JP4662308B2 - Test paper transport device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a test paper transport apparatus that can remove an excess liquid sample adhering to a test paper so as not to be transported to a detection mechanism of the apparatus.

In a test paper analyzer that measures the components in a liquid sample using a stick-shaped test paper obtained by sticking a colored test paper piece to a stick made of plastic or the like, the measurer immerses the test paper in the liquid sample. After that, it is transported to the measurement unit by the transport mechanism. In this test paper analyzer, if an excess liquid sample adheres to the test paper, (1) the amount of liquid sample impregnated in the colored test paper piece will differ for each measurement, and not only the liquid sample amount Since the reagent concentration also changes, the accuracy and precision of the measurement will decrease, (2) the possibility of interference between multiple colored test strips will increase, and (3) if the liquid sample is urine, Various surplus liquid sample removing methods for removing the surplus liquid sample adhering to the test paper have been proposed in the past because they contaminate the apparatus and impede maintenance of the apparatus.

For example, in an apparatus for placing and transporting a stick-shaped test paper on a test paper holding member, a groove is formed in the test paper holding member and a surplus from the stick-shaped test paper using a capillary phenomenon is used. In a method of removing a sample (see Patent Document 1) and an apparatus having a slide member for moving a stick-shaped test paper, various hygroscopic materials are attached to the slide member so that the stick-shaped test paper can be contacted. A method for removing excess liquid sample (see Patent Document 2), a slit is provided in the test paper holder, the excess liquid sample of the stick-shaped test paper is removed using capillary action, and the removed excess liquid sample is superabsorbent resin. A method of absorbing and holding the material (see Patent Document 3) has been proposed.
JP 2000-258413 A Japanese Patent No. 3002824 JP 2003-315224 A

However, in these methods, the test paper holding member, slide member, reagent holder, etc. having the function of removing the excess liquid sample are also transported together with the test paper to the detection mechanism of the device or in the immediate vicinity thereof. The possibility of being left still remained. For this reason, it becomes necessary to frequently clean the conveyor belt and a complicated portion inside the apparatus, but this cleaning (maintenance) operation is extremely troublesome.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such points, and makes the cleaning (maintenance) work of the apparatus remarkably easy by preventing the surplus liquid sample from being transported to the detection mechanism of the apparatus or hardly. An object is to provide a test paper transport device.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention that meets the above object is a first conveyor that removes excess liquid sample adhering to the test paper on a transport surface that transports the test paper for measuring components in the liquid sample. And a second conveyor that receives the test paper carried by the first conveyor and conveys the test paper to the measuring section of the test paper, and absorbs and removes the excess liquid sample on the conveying surface of the first conveyor. Alternatively, the first conveyor is an endless belt or a caterpillar conveyor, and a plurality of small holes or narrow grooves are formed on the transport surface of the first conveyor, and an excess liquid sample is removed from the gaps of the small holes or narrow grooves. characterized in that it.

The first conveyor and the second conveyor are preferably endless belts or caterpillar conveyors . Preferably a pre-Symbol conveying surface of the first conveyor and the absorbent material (claim 3). Specifically, it is preferable that the belt or the caterpillar of the first conveyor is formed of an absorbent material, covered with an absorbent material, or only the conveying surface is made of an absorbent material.

The belt or the caterpillar of the first conveyor may be equipped with a cleaning / wiping mechanism (Claim 4 ), and the cleaning / wiping mechanism includes a water washing pad that contacts the belt or the caterpillar and attaches a cleaning liquid. preferably comprises a pad wiping wipe the washing liquid (claim 5). The cleaning liquid preferably has a sterilizing function by adding a sterilizing agent. In the present invention, “sterilization” means “sterilization”, “sanitization” and “sterilization”.

The cleaning mechanism further preferably comprises a sterilizing lamp such as a UV lamp for sterilizing by irradiating the belt or caterpillar (claim 6).

If the belt or caterpillar of the second conveyor is coated with a water-repellent material such as fluorine-based or silicon-based material, or a belt or caterpillar formed of a water-repellent material such as fluorine-based resin, a liquid sample will adhere. It is preferable because it becomes difficult (claim 7 ).

Similarly, it is provided with a plurality of protrusions that can support the test paper for reducing the contact area between the test paper and the belt or the caterpillar on the surface on which the test paper of the belt or the caterpillar of the second conveyor is placed. It is preferable because the liquid sample is difficult to adhere (Claim 8 ).

According to the present invention, since all or almost all of the excess liquid sample can be removed by the first conveyor, the liquid sample adhering to the second conveyor can be remarkably reduced. The cleaning operation becomes extremely easy, and the need for frequent cleaning of the second conveyor and the complicated portion of the measurement unit is eliminated, so that the cleaning (maintenance) operation becomes extremely easy.

  In short, the present invention comprises a conveyor including a first conveyor and a second conveyor that takes over the test paper conveyed by the first conveyor and conveys it to the detection / measurement mechanism. The gist of the invention is that the surplus liquid sample is prevented from being brought into the detection mechanism in the apparatus by giving the surplus liquid sample removing function to one conveyor.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention, an endless first test paper transport belt (first conveyor) 1 equipped with an excess urine (excess liquid sample) removing function and the first test paper transport. An example including an endless second test paper transport belt (second conveyor) 3 that takes over the stick-shaped urine test paper 2 transported by the belt 1 and transports it to the measurement unit will be described. In this embodiment, a urine test paper in which a plurality of colored test paper strips 5 are attached to a stick 4 made of plastic or the like is used. However, in the present invention, the type of test paper is not particularly limited. .

  The first conveyor 1 for removing excess urine is constituted by winding an endless belt 7 around belt wheels 6 and 6 'at both ends. The endless belt 7 can be made of rubber, cloth, plastic, metal, or any other material normally used for belts or caterpillars, but the surface on which the test paper is placed (conveying surface) absorbs and removes excess urine. To get.

  In order to allow the transport surface to absorb excess urine, the transport surface is preferably covered with an absorbent material or formed into a double layer with an adhesive or the like. Examples of such absorptive materials include water-absorbing and / or water-retaining substances. Specifically, water-absorbing polymers, hygroscopic fibers (for example, paper, filter paper, cloth, non-woven fabric, glass fiber, etc.) , Porous resins (for example, sintered bodies such as polyethylene and polyolefin, foamed materials such as sponges, etc.), polymer absorbers, sponges, organic polymer porous bodies, and the like.

  Examples of the organic polymer porous body include a highly water-absorbent resin, water-absorbing / hygroscopic fibers, and the like. A highly water-absorbent resin is a cross-linked hydrophilic linear or branched polymer that has a three-dimensional network structure in angstrom units, and its water absorption is more than 10 times that of the resin by weight. Is generally referred to as a superabsorbent resin. The types of materials are polyacrylate, starch-acrylic acid graft, polyacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate-acrylate, isobutylene-maleic acid, poly N vinylacetamide, special Examples thereof include urethane, amino acid hydrogel, and cellulose hydrogel (carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel). By changing the type of the hydrophilic resin chain, the absorption ability with respect to the aqueous solution can be changed, and by changing the crosslinking density, the strength of the gel swollen by absorbing water can be changed. There are three processing methods for water absorption / moisture absorption / breathability: “internal modification of fiber”, “surface modification of fiber”, and “modification of fiber or fabric” by modification of the fiber itself. There is a way. There are many treatments for synthetic fibers, especially polyester fiber products, depending on the material, such as fibers, strands and fabrics to be treated, but there are still many cellulose-based or cellulose esters or etherified ones. Water absorption / hygroscopicity is basically based on a so-called capillary phenomenon in which liquid passing through a gap or space interposed in the interior of a fiber, between fibers, between yarns, or the like. By imparting a crimping property to the yarn, a space can be retained inside the woven fabric, and water absorption, moisture absorption, and moisture permeability can be imparted to the fiber product. In addition, even if fibers having a modified cross-sectional structure, hollow fibers, and fibers having fine (fine) holes are made into a woven fabric, a space can be maintained therein, and water absorption, moisture absorption, and moisture permeability can be imparted to the fiber product.

  Moreover, as the shape of the absorbent material as described above, various materials such as powder, particles, fibers, and sheets can be used. Of these, fibers and sheets are preferable. In use, for example, a fibrous or sheet-like absorbent material can be used as it is, or a fibrous or sheet-like absorbent material is held with a powdery or particulate absorbent material. May be used.

  The absorptive material used in the present invention is not limited to those described above, and an optimal material may be selected according to the purpose of use, or two or more kinds may be used in combination.

  The belt 7 can also be formed from the above-described absorbent material itself (for example, a water-absorbing polymer, a filter paper laminated on the back surface, or a highly hygroscopic woven fabric or nonwoven fabric laminated on the back surface).

  Further, the shape of the conveying surface of the belt or the caterpillar can be made into a mesh shape (a large number of small holes are formed), and the excess liquid sample adhering to the test paper can be removed and held in the mesh gap.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying surface of the belt or the caterpillar can be formed into a shape having a fine groove or the like, and an excess liquid sample can be removed from the test paper into the fine groove by capillary action. The narrow groove extends from the center of the test paper placement location in a direction intersecting (preferably orthogonal) with the test paper transport direction, and becomes narrower as the width of the narrow groove approaches the left and right ends, and the depth of the narrow groove is increased. If the depth is deep, excess urine can be removed more efficiently. The width of the narrow groove is 0.6 to 1.4 mm at the center, more preferably 0.8 to 1.0 mm, and 0.1 to 0.7 mm at the left and right ends, more preferably 0.3 to 0.00 mm. The depth is 5 mm, the depth is 0.1 to 3 mm at the center, more preferably 0.5 to 2 mm, and the left and right ends are 0.2 to 5 mm, more preferably 0.5 to 2 mm. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a narrow groove or notch communicating with the narrow groove may be provided at one or both ends of the conveying surface of the belt or the caterpillar. Usually 1 to 5 mm, more preferably 2 to 3 mm, and the depth is usually 1 to 5 mm, more preferably 2 to 3 mm.

  The first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 3 may be separated from each other so that the belts or the conveyors do not contact each other and do not fall when the test paper is transferred from the first conveyor 1 to the second conveyor 3. This is because, if they are brought into contact with each other, the operation of both conveyors is hindered, and the liquid sample adheres to the second conveyor 3. It is preferable that the first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 3 are in close proximity so that they do not fall regardless of the test paper transport direction.

  As the first conveyor and the second conveyor, any belt, caterpillar, tray, or the like that can transport the test paper can be used.

  The direction in which the two conveyors of the present invention are continued may be either the short side direction or the long side direction of the test paper, but the long side direction is preferable because the test paper can be taken over more easily. Further, the width of the belt does not particularly limit the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, a double conveyor is used. However, if such a double conveyor is included, three or more conveyors may be used.

  Also, the excess liquid sample to the second conveyor 3 can be removed without being completely removed by the first conveyor 1 and a small amount of excess liquid sample can be brought into the second conveyor 3 together with the test paper. Combining means for avoiding the adhesion of the adhesive is effective in improving the maintainability of the apparatus and countermeasures against failure.

  For this purpose, the surface (conveying surface) of the second conveyor 3 is preferably water-repellent and / or the contact area of the test paper is reduced. In order to make the surface of the second conveyor 3 water-repellent, it is preferable to coat the surface of the second conveyor 3 with a water-repellent material such as fluorine or silicon, or to form the second conveyor 3 with a water-repellent material such as fluorine-based resin. Further, in order to reduce the contact area with the test paper, a plurality of protrusions such as convex or triangular protrusions can be provided on the surface on which the test paper of the second conveyor 3 is placed to support the test paper. Thus, it is effective to reduce the contact area between the test paper and the second belt 3.

  When urine is used as a liquid sample, urinary stones may be generated from urine due to microbial contamination while the device is used for a long time, and the device performance may be impaired. Equipping the first conveyor 1 with a cleaning mechanism having a sterilizing function can sterilize the belt every measurement or every measurement day, and is effective in improving the maintenance of the apparatus and countermeasures against failures.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention equipped with such a cleaning mechanism, and a cylindrical washing pad 8 and a cylindrical wiping pad 9 are placed on the lower surface of the endless belt 7 of the first conveyor 1. The example provided so that it can rotate in contact with is shown.

  The rinsing pad 8 and the wiping pad 9 may have the same length as the width direction of the endless belt 7 or a length slightly protruding from both ends. When the washing pad 8 and the wiping pad 9 are made shorter than the length in the width direction, the entire belt may be cleaned by being configured to move in the width direction.

  The rinsing pad 8 and the wiping pad 9 are preferably formed in a cylindrical shape by using a water-absorbing (water-retaining) material such as sponge as it is, or by winding a water-absorbing material around a porous cylinder. A water supply pipe 10 and a waste water pipe 11 are connected to both ends of the flush pad 8, and flush water is constantly supplied from the flush water pipe 10, so that flush water is always present in the flush pad 8.

  As the washing water, it is preferable to use purified water (distilled water, ion-exchanged water). In order to impart a sterilizing function to the cleaning water, the cleaning water may contain a sterilizing agent. As the bactericidal agent, a type and concentration that do not adversely affect the test paper may be selected from commonly used bactericides.

Water absorption pipes 12 and 12 'are connected to both ends of the wiping pad 9, and the water absorbed by the wiping pad 9 is absorbed by reducing the pressure from the water absorption pipes 12 and 12'.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention equipped with a cleaning mechanism, and the lower part of the washing pad 8 configured to be rotatable is immersed in the cleaning liquid in the cleaner 13 and can rotate. The wiping pad 9 formed as described above is configured to be pressed against the porous plate 15 of the dehydrator 14 for dehydration.

  7 and 8 show another embodiment of the present invention equipped with a cleaning mechanism, and show an example in which sterilization is performed using a sterilization lamp 16 that emits ultraviolet rays or the like. The sterilizing lamp 16 is disposed in the width direction of the bottom surface of the endless belt 7 so that the entire belt width direction can be irradiated simultaneously.

  Since the irradiation of these sterilizing lamps 16 often has an adverse effect on the human body, it is desirable to irradiate after the measurement or at the end of the examination at night or when there is no person. When the sterilizing lamp 16 is used, the sterilizing agent for the cleaning agent may or may not be used.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the first conveyor 1 of the present invention. The paper or the hygroscopic fiber 17 wound in a roll shape is rewound and passed over the belt wheels (rolls) 6 and 6 ′. Thus, an example in which the take-up roll 18 is sequentially wound is shown. In this implementation, the test paper 2 is conveyed while being taken up by the take-up roll 18.

  In the above embodiment, the paper or the hygroscopic fiber 17 becomes the belt 7 ', and the test paper 2 is conveyed on the belt 7'. When paper is used as the belt 7 ', it is discarded as it is, but when hygroscopic fibers are used, it can be sterilized and washed and reused after drying.

  The test paper transport apparatus of the present invention can be applied to any test paper analysis apparatus that is usually used in this field.

  As such a test paper analyzing apparatus, for example, a test paper placing section for arranging the test paper, a test paper transport section having a mechanism for transporting the test paper from the placement section to the measurement section, a detection mechanism In addition, a data processing mechanism including a calculation unit (for example, a computer) and a storage unit, a display unit, a printer, a keyboard, a measurement parameter / data reading device, etc. An external input / output mechanism composed of

  In addition, as said detection mechanism, the optical system which has a light irradiation part normally used as a means to irradiate light to a test paper, a light-receiving part used as a light-receiving means, etc. is mentioned. More specifically, the light irradiation unit includes, for example, a light source (for example, a light emitting element such as an LED or a multi-type LED, an incandescent lamp such as a halogen lamp or a tungsten lamp, a xenon lamp such as a xenon flash lamp or a xenon strobe lamp, a fluorescent lamp, Sodium lamps, metal halides, hot cathode discharge tubes, eg cathode discharge tubes, etc.), if necessary, include lenses, filters, etc., and the light receiving part is a light receiver (detector) [eg photodiode, phototransistor, photo IC, color A light receiving element such as an image sensor (CCD, CMOS, etc., integrating sphere, etc.).

  In other words, the present invention includes, in addition to the test paper transport apparatus of the present invention, a test paper analyzing apparatus including the above-described mechanism and part in the test paper transport apparatus.

It is a side view which shows one Example of this invention. It is (A) top view and (B) side view which show the other Example of this invention. It is (A) top view, (B) side view, and (C) front view showing another embodiment of the present invention. It is (A) top view, (B) side view, and (C) front view showing another embodiment of the present invention. It is (A) top view and (B) side view which show the other Example of this invention. It is (A) top view and (B) side view which show the other Example of this invention. It is (A) top view and (B) side view which show the other Example of this invention. It is (A) top view and (B) side view which show the other Example of this invention. It is a side view which shows the other Example of this invention.

1 .... First test paper transport belt (first conveyor)
2 .... Test paper 3 .... Second test paper conveyor belt (second conveyor)
7. Endless belt 7 '... Belt 8 ... Washing pad 9 ... Wipe pad 13 ... Washer 14 ... ··· Dehydrator 15 ··· Perforated plate 16 ··· Sterilization lamp 17 ··· Rolled paper or hygroscopic fiber 18 ··· Winding roll

Claims (8)

A first conveyor for removing excess liquid sample adhering to the test paper and a test paper carried by the first conveyor on the transport surface for transporting the test paper for measuring the components in the liquid sample. A second conveyor for transporting to a paper measuring section, and absorbing and removing the excess liquid sample on the transport surface of the first conveyor, or the first conveyor is an endless belt or a caterpillar conveyor, A test paper transport apparatus , wherein a plurality of small holes or narrow grooves are formed on a transport surface of a first conveyor, and an excess liquid sample is removed from a gap between the small holes or narrow grooves . 2. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor are endless belts or caterpillar conveyors. Conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying surface of the first conveyor, forming an absorbent material. Wherein the first conveyor belt or caterpillar, conveying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wiping cleaning-mechanism is equipped. The said cleaning and wiping mechanism is a conveying apparatus of Claim 4 which comprises the water washing pad which contacts the said belt or a caterpillar, and makes a washing | cleaning liquid adhere, and the wiping pad which wipes off this washing | cleaning liquid. Furthermore, the conveyance apparatus of Claim 5 which comprises the sterilization lamp which irradiates and sterilizes the said belt or a caterpillar. The belt or caterpillar of the second conveyor, the conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is a belt or caterpillar is formed by either water-repellent material is coated with a water repellent material. A plurality of protrusions capable of supporting a test paper for reducing a contact area between the test paper and the belt or the caterpillar are provided on a surface on which the belt or the caterpillar test paper of the second conveyor is placed. 8. The transfer device according to any one of 7 above.

Images