the reaction unit, After that, since the sample is returned to the transfer line unit again, the sample container is pulled from the transfer line unit to the bypass line and the sample container is returned from the bypass line to the transfer line unit in a certain reaction unit. If so, the transport operation in the transport line section is interrupted during the operation, so that the transport efficiency of the sample container is lowered and the analysis processing capacity is lowered.

  Further, in the automatic analyzer disclosed in Patent Document 2, the sample container sequentially supplied in each analysis unit is passed through an analysis target sample passage path or a non-analysis target sample passage by a sample distribution unit according to the analysis item. Since there is only one sample passage path in the sample distribution means, there may be cases where a plurality of sample containers that have passed through the previous analysis unit are stuck in the sample distribution means of the subsequent analysis unit. There is a concern that the conveyance efficiency of the sample container is lowered and the analysis processing capacity is lowered.

  In order to solve such a problem, the applicant arranges a plurality of analysis units in series along the transport line of the sample container so as to analyze the sample in the sample container transported through the transport line. As a sample transport device applied to the automatic analyzer, a plurality of transport lines capable of transporting sample containers between a plurality of analysis units are provided in parallel, and a plurality of transport lines are provided in at least one of the plurality of analysis units. We are developing a sample transport device with a line changer that selectively moves sample containers between transport lines.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a sample transport apparatus that can perform sample container transfer quickly and without error in a sample transport apparatus having such a line changer.

The invention of the sample transport apparatus according to claim 1 that achieves the above object is to selectively slide the sample container in a direction perpendicular to the transport line between a plurality of transport lines arranged in parallel to transport the sample container. A sample transport device comprising a line changer to be transferred,
In the line changer, the plurality of transfer lines are formed in a barrier-free manner in which the direction orthogonal to the transfer line has no step between each other,
The line changer, the sample container so as to sandwich from a direction perpendicular to the conveying line, move in a direction perpendicular to the conveying line in suspended state, and the change guide causes lateral slide the sample container, the change A stopper provided on the upstream side and / or downstream side of the guide for use so as to be able to enter the transport path of the sample container by the transport line ;
The change guide, the stopper in cooperation with both the sample container sandwiched between the change guide, in a state of stopping the transportation, the movement of the change guide between said plurality of conveyor lines It is characterized in that it is configured to selectively move in the direction .

Furthermore, the invention of the sample transport apparatus according to claim 2 that achieves the above object is such that the sample container is selectively laterally slid in a direction orthogonal to the transport line between a plurality of transport lines arranged in parallel to transport the sample container. A sample transfer device comprising a line changer that is transferred
The line changer, the sample container so as to sandwich from a direction perpendicular to the conveying line, the direction perpendicular to the conveying line moved in suspended state, has a change guide causes lateral slide the sample container,
The plurality of transfer lines are divided at an upstream side and a downstream side across the line changer, and a plurality of changer transfer lines that respectively connect the plurality of divided transfer lines to the part of the line changer are independently provided. Can be driven , and the direction perpendicular to the transport line is formed so as to be barrier-free without any step ,
Only during the period of changing the sample container, the corresponding changer transport line is stopped, and the sample containers sandwiched between the change guides are moved by the change guides to move the plurality of changer transport lines. It is characterized in that it is configured to selectively move in both directions.

  According to the present invention, a sample container can be quickly and without error transferred by a line changer between a plurality of transport lines arranged in parallel.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of an automatic analyzer including a sample transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This automatic analyzer, for example, analyzes a predetermined substance (item) in a sample such as serum, has a sampler 1 arranged in series, and four analysis units 2, 3, 4, and 5. A rack 7 holding a plurality of (for example, 10) sample containers 6 each containing a sample to be analyzed from the sampler 1 is sequentially supplied in the feed direction, that is, from the analysis unit 2 to the analysis unit 5, and the analysis units 2 to 2 are supplied. The rack 7 that has been selectively analyzed in 5 and analyzed is transported in the return direction opposite to the feed direction, that is, from the analysis unit 5 to the analysis unit 2 and collected by the sampler 1. The CPU as the main control unit controls the entire analyzer.

  For example, the analysis units 2 to 5 measure the electrolyte in the sample by the electrode method, and the analysis units 3 to 5 include the endpoint method, the late method, the fixed method, and the like. It is configured to analyze a predetermined biochemical item by law or the like. Here, each of the analysis units 2 to 5 may be configured to include a sub-control unit that receives an instruction from the main control unit and controls the operation in the unit.

  Each of these analysis units 2 to 5 communicates from the analysis unit 2 to the analysis unit 5 without merging and is parallel to each other, and the first sample feed transport line 11 and the second sample feed The transport line 12 and the sample return transport line 13 are provided so as to be connected in parallel. The first sample feed transport line 11 and the second sample feed transport line 12 are configured to transport the rack 7 supplied from the sampler 1 in the feed direction, and the sample return transport line 13 is the line 13. The upper rack 7 is transported in the return direction. Each conveyance line 11-13 is comprised using a belt conveyor, for example, and forms the conveyance path extended continuously integrally as shown in FIG. The transport lines 11 to 13 thus extended are always driven so as to be transported at a constant speed in a constant direction. In addition, each conveyance line 11-13 is suitably formed with a fixed guide (not shown) for conveyance, and guides the rack 7.

  The analysis unit 2 is configured to move the rack 7 at predetermined sample suction positions S1 and S2 on the first sample feed transport line 11 and the second sample feed transport line 12 by the sample dispensing mechanism 15 that can be rotated and moved up and down. The sample is selectively sucked from the sample container 6 held in the container, and the sucked sample is discharged to the measurement container 16 to measure the electrolyte in the sample by the electrode method. In the analysis unit 2, the rack 7 is selectively placed on the first sample feed transport line 11 and the second sample feed transport line 12 by a known pitch feed mechanism (intermittent stopper, intermittent belt stop, etc.). Pitch feeding is performed so that the sample containers 6 held on the rack 7 are sequentially positioned at the sample suction position S1 or S2.

  Each of the analysis units 3, 4, and 5 is connected in series with the same configuration, and the first sample feeding transport line 11 and the first sample delivery mechanism 21 can be rotated and moved up and down by the sample dispensing mechanism 21. The sample is selectively sucked from the sample container 6 held on the rack 7 at a predetermined sample suction position on the second sample transporting conveyance line 12, and a predetermined amount is drawn into the reaction container 23 held on the turntable 22. Dispensing at the injection position and analyzing the reaction vessel 23 into which the sample has been dispensed by the first reagent dispensing mechanism 26 and the second reagent dispensing mechanism 27 from the first reagent table 24 and the second reagent table 25, respectively. The first reagent and the second reagent corresponding to the item are dispensed, and the predetermined item is analyzed by a predetermined analysis method. Here, the dispensing order of the sample and the first reagent may be the first reagent first.

  Here, the sample suction position of the analysis unit 3 on the first sample feed transport line 11 and the second sample feed transport line 12 is indicated by S3 and S4, and the sample suction position of the analysis unit 4 is indicated by S5 and S6. The sample suction position of the analysis unit 5 is indicated by S7 and S8. In each of the analysis units 3, 4 and 5, the rack 7 is selectively pitch-fed by a known pitch feed mechanism on the first sample feed transport line 11 and the second sample feed transport line 12. Thus, the sample containers 6 held in the rack 7 are sequentially positioned at a desired sample suction position. In each analysis unit 3, 4, and 5, the reaction vessel 23 is held at equal intervals along two concentric circles of the turntable 22.

  Further, in the sample transport lines 11, 12, and 13 provided in communication before the respective analysis units 3, 4 and 5, a line changer 31 is provided on the downstream side in the feed direction from the corresponding sample suction position. Thus, the rack 7 is selectively transferred between the first sample feed transport line 11, the second sample feed transport line 12, and the sample return transport line 13. However, the most downstream analysis unit 5 is set so that each rack 7 transported exclusively from the upstream of the sample feed transport lines 11 and 12 is transferred to the sample return transport line 13. Thus, by providing the arrangement position of the line changer 31 on the downstream side in the feed direction from the sample suction position, the sample transport unit connected to each of the plurality of analysis units has a simple structure that can be repeated with the same configuration. However, all the racks 7 can be moved from the most downstream sample transport section in the return direction.

  As shown in the enlarged plan view of FIG. 2, the line changer 31 is a change that is movably provided between the first sample feed transport line 11, the second sample feed transport line 12, and the sample return transport line 13. Guide 32 and a stopper 33 provided at a height capable of abutting against the rack 7 over the transport lines 11, 12 and 13 on the downstream side in the feed direction of the change guide 32. Have. Note that the moving means of the line changer 31 is, for example, provided above the line changer 31 and designed so that the line changer 31 can move in a suspended state slightly above the transport line. Further, in order to freely move the line changer 31 and the stopper 33, the guides (not shown) for guiding as described above are provided in the portions of the transport lines 11, 12 and 13 corresponding to these movement ranges. And the installation surfaces of the racks 7 of the transfer lines 11, 12, and 13 are in a barrier-free state with no steps.

  The change guide 32 is normally positioned on the second sample feeding transport line 12, and when the stopper 33 is retracted from the transport lines 11, 12, and 13, the change guide 32 is on the upstream transport lines 11, 12, and 13. The rack 7 passes through the line changer 31 as it is and is transported to the same transport line on the downstream side.

  In the line changer 31, for example, when the rack 7 transported on the transport line 12 is transferred to the transport line 11 or the transport line 13, the change guide 32 is moved to the transport line 12 as shown in FIG. The stopper 33 is entered into the transport lines 11, 12 and 13 in a state where it is positioned, and the rack 7 transported from the transport line 12 on the upstream side is stopped by the change guide 32, and further this state is maintained, By moving the change guide 32 toward the transfer line 11 or the transfer line 13 in the direction perpendicular to the transfer line (in the direction perpendicular to the transfer line) and moving the stopper 33 backward from the transfer lines 11, 12 and 13, the upstream side The rack 7 that has been transported along the transport line 12 is slid sideways from the transport line 11 and derailed. Transferring and positioning the transport line 11 or the transport line 13 crab downstream. Thus, since the rack 7 transferred to each transport line 11 or 13 maintains the direction along the transport direction as it is, it is transported normally immediately after the stopper 33 is retracted. In particular, when the change guide 32 is suspended, and the rack 7 is slid horizontally on the transfer line, the change can be performed more quickly and with fewer errors than the configuration in which the rack 7 is gripped and lifted by a robot arm or the like. It becomes possible. In addition, since the line changer 31 is arranged not on the analysis unit but on the opposing surface portion of each analysis unit, the overall length of the analysis apparatus can be shortened.

  Similarly, when the rack 7 transported on the transport line 11 is transferred to the transport line 12 or the transport line 13, the change guide 32 is moved to the transport line 11 as shown in FIG. After the stopper 33 enters the transfer lines 11, 12 and 13 and the rack 7 is transferred from the upstream transfer line 11 to the change guide 32, the change guide 32 is moved to the transfer line 12 or the transfer line 13 side. By moving the stopper 33 backward from the transport lines 11, 12, and 13, the rack 7 transported on the upstream transport line 11 is transferred to the downstream transport line 12 or the transport line 13.

  On the other hand, the sampler 1 is provided with an analysis rack set unit 41, a rack supply / recovery unit 42, and an analyzed rack storage unit 43. In the analysis rack set unit 41, a plurality of racks 7 for holding a plurality of sample containers 6 each containing a sample to be analyzed are set, and these sequential racks 7 are held in the rack 7 respectively. 6 is selectively supplied to the first sample feed transport line 11 and the second sample feed transport line 12 via the rack supply / recovery unit 42 according to the analysis items in the analysis unit 2 and the analysis status in the analysis units 2 to 5. To do. The rack supply / recovery unit 42 collects the rack 7 transported by the sample return transport line 13 and transports it to the analyzed rack storage unit 43 for storage. An analysis item for each sample container 6 is recognized by attaching a barcode representing the analysis item of the sample to the sample container 6 and reading the barcode on the sampler 1 with a barcode reader (not shown).

Next, an example of the operation of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
In this automatic analyzer, each of the analysis units 2, 3, 4, and 5 mainly uses the second sample feed transport line 12 as a general sample analysis line, and the first sample feed transport line 11 is a rack 7. Is used as an overtaking line for transporting the sample to the downstream analysis unit without being analyzed by the upstream analysis unit, an analysis line for an emergency sample, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when a sample held in the rack 7 to be supplied from the rack supply / recovery unit 42 of the sampler 1 has an analysis item in the analysis unit 3, the rack 7 is used as the first of the analysis unit 2. 2 is supplied to the sample feeding conveyance line 12. Here, when there is an analysis item in the analysis unit 2 in the rack 7, the sample is sucked at the sample suction position S <b> 2 of the analysis unit 2 for analysis, and then further transported to the analysis unit 3. The sample is aspirated at the sample aspirating position S4 for analysis. When there is no analysis item in the analysis unit 2, the analysis unit 2 is passed through without being stopped at the sample suction position S <b> 2 of the analysis unit 2 and is transported to the sample suction position S <b> 4 of the analysis unit 3.

  If there is no analysis item in the analysis units 2 and 3 and there is an analysis item in the analysis unit 4, the rack 7 is supplied to the first sample feeding transport line 11 of the analysis unit 2 for analysis. The unit 2 is allowed to pass without stopping at the sample suction position S1 and is transported to the line changer 31 without being stopped at the sample suction position S3 of the analysis unit 3. Thereafter, the rack 7 is moved to the line changer 31 by the line changer 31. The sample is transferred from the first sample transporting line 11 to the second sample transporting line 12 and transported to the sample suction position S6 of the analysis unit 4, where the sample is sucked for analysis.

  Similarly, when there are no analysis items in the analysis units 2, 3, and 4 and there are analysis items in the analysis unit 5, the rack 7 is supplied to the first sample feeding transport line 11 of the analysis unit 2. Then, the sample is transported to the line changer 31 of the analysis unit 4 without stopping at the sample suction positions S1, S3, and S5 of the analysis units 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The sample is transferred from the transport line 11 for sample feed to the transport line 12 for second sample feed and transported to the sample suction position S6 of the analysis unit 5, where the sample is sucked for analysis.

  In each of the above cases, if there is no analysis item in the downstream analysis units 4 and 5 for the rack 7 for which the sample has been aspirated in the analysis unit 3, or if the rack 7 for which the sample has been aspirated in the analysis unit 4 is downstream When there is no analysis item in the analysis unit 5 on the side, or when the suction of the sample is completed in the analysis unit 5 on the most downstream side, the rack 7 is connected to the second line changer 31 by the corresponding line changer 31 as shown in FIG. The sample transfer transport line 12 is transferred to the sample return transport line 13, collected by the rack supply / recovery unit 42 of the sampler 1, and transported and stored in the analyzed rack storage unit 43.

  Further, there is no analysis item in the downstream analysis unit 4 and analysis items in the downstream analysis unit 5 with respect to the rack 7 in which the suction of the sample has been completed in the second sample feeding conveyance line 12 of the analysis unit 3. And there is another rack 7 in the second sample feeding conveyance line 12 of the downstream analysis unit 4, as shown in FIG. Is transferred from the second sample feed transport line 12 to the first sample feed transport line 11 by the line changer 31 of the analysis unit 3 to overtake the rack 7 in the analysis unit 4 and the line of the analysis unit 4 The rack 7 is transported to the changer 31 from the first sample transporting line 11 to the second sample transporting line 12. Changed by, for analysis it is transported to the sample suctioning position S6 in the analysis unit 5.

  Furthermore, the second sample feed transport line 12 of the analysis unit 5 is vacant, the number of analysis items in the analysis unit 4 with respect to the rack 7 in the second sample feed transport line 12 of the analysis unit 3 is small, and When the number of analysis items in the analysis unit 5 is large, the number of analysis items in the rack 7 in the second sample feed conveyance line 12 in the analysis unit 4 is large, and the sampling operation of the rack 7 in the analysis unit 3 is completed. If the rack 7 cannot be transported immediately to the second sample feed transport line 12 of the analysis unit 4, the rack 7 is transferred to the first sample transport transport line 11 by the line changer 31 of the analysis unit 3. In the analysis unit 4, the sampling operation for the rack 7 in the second sample feeding transport line 12 is performed. The sampling operation is performed at the sample suction position S5 on the rack 7 transported from the analysis unit 3 via the first sample feed transport line 11, and after the required sampling operation is finished, the rack 7 is The line changer 31 of the analysis unit 4 is transferred to the second sample feed transport line 12 and transported to the analysis unit 5, and the sampling operation for the rack 7 in the second sample feed transport line 12 once suspended is resumed. To do.

  On the other hand, when an analysis request for an urgent sample occurs, the urgent sample is supplied from the rack supply / recovery unit 42 of the sampler 1 to the first sample transporting line 11, and according to the analysis item of the urgent sample, Analysis is performed by selectively aspirating the urgent sample at the corresponding sample suction positions S1, S3, S5 and S7 by the analysis units 2 to 5.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a schematic configuration of the sample transport device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the conveyance lines 51, 52 and 53 on the upstream side and the conveyance lines 51 ', 52' and 53 'on the downstream side are separated from each other across the portion where the change guide 32 moves, Changer transport lines 54, 55, and 56 are provided on a portion where the change guide 32 moves by a belt conveyor or the like that is independently driven. The changer transfer lines 54, 55 and 56 stop the changer transfer line conveyor corresponding to the transfer line to be changed only during the period when the change guide 32 changes the transfer line. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the rack 7 can be transferred without providing a stopper, and the conveyance of the conveyance line without the transfer can be maintained. In this case, the change guide 32 is supported so that it can be selectively advanced and retracted at a height below the upper surface of the belt between the belt conveyors in the divided conveyance line (in FIG. 6, the separation space portion on the rack set unit 41 side). By attaching to the rod 57, the moving mechanism of the change guide 32 can be designed to save space and not interfere with rack transport.

The automatic analyzer shown in the above embodiment can be understood as follows.
(1) In an automatic analyzer in which a plurality of analysis units are arranged in series along a transport line of a sample container, and the sample in the sample container transported through the transport line is analyzed.
An automatic analyzer, wherein a plurality of sample feed transport lines capable of transporting sample containers between the plurality of analysis units are provided in parallel as the transport lines.

  In this way, it is possible to select a plurality of transport lines for sample feeding as appropriate, and to efficiently transport the sample container to a required analysis unit according to the analysis item. It becomes possible to improve effectively.

(2) In the automatic analyzer described in (1) above, in each of the analysis units, a sample is selectively distributed from the sample container respectively transported by the plurality of transport lines for sample feeding to the reaction container of the analysis unit. Automatic analyzer characterized by being configured to be ordered.

  In this way, the sample can be selectively sampled directly from the sample containers on the plurality of sample feeding conveyance lines without providing the sample container bypass line in each analysis unit, so that the plurality of sample feeding conveyances can be performed. It becomes possible to simply configure the transport mechanism for the sample container including the line.

(3) In the automatic analyzer according to the above (1) or (2), a line changer that selectively transfers a sample container between the plurality of sample feeding transport lines to at least one of the plurality of analysis units. An automatic analyzer characterized by the provision of

  In this way, the sample container can be transported to the subsequent analysis unit by overtaking the sample container being analyzed by the intermediate analysis unit according to the analysis item and the analysis status of the subsequent analysis unit, for example. The containers can be transported more efficiently according to the analysis items, the overall analysis processing capability can be further improved, and the degree of freedom for setting the analysis items in each analysis unit can be increased.

(4) In the automatic analyzer described in (3) above, the sample return transport that transports the sample container along the plurality of sample feed transport lines in a direction opposite to the feed direction in the sample feed transport line. An automatic analyzer comprising: a line; and the line changer configured to selectively transfer a sample container between the plurality of sample feeding conveyance lines and the sample returning conveyance line.

  In this way, when there is no analysis item in the subsequent analysis unit for a sample container that has been sampled in a certain analysis unit, the analysis container is not transported to the subsequent analysis unit. The sample changer can be transferred back to the sample return transfer line, enabling more efficient transfer of sample containers, improving the overall analysis processing capacity, and for feeding multiple samples. Since the sample container supply unit and the sample container recovery unit can be arranged on the upstream side of the transfer line, it is possible to improve operability such as setting of the sample container in the automatic analyzer and recovery of the analyzed sample container.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to embodiment mentioned above, Many deformation | transformation or a change is possible. For example, in the line changer 31 shown in the first embodiment, the stopper 33 is provided so as to advance and retreat only to the downstream side of the sample feed with respect to the change guide 32. By providing it also on the upstream side, even if the next rack 7 is mistakenly transported from the upstream due to a feeding mistake or the like, it will not hinder the operation of the change guide 32, or it will be moved in the sample return direction. Immediately after that, the timing at which the rack 7 moves downstream (right side in the figure) can be controlled.

  Further, the transport form of the rack 7 is not limited to the above-described case, and various forms are possible depending on the analysis item in the rack 7 and the analysis status in the downstream analysis unit. For example, when there are analysis items in the analysis units 4 and 5 and the number of analysis items for the rack 7 already in the analysis unit 4 is large and the analysis unit 5 is empty, the rack 7 is set to the first item. The sample is transported to the second sample feed transport line 12 of the analysis unit 5 through the sample change transport line 11 and the line changer 31 of the analysis unit 4, and the analysis unit 5 performs the sampling operation first, and then the analysis unit. It is also possible to perform the sampling operation by transporting to the second sample feed transport line 12 of the analysis unit 4 via the line changer 31 of 5, the transport line 13 for returning the sample, and the line changer 31 of the analysis unit 3. .

  In addition, the number of analysis units arranged in series is not limited to 4 units, and can be any number of 2 units or more, and the type of analysis unit is not limited to the analysis unit for electrolytes and biochemical items, but is an immune item. It is also possible to arrange various types of analysis units including analysis units such as genetic items. Here, when the aspiration position for sample aspiration and the number of aspiration locations are different due to different analysis items of a plurality of analysis units, for example, the sample feeding and the sample conveyance unit corresponding to each analysis unit and It is preferable that the number of return transfer lines, the number of line changers, the arrangement position, etc. be changed or added as appropriate for each analysis unit. Furthermore, a plurality of analysis units for analyzing the same item are arranged in series, and the sampling operation is performed by selectively using the first sample transporting line and the second sample transporting line in each analysis unit. It can also be.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sampler 1 is arranged on one end side of the plurality of analysis units arranged in series so that the rack 7 is supplied and recovered. It is also possible to arrange a rack recovery device on the end side, supply the rack 7 from one end side, and recover it on the other end side. In this case, the sample return conveyance line can be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, a plurality of sample containers 6 are held in the rack 7 and transported in units of racks. However, the present invention is also effective when transporting the sample containers 6 one by one in units of containers. Can be applied to. In the above-described embodiment, the line changer 31 is configured such that the stopper 33 advances and retreats across the transport lines 11, 12, and 13, but when the rack 7 is moved only between the transport lines 11 and 12, By advancing and retreating over the transport lines 11 and 12 and not moving into the transport line 13, it is possible to prevent the rack 7 from being transported on the transport line 13. Similarly, it is possible to prevent the rack 7 from being transported on the transport line 11 by providing a second stopper that moves forward and backward in the opposite direction of the drawing.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the arrangement position of the line changer 31 is provided on the downstream side (left side in the drawing) in the feed direction from the sample suction position. However, for the analysis units other than the most downstream analysis unit, the sample suction position It may be provided on the upstream side in the feed direction (the right side in the figure). In some cases, all analysis can be performed by separately providing a line changer 31 for transferring all of the racks 7 from the transport lines 11 and 12 to the sample return transport line 13 on the downstream side of the most downstream analysis unit. The arrangement position of the line changer in the unit may be freely set.

It is a top view which shows diagrammatically the structure of the automatic analyzer provided with the sample conveyance apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. . It is an enlarged plan view of the line changer shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a line changer. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows diagrammatically the schematic structure of the sample conveyance apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sampler 2, 3, 4, 5 Analysis unit 6 Sample container 7 Rack 11 1st sample feeding conveyance line 12 2nd sample feeding conveyance line 13 Sample return conveyance line 31 Line changer 32 Change guide 33 Stopper S1 ~ S8 Sample suction position

Claims (2)

A sample transport apparatus comprising a line changer that selectively slides and moves a sample container in a direction perpendicular to the transport line between a plurality of transport lines arranged in parallel to transport the sample container,
In the line changer, the plurality of transfer lines are formed in a barrier-free manner in which the direction orthogonal to the transfer line has no step between each other,
The line changer, the sample container so as to sandwich from a direction perpendicular to the conveying line, move in a direction perpendicular to the conveying line in suspended state, and the change guide causes lateral slide the sample container, the change A stopper provided on the upstream side and / or downstream side of the guide for use so as to be able to enter the transport path of the sample container by the transport line ;
The change guide, the stopper in cooperation with both the sample container sandwiched between the change guide, in a state of stopping the transportation, the movement of the change guide between said plurality of conveyor lines A sample transport device characterized in that it is configured to selectively move in the direction . A sample transport apparatus comprising a line changer that selectively slides and moves a sample container in a direction perpendicular to the transport line between a plurality of transport lines arranged in parallel to transport the sample container,
The line changer, the sample container so as to sandwich from a direction perpendicular to the conveying line, the direction perpendicular to the conveying line moved in suspended state, has a change guide causes lateral slide the sample container,
The plurality of transfer lines are divided at an upstream side and a downstream side across the line changer, and a plurality of changer transfer lines that respectively connect the plurality of divided transfer lines to the part of the line changer are independently provided. Can be driven , and the direction perpendicular to the transport line is formed so as to be barrier-free without any step ,
Only during the period of changing the sample container, the corresponding changer transport line is stopped, and the sample containers sandwiched between the change guides are moved by the change guides to move the plurality of changer transport lines. A sample transport device characterized in that it is configured to selectively move in both directions.

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