JPH04335159A - Plate delivery device for judging agglomeration pattern - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speed up the work of loading many plates in and out. CONSTITUTION:A transfer force applying means 3 to transfer plates 1, to which a sample is attached, to an agglomeration pattern judging position 4 along a guide means 2, a plate stocker 6 arranged in one end part of the guide means 2, a plate transferring/placing means 11 to carry out in order plates 1 from the plate stocker 6 and to place those on one side of the guide means 2, and a lift mechanism 8 for the stocker are provided. This lift mechanism 8 for the stocker has a pair of arm parts 8A, 8B having claws at two positions, an arm driving/supporting part 8C to drive the arm parts 8A, 8B, and a vertical- transferring/supporting part 8D for arm to move vertically the arm driving/ supporting part 8C. The plate stocker 6 has a bottom side cutting part 6A3 for the plate transferring/placing means on that bottom face, opening parts for plate loading in/out leading to the bottom side cutting part 6A3 in two faces perpendicular to a carrier path, and cutting parts for locking at two positions on both sides parallel to the carrier path.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plate dispensing device for determining an agglomerated pattern, and more particularly to a plate dispensing device for determining an agglomerated pattern having a structure for loading and unloading a plate stocker containing a plurality of plates.

0002

[Prior Art] In the medical field, as a method for detecting and analyzing various components and viruses in blood, discrimination methods based on blood aggregation patterns have traditionally been used relatively often. Standards are set. This determination of the presence or absence of aggregation is often performed visually with the naked eye. Specifically, the presence or absence of aggregation can be determined by measuring the distribution of particles in a reaction vessel (well) using a predetermined brightness as the standard, and determining the area of the area below the standard brightness, or by using a standard aggregation pattern or a standard non-aggregation pattern. It often relies on comprehensive judgment by human eyes, such as by making comparisons or even by creating serial serial dilutions of specimen samples.

[0003] On the other hand, this visual judgment has disadvantages such as requiring a high level of skill and causing individual differences in judgment. For this reason, in recent years, automation of determination using a one-dimensional light receiving element (one-dimensional CCD sensor) has been progressing.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the automation in the above conventional example is performed by manually placing a plate with a sample for aggregation pattern determination on the aggregation pattern determination location. many. For this reason, there is an inconvenience in that a lot of time and labor are required for the work of placing the plate and the work of transporting the plate. For this reason, even if the automation of the determination was achieved, there was a problem in that the work efficiency was low.

[0005]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention improves the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular, enables the work of loading and unloading plates one by one in large quantities to be carried out quickly in the automation of agglomeration pattern determination. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plate feeding device for determining an agglomeration pattern that is capable of processing a large number of plates continuously in a short period of time.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problem] A guide means for guiding the movement of a plate to which a sample for agglomeration pattern determination is attached along its conveyance path, and a guide means installed along the guide means to move the plate to an agglomeration pattern determination location. a plate stocker removably installed near one end of the guide means on the upstream side of the conveyance path; It is equipped with a plate transfer and placement means placed on one side of the guide means, and a stocker lift mechanism that sets the plate carried out from the plate transfer and placement means into a state where it can be automatically carried out within the plate stocker. . This stocker lift mechanism has a pair of arms each having claws at two locations on opposing surfaces, and drives each arm in a direction toward or away from each other as necessary while maintaining the parallel state. The arm drive support section is provided with an arm drive support section and an arm vertical transfer support section that allows the arm drive support section to be moved up and down as required. Further, the plate stocker has a cutout section on the bottom surface thereof for carrying out a plate having a predetermined width extending from one side to the other side that can be engaged with the plate transfer/mounting means along the above-mentioned conveyance path, and one side orthogonal to the conveyance path. The other surface has an opening for carrying in and carrying out the plate which communicates with the above-mentioned cutout for carrying out the plate. Furthermore, a configuration is adopted in which locking cutouts of a predetermined size are provided at two locations on both side surfaces parallel to the conveyance path, corresponding to the claws of the stocker lift mechanism. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned purpose.

[0007]

[Operation] The plates in the plate stocker, except for the lowest plate, are lifted by being sandwiched between the pair of arms provided with claws of the stocker lift mechanism. As a result, only one plate with the sample attached remains on the bottom surface of the plate stocker. The plate remaining on the bottom surface is lifted upwards by the plate transfer and placement means and is transferred to the guide means on the downstream side of the conveyance path. Thereafter, such operations are repeated one after another, and the plates in the plate stocker are automatically sent out one after another toward the guide means according to the operations of the stocker lift mechanism and the plate transfer and placement means.

[0008]

[First Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. First, the entire system will be explained based on FIG. 4. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes a guide means 2 for guiding the transfer of the plate 1 on which a sample for aggregation pattern determination is attached along the conveyance path, and a guide means 2 that is installed along the guide means 2 and is attached to the plate 1. A transfer force urging means 3 that applies a transfer force from one side to the other side, and a plate 1 that is installed at an aggregation pattern determination location 4 provided in advance on the conveyance path and that is transferred, are used to determine the aggregation pattern. The plate stop mechanism 5 is provided with a stopper portion 5A for stopping at the location 4.

[0009] Furthermore, a main control section (not shown) is provided which regulates each operation of the plate stop mechanism 5 and the transfer force urging means 3 as necessary. Reference numeral 10 indicates an aggregation pattern determining means for determining the agglutination pattern of the sample on the plate 1. This agglomeration pattern determination means 10 is installed at the aggregation pattern determination location 4 so as to be detachable from the direction orthogonal to the above-mentioned conveyance path.

At the left end of the guide means 2 in FIG.
A box-shaped plate stocker 6 in which a plurality of plates 1 are stacked and stored is removably installed. At the right end of the guide means 2 in FIG. 4, the other plate stocker 7, which is formed identically, is also detachably installed. This plate stocker 7 is for storing plates 1 for which aggregation pattern determination has been completed, while the above-mentioned plate stocker 6 is for storing plates 1 for which aggregation pattern determination has not yet been performed.

A lift mechanism 8 for one stocker is provided at the left end of one plate stocker 6 in FIG. 4 for sequentially selecting plates 1 for transfer from within the plate stocker 6 one by one. Further, the right end portion of the other plate stocker 7 in FIG. 4 is equipped with a lift mechanism 9 for the other stocker for sequentially stacking the plates 1 from below after completion of the agglomeration pattern determination.

Further, a belt conveyor mechanism 11 having a belt conveyor section 11A configured to be movable up and down is installed in the lower part of one of the plate stockers 6 in FIG. This belt conveyor mechanism 11 is arranged such that its belt conveyor section 11A extends from the plate stocker 6 to the lower part of the guide means 2. During operation, the plate 1 is first raised and pushed up from below at the lowest position in the plate stocker 6, and the plate 1 is moved to the belt conveyor section 11A.
Then, the plate 1 is transferred to the upper part of the guide means 2, and then the belt conveyor section 11A is lowered to relatively slowly place the plate 1 on the guide means 2 mentioned above. It looks like this.

Furthermore, the lower part of the other plate stocker 7 in FIG. 4 is also equipped with a belt conveyor mechanism 12 having a belt conveyor section 12A configured to be vertically movable. As shown in FIG. 4, this belt conveyor mechanism 12 is arranged such that its belt conveyor section 12A extends from the plate stocker 7 to the lower part of the guide means 2. During operation, the plate 1 is placed on the belt conveyor part 12A by rising and pushing up the plate 1 on the guide means 2 from below, and then transferred to the plate stocker 7,
Thereafter, the plate 1 is placed in the plate stocker 7 by lowering the belt conveyor section 12A.

To explain this in more detail, in this embodiment, the plate 1 is a plastic plate having a plurality of reaction vessels (wells) arranged in a checkerboard pattern and formed by bending a relatively thin member. It is used. The plate 1 is generally formed into a rectangular shape. Further, the guide means 2 for guiding the transfer of the plate 1 is
It consists of two guide members 2A and 2B each having an L-shaped cutout in the cross section on opposing surfaces and a protrusion on the lower end thereof.The protrusion on the opposing surface side supports the plate 1 and It is now possible to guide the transfer. The guide means 2 is installed so that its upstream and downstream sides abut against plate stockers 6 and 7, respectively. Codes 2A1 and 3A2 refer to guide members 2A and 2B.
The supporting legs are shown (in FIG. 4, the legs 2A1, 3
A2 overlaps).

[0015] The upper part of the guide means 2 is equipped with a transfer force biasing means 3 for applying a transfer force to the plate 1 described above. This transfer force biasing means 3 consists of two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32 arranged in an upper part located slightly outside the guide means 2 and installed parallel to the guide means 2, and these two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32. Guide rail support members 31A, 31B separately support both ends of the two cylindrical guide rails 31, 32, and first and The second transfer mechanism sections 33 and 34, the first and second transfer mechanism sections 33,
The structure includes first and second transfer force transmission mechanism sections 35 and 36 that transmit transfer forces to the transfer force 34 separately. Here, in FIG. 4, two cylindrical guide rails 31,
32 overlap. In addition, the guide rail support member 31
A, 32A, furthermore, guide rail support members 31B, 3
2B overlap each other.

The first transfer mechanism section 33 has a function of transferring the plate 1 sent out from the plate stocker 6 to the agglomeration pattern determination point 4 located in the center of the guide means 2. Further, the second transfer mechanism section 34 has a function of transferring the judged plate 1 from the pattern judgment location 4 to the plate stocker 7 and also transferring the plate 1 to a position where it can be stored in the plate stocker 7. There is.

The transfer force urging means 3 will now be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first transfer mechanism section 33, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, is disposed so as to be perpendicular to the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32. a pressing shaft 331 , and pressing shaft support members 332 , 333 that fixedly support both ends of the pressing shaft 331 and guide the pressing shaft 331 so that it can reciprocate on the two cylindrical guide rails 31 , 32 . , the pressing shaft 331
A rotation prevention member 334 is suspended and fixed at the center of
Pressing plate mounting member 335 rotatably equipped on 1
, 336 and the press plate mounting members 335 , 336
While pressing the plate 1 supported by the
(direction A in FIG. 6) Plate pressing plate 3 for transporting to the agglomeration pattern determination location 4 located in the center of the guide means 2
37. Reference numeral 338 designates a buffer member that functions when the plate pressing plate 337 returns to its original position and absorbs the impact caused by the returning operation of the plate pressing plate 337.

The first transfer mechanism section 33 forming a part of the transfer force urging means 3 includes a first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35 disposed and equipped along one of the cylindrical guide rails 31. are connected. This first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35 is
Transfer wire 351 arranged along one cylindrical guide rail 31 and FIG. 1 of one cylindrical guide rail 31
A wire drive pulley 352 is installed at the right end of the transfer wire 351 and sends out the wire as much as it has been wound up, and a wire drive pulley 352 is installed at the left end of one cylindrical guide rail 31 in FIG. The wire driven pulley 353 supports the traveling of the transfer wire 351 by winding the transfer wire 351 by half a turn.

Both ends of the transfer wire 351 are connected to the lower end of the aforementioned pressing shaft support member 332 via buffer coil springs 354 and 355, respectively. Further, the wire drive pulley 352 is attached to the drive shaft of a wire drive motor 356. This wire drive motor 356 and wire drive pulley 352 are
It is installed at the right end of the guide member 2A in FIG. 4 via a U-shaped member 357. Further, the wire driven pulley 353 is installed at the left end of the guide member 2A in FIG. 4 via an L-shaped member 358.

As a result, when the wire drive motor 356 rotates forward, the first transfer mechanism 33 is moved in the direction of arrow A by the transfer wire 351 of the first transfer force transmission mechanism 35, and the plate is moved in the direction of the arrow A. 1 is transferred from the left direction to the right direction in FIG. On the other hand, when returning the first transfer mechanism section 33 to its original position, the wire drive motor 356 is rotated in the opposite direction. As a result, the first transfer mechanism section 33 moves in the direction B in FIGS. 4 to 6. When the next plate 1 is to be placed in the direction B, the plate 1 is rotated to the position shown by arrow C in FIG.
It is now possible to move on the top in direction B.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the second transfer mechanism section 34, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, runs directly on the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32. A pressing shaft 341 arranged in such a manner that the pressing shaft 341
Press shaft support members 342 and 343 fixedly support both ends of the press shaft 341 and guide the press shaft 341 so as to be able to reciprocate on the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32; Detent member 34
4, press plate mounting members 345 and 346 disposed at both ends of this rotation prevention member 344 and rotatably mounted on the press shaft 341, and this press plate mounting member 345.
, 346 for transferring the aforementioned plate 1 while pressing it (direction A in FIGS. 4 to 3) to the aggregation pattern determination location 4 located in the center of the guide means 2. Reference numeral 348 designates a buffer member that functions when the plate pressing plate 347 returns to its original position and absorbs the impact caused by the returning operation of the plate pressing plate 347.

The first transfer mechanism section 34 forming a part of the transfer force urging means 3 includes a second transfer force transmission mechanism section 36 disposed and equipped along the other cylindrical guide rail 32. are connected. This second transfer force transmission mechanism section 36 is
Similar to the first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35 described above, it has a transfer wire 361, and this transfer wire 361
is connected to the lower end of the above-mentioned pressing shaft support member 342 via buffer coil springs 364 and 365, so that it is formed exactly the same as the above-mentioned first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35 and functions exactly the same. It has become. This results in
The plate 1 whose agglomeration pattern has been determined can be transported rightward in FIGS. 4 and 7.

Next, the plate stopping mechanism 5 provided with the stopper portion 5A for stopping the plate 1 at the agglomeration pattern determination location 4 will be explained. This plate stop mechanism 5 is
It is mainly composed of a solenoid or the like, and a stopper part 5A is connected and equipped to the iron core thereof. Furthermore, the plate stop mechanism 5 is equipped with a plate detection sensor (not shown) at a predetermined location on the conveyance path of the plate 1 to detect the arrival of the plate 1. Then, the plate stop mechanism 5 is operated based on the output signal of the plate detection sensor and a command from the main control section, and the stopper section 5A is caused to protrude or retreat.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a plate stocker 6 in which a plurality of plates 1 are stored. This plate stocker 6 is detachably mounted on its supporting members 61 and 62. The plate stocker 6 has a structure in which a plurality of plates 1 can be stacked and stored as described above. code 6
A indicates the stocker body, and symbol 6B indicates the stocker body 6A.
This figure shows the built-in lid that can be opened and closed freely. Stocker body 6
At the lower end of one of the opposing sides of A, there is a locking cutout for locking a plurality of plates 1 in the second or higher stages from the bottom so as to sandwich them from the side edges and temporarily moving them upward. Section 6A1
, 6A2 are provided, respectively.

[0025] Also, the stocker main body 6A and its lid part 6
Each bottom part in FIG. 8 of B has the aforementioned locking cutout part 6
It is largely cut out along the above-mentioned conveyance path except for a part on the A1 and 6A2 sides. Then, the entire belt portion of the belt conveyor section 11A moves up and down through this cut out portion, that is, the bottom side cut out portion 6A3, while maintaining its horizontal state, whereby the plate 1 located at the lowest end is carried out to the outside as shown by arrow C in FIG. Here, at the lower end of the surface of the plate stocker 6 perpendicular to the above-mentioned conveyance path, there is an opening 6A4 for carrying in and out of plates that communicates with the bottom cutout 6A3.
is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a rising portion 6A5 for plate locking is provided at the lower corner of this plate loading/unloading opening 6A4. The plate stocker 7 is also formed exactly the same as the plate stocker 6 and can function in the same manner. code 6
C indicates a handle.

Next, FIGS. 1 to 3 show one stocker lift mechanism 8 and the stocker carry-in mechanism 18 installed on the stocker carry-in side (the left end side in FIG. 4) (in FIG. 4, the stocker carry-in mechanism 18 is omitted).

One of the stocker lift mechanisms 8 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a pair of arm portions 8A, which are arranged in parallel and equipped with claw portions 8A1, 8A2 or 8B1, 8B2 at two locations on opposing surfaces. 8B and these arm parts 8
An arm drive support section 8C that drives A and 8B toward or away from each other as necessary while maintaining their parallel state, and an arm drive support section 8C that drives the entire arm drive support section 8C upward or downward as necessary. It is equipped with an arm vertical transfer support section 8D that allows the arm to move, and a rotational drive support section 8E that supports the arm drive support section 8C and the arm up and down transfer support section 8D as a whole and allows them to reciprocate by 180 degrees as necessary. ing.

Claw portions 8A1, 8A2 or 8B1, 8
B2 is the cutout portion 6A1 of the plate stocker 6 mentioned above.
, 6A2 are provided at one end of the arm portions 8A and 8B, respectively, at intervals corresponding to the positions of the arms 8A and 8B.

The arm drive support section 8C also includes two round rod-shaped racks 8C1 and 8C2 (Fig. 1
, see FIG. 2), a pinion 8C3 disposed between these racks 8C1 and 8C2 and driving the racks 8C1 and 8C2 in the opposite direction (see FIG. 2), and these racks 8
Arm support case 8C4 that houses C1, 8C2 and pinion 8C3, and this arm support case 8C
4. A plate holding motor 8C5 is provided on the plate and drives the pinion 8C3 in forward or reverse rotation as required.

Here, one end of the round bar-shaped rack 8C1 is fixed to the arm portion 8B, and the other end is loosely inserted into the arm portion 8A. In addition, a round bar-shaped rack 8C2
One end thereof is fixed to the arm portion 8A, and the other end is loosely inserted into the arm portion 8B. Therefore, the plate holding motor 8C5 is started and the pinion 8C3 is
When rotated in a predetermined direction, the arm parts 8A, 8B
They are biased by the racks 8C1 and 8C2 and move toward or away from each other.

[0031] Reference symbols 8C6 and 8C7 indicate arm portions 8A.
, 8B (omitted in FIG. 1) is shown. This guide bar 8C6, 8C7
is slidably supported by the arm support case 8C4 mentioned above. Due to the arm support action of the guide bars 8C6 and 8C7, the racks 8C1 and 8C2
This enables smooth meshing between the pinion 8C3 and the transmission of power.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the arm vertical transfer support section 8D includes a lift box 8 that fixedly supports the arm support case 8C4 of the arm drive support section 8C.
D1, and a ball screw mechanism section 8D2 that urges the lift box 8D1 to move upward or downward.
, two guide rods 8D3 and 8D4 that guide the vertical movement of the lift box 8D1, and a ball screw mechanism section 8D2.
and a holding plate 8D5 that holds the two guide rods 8D3 and 8D4, and a lift main body case 8D6 with one side open that accommodates and supports these components. Reference numeral 8D7 indicates a lift drive motor that drives the ball screw mechanism section 8D2. As a result, one of the stocker lift mechanisms 8 including the arm vertical transfer support section 8D and the above-mentioned arm drive support section 8C holds the plate 1 in the plate stocker 6 as described above. It is possible to raise the plate stocker 6 by a predetermined distance, and in some cases, it is possible to hold the entire plate stocker 6 and transport it in the vertical direction.

Next, the stocker loading mechanism 18 disclosed at the left end of FIG. 1 will be explained. This stocker loading mechanism 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes a carry-in belt mechanism section 1 for loading and carrying the stocker 6.
8A, and guide members 18B and 18C provided at both ends of the carry-in belt mechanism section 18A. When the stocker 6 is sent to a predetermined position, it is immediately detected by a predetermined sensor, and is moved from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. It is designed to be carried to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The large broken line arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the rotation direction P and return direction Q of the arm vertical transfer support section 8D rotated by the rotary drive support section 8E, the aforementioned arm drive support section 8C, and the stocker 6.

The other stocker lift mechanism 9 (see FIG. 4) is also formed exactly the same as the stocker lift mechanism 8 shown in FIG. 1 described above, and can function in the same manner. Further, a stocker unloading mechanism formed exactly the same as the stocker loading mechanism 18 disclosed at the left end of FIG. 1 may be installed at the right end of the stocker lift mechanism 9 of FIG. 4. In this case, the operations are almost the same except for the difference between the loading and unloading operations of the stocker.

Next, the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 and 12 will be explained. These belt conveyor mechanisms 11 and 12 are
They are each formed identically and are installed at symmetrical positions in FIG. 4 with the agglomeration pattern determination location 4 mentioned above as the center.

One of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 includes a belt conveyor section 11A on which the plate 1 is placed and conveyed.
, a conveyor drive motor 11B that drives this belt conveyor section 11A, and a conveyor support stand 1 that supports this belt conveyor section 11A and conveyor drive motor 11B.
1C, and a vertical movement biasing mechanism 11D that supports the conveyor support stand 11C and moves the entire conveyor support stand 11C in the vertical direction while maintaining its almost horizontal state.

Here, the vertical motion biasing mechanism 11D is shown in FIG.
As shown in 0, two swing link parts 111 and 112 configured to swing, and one swing link part 111
It is equipped with an eccentric cam 113 mounted in contact with the lower end of the cam, and a cam drive motor 114 that rotationally drives the eccentric cam 113 at a predetermined timing. Here, one swing link part 111 is installed at the center of gravity of the belt conveyor mechanism 11. For this reason, the cam drive motor 114
When the eccentric cam 113 is activated and the eccentric cam 113 is rotated, the belt conveyor mechanism 11 can be raised or lowered while maintaining almost the entire parallel state. The other swinging link part 111 performs the auxiliary operation of the one swinging link part 111 described above, and the belt conveyor mechanism 11
It functions to effectively prevent rolling and pitching of the ball.

The maximum width of this one belt conveyor mechanism 11 (ie, the width of the conveyor support stand 11C) is set narrower than the width between the two guide members 2A and 2B of the guide means 2 described above. Furthermore, the width of the bottom cutout 6A3 formed on the bottom of the plate stocker 6 described above is as follows:
The width is set larger than the maximum width of one of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11. Therefore, when this one belt conveyor mechanism 11 is raised, it smoothly moves in parallel upwardly within the plate stocker 6 from the bottom side cutout 6A3, and at the same time moves the plate 1 located at the lower part of the plate stocker 6. It is scooped up from below and placed on the belt conveyor section 11A, and then transferred along arrow G to the guide means 2 side.

During this time, the other plate 1 in the plate stocker 6 is temporarily lifted by one of the stocker lift mechanisms 8, as shown in FIG. This state continues until the plate 1 is removed from the plate stocker 6 and one of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 is lowered. Then, along with the entire downward movement of the one belt conveyor mechanism 11, the entire plate 1 is placed parallel and gently onto the guide means 2. Therefore, the plate 1 is placed quietly on the guide means 2 without any vibration.

The other belt conveyor mechanism 12, which is formed identically to this one belt conveyor mechanism 11 and is installed in a symmetrical position as shown in FIG. The plate 1 is placed on the bottom surface of the other plate stocker 7 from above the guide means 2. In this case as well, the other stocker lift mechanism 9 functions effectively, and the determined plate 1 is temporarily lifted by the other stocker lift mechanism 9 until it is stored in the other plate stocker 7. . In such a state, the other belt conveyor mechanism 12
continues until it falls.

Next, the overall operation of the above embodiment will be explained. First, the plate stocker 6 carried in by the stocker carry-in mechanism 18 is scooped up and lifted up by the stocker lift mechanism 8.
It is disposed close to the upstream side of one end of the rotated rear guide means 2 .

Next, the plates 1 in the plate stocker 6 are lifted up by the stocker lift mechanism 8, except for the plate 1 located at the lower level. At the same time, one of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 starts running its belt conveyor section 11A and enters an upward movement. Then, while lifting the lower plate 1 in the plate stocker 6, the belt conveyor section 1
1A and then transferred onto the guide means 2.

In this case, the plate 1 is relatively gently placed on the guide means 2 while maintaining its horizontal state. When the plate 1 is placed on the guide means 2, the first transfer mechanism section 33, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, urges the first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35. is moved once on plate 1 from the right direction to the left side in Fig. 4,
It is stopped on the upstream side of plate 1. Subsequently, the first transfer force transmission mechanism 35 operates to send the plate 1 through the first transfer mechanism 33 to the right in FIG. 4, that is, to the agglomeration pattern determination location 4.

At this agglomeration pattern determination location 4, a plurality of aggregation patterns on the plate 1 are read by the aggregation pattern determination means 10, and the quality of the aggregation patterns is determined according to a predetermined reference pattern. When the reading operation of this agglomeration pattern is completed, the second transfer mechanism section 34, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, is urged by the first transfer force transmission mechanism section 36 and once moves over the plate 1. It moves from the right direction of plate 4 to the left side and is stopped at the upstream side of plate 1.

Subsequently, the second transfer force transmission mechanism 36 is activated, and the plate 1 is transferred to the right in FIG. 4, ie, to the right end on the guide means 2 via the second transfer mechanism 34. Immediately after the plate 1 is transferred to the right end on the guide means 2, the other belt conveyor mechanism 12 starts running its belt conveyor section 12A and begins an upward movement. Then, the plate 1 on the guide means 2 is lifted up and placed on the belt conveyor section 12A, then transferred into the plate stocker 7, and lowered again to store the plate 1 at the lowest position in the plate stocker 7.

During the process of storing the plate 1 in the plate stocker 7, the other plates 1 in the plate stocker 7 are temporarily moved somewhat upward by the stocker lift mechanism 9. *As soon as the plate 1 sent by the other belt conveyor mechanism 12 is stored at the lowest position in the plate stocker 7, the other plate 1 is lowered onto the lowest plate 1. The transfer and determination process of plate 1 is completed. Thereafter, the transfer of the second and third plates 1 and the determination process are repeated in accordance with this.

[0047]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured and functions as described above, a large number of plates with samples for aggregation pattern determination can be carried simultaneously to one side of the guide means by the action of the plate stocker. By inserting the claw part of the stocker lift mechanism through the locking cutout provided on the side of the plate stocker, it is possible to lift all the other plates except for the plate located at the lowest position. Therefore, it is possible to reliably send out a plurality of plates with samples for evaluation attached to them one by one from the plate located at the lowest position to the guide means side via the plate transfer/mounting means. It is possible to provide an unprecedented and excellent plate feeding device for agglomeration pattern determination that can continuously process a large amount of plates.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

[Fig. 1] A perspective view showing an example of carrying in a plate stocker in Fig. 4.

FIG. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view showing the arm drive support part of one of the stocker lift mechanisms in FIGS. 4 and 1;

3 is a partially omitted perspective view showing the arm vertical transfer support part of one of the stocker lift mechanisms in FIGS. 4 and 1; FIG.

[Fig. 4] Front view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a first transfer mechanism that forms part of the transfer force biasing means in FIG. 4;

[Fig. 6] Explanatory diagram showing the operation of Fig. 5

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second transfer mechanism that forms part of the transfer force urging means in FIG. 4;

[Fig. 8] Explanatory diagram showing the plate stocker in Fig. 4

[Figure 9] Cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 2

[Figure 10] Figure 4
A perspective view showing an example of a plate transfer/mounting means in

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Plate 2 Guide means 3 Transfer force biasing means 4 Coagulation pattern determination location 6 Plate stocker 6A1, 6A2 Removal portion for locking 6A3 Bottom side resection portion 6A4 Removal portion for plate loading/unloading 6A5 Rising portion for plate locking 8 Lift for stocker Mechanisms 8A, 8B Arm portions 8A1, 8A2, 8B1, 8B2 Claw portions 8C
Arm drive support part 8D Vertical transfer support part for arm

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Guide means for guiding the movement of a plate to which a sample for agglomeration pattern determination is attached along its conveyance path to an agglomeration pattern determination location; A plate stocker detachably installed in close proximity to the plate stocker, a plate transfer and placement means for sequentially carrying out plates from within the plate stocker and placing the plates on one side of the guide means, and the plate transfer and placement device. a stocker lift mechanism for setting the plate to be automatically carried out in the plate stocker, and the stocker lift mechanism includes a pair of claws each having claws at two locations on the opposing surface side. An arm part, an arm drive support part that drives each arm part in a direction toward or away from each other as necessary while maintaining the parallel state, and an up and down part for the arm that moves this arm drive support part up and down as necessary. the plate stocker has a plate carrying cutout having a predetermined width extending from one side to the other side and capable of engaging with the plate transferring and mounting means along the conveying path on the bottom surface thereof; It has plate loading/unloading openings that lead to the plate loading/unloading cutout on one side and the other side perpendicular to the conveyance path, and at the same time, claws of the stocker lift mechanism are provided at two locations on both sides parallel to the conveying path. A plate feeding device for determining an agglomeration pattern, characterized in that a locking cutting portion of a predetermined size is provided corresponding to the plate. 2. The plate feeding device for agglomeration pattern determination according to claim 1, wherein the plate stocker has a rising portion for plate locking at a corner of a lower end of the opening for carrying in and carrying out plates.