JP4568226B2 - Rack transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rack transport device, and more particularly to a mechanism for laterally feeding a rack in its longitudinal direction.

  The rack transport device is a device that transports a rack holding a plurality of containers. Each container contains a sample, a reagent, and the like to be processed. Such a rack transport device is incorporated in a sample measuring device, a dispensing device, and other devices. The sample measurement device is a device that performs radiation measurement on each sample. The dispensing device is a device that sucks each sample and dispenses it.

  The rack transport device generally transports a rack according to a set transport path on a transport table. In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, first, the rack is transported stepwise (to the back of the table) stepwise (first transport), and then the rack is moved to the rack longitudinal direction (table left direction). F) stepwise (second conveyance), and the rack is conveyed stepwise (to the front side of the table) stepwise (third conveyance). A measurement unit is provided at the center on the back side of the table, and a container positioned immediately below the measurement unit is taken into the measurement unit, and in this state, the radioactive substance contained in the sample in the container is measured. In order to perform the second transport, a second transport path is set on the back side of the transport table. The rack transported to the back side of the table by the first transport contacts the rail member (the vertical wall surface thereof) that exists on the other side of the second transport path and defines the second transport path, and its advance is defined. Thereafter, the second conveyance is performed. Usually, a partition wall is set between the first transport path and the third transport path, and on the second transport path, the rack passes through the gap between the end of the table on the back side of the table and the rail member. Is transported. In that case, the rack is transferred stepwise by a claw member protruding from the lower side or the frame side to the second transport path.

JP-A-11-31678

  However, the conventional configuration has a problem that the rack posture cannot always be stabilized when the rack is transported on the second transport path. For example, a problem has been pointed out that the rack posture becomes unstable during the conveyance by the claw member, and thus the rack rotates out of the direction of the second conveyance path or is wobbled. In such a case, a rack transport error or a rack positioning error occurs.

  An object of the present invention is to enable proper transport of a rack when the rack is laterally fed in the rack longitudinal direction.

  The present invention provides a rack transport apparatus having a transport table for transporting a rack holding a plurality of containers, and a first transport mechanism for transporting the rack in the short direction along a first path on the transport table; A second transport mechanism that includes a rail member that contacts a side surface of the rack transported by the first transport mechanism, and transports the rack in a longitudinal direction along a second path defined by the rail member; A third transport mechanism that transports the rack transported by the transport mechanism in the short direction along the third path, and the second transport mechanism includes legs of the rack transported on the second path. A roller that guides the progress of the section, and an elevating mechanism that floats the roller on the conveyance surface of the second path during rack guidance.

  According to the above configuration, when the rack is transported along the second path by the second transport mechanism, the legs of the rack are guided by the roller that has floated from below, so that the rack posture is stabilized. , It can be transported properly. Desirably, a plurality of rollers are provided in the second path side by side in the rack traveling direction. They are driven up and down by one or more lifting mechanisms. It is desirable that the roller itself be configured to be rotatable. Desirably, when the second path is set on one side of the transfer table, the fourth path is set on the other side of the transfer table, and the fourth path has the same configuration as the second transfer mechanism. A fourth transport mechanism is provided.

  Desirably, a passageway is formed between the roller and the rail member so as to pass a leg portion of the rack on the rail member side. The rack leg may be sandwiched between the roller and the rail member with a certain amount of force, and a passage that is the same as or slightly larger than the thickness of the rack leg is formed between the roller and the rail member. You may do it.

  Preferably, the elevating mechanism moves the roller of the second path when the rack is passed from the first path to the second path and when the rack is passed from the second path to the third path. It is set in the state where it was sunk below the conveyance surface. According to this configuration, when the rack is loaded into the second path and when the rack is discharged from the second path, the roller is in a sinked state, so that the movement of the rack is not hindered.

  Preferably, the elevating mechanism in the second transport mechanism has a plurality of drive sources that drive up a plurality of rollers, and the plurality of drive sources are energized non-simultaneously. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the burden on the power source by suppressing the instantaneous power level, that is, by distributing the instantaneous power level. Alternatively, a small power source can be used.

  Preferably, the elevating mechanism includes a movable part that is rotatably provided around a predetermined rotation axis and holds the roller, and an actuator that is connected to the movable part and rotationally drives the movable part, The roller moves up and down by the rotational movement of the movable part. According to this configuration, since the rotational movement of the movable part is used, the space required for the movement can be reduced, and if a roller is attached to the end of the movable part, a necessary lifting stroke can be easily secured. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, the rack can be appropriately conveyed when the rack is laterally fed in the rack longitudinal direction.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a rack transport apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the main part of the rack transport apparatus. This rack transport device is incorporated in, for example, a dispensing device or a sample measuring device.

  In FIG. 1, the rack transport apparatus 10 has a transport table 12 as a pedestal for transporting a plurality of racks 14. The transfer table 12 is surrounded by four side walls 18, 20, 22, 24.

  On the transport table 12, a main transport path 30 for transporting the rack in the direction of 100 in FIG. 1 and a main transport path 32 for transporting the rack in the direction of 104 are set. The rack is fed from the main transport path 30 to the main transport path 32 on the auxiliary transport path (transverse transport path), and the rack transport direction on the auxiliary transport path is indicated by reference numeral 102. Further, the rack is transported from the main transport path 32 to the main transport path 30 in the same auxiliary transport path as described above, and the transport direction of the rack there is indicated by reference numeral 106.

  For example, as indicated by reference numeral 100, when the rack is transported forward on the main transport path 30, the rack hits the side wall 22, and then the rack is laterally fed in the direction indicated by reference numeral 102. When all of the racks reach the main transport path 32 beyond the partition wall 28, the racks are transported in the direction indicated by reference numeral 104. Such a conveyance process is also performed on another auxiliary conveyance path. Incidentally, a rail 44 that defines an auxiliary conveyance path is provided below the side walls 22 and 26. A pair of leg portions 14 </ b> A is formed in the lower portion of the rack 14, and the outer surface (side surface) of one leg portion of these contacts the rail 44.

  In this embodiment, an auxiliary conveyance mechanism is provided in each auxiliary conveyance path. The auxiliary transport mechanism includes a mechanism for laterally feeding the rack by the claw member, and further, in this embodiment, an auxiliary guide mechanism having a plurality of rollers 46 is provided to stabilize the posture of the rack that is laterally transported and transported. Yes. In FIG. 1, two lifting mechanisms 40 and 42 included in the auxiliary guide mechanism are schematically shown.

  In the main transport paths 30 and 32, racks are transported by a plurality of belt members 34 and 36 as main transport mechanisms. Incidentally, the conveyance direction indicated by reference numerals 100 and 104 corresponds to the short direction of the rack, and the conveyance direction indicated by reference numerals 102 and 106 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the rack.

  FIG. 2 shows a top view of the sample transport device. As described above, the main transport paths 30 and 32 are set on the transport table, and the two auxiliary transport paths 50 and 52 are set as transport paths that connect them. They have the same configuration.

  In the auxiliary conveyance paths 50 and 52, the rail 44 described above is provided. A plurality of openings 54 are formed on the rack transport surface in the auxiliary transport paths 50 and 52 along the rack traveling direction. Corresponding to the plurality of openings 54, a plurality of rollers 46 are provided so as to be movable up and down and rotatable. One roller 46 is provided in one opening 54, and when the roller 46 is laterally fed, the roller 46 floats upward from the rack conveyance surface in order to facilitate the conveyance. On the other hand, when the rack is loaded from the main conveyance path 30 to the auxiliary conveyance path 50, when the rack is discharged from the auxiliary conveyance path 50 to the main conveyance path 32, when the rack is loaded from the main conveyance path 32 to the auxiliary conveyance path 52, and When the rack is discharged from the conveyance path 52 to the main conveyance path 30, the respective rollers are sunk below the rack conveyance surface. That is, each roller 46 protrudes from the lower side to the upper side of the rack conveyance surface as needed and performs a guide operation. The plurality of rollers 46 are lifted and lowered by a plurality of lifting mechanisms 40 and 42 which will be described in detail later.

  Incidentally, reference numeral 110 in FIG. 2 schematically represents a claw member that moves in the auxiliary conveyance path 50 in the rack conveyance direction. Reference numeral 112 schematically represents a mechanism for moving the claw member 110 back and forth. When the rack is laterally conveyed by the claw member 110, the claw member 110 moves in the direction indicated by reference numeral 114.

  FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view or a structure on the line indicated by A-A ′ in FIG. 2. The lifting mechanism 42 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  The elevating mechanism 42 has a movable portion 56 that performs a rotational motion around a rotating shaft 62 provided on the base 60. One end portion of the shaft 66A of the actuator 66 is connected to the movable portion 56, and reference numeral 68 denotes a connecting member at the one end portion. A second frame 70 is connected to the first frame 64 of the movable portion 56, and a roller 46 is provided at an end of the second frame 70 via a roller shaft 46A. The actuator 66 is fixed on the base 60. When the actuator 66 is energized and driven, the shaft 66A moves in the direction indicated by reference numeral 120, whereby the movable portion 56 moves counterclockwise about the rotating shaft 62. . Then, the roller 46 floats above the rack conveyance surface 58.

  As described above, the rack 14 is provided with the pair of leg portions 14A, and the roller 46 enters the space 14B between the pair of leg portions 14A. A gap is formed between the roller 46 and the rail 44 to allow the one leg portion 14A to pass therethrough. The one leg portion 14A can be moved in a predetermined direction through the gap. In this case, the leg portion 14 </ b> A may be pressed against the rail 44 by the roller 46. In any case, by raising the roller 46 upward and thereby guiding the movement of the leg portion 14A, the rack 14 is unnecessarily rotated on the transport table or its posture is unnecessarily changed. It is possible to prevent problems that occur in advance.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the roller 46 is depressed below the rack transport surface 58. That is, by stopping the energization of the actuator 66 by the action of the actuator 66, the shaft 66A moves in the direction of reference numeral 122, whereby the movable portion 56 is rotated clockwise around the rotation shaft 62. Exercise. As a result, the roller 46 sinks below the rack transport surface 58 as described above.

  According to the elevating mechanism 42 as described above, the roller 46 can be moved up and down, that is, moved up or down by the rotational movement of the movable portion 56, so that the operation of the roller can be realized by a simple mechanism. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, four rollers 46 are provided in the auxiliary transport paths 50 and 52, respectively, and two lifting mechanisms 40 and 42 are provided. That is, each lifting mechanism 40, 42 drives two rollers 46. The plurality of elevating mechanisms 40 and 42 are energized at timings shifted in time. That is, if energization is simultaneously performed on all the lifting mechanisms 40 and 42 and a plurality of actuators are operated simultaneously, the instantaneous power increases and the load on the power source increases. Alternatively, it is necessary to prepare a large power source. On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, by operating a plurality of lifting mechanisms in order, the power required instantaneously can be suppressed, that is, the burden on the power source can be distributed, and rational energization control can be performed. There is. Incidentally, two of the four lifting mechanisms may be operated simultaneously by two.

It is a schematic perspective view of the rack transport apparatus according to the present invention. It is a top view of the rack conveyance apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which the roller floated. It is a figure which shows the state which the roller sank.

Explanation of symbols

  10 rack transport devices, 12 transport tables, 14 racks, 16 containers (test tubes), 30, 32 main transport paths, 40, 42 lifting mechanisms, 44 rails, 46 rollers, 50, 52 auxiliary transport paths (sub transport paths), 54 Opening.

Claims (5)

In a rack transport apparatus having a transport table for transporting a rack holding a plurality of containers,
A first transport mechanism that transports the rack in the short direction along the first path on the transport table;
A second transport mechanism that includes a rail member that contacts a side surface of the rack transported by the first transport mechanism, and that transports the rack in the longitudinal direction along a second path defined by the rail member;
A third transport mechanism for transporting the rack transported by the second transport mechanism in the short direction along the third path;
Including
The second transport mechanism is
A roller for guiding the progress of the legs of the rack conveyed on the second path;
An elevating mechanism for levitating the roller on the conveying surface of the second path during rack guidance;
I have a,
A rack transport device , wherein a passage path through which a leg portion on the rail member side of the rack passes is formed between the roller and the rail member . The apparatus of claim 1.
The roller is rotatable;
A rack transport device, wherein a leg portion of the rack on the rail member side is sandwiched between the roller and the rail member. The apparatus of claim 1.
When the rack is passed from the first path to the second path and when the rack is passed from the second path to the third path, the lifting mechanism moves the roller from the transport surface of the second path. The rack transporter is also characterized in that it is in a state of sinking downward. The apparatus of claim 1.
The elevating mechanism in the second transport mechanism has a plurality of drive sources for driving up a plurality of rollers,
The rack transporter characterized in that the plurality of drive sources are energized non-simultaneously. The apparatus of claim 1.
The lifting mechanism is
A movable part provided rotatably about a predetermined rotation axis, and holding the roller;
An actuator coupled to the movable part and rotationally driving the movable part;
Including
The rack transport device, wherein the roller is moved up and down by the rotational movement of the movable part.

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