JP4759606B2 - Control method and control device for continuous test tube preparation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention performs pre-preparation work of a test tube in a blood collection process in a pre-process of a blood sampling test, and selects different types of test tubes according to a blood collection instruction from a doctor, and includes a patient ID and the above-mentioned There are a plurality of test tube preparation devices that can be attached to a tray etc. for each patient by attaching a label printed with patient information such as blood collection instructions, etc., and these test tube preparation devices are controlled quickly and efficiently. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus capable of performing

In blood testing departments at hospitals, clinics, and other medical institutions, blood collection workers (nurses, etc.) collect blood from patients, store the collected specimens in test tubes, and transfer them to the laboratory. . In blood tests, many types of test tubes are prepared according to the blood test items, and usually, a plurality of types of tests are performed on one patient at the same time. As a result, multiple test tube preparations are prepared for a single patient (including cases where the same type is duplicated) and is automatically prepared by the test tube preparation device. . In addition, it is natural to handle a large number of patients in the blood collection room, and each test tube prepared by the test tube preparation device has a barcode such as an order number so that there is no mistake in taking the test tube between patients. A printed label is affixed.
The test tubes are prepared by preparing one tray for each patient, storing the selected plurality of labeled test tubes in one tray, and transporting them to the blood collection chamber.

  In recent years, blood test items have been subdivided, and the test items tend to increase in order to judge a patient's health condition and disease state more professionally and from all angles. There is a technique described in Patent Document 1 as a technique that can deal with such various kinds of test items and that automates blood collection work and supports the blood collection work. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, three test tube preparation devices are connected so that test tubes of different tube types are accommodated in the test tube accommodating portions of the respective devices. I'm trying to deal with it. In other words, two test tube preparation devices are added to one test tube preparation device in a normal usage pattern, and one test device is prepared by accommodating test tubes of different tube types in the respective test tube storage units. The tube type can be handled three times as much as the case.

This is configured so that the passage for discharging the test tube after labeling of each test tube preparation device is connected linearly. And by allowing the conveyor belt in the discharge passage to rotate in the forward and reverse direction, even if it is a test tube selected and taken out from the test tube storage part of any of the three test tube preparation devices, After labeling, the test tube is discharged from the discharge passage of the test tube preparation device located on the right or left side to an external tray.

Each test tube preparation device includes a plurality of test tube storage units, and takes out the types of test tubes necessary for blood collection of the patient from the corresponding test tube storage units based on blood collection order information from the doctor, Information on blood collection of the patient is printed on the label using the pasting means, and the label after printing is pasted on the test tube from which the label was taken out. Then, the test tube after labeling is transferred to the test tube collection unit of the test tube preparation device located on the rightmost or left side by a discharge conveyor or the like, and the test tube after labeling is trayed for each patient in the test tube collection unit. I am trying to accommodate it.
JP-A-10-062428

  However, in the test tube preparation device shown in Patent Document 1, driving is instructed to the device containing the test tube corresponding to the blood collection order information from the doctor among the three test tube preparation devices. The test tube is selectively taken out, and a label on which predetermined blood collection information is printed is attached and discharged to the tray.

Therefore, in general hospitals and university hospitals where the number of blood collection patients per day is large, there are frequently performed test items and rarely performed test items. When the test tube preparation apparatus of FIG. 1 does not accommodate the test tube corresponding to the blood collection order information, the operation remains suspended. For this reason, depending on the type of tubes that are housed, there are devices that are constantly preparing for test tubes and devices that are often idle, and multiple types of test tubes for one patient are prepared. The total preparation work time for doing so becomes long and the efficiency is poor. Moreover, no attempt was made to prepare the test tube as soon as possible.

In addition, in the test tube preparation device that accommodates a frequently used tube type, there has been a problem that the wear and damage of the drive part becomes more severe than other devices, and maintenance occurs in a short period of time. In addition, the maintenance has to be performed with the three devices of the entire system stopped, and there has been a drawback in that the operation of the hospital has been supported and the maintenance management has to be performed frequently.

  The present invention is an improvement and removal in view of the above-mentioned problems, and allows a test tube of a frequently used tube type to be handled by a plurality of test tube preparation apparatuses, and also prepares each test tube. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method and apparatus for continuous test tube preparation, in which operation load value information is set between the apparatuses, and each test tube preparation apparatus can be controlled to operate as evenly as possible. .

Therefore, the means of claim 1 adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems is to select and take out a type of test tube necessary for patient examination, and attach a label on which patient information is printed. In the control method of a continuous test tube preparation device in which a plurality of test tube preparation devices are prepared by storing each test tube in a tray for each patient and preparing it. Test tubes are stored in stockers of multiple test tube preparation devices, and infrequently used tube types are individually sorted and stored in stockers of multiple test tube preparation devices, and test tube issuance instructions are output. The tester analyzes the signal and issues the tester of the tube type that is stored only in the stocker of each test tube preparation device. Tube types stored in Regarding the issuance of test tubes, the number of test tubes that are stored only in the stocker of each test tube preparation device determined in advance is compared between the test tube preparation devices, and the number of issues is small. This is a control method for a continuous test tube preparation device, instructing to be issued from the stocker of the other test tube preparation device.

  The means of claim 2 employed by the present invention is that each test tube preparation device transports a test tube cut out from a stocker to a label affixing position among the test tube types that are determined to be issued. 2. The continuous arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the order of issuing the test tubes of the stocker is determined in each test tube preparation device so that the test tubes are sequentially cut out and issued from the stocker closest to the means. It is a control method of a test tube preparation device.

  The means of claim 3 adopted by the present invention is a stocker for storing a large number of test tubes for each tube type, a transport means for transporting a test tube cut out from the stocker to a label application position, A plurality of test tube preparation devices each having a means for storing test tubes in a tray and carrying them out, and these test tube preparation devices are configured so as to be linked to each other. The control device that controls the tube preparation device includes a priority determination unit of the stocker, a selection unit that selects one test tube preparation device, an issue order determination unit that determines the issue order of stockers in each test tube preparation device, It is a control apparatus of the continuous test tube preparation apparatus which has the load value determination part which determines the load value of the number of test tube issuance in each test tube preparation apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the priority determining unit is an issuance command for a tube type stocker in which a tube type not stored in another stocker is stored among the test tube issuance commands. If there is a test tube of the same tube type stored in a stocker of another test tube preparation device, the test tube preparation device selection unit preferentially determines the issue command. Select whether to issue from the stocker of the tube preparation device, and the issuance order determination unit sequentially tests from the stocker closest to the transport means for transporting the test tubes cut out from the stocker to the label application position. The order in which the tester test tubes are issued in each test tube preparation device is determined so that the tubes are cut out and issued, and the load value determination unit determines the test tube in each test tube preparation device. Counting the number of lines, a control device for continuously arranged tube preparation device according to claim 3 load value for each tube preparation device indicates selection of a test tube preparation device to average.

  In the invention of claim 1, a plurality of test tube preparation devices are connected in series. Each test tube preparation device is provided with a plurality of stockers (test tube storage units) each storing test tubes, and from the corresponding stocker the type of test tubes necessary for blood collection of patients based on blood collection order information from a doctor. The information concerning the blood collection of the patient is printed on the label by using the label printing / sticking means, and the printed label is stuck on the taken-out test tube. This basic operation is the same as in the prior art.

The feature of the invention of claim 1 is that a test tube of a frequently used tube type is stored in a stocker of a plurality of test tube preparation devices, and a test tube of a less frequently used tube type is prepared for each test tube. It is distributed to the stocker of the device and stored exclusively.
When a test tube issuance command is output, the signal is analyzed, and the issuer stocker is given priority for the issuance of test tubes of the type of tubes stored only in the stocker of each test tube preparation device. I try to decide. In addition, regarding the issuance of the test tube of the tube type stored in the stocker of the plurality of test tube preparation devices, the test tube of the tube type stored only in the stocker of each of the preferentially determined test tube preparation devices is used. The number of issuances is compared between the test tube preparation devices and issued from the stocker of the test tube preparation device with the smaller number of issues.

In this way, the test tube preparation device that handles the test tubes depending on the frequency of use is distributed separately or divided between multiple test tubes, and the burden on the order of each test tube preparation device is distributed. By calculating the ratio and controlling the load on each test tube preparation device to be uniform, it is possible to realize quick test tube preparation work and to balance the driving time of the test tube preparation device, such as consumable parts The service life can be extended and maintenance can be extended.

  In the invention of claim 2, the order of issuing the test tubes of the stocker in each test tube preparation device is issued by sequentially cutting out the test tubes from the stocker at the position closest to the conveying means for transporting the test tubes to the label attaching position. Has been determined. This is for each test tube preparation device to issue a test tube as soon as possible when an issuance instruction is issued, and to finish the test tube preparation work without generating a waiting time.

The invention of claim 3 is an apparatus invention for realizing the control method of claim 1, wherein the control device for controlling a plurality of test tube preparation devices comprises a stocker priority determination unit, A selection unit that selects a certain test tube preparation device, an issue order determination unit that determines the issue order of stockers in each test tube preparation device, and a load value that determines the load value of the number of test tubes issued in each test tube preparation device And a decision unit.

In addition, as described in claim 4, the function of each constituent part of each invention specifying item constituting the invention of claim 3 is specified. In other words, the priority determination unit of the issue destination stocker preferentially issues the issuance command for the tube type stocker in which the tube type not stored in the other stocker is stored among the test tube issuance commands. Determine the directive. This is because it is not necessary to consider the relationship with other stockers.
The test tube preparation device selection unit selects which test tube preparation device to issue from when the test tube of the same tube type is also stored in the stocker of another test tube preparation device. This is for the purpose of averaging the test tube preparation devices among a plurality of test tube preparation devices.

The issuance order determination unit is configured so that each test tube preparation device issues and cuts out the test tubes sequentially from the stocker at the position closest to the transport means for transporting the test tubes cut out from the stocker to the label application position. Determine the order of issuing test tubes. In order to reduce the time lag from the issuance command when a test tube issuance command is issued to the test tube preparation device, a quick test tube can be obtained by cutting out from the stocker closest to the test tube transport means. Can be prepared. This makes it possible to prepare for the test tube issuance in the test tube preparation device in the shortest time. Other stockers may be prepared for publication while the first stocker is preparing for publication.
The load value determination unit counts the number of issued test tubes in each test tube preparation device, and selects the test tube preparation device so that the load value of each test tube preparation device is averaged. This makes it possible to lengthen the maintenance period by making the total work amount of each test tube preparation device uniform, and preventing wear of consumables from being biased to specific test tube preparation devices. To improve the operating rate of the apparatus.

  The configuration of the present invention will be described below based on the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings. 1 to 6 show a continuous test tube preparation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and for convenience of explanation, a case where two test tube preparation devices 1 are connected is illustrated. . The number of connections may be three or four, or more than that. 1 is a plan view showing the entire apparatus 1, FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus 1 with a front plate removed, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a stocker apparatus 2 disposed in the lower stage, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the labeler 3 disposed in the middle stage, and FIG. 6 is a right side view of the apparatus 1 with the side plate removed.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, the test tube preparation device of this embodiment has a three-stage configuration for each test tube preparation device, a stocker device 2 is provided in the lower stage, and a labeler in the middle stage. The apparatus 3 is disposed, and a mechanism for accommodating the test tube 4 after label attachment in the tray 5 is disposed in the upper stage. The stocker device 2 and the labeler device 3 are slidable as a whole so that they can be pulled out to the front side for maintenance or when the test tube 4 is refilled so that work can be performed in a wide space. Yes.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stocker apparatus 2 has a main body formed in a box shape, and a large number of stockers 7 of test tubes 4 each having an upper surface opened and partitioned are provided on the upper side thereof. ing. The stocker 7 is for accommodating many test tubes 4 of the same type, and a plurality of sets are arranged facing each other. The embodiment of the drawing shows a case where four of these are arranged in parallel on one side, and a total of eight are formed. Accordingly, the maximum number of types of test tubes 4 handled by each test tube preparation device 1 of this embodiment is eight tube types, and the maximum number of six test tube preparation devices is six. Note that the total number of stockers 7 may not necessarily be an even number but may be an odd number.

By the way, the bottom plates of the stockers 7 in each row facing each other are attached so as to be inclined downward toward the center position where they face each other, and the loaded test tube 4 naturally rolls toward the center. It can be assembled to a position. Further, a cutting roller (not shown) for cutting out the test tubes 4 accommodated in each stocker 7 one by one is disposed on the lower side of each stocker 7 facing the center. The cutting roller has, for example, a recess formed on a cylindrical peripheral surface, and the test tube 4 is dropped into the recess to hold a single test tube 4. The cutting roller rotates while holding the test tube 4, and when the test tube 4 turns downward, the test tube 4 held in the recess is naturally dropped and discharged. Each cutting roller is independently driven and controlled by a separate test tube discharge motor.

On the lower side of the cutting roller, a transfer conveyor 8 for transferring the test tube 4 is arranged so as to be driven from the front side to the back side, one by one by the cutting roller of each stocker 7. The transporting conveyor 8 receives the cut-out test tube 4 that has been cut and spontaneously dropped, and transports the test tube 4 to the position of the labeler lifter 9 provided on the back side (see FIG. 3). As shown in the rear view of FIG. 4, the labeler lifter 9 is used to supply the test tube 4 cut out from the lower stocker device 2 to the middle labeler device 3. The conveyor 10 for carrying in / out is slightly larger than the overall length, and the conveyor 10 itself can be moved up and down.

As shown in the front view of FIG. 2, the labeler carry-in conveyor 11 is disposed at the same height as the lifter 9 at the lifted position of the lifter 9. As shown in the plan view of the middle position in FIG. 5, the conveyor 11 is disposed so as to be driven from the back side to the front side, and in the middle thereof, the two labeler devices 2 disposed at the front and rear. A slider 12 is provided for selectively supplying the test tube 4 to any of the above. By mounting two labeler devices 2 on one test tube preparation device 1, the processing speed is increased.
Each labeler device 2 is for sticking a label on which blood collection information and the like are printed on the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 4, prints blood collection patient information from a host computer on the label, and prints the printed label on the test tube The label printing sticking apparatus 13 which sticks to the outer peripheral surface of this is provided. The test tube 4 after labeling is discharged diagonally to the left and transferred onto the carry-out conveyor 14 as indicated by the white arrow in FIG. The carry-out conveyor 14 is disposed so as to be driven from the front side toward the back side, and the terminal side thereof is continuous with the lower carry-in position of the upper lifter 15 shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5. Has been made. Similarly to the lifter 9, the lifter 15 has a carry-in / out conveyor 16 having a size slightly larger than the total length of one test tube 4, and the conveyor 16 itself moves up and down to interrupt the test tube 4. The apparatus 2 can be supplied to the upper tray preparation apparatus.

The test tube 4 pushed up to the upper position has an intermediate conveyor 17 disposed so as to be driven from the back side to the front side at the upper carry-out position. The intermediate conveyor 17 is a test tube provided continuously. It continues orthogonally to the discharge common conveyor 18 disposed across the preparation devices 1 and 1. An empty tray mounting portion 19 is provided on the terminal end side of the discharge common conveyor 18. The empty tray 5 is cut out and supplied one by one from the tray supply device 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 one by one.
When all the test tubes 4 for one patient are put into the empty tray 5, the tray 5 is pushed out to the front side and further conveyed to the right side of FIG. The right side is conveyed to the back side, and it is delivered to a conveyor that supplies the next inspection process at this station.

  The above is a series of operations for cutting out the test tube 4 from the stocker 7, printing and attaching a label to the test tube 4, and storing the test tube 4 after label attachment in the tray 5 and discharging it to the inspection process. is there.

Therefore, in the present invention, the cutting of these test tubes 4 is performed quickly and most efficiently, and is further uniformized in each test tube preparation device 1 and stocker 7.
Hereinafter, the method of cutting out these test tubes 4 will be described with reference to the overall flow diagram of FIG. 12 taking the cases of patients 1 to 5 of FIGS. 7 to 11 as an example. In addition, this description is demonstrated based on the case where the test tube preparation apparatus 1 is composed of a main unit and a total of four units from sub 1 to sub 3 and is connected in series. As for the mechanical configuration, it is only necessary to add two more test tube preparation apparatuses 1 shown on the left side of FIG. 1 and connect the discharge common conveyor 18 so as to be continuous by four test tube preparation apparatuses. Control of the entire system has an auto labeler relay PC (hereinafter referred to as a relay PC) LAN-connected to a host computer such as a hospital information system, and the operation control of each test tube preparation device 1 is performed by this relay PC. It is like that. In other words, the relay PC constitutes a control device for the test tube preparation device provided in series, the stocker priority determination unit, the determination unit based on the stocker comparison judgment, and the selection unit for selecting one test tube preparation device. And an issue order determination unit that determines the issue order of stockers in each test tube preparation device, and a load value determination unit that determines the load value of the number of test tube issues in each test tube preparation device.

  The following description will be made with reference to FIG. 7 starting from the case where no patient has prepared a test tube so far on the day and a test tube is prepared for the first patient 1 on the day. When the relay PC receives the ID of the receiving patient from the receiving PC of the blood collecting patient through the LAN line, the relay PC accesses the host computer and acquires blood sampling information of the patient. In the example of this patient 1, an issuance request is output from a doctor to collect blood in 13 test tubes and perform a blood test.

Next, the relay PC performs data editing of the blood collection information of the patient so that each test tube preparation device can operate upon receiving a command. When the data editing is completed, “temporary allocation” is performed for each stocker 7 of the four test tube preparation apparatuses. The “temporary allocation” is performed based on the priority level. The priority is set to the lowest value for the one farthest from the test tube preparation device (the test tube preparation device on the right side in FIG. 1) 1 with the tray supply device. Without allocation based on such priorities, the frequency of use of the stocker of the test tube preparation device close to the tray supply device will be extremely high, and other test tube preparation devices will play. This is because the wear of consumables is uneven and the maintenance period is shortened.

The state after provisional division after “temporary assignment” is as shown in the upper part of FIG. In the figure, the numbers used for the main and sub stockers 1 to 3 indicate the type of test tube. In this embodiment, it is set to handle 15 types of test tubes from No. 1 to No. 15. The leftmost side of the vertical numeric string displayed below it indicates the tube type number of the test tube for which the patient is instructed (request for issuance). The number enclosed in a square frame is “ The tube type number assigned to each stocker is indicated by “temporary allocation”. The second column of numbers from the left represents the tube types built into the sub 3 stocker. The built-in tube types are represented by the number “1”. It is represented by the number “0”. The same is true for Sub2, Sub1, and the main stocker.
The relay PC that is the control device has a priority determination unit that preferentially determines the allocation of issuance for the pipe types individually accommodated in each preparation device. In the case of FIG. 7, the first tube type is preferentially determined as main, the third tube type is determined as sub 1, and the fourth tube type is determined as sub 2.

On the other hand, when the test tube of the same tube type is also accommodated in the stocker of another preparation device, the selection unit of the relay PC selects the test tube preparation device in the following manner. In the case of FIG. 7, the third tube type after provisional division is stored in the sub 1 stocker and the main stocker. First, the selection unit of the relay PC performs provisional allocation to the sub 1 stocker according to the procedure of performing allocation preferentially from the lower priority order. The tube type No. 12 is stored in the sub 3 stocker and the sub 2 stocker, but it is temporarily assigned to the sub 3 stocker by the procedure of preferential assignment from the lowest priority order. Has been determined. Furthermore, the tube type No. 9 is stored in the sub 3 stocker and the main stocker, but is temporarily assigned to the sub 3 stocker according to the procedure for preferential assignment from the lowest priority order. Has been determined. Similarly, the tube type No. 10 is stored in the sub 3 stocker and the sub 1 stocker. However, according to the procedure for preferential allocation from the lower priority, the sub 3 stocker is assigned. Temporary allocation has been decided. On the other hand, since the tube type No. 4 is stored only in the sub 2 stocker, provisional allocation is preferentially determined for the sub 2 stocker.
Thereafter, in the same procedure, provisional allocation is performed for all test tubes of all tube types requested to be issued.

  Looking at the state after “temporary allocation” for each test tube preparation device, the “temporary allocation number” is assigned so that the sub-3 preparation device prepares eight test tubes. There are three preparation devices for 2 and one for each of the sub 1 and main preparation devices. Patient 1 is the first patient of the day, and the “pre-patient load value” is “0” in all the preparation devices. Therefore, the “issue number” obtained by adding the “previous patient load value” to the “temporary assignment number” is the same as the “temporary assignment number”. Even after this temporary allocation, there is a bias in the burden on each test tube preparation device, and a quick and uniform process cannot be performed. Therefore, as the next step, “exchange source” and “exchange destination” are determined for the tube types that can be exchanged so that the burden on each test tube preparation device becomes uniform. Here, “exchange source” refers to a device that accepts issuance of test tubes from other test tube preparation devices, and “replacement destination” refers to a preparation device that transfers the issuance of test tubes to the exchange source. .

Regarding the selection of “exchange source”, a test tube preparation device with a small number of “provisionally assigned” test tubes is preferentially selected, and if there are the same number, a preparation device with a low priority is selected. In the example of FIG. 7, since the number of issued sub 1 and main preparation devices is smaller than the number of issued sub 3 and sub 2, the sub 1 and main preparation devices are first selected preferentially. However, the number of issued sub 1s is the same as that of mains, and considering the priority, which is the next condition, the priority of sub 1 is low. Therefore, the preparation device of sub 1 is selected as the “exchange source”.

The selection of “exchange destination” is determined under the following conditions by comparing the priorities of the exchange destination and the exchange source.
(1) When the priority of the exchange destination is high (a) The number obtained by adding 2 to the number of issues of the exchange source is compared with the number of issues of the exchange destination. select.
The reason for adding 2 to the number of issues at the exchange source is that if there is no difference between the issue numbers of 2 or more, the number of issues at the exchange source will increase when moving from a higher priority issue destination. This is because the initial purpose to be realized cannot be achieved.
(2) When the priority of the exchange destination is lower than the order of the exchange source (b) Compare the number of issues of the exchange source with the number of issues of the exchange destination, and select the exchange destination when the number of exchange destination issues is large .
If the number of issues at the exchange destination is “1” larger, the number of issues at the exchange source is increased by “1” by exchanging. This is because the replacement source has a higher priority, so the number of preparation devices that are close to the test tube preparation device with the tray supply device increases, and the time required for transporting the test tube can be reduced accordingly. This is because the issue processing time is considered to be as short as possible. When the number of issues from the exchange source exceeds “2”, the number of issues is averaged.
In the case of FIG. 7, there are main, sub 2 and sub 3 as exchange destination candidates. When the above selection conditions are applied to each of these preparation devices, the main device is applicable when the priority is higher than the sub 1 that is the exchange source, but does not satisfy the condition (a). Therefore, the main is not selected as the exchange destination. Sub 2 and Sub 3 satisfy the condition (2).

  Next, which of sub 2 and sub 3 is to be extracted as an exchange destination is determined based on “exchange destination confirmation condition 1” shown below. In this determination, a test tube preparation device having a large number of “provisionally assigned” test tubes is preferentially selected, and if there are the same number, a preparation device having a low priority is selected. In the example of FIG. 7, since the number of issued sub 2 and sub 3 is larger than the number of issued sub 3, the sub 3 preparation device is selected as the replacement destination. As a result, it has been decided to transfer the test tube issuance from the sub-3 test tube preparation device to the sub1 test tube preparation device.

After that, it is determined which tube type to transfer from sub 3. This determination is made based on “exchange destination confirmation condition 2” described below. This confirmation condition 2 is to find out whether or not there is a tube type (stocker link) stored in common in the stocker of the exchange source and the exchange destination, and also common to the stocker of other test tube preparation devices. Find out whether the tube type is stored (stocker link). Then, the number of stocker links is compared, and a pipe having a smaller number is extracted as a tube type to be exchanged. This is because pipe types with a small number of links are less likely to be selected, so this should be given priority, so that the number of pipe types handled by the entire test tube preparation device is reduced uniformly. Because.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, there are tube types No. 10, No. 11, No. 14, and No. 15 that are stocker linked to the exchange source sub 1 and the exchange destination sub 3. Among them, the No. 11 pipe type is also linked to the main, the No. 14 is also linked to the sub 2, and the No. 15 is linked to the sub 2 and the main. Therefore, the tube type with a small number of links corresponding to the confirmation condition 2 is the 10th tube type, and the 10th tube type is selected as the test tube to be transferred from sub 3 to sub 1.

  If the number of links is the same as determined by the confirmation condition 2, a search is made based on the previous issuance history and a tube type having no issuance history is selected (exchange destination confirmation condition 3). This is because, if the same condition is selected, the tube type with no issue history is selected, and the tube type as a whole can be made uniform.

When the selection of the test tube preparation device of the sub 1 that is the “exchange source” and the sub 3 that is the “exchange destination” and the type 10 of the tube to be exchanged are determined in this way, the upper part of FIG. As shown in the middle part of the figure, the assignment of the tube type No. 10 in the state after the temporary assignment (immediately after the temporary division) is moved to establish “exchange”.
Thereafter, the determination is repeated until the conditions of the “exchange source”, the “exchange destination”, and the “exchange destination confirmation conditions 1 to 3” cannot all be satisfied in the same manner (see “Repeat” in FIG. 12). "reference.)

The lower part of FIG. 7 shows a state in which all the exchanges have been completed as described above. The number of issued sub 3 is “3”, the number of issued of sub 2 is “4”, and the number of issued of sub 1 is “2”. The number of main issues is “4”, and it is clear that the number of test tubes issued by each test tube preparation device is more averaged than in the state immediately after provisional allocation.
Furthermore, the relay PC calculates the load value for the next patient from the number of issued test tube preparation devices after the exchange is completed in the load value determination unit. This is to make the burden of the number of issued test tube preparation devices uniform when viewed as a whole patient while preparing for many patients. In the example shown in FIG. 7, since it is the first patient 1 of today, the issue number of the sub 1 with the smallest number of the patient is used as a reference. A large number of issues with respect to this standard becomes the load value of the next patient. The load value is “1” in sub 3, the load value is “2” in sub 2, and the load value is “2” in main.

  After the tube types and the number of tubes to be issued by each test tube preparation device are determined in this way, as shown in “Issue Order Arrangement” described in the lower part of FIG. Decide whether to issue from the seed. This determination is performed by the issuing order determination unit of the relay PC. The issuance order determination unit determines the rearrangement to be performed from the tube types accommodated in the stocker near the back side where the lifter is arranged in each test tube preparation device. This is because by issuing from the side closer to the lifter, a wasteful blank time from when the issue command is issued until the lifter operates is reduced, and quick issue is performed. For pipe types issued after the second, preparation can be made while the first pipe type is being issued. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent a slight blank time from entering between successive issuing processes, and it is possible to greatly reduce the processing time of the issuing process of all the tube types for the patient 1. .

  Next, the relay PC assigns issue processing to the patient 2. This patient 2 has been requested to issue a total of 17 test tubes. The state immediately after the provisional division after the “temporary allocation” is performed is as shown in the upper part of FIG. The procedure of “temporary allocation” is the same as that for the patient 1, and is performed based on the priority level. In this patient 2, the load value of the patient 1 who is the previous patient is added to the provisional allocation number. The number of provisional assignments is “5” for sub3, “5” for sub2, “3” for sub1, and “4” for main. The pre-patient load value added to this is “1” for sub3, Sub 2 is “2”, Sub 1 is “0”, and Main is “2”. The number of issued items after addition is “6” for sub 3, “7” for sub 2, “3” for sub 1, and “6” for main.

With this number of issuances, there is a variation in the number of issuances among the test tube preparation devices, and there is no uniformization. After that, as in the case of the patient 1, in the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, “exchange source” is selected, “exchange destination” is extracted, and selection and determination of the tube type to be exchanged are performed as “exchange destination”. Based on the condition confirmations 1 to 3 ”, the exchange is established. The state after completion of the exchange is as shown in the middle part of FIG. 8. The number of issued test tube preparation devices is “5” for sub 3, “5” for sub 2, “6” for sub 1, “6”, which is almost uniform.
As a result, the load values for the next patient are “0” for sub 3, “0” for sub 2, “1” for sub 1, and “1” for main.

  The issuance process of patient 3 is as shown in FIG. 9, and a total of 17 issuance requests have been made. The number of issuances after “temporary allocation” is “8” for sub 3, “8” for sub 2, Sub 1 is “0” and main is “1”. When the load value of the previous patient 2 is added to this, the number of issued items after the addition is “8” for sub 3, “8” for sub 2, “1” for sub 1, and “2” for main. Furthermore, if the exchange is performed in the same procedure as the above-described patient 1 and patient 2, the number of issued test tube preparation devices is “4” for sub 3, “5” for sub 2, “5” for sub 1, The main is “5” and averaged. The load values for the next patient in this case are “0” for sub 3, “1” for sub 2, “1” for sub 1, and “1” for main.

Similarly, the issuance processing of the patient 4 results as shown in FIG. 10 for a total of 14 issuance requests. The number of issued test tube preparation devices after replacement is “4” for sub 3, “4” for sub 2, “4” for sub 1, and “5” for main. it is obvious. The next patient load value is “0” for sub 3, “0” for sub 2, “0” for sub 1, and “1” for main.
Furthermore, the issuance processing of the patient 5 gives the result as shown in FIG. 11 for a total of 16 issuance requests. The number of issued test tube preparation devices after replacement is “4” for sub 3, “4” for sub 2, “4” for sub 1, and “5” for main. it is obvious. The next patient load value is “0” for sub 3, “0” for sub 2, “0” for sub 1, and “1” for main.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the preparation of test tubes starts immediately from the issuance command in the entire device in which a plurality of test tube preparation devices are connected in series and can handle many types of tubes. In addition, a blank time is not formed between successive issuing processes, so that a quick process can be performed. On the other hand, the issue assignment exchange process is performed to equalize the processing so that an uneven number of issues are not performed between the test tube preparation devices. It is possible to reduce the burden, shorten the entire processing time, realize a long life by uniformization, and extend the maintenance period.

  In the above embodiment, the case where test tubes of the same tube type are stored in a plurality of stockers of the same test tube preparation device has not been described. In this case, however, the comparison of relay PCs is performed. The determination unit alternately selects the stocker when an issuance instruction for the tube type is issued. This is because the history of the number of issues is made uniform, the number of test tubes is reduced uniformly, and the maintenance period is not shortened due to uneven use.

It is a top view of the continuous test tube preparation apparatus concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the continuous test-tube preparation apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a lower-stage top view of the continuous test-tube preparation apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view of the continuous test tube preparation apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a middle step top view of the continuous test tube preparation device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a right view of the continuous test tube preparation apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is drawing which shows the state after the allocation in the case of the patient 1 of the issuing process which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, and replacement | exchange. It is drawing which shows the state after the allocation in the case of the patient 2 of the issuing process which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, and replacement | exchange. It is drawing which shows the state after allocation and replacement | exchange in the case of the patient 3 of the issuing process which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is drawing which shows the state after the allocation in the case of the patient 4 of the issuing process which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, and replacement | exchange. It is drawing which shows the state after the allocation in the case of the patient 5 of the issuing process which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, and replacement | exchange. It is a flowchart figure of the whole issue processing concerning one embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Test tube preparation apparatus, 2 ... Stocker apparatus, 3 ... Labeler apparatus, 4 ... Test tube, 5 ... Tray, 7 ... Stocker, 8 ... Hand sticker labeler, 9 ... Lifter, 15 ... Lifter

Claims (3)

Select a test tube of the type required for patient examination, attach a label printed with patient information, etc., and store the prepared test tube in a tray for each patient. In the control method of the continuous test tube preparation device in which a plurality of preparation devices are provided in series ,
Store frequently used test tube types in stockers of multiple test tube preparation devices,
For test tubes of less frequently used tube types, individually sort and store them in stockers of multiple test tube preparation devices,
Analyze the signal when the test tube issuance command is output,
For the issue of test tubes of the tube type that is stored only in the stocker of each test tube preparation device, the issuer stocker is preferentially determined,
Regarding the issuance of the test tubes of the tube types stored in the stockers of the plurality of test tube preparation devices, the issuance of the test tubes of the tube types stored only in the stockers of the respective test tube preparation devices determined in advance. A control method for a continuous test tube preparation device, wherein the test tube preparation devices are compared with each other and instructed to issue them from the stocker of the test tube preparation device with the smaller number of issues. Each of the test tube preparation devices, from among the test tube types that have been determined to be issued, sequentially add test tubes from the stocker at the position closest to the transport means for transporting the test tube cut out from the stocker to the label application position. The control method of the continuous test tube preparation device according to claim 1, wherein the order of issuing the test tubes of the stocker is determined in each test tube preparation device so as to be cut out and issued. Stocker for storing a large number of test tubes for each tube type, transport means for transporting test tubes cut out from the stocker to the label application position, and means for storing and transporting test tubes after label application to a tray A plurality of test tube preparation devices each having a plurality of test tube preparation devices connected to each other, and the control device for controlling each of these test tube preparation devices is a stocker Priority determination unit, selection unit for selecting one test tube preparation device, issue order determination unit for determining the issue order of stockers in each test tube preparation device, and load of the number of test tubes issued in each test tube preparation device In the control device of the continuous test tube preparation device having a load value determination unit for determining the value ,
The priority determination unit preferentially determines the issuance command if it is an issuance command for a tube type stocker in which a tube type not accommodated in another stocker is stored among the issuance commands for test tubes. The test tube preparation device selection unit selects which test tube preparation device to issue from when the test tube of the same tube type is also stored in the stocker of another test tube preparation device. The issuance order determining unit is configured so that each test tube is sequentially cut out and issued from the stocker closest to the transporting means for transporting the test tube cut out from the stocker to the label attaching position. The order of issuing the tester test tubes in the preparatory device is determined, and the load value determination unit counts the number of test tubes issued in each test tube preparatory device, and Control device for continuously arranged tube preparation device of the load value is used to select the test tube preparation device to average.

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