JPH0576797A - Centrifugal separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To double the number of centrifuging pipes capable of being treated with the constant-speed rotor and to increase the centrifugal separation capacity by opposing a couple of rotors holding the centrifuging pipe and rotating at a constant speed with a centrifuging pipe exchanging rotor controlled by the synchronous rotation, rotated and stopped in between. CONSTITUTION:A centrifuging pipe exchanging rotor 31 is provided in the middle of a centrifugal separator 30, and constant-speed rotors 32 and 33 are vertically opposed with the rotor 31 in between. The rotors 32 and 33 are rotated at a constant speed by a pulse motor 34, and the centrifuging pipe exchanging rotor 31 is rotated by a pulse motor 35. A transmitter-receiver R1 for transmitting and receiving the velocity and position signals from a photosensor 45 and receiving the command signal from a controller 80 is provided to the base 42 of the lower rotor 32. Furthermore, centrifuging pipe lifters 53 and 54 are furnished in the centrifuging pipe housing chambers 51 and 52 of the rotor 31, and centrifuging pipe feeders 55 and 56 and centrifuging pipe dischargers 57 and 58 are respectively provided to the chambers 51 and 52.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for centrifuging blood into serum and blood pay, and in particular, to automatically replace a centrifuge tube without stopping a centrifuge tube rotor rotating at high speed. The present invention relates to a centrifugal separator capable of

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, when various blood tests such as biochemical analysis and immunological analysis are performed, the blood is centrifuged as a pretreatment. The separator is a centrifuge tube containing the blood to be centrifuged,
Set the centrifuge tube rotor one by one manually while considering the rotation balance, then turn on the start switch to rotate the centrifuge tube rotor at high speed at a constant speed, and after a predetermined time, turn on the off switch. Then, the centrifuge tube rotor was stopped, and when the centrifuge tube rotor was completely stopped, the centrifuge tube after the centrifugal separation process was manually removed from the centrifuge tube rotor.

However, these operations are very complicated and require a lot of time loss due to manual work, and the time loss required for starting and stopping the centrifuge tube rotor is very high. However, there is a problem that the operation efficiency required for centrifugation is very poor, and these factors are the largest factors that hinder the full automation of various blood tests such as biochemical analysis and immunological analysis.

Therefore, the applicant of the present invention has previously proposed a centrifugal separator which solves such a problem (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. Sho 64).
-10267).

FIG. 4 shows this centrifuge in which the setting and removal of the centrifuge tube is fully automated. This centrifuge includes a constant-speed rotor 1 that rotates at a constant speed and a centrifugal tube exchange rotor 2 that can rotate in synchronization with the constant-speed rotor 1. Rotation of each rotor 1 and 2 is controlled by a controller 3 and pulse motors 4 and 5. Number control. 6 and 7 are constant speed rotors 1
Sensor for measuring the number of revolutions of the rotor, 8 and 9 are constant-speed rotors 1.
And an optical sensor for detecting and synchronizing the rotation speed and position of the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 2. Naturally, the rotary shafts 10 and 11 of both rotors 1 and 2 are arranged on the same axis.

The sample blood is stored in the centrifuge tube 12 and arranged in a holder stocker 13 as shown in FIG. The holder stocker 13 has an arm 14 that moves back and forth.
When the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 2 is stopped, the arm 14 advances the centrifuge tube 12 and the storage chamber 1 of the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 2 is moved.
The centrifuge tube 12 is sent to 5. The centrifuge tube 12 is housed in a holder 16 as shown in FIG. 6, and a hole portion 16h of the holder 16 is rotatably supported in the housing chamber 15 so that the centrifuge tube 12 can be freely tilted.

When the centrifuge tube 12 is set in the storage chamber 15, the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 2 starts rotating. When the rotation speed is gradually increased, the rotation speed of the constant speed rotor 1 and the rotation speed of the constant speed rotor 1 match, and the optical sensors 8 and 9 match at the designated position, the centrifugal tube 12 is transferred to the constant speed rotor 1. This transfer is performed by the vertical movement device 17 arranged above the storage chamber 15 of the centrifugal tube exchange rotor 2. This vertical movement device 17
As shown in FIG. 7, an arm 20 for holding or releasing the holder 16 by a motor 18 and a cam 19 is provided, and this arm 20 is vertically driven by a wire 21 and a pulley 22 to transfer the centrifugal tube 12. It is a thing. Although the centrifuge tube 12 is initially set in the storage chamber 15 in the vertical direction, the centrifugal tube 12 changes its posture in the lateral direction due to the centrifugal force as the number of rotations of the replacement rotor 2 increases, and when set in the constant speed rotor 1, centrifugal separation is possible. Maintain a good attitude.

When the centrifugal separation is completed after a lapse of a predetermined time, the vertical moving device 17 transfers the centrifugal tube 12 to the exchange rotor 2 again. When the exchange rotor 2 gradually decreases its rotation speed and stops completely, the posture of the centrifuge tube 12 is in the vertical direction, and the arm 23 that can move back and forth here moves the centrifuge tube 12 to the stocker 24 outside the exchange rotor 2. By taking out, the centrifugal separation process for one centrifuge tube 12 is completed. The arm 14 for setting the centrifuge tube 12 on the exchange rotor 2 and the arm 23 for taking out the centrifuge tube 12 from the exchange rotor 2 may have the same configuration. The duplicated reference numerals in FIG. 4 mean the same configuration. is there. In FIG. 4, reference numerals 26 and 27 are generators utilizing the rotation of the rotary shafts 10 and 11, and 28 and 29 are register devices for sending the detection data of the optical sensors 8 and 9 to the control device 3.

[0009]

By the way, the centrifugal separator previously proposed by the present applicant has significantly improved the processing efficiency in that the centrifugal tube can be automatically set and taken out. However, there is a limit to the number of centrifuge tubes that can be set at one time, so there is room for improvement to further increase the number of processes per unit time.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a treatment per unit time while maintaining the basic configuration of the centrifugal separator previously proposed by the present applicant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a centrifuge capable of increasing the capacity.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a centrifugal separator according to the present invention has a pair of constant speed rotors that hold a centrifuge tube and rotate at a constant speed, and the same axis as each of the constant speed rotors. When the rotation speed of the constant-speed rotor and that of the centrifugal-tube exchange rotor are the same, and the rotation speed of the constant-speed rotor and that of the centrifugal-tube exchange rotor are the same, the centrifugal tube is moved from one rotor to the other rotor. Centrifugal tube exchange means for transferring the centrifugal tube exchange means, and the constant speed rotors are arranged opposite to each other with the centrifugal tube exchange rotor interposed therebetween.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a centrifugal separator 30 according to this embodiment has a centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 arranged in the central portion of the apparatus, and a constant speed rotor 32 in an upper and lower position with the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 interposed therebetween. , 33 are opposed to each other.

The constant speed rotors 32 and 33 are arranged on the same axis and have the same basic structure, but they are not completely symmetrical. This is to prevent blood from flowing out of the centrifuge tube 40 when the rotations of the constant speed rotors 32 and 33 are stopped due to a power failure or an accident, and it is desirable to slightly change the configuration of the rotors above and below for other reasons. Because. The configuration of each part will be specifically described below.

The centrifuge 30 is provided with pulse motors 34 and 35 for driving the rotor arranged in the case body K. The pulse motor 34 rotates the constant speed rotors 32 and 33 at a constant speed while the pulse motor 35 is used. The rotation of the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 is controlled by. At this time, the rotary shafts 36 of the constant speed rotors are arranged on the same shaft. The centrifugal tube exchange rotor 31 has a gear 31a formed on the outer periphery thereof.
Is engaged with a gear fixed to the rotation shaft of the pulse motor 35 to control the rotation. It should be noted that generators 38 and 39 for power generation are provided on the upper and lower parts of the rotary shaft 36, and the electric power is stored in a battery (not shown) arranged at an appropriate location of the centrifugal tube exchange rotor 31.

The lower constant-speed rotor 32 comprises a base 42 fixed to a rotating shaft 36 and a holder 43 rotatably supported by the base 42.

The base 42 is formed in a turret shape, and the holder 43 is provided on the outer peripheral edge thereof at a predetermined interval.
Are supported on multiple axes. That is, a plurality of slits for axially supporting the holder 43 are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the base 42, and the holder 43 is rotatable with respect to the base 42 via shafts 44 projecting from both sides of the upper end thereof. It is pivotally supported.

A stopper piece for holding the horizontal state of the holder 43 when the rotor 32 rotates at a constant speed is formed at the slit opening portion of the base 42, and the bottom of each slit has a required angle. It is tilted. In this way, the bottom of each slit is inclined so that the centrifuge tube holder does not drop out of the holder 43 or the blood does not leak from the centrifuge tube 40 when the drive switch is turned off or the rotor 32 stops due to a failure or the like. To do so.

A signal from the photo sensor 45 is transmitted to and received from the base 42 of the rotor 32 thus constructed, and
A transmitter / receiver R ₁ for the rotor that receives a command signal from the control device 80 is attached.

The rotor transmitter / receiver R ₁ is arranged on a support C fixed to the base with screws, and the speed signal (pulse signal) from the photo sensor 45 arranged on the holder 43 and the position The signal is sent to the transmitter / receiver R ₂ for the rotor, and the controller 80 uses the signal to send the rotor 3
Control the rotation speed of 2. When the rotation speed of the rotor 32 does not reach the predetermined speed, the control device 80 sends a speed correction signal from the rotor transceiver R ₂ to the rotor transceiver R ₁ so that the rotation speed of the pulse motor 34 becomes steady. Controlled to be speed.

The centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 includes a centrifuge tube storage chamber 51 having an inverted L-shaped longitudinal section and a centrifuge tube storage chamber 5 having an L-shaped longitudinal section.
2, and centrifuge tube up-down devices 53 and 54 are provided adjacent to the inner portions of the centrifuge tube storage chambers 51 and 52. The centrifuge tube storage chamber 51 is for setting the centrifuge tube 40 to the lower constant velocity rotor 32, and the one centrifuge tube storage chamber 52 is for setting the centrifuge tube 40 to the upper constant velocity rotor 33. It is the space provided. These centrifuge tube storage chambers 51 and 52 are similar to the centrifuge device previously proposed by the present applicant.
The holder hole portion is rotatably supported.

Further, centrifuge tube supply devices 55 and 56 and centrifuge tube extraction devices 57 and 58 are provided corresponding to the respective centrifuge tube storage chambers 51 and 52 (see FIG. 2). Each of these devices 5
5 to 58, the basic configuration thereof may be the same as that of the centrifugal separator previously proposed by the present applicant, and the centrifuge tube holder 41 is provided by the arm 60 provided with the detachable holding means H (protrusion or electromagnet etc.) at the leading end. Holds and moves back and forth, holder stocker 1
Centrifuge tube 40 from 3a, 13b to centrifuge tube storage chambers 51, 52
And the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 stopped after the centrifugal separation process, and the arm 60 moves back and forth to take out the centrifuge tube 40. Of course, centrifuge tube supply devices 55, 56
The centrifugal tube extracting devices 57 and 58 may have the same configuration.

The centrifuge tube up-and-down devices 53 and 54 arranged adjacent to the centrifuge tube storage chambers 51 and 52 are the same as the centrifuge tube storage chambers 51 and 5, respectively.
The centrifuge tube holder 41 set to 2 is transferred to the upper and lower constant speed rotors 32 and 33. Unlike the centrifugal separator previously proposed by the applicant, the centrifuge tube holder 41 is rotatable about an axial point. Use arm configuration.

That is, in the centrifugal separator for centrifugal separation previously proposed by the applicant of the present invention shown in FIG.
It is only necessary to transfer the holder 16 set to 5 between the lower constant speed rotor 2 and the centrifugal tube elevating device 17 can be arranged above the centrifugal tube exchange rotor 2 (storage chamber 15). The centrifuge tube 12 can be set and reset by simply moving the arm 20 up and down.
It is necessary to transfer it to 33, so the centrifuge tube up-down device 5
When 3, 54 are arranged at the upper or lower position of the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31, the rotation of the constant speed rotor is hindered, so that the space between the rotors is expanded and the apparatus is enlarged. Of course, if the size of the device does not matter, the centrifugal tube up / down devices 53, 5
4 may be located on the upper side and the lower side of the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 as in the centrifuge apparatus previously proposed by the present applicant, but in order to miniaturize the apparatus, the centrifuge tube is arranged. It is most advantageous in terms of space to adjoin the inside of the storage chambers 51 and 52. The arm for transferring the centrifuge tube 40 is a multi-joint arm, a link mechanism, or the like.
The one that can control the angle of the arm tip that holds 0 is used.

FIG. 3 shows such centrifugal tube raising and lowering devices 53 and 54.
The configuration example of the arm used for the
A parallel link arm 65 is pivotally attached to a base 64 that moves up and down by a pulley 62 and a wire 63, and a gripping arm 66 that holds the centrifugal tube 40 is provided at the tip of the link arm 65. In this case, the drive mechanism of the link arm 65 may be a parallel link type, a joint drive type, a crank type, or the like.
Various known mechanisms are possible. Therefore, for example, a direct drive type joint arm in which a small motor is arranged in the arm joint portions 65a and 64b may be used.

The gripping arm 66 at the tip portion can hold and release the centrifuge tube 40 by using an opening / closing mechanism utilizing a flat cam, as in the centrifugal separator previously proposed by the applicant. Is. This centrifuge tube lifting device 53, 5
No. 4 holds the centrifuge tube holder 41 that has reached a predetermined rotation speed and is in a lateral orientation due to centrifugal force, and can transfer the holder 41 from the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 to the upper and lower constant speed rotors 32 and 33. If the gripping arm 66 at the tip end that holds the centrifuge tube holder 41 keeps the posture parallel to the rotation planes of the constant speed rotors 32 and 33 and brings the centrifuge tube holder 41 close, it can be attached to and detached from the holder parts 43 and 71. You can
The same applies to the case of disengagement.

The centrifuge tube holder 41 is formed by using a metal attracted by a magnet, and thus the constant speed rotor 3 is used.
After the centrifuge tube 40 is transferred to the holder portions 43 and 71 of Nos. 2 and 33, the centrifuge tube 40 does not fall off from the constant speed rotors 32 and 33.

On the other hand, the upper constant speed rotor 33 has the rotating shaft 3
The base 70 is fixed to the base 6, and the holder portion 71 is continuously fixed to the base 70. This constant speed rotor 33
Since the lower constant speed rotor 32 and the rotating shaft 36 are shared, the rotating speed is the same, and no special rotating speed sensor is required. Further, if the distance between the constant speed rotor 32 and the replacement rotor 31 is set to an appropriate distance, the centrifuge tube holder 71 descends at a predetermined angle onto the ceiling wall 31w of the replacement rotor 31 even when the rotor is stopped due to a power failure or the like. Abut the centrifugal tube 40
No internal blood will flow out. Therefore, it is not always necessary to provide the upper constant speed rotor 33 with the support c like the lower constant speed rotor 32. However, the detected rotation speed of the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 is sent to the external register 72 above the centrifuge tube holder 71 of the upper constant speed rotor 33,
It is possible to provide a signal transmitting / receiving device 73 for transmitting from the register 72 to the control device 80. Of course, depending on the space, a signal relay device (register) for transmitting the detected rotation speed to the controller 80 at the side position of the centrifuge tube replacement rotor.
May be provided.

Therefore, according to such a centrifugal separator 30, the centrifugal tube 40 is provided not only in the lower constant speed rotor 32 of the centrifugal separator previously proposed by the present applicant but also in the upper fixed speed rotor 33. Since it is possible to set and separate the processing, the processing capacity is dramatically improved and the time loss can be eliminated.

The setting and removing operations of the centrifuge tube 40 in this apparatus are substantially the same as those of the centrifugal separator previously proposed by the applicant. That is, when the centrifuge tube 40 containing the sample blood is inserted into the holder stocker 13a and the start switch is turned on, the present centrifuge is started and the constant speed rotor 3 is activated.
2, 33 start rotating at a constant speed, and the centrifuge tube holders 43, 71 are held horizontally by the centrifugal force.

On the other hand, the centrifuge tube holders 51 and 52 of the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 are supplied with the centrifuge tube holder 41 through the centrifuge tube supply devices 55 and 56, and the centrifuge tube holder 41 is provided.
Is engaged with and held by the centrifugal tube lifting devices 53 and 54. Thereafter, the rotation speed of the centrifugal tube exchange rotor 31 is gradually increased by the pulse motor 35, and the centrifugal tube holder 41 is held in the centrifugal tube up-down devices 53 and 54 as shown in FIG. It is gradually set to the horizontal state.

When the speed of the centrifuge tube exchange rotor 31 becomes the same as that of the rotors 32 and 33, the arms 66 of the centrifuge tube up-and-down devices 53 and 54 engage and hold the centrifuge tube holder 41 in a horizontal state. The centrifuge tube holder 41 is moved into the predetermined holding holes of the holder portions 43 and 71 which are previously determined by the controller 80, and then the centrifuge tube elevating and lowering devices 53 and 54 are operated to centrifuge the arm 66 and the centrifuge. The engagement state with the tube holder 41 is released, and the centrifugal tube holder 41
The transfer operation from the centrifugal tube replacement rotor 31 to the constant speed rotors 32 and 33 is completed.

When the centrifuge tube holder 41 is transferred in this way, the centrifuge tube holder 41 is moved to the constant speed rotors 32 and 3.
The centrifugal force of 3 pushes against the outer peripheral side wall of the holding hole to attract and hold the magnet, and the centrifugal separation work is performed for a required time.

On the other hand, the centrifuge tube holder 41 is attached to the holder portion 43,
In the centrifuge tube elevating / lowering devices 53 and 54 that have been transferred to 71, when the same work is completed, the arm 66 is returned to the original position, and when all of these works are completed, the centrifuge tube replacement rotor 31 is controlled by the control device 80. The speed is gradually reduced in accordance with the support, and finally the centrifugal tube holders 43 and 71 are drive-controlled so as to stop at a position facing the centrifugal tube holder transfer port provided in series with the centrifugal separator 30.

Thereafter, according to the above procedure, the new centrifuge tube holder 41 is successively transferred into the holders 43 and 71 defined by the controller 80. At this time, the control device 80
Supplies the centrifuge tube holder 41 to a predetermined position so that the constant speed rotors 32 and 33 can be rotationally balanced.

In the above embodiment, two centrifugal tube supply devices 55 and 56 are provided, and the lower constant speed rotor 3 is provided in each case.
2. The centrifugal tube is supplied to the upper constant speed rotor 33, and
Two take-out devices 57 and 58 are also provided to correspond to the upper and lower constant-speed rotors, but the number of centrifugal tube supply devices and take-out devices provided is not limited to two, and three or more or the applicant of the present invention precedes. One may be the same as the centrifugal separator proposed in 1. This is because the time loss of processing can be reduced and the efficiency of centrifugation can be improved even in the case of one, and the apparatus can be downsized, which is advantageous in terms of cost.
Further, since this device separates the sample by utilizing the centrifugal force, the rotation direction of the constant-speed rotor is not limited to the case where it is horizontal to the floor surface, and the rotation direction is vertical (vertical). The same effect can be obtained.

Further, the rotation speed sensor is not limited to an optical sensor means such as a photo sensor, but a mechanical sensor means such as a pulse counting type encoder device or a contact type micro switch can be used.

[0038]

As described above, in the centrifuge according to the present invention, the constant speed rotors are arranged opposite to each other with the centrifuge tube exchange rotor interposed therebetween. The number of is doubled. Therefore, the number of processings per unit time is improved, and it is possible to eliminate the time loss due to the stop or restart of the replacement rotor, which is an excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a centrifugal separator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of a centrifuge tube exchange rotor of the centrifuge.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration example of a centrifuge tube elevating device of the centrifuge.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a centrifugal separator previously proposed by the applicant.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a holder stocker unit in the centrifugal separator.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a holder that accommodates a centrifuge tube.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a centrifuge tube upper and lower device of the centrifugal separator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 Centrifugal Separator 31 Centrifuge Tube Exchange Rotor 32,33 Constant Speed Rotor 34,35 Pulse Motor 36,37 Rotating Shaft 51,52 Centrifuge Tube Storage Chamber 53,54 Centrifuge Tube Lifting Device 55,56 Centrifuge Tube Supply Device 57,58 Centrifuge Pipe extractor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of constant speed rotors, which hold a centrifugal tube and rotate at a constant speed, and are arranged on the same axis as each of these constant speed rotors.
In addition, the centrifuge tube exchange rotor that is controlled by synchronous rotation and rotation stop, and the centrifuge tube exchange that transfers the centrifuge tube from one rotor to the other rotor when the rotation speeds of the constant-speed rotor and the centrifuge tube exchange rotor are the same. Means, wherein the constant speed rotors are arranged opposite to each other with the centrifugal tube exchange rotor interposed therebetween.