JPH0612833Y2 - Sample centrifuge - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a centrifuge used in clinical specimen testing, and more specifically, to automatically load test tubes into a test tube holder in a centrifuge rotor. The present invention relates to a sample centrifuge device that can be taken out.

[Prior Art] In recent years, in the field of clinical specimen testing, various types of automation centering on analysis technology have been advanced. However, in the field of so-called pretreatment before analysis, most of the work is still done manually. For example, with regard to analysis techniques such as serum separation work, automation of each process is being steadily being attempted, but the pretreatment of the centrifuge is still dependent on human labor for loading and unloading test tubes. It is the current situation.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, the test tubes have conventionally been manually loaded and unloaded, which is an obstacle to automating the so-called pretreatment as a whole, and thus clinical specimen inspection. It made the whole efficient automatic processing difficult.

Therefore, the present invention enables automatic loading and unloading of test tubes in the centrifuge, complete automation of the entire pretreatment, and eventually, efficient specimen processing for clinical specimen testing. An object is to provide a centrifuge.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has taken the following means in order to solve the above problems and achieve the object.

(1) Centrifugal separation rotor and a plurality of cylindrical test tube holders pivotably supported on the peripheral edge of the rotor so that the posture can be changed according to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotor. By fixing at least a part of these test tube holders from two horizontal directions by, for example, a pair of holding pieces, the cylindrical test tube holders are fixed so that the axis of each holder is oriented in the vertical direction. A holder fixing mechanism that changes the temperature and the test tube insertion / removal that inserts the test tube containing the sample to be centrifuged into the holder fixed by this holder fixing mechanism and removes the test tube after the centrifugation. The mechanism and the test tube receiving portion provided at the upper end of the test tube insertion / removal mechanism, which is synchronized with the operation of inserting / removing the test tube into / from the holder through the bottom opening of the holder, And to include a test tube vertical operation mechanism for supporting the bottom of the tube up and down operably.

(2) The test tube inserting / removing mechanism adjusts the relative positional relationship between a plurality of arms each having a chuck capable of holding the outer peripheral surface of the test tube at each tip, and the plurality of arms. A chuck arrangement state changing mechanism for adjusting the arrangement state of the chucks to the arrangement state of the test tube insertion holes in the test tube rack or the arrangement state of the test tube holders in the rotor, and an operation of changing the chuck arrangement state by the chuck arrangement state changing mechanism. In parallel with this, a transfer mechanism for collectively moving the plurality of arms to transfer the test tubes between the test tube rack and the centrifuge rotor is also included.

[Action] By taking such a means, the following action is exhibited.

(1) When the test tube is transferred, for example, a holder fixing mechanism including a pair of holding pieces holds the cylindrical test tube holder from two horizontal directions so that the test tube holder faces the vertical direction. Since it is fixed on the test tube holder, the posture of the test tube holder that is swingably attached to the centrifuge rotor can be kept constant, and automatic loading and unloading of test tubes by the test tube insertion / removal mechanism etc. can be performed. It will be possible.
In addition, the test tube in the holder can be operated up and down by the test tube receiving part of the test tube up-and-down operation mechanism that is vertically inserted into the holder from the bottom of the test tube holder and moves up and down. When loading the test tube, the test tube insertion / removal mechanism allows the test tube partially inserted into the test tube holder to be gently inserted to the deepest part of the test tube holder. The test tube of can be pushed up to a position where the test tube can be held by the test tube insertion / removal mechanism.

(2) Since the test tube insertion / removal mechanism is provided with the chuck arrangement state changing mechanism, for example, the test tubes taken out from the test tube rack in which the arrangement state of the test tube insertion holes is an XY matrix orthogonal arrangement state. Even when loading the test tube holders arranged in an arc along the peripheral edge of the centrifuge rotor, the arrangement state can be appropriately changed and transferred, and loading can be performed without any trouble. It is possible. Incidentally, contrary to the above, it goes without saying that the test tube taken out from the rotor can be returned without any trouble even when it is returned to the test tube rack.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a sample centrifuge device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views and a part showing a structure of a holder fixing mechanism for fixing a swingable test tube holder. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a cutaway view, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing a partially cutaway view of the mutual relationship between the test tube inserting / removing mechanism and the test tube up / down operating mechanism.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 is the main body of the centrifuge.
A shaft 11 that is rotated by motor power is arranged in a central portion inside the 0 housing so as to face the vertical direction. A ring-shaped centrifuge rotor 12 is fitted and fixed to the upper end of the shaft 11 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. A large number of cut grooves 13 are provided at a predetermined pitch on the peripheral edge of the rotor 12, and cylindrical test tube holders 14 are swingably mounted in the cut grooves 13. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the test tube holder 14 has a pair of spindle pins 1 projecting from the outer peripheral surface near the upper end.
5 is rotatably inserted into the support shaft hole of the cut groove 13 and is swingably supported so that its posture can be changed according to the centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the rotor 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom portion of each of the test tube holders 14 has a through hole 14a through which a pushing-up member 32 described later can be inserted.
Is provided.

Description will be returned to FIG. Below the rotor 12, as shown by a chain double-dashed line, a pair of holding pieces 16a and 16b for holding the outer peripheral surface of the middle abdomen of the test tube holder 14 are provided.
The sandwiching pieces 16a and 16b are, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, a drive source 1 including an air cylinder and the like.
It is driven back and forth by 7a and 17b.
The one clamping piece 16a has a concave arc surface M at the clamping end surface, and a plurality (five in this example) of semi-circular arc portions m which can be closely attached to the arc surface M of the outer peripheral surface of the test tube holder 14. Is provided. The other clamping piece 16b has a convex arcuate surface N at its clamping end surface, and a plurality (five in this example) of semi-circular arc parts that can be closely attached to the outer peripheral surface of the test tube holder 14 on the arcuate surface N. n is provided. Thus, the holding pieces 16a,
The holder fixing mechanism 18 including 16b and the driving sources 17a and 17b is used for loading and unloading the test tubes 21 to be described later, and at least a part (five in this example) of the holders 14 of a large number of the test tube holders 14 are provided. The outer peripheral surface is sandwiched from two horizontal directions (in this example, the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side of the rotor 12) and fixed so that the axial center of each holder 14 is oriented in the vertical direction. There is.

Description will be returned to FIG. Above the rotor 12, insert the test tube 21 containing the sample to be centrifuged into the holder 14 fixed by the holder fixing mechanism 18 and take out the test tube 21 after completion of the centrifugation. A test tube inserting / removing mechanism 20 is provided. This test tube insertion / removal mechanism 20
Is equipped with a plurality of (five in this example) arms 23 each having a chuck 22 capable of gripping and holding the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 21 at its tip. These arms 2
3 are collectively held by the holding substrate 24. Inside the holding substrate 24, a chuck opening / closing mechanism, a chuck arrangement state changing mechanism (neither mechanism is shown), which is operated by using an air cylinder as a drive source, are incorporated. The latter mechanism, that is, the chuck arrangement state changing mechanism, has a relative positional relationship between the five arms 23 (holding substrate 2 of arm 23).
4 by adjusting the length of protrusion from 4, the distance between adjacent arms 23, etc., so that the arrangement state of the plurality of chucks 22 can be changed to the arrangement state of test tube insertion holes in the test tube rack 26 described later or the test tube in the rotor 12. It can be adapted to the arrangement state of the holders 14. Holding substrate 2
Reference numeral 4 is connected to an operation rod 25 in a test tube transfer mechanism (not shown). The test tube transfer mechanism moves the operation rods 25 in parallel with the operation of changing the arrangement state of the chucks 22 by the above-mentioned chuck arrangement state changing mechanism to collectively move the five arms 23, Test tube 21 between test tube rack 26 and centrifuge rotor 12
Is a mechanism for moving.

The test tube rack 26 has test tube insertion holes 26a that are arranged orthogonally on the upper surface thereof.
A large number of test tubes 21 containing a sample to be centrifuged are installed in a. The test tube rack 26 is conveyed by the conveyor 27 in rack units to the place where the centrifugal separator is installed. The test tube inserting / removing mechanism 20 includes a test tube rack 26 that is transported as described above.
Therefore, the test tubes 21 are taken out one by one (5 pieces).

The pair of holding pieces 16a, 16 of the holder fixing mechanism 18
A test tube vertical operation mechanism 30 is installed at a position below the five holders 14 held by b. The test tube vertical operation mechanism 30 includes a base 31 that is vertically driven by a drive source (not shown) as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
Five push-up members 32 are planted on the top so as to correspond to the five holders 14, respectively. At the tops of the five push-up members 32, there is provided a test tube receiving portion 33 formed so as to have a concave hemispherical shape so that the upper surface thereof fits the outer peripheral surface of the bottom portion 21a of the test tube 21.
Thus, in the test tube up / down operation mechanism 30, the base 31 is vertically moved in synchronization with the insertion / removal operation of the test tube 21 into / from the holder 14 by the test tube insertion / removal mechanism 20, whereby the push-up member 32 is moved to the holder. An operation is performed by inserting / removing into / from the holder 14 from an opening 14a provided at the bottom of the test tube 14, and a test tube receiving portion 33 provided at the upper end of the test tube 21 can support the bottom of the test tube 21 so as to be vertically operable. .

A pulse motor (not shown) is coupled to the shaft 11 of the centrifuge device body 10 via a clutch mechanism (not shown), and the rotor 12 is mounted on the rotor 12 when the test tube 21 is loaded into and taken out from the rotor 12. It can be rotated by a predetermined angle.

Description will be returned to FIG. A dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40 is provided so as to face the test tube insertion / removal mechanism 20. The dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40 is a mechanism for inserting / removing the dummy member 41 into / from the empty holder 14 in which the test tube 21 is not inserted in order to maintain the balance of the entire rotor 12. The dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40 basically has the same configuration as the test tube insertion / removal mechanism 20 except that the object to be inserted / removed is not the test tube 21 but the dummy member 41. That is, a chuck 42 corresponding to the chuck 22, five arms 43 (not shown) equipped with these chucks 42 at their respective tips, and these arms 43.
Is provided with a holding base 44 that collectively holds the chuck opening / closing mechanism and a chuck arrangement state changing mechanism, an operation rod 45 of a dummy transfer mechanism (not shown) to which the holding base 44 is coupled. Thus, this dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40
A dummy 41 installed on a dummy rack 46 conveyed by a conveyor 47 installed on the opposite side of the centrifugal separator main body 10 from the conveyor installation side,
It can be moved to the holder 14 or vice versa.
The dummy member 41 is taken out from the rack and returned to the dummy rack 46.

A sensor 50 for detecting the number and arrangement of the test tubes 21 loaded in the test tube holder 14 by the test tube inserting / removing mechanism 20 is provided near the position where the sandwiching pieces 16a, 16b are installed. It is provided. This sensor 50
The information detected by is sent to a control computer (not shown) attached to this apparatus, where the most appropriate number of dummy members, a transfer position, etc. for balancing the rotor 12 are calculated. Then, the calculation result becomes a predetermined control signal and is given to the dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40. Thus, the dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40 responds to the control signal from the control computer,
The required number of dummy members 41 are taken out of the reference numeral 6 and are transferred to the empty test tube holder 14 at a predetermined position to balance the entire rotor 12 and prevent vibration during centrifugal operation. .

The device configured as described above operates as follows.
First, the test tube rack 26, on which the test tubes 21 containing the specimens for which the acceptance in the examination room has been placed, is carried by the conveyor 27 to the installation position of the centrifuge. Then, the test tube inserting / removing mechanism 20 is operated, and the chuck 22 provided at the tip of the arm 23 simultaneously grips the test tube racks 26 for one row, that is, the five test tubes 21, and the test tube rack 26 is held. Pull out from. Then, the five test tubes 21 that have been pulled out are moved by the transfer mechanism of the test tube inserting / removing mechanism 20.
It is moved to a position above the five test tube holders 14 held by the holding pieces 16a, 16b. During this movement period, the chuck arrangement state changing mechanism in the test tube inserting / removing mechanism 20 operates to change the arrangement state of the chucks 22 from a linear state to an arc state corresponding to the holder arrangement line of the rotor 12.

On the other hand, the holder fixing mechanism 18 operates in parallel with the above operation. That is, the drive sources 17a and 17b are actuated, and the pair of sandwiching pieces 16a and 16b are advanced in a direction in which they approach each other. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the five test tube holders 14 are sandwiched by the outer peripheral surfaces of the middle abdomen by the pair of clamping pieces 16a and 16b that have moved forward. As a result, the cylindrical test tube holder 14 is fixed so that its axis is oriented in the vertical direction, and the test tube 21 and the pushing-up member 32 can be inserted.

In such a state, on the one hand, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the base 31 of the test tube up-and-down operation mechanism 30 is moved upward, and the push-up member 32 of the mechanism 30 is moved to the bottom of the test tube holder 14. From the through hole 14a to the holder 14
Then, the test tube receiving portion 33 is inserted into the holder up to the middle position.

On the other hand, the transfer mechanism in the test tube insertion / removal mechanism 20 operates and the operating rod 25 descends. For this reason, the five test tubes 21 held by the chuck 22 are simultaneously lowered and inserted into the test tube holder 14. When these test tubes 21 are inserted up to the intermediate position of the holder 14 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
Are received by the test tube receiving portion 33 provided on the top of the pushing-up member 32. After such a state, the chuck 22 is opened and the holding state of the test tube 21 is released. Then, the test tube inserting / removing mechanism 20 moves toward the test tube rack 26 again by the function of the transfer mechanism.

The push-up member 32, which has received the bottom portion 21a of the test tube 21 by the test tube receiving portion 33, is then moved to the test tube vertical operation mechanism 3
With the descending operation of the base 31 of 0, the base 31 descends to the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. Thus, the test tube 21 inserted into the test tube holder 14 is gently lowered to the deepest portion of the test tube holder 14 with the bottom 21a thereof being supported by the test tube receiving portion 33. The test tube 21 is thus completely housed in the test tube holder 14. When the test tube 21 is housed in the test tube holder 14 as described above, the holder fixing mechanism 18 returns to its original state, and the holding pieces 16a, 16a.
b retreat in the direction away from each other as shown by the broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 3. Therefore, the clamping pieces 16a, 16
The clamped state of the test tube holder 14 by b is released, and the test tube holder 14 returns to the swingable state.

Next, a pulse motor (not shown) connected to the shaft 11 via a clutch mechanism (not shown) is operated to rotate the rotor 12 by a predetermined angle. By doing so, the five test tube holders 14 into which the test tubes 21 have already been inserted are sent out from the holding piece installation position, and the next five
The empty test tube holders 14 for each of the holding pieces 16a, 16
b is positioned at the opposite position. Also conveyor 27
Moves one pitch so that the test tubes on the test tube rack 26 advance by one row. Thus, the next row of test tubes 21 is sent to the transfer standby position.

Hereinafter, the series of operations described above is repeated, and the test tube rack 2
The test tubes 21 of 6 are the test tube holders 1 in the rotor 12.
Moved to 4 sequentially.

A sensor 50 detects the number and arrangement of the test tubes 21 loaded in the test tube holder 14 by the test tube inserting / removing mechanism 20. Then, this detected information is sent to a control computer (not shown) attached to this apparatus, and the most appropriate number of dummy members, the transfer position, etc. for balancing the rotor 12 are calculated here. . The result of this calculation is given to the dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40 as a predetermined control signal. Thus, the dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40 responds to the control signal from the control computer, takes out the required number of dummy members 41 from the dummy rack 46, and transfers the dummy members 41 to the empty test tube holder 14 at the predetermined position. 12 Balance the entire balance. Thus, the vibration during the centrifugal operation can be prevented.

When the series of transfer operations are completed, the clutch (not shown) between the shaft 11 and the pulse motor is disengaged,
High-speed rotation driving force by a high-speed rotation motor (not shown) can be transmitted. Thus, the sample is centrifuged by the rotation of the high-speed rotation motor. During the centrifuging process, the test tube holder 14 is swung by the action of centrifugal force so as to be in the state shown by the chain line in FIGS. 2 and 3, but as shown in the figure, the holding pieces 16a, 16b are held.
The push-up member 32 is a test tube holder 1 that swings.
Since the vehicle is retreated and lowered to a position that does not hinder the posture change of No. 4, there is no danger of collision or the like.

After the centrifugation is completed, the test tube insertion / removal mechanism 20 and the dummy insertion / removal mechanism 40 return the test tube 21 and the dummy member 41 to the racks 26 and 46, respectively. The test tube rack 26 is sent to the processing unit in the next stage by the conveyor 27 in rack units. Test tube rack 2 with new untreated test tubes 21 installed
When 6 is conveyed, the test tube 21 and the dummy member 41 for the test tube holder 14 are transferred as in the case described above.
Is moved and the sample is centrifuged.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the test tubes can be automatically loaded and unloaded from the test tube holder 14 of the centrifuge rotor 12. Therefore, it is possible to realize automation in the field of centrifugal separation, which has been left behind in the past, and it is possible to achieve complete automation of the entire pretreatment.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) First, when the test tube is transferred, the test tube holder is vertically held by holding the cylindrical test tube holder from two horizontal directions by a holder fixing mechanism including a pair of holding pieces, for example. Since it is fixed so that it faces in the same direction, the posture of the test tube holder that is swingably attached to the centrifuge rotor can be kept constant, and the test tube insertion / removal mechanism automatically loads test tubes. And automatic extraction is possible. In addition, the test tube in the holder can be operated up and down by the test tube receiving part of the test tube up-and-down operation mechanism that is vertically inserted into the holder from the bottom of the test tube holder and moves up and down. When loading the test tube, the test tube insertion / removal mechanism allows the test tube that was partially inserted into the test tube holder to be gently inserted to the deepest part of the test tube holder. The test tube of can be pushed up to a position where the test tube can be held by the test tube insertion / removal mechanism.

Thus, according to the present invention, the test tubes can be automatically loaded and unloaded from the centrifuge, and complete automation of the entire pretreatment can be realized. It is possible to provide a sample centrifuge device that closes.

(2) Secondly, since the test tube insertion / removal mechanism is provided with the chuck arrangement state changing mechanism, for example, from a test tube rack in which the arrangement state of the test tube insertion holes is an XY matrix orthogonal arrangement state. Even when the taken-out test tubes are loaded into the test tube holders arranged in an arc shape along the peripheral edge of the centrifuge rotor, the arrangement state can be appropriately changed and transferred. It can be loaded without hindrance. Incidentally, contrary to the above, it goes without saying that the test tube taken out from the rotor can be returned without any trouble even when it is returned to the test tube rack.

Thus, it is possible to provide a sample centrifuge device capable of exhibiting the effect of the item (1) more remarkably.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a sample centrifuge according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are swingable. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a structure of a holder fixing mechanism for fixing the test tube holder and a plan view showing a part of the holder, and FIG. FIG. 10 ... Centrifugal separator body, 11 ... Shaft, 12 ...
... rotor for centrifuging, 13 ... notch groove, 14 ... test tube holder, 15 ... spindle pin, 16a, 16b ... clamping piece, 17a, 17b ... drive source such as air cylinder,
18: Holder fixing mechanism, 20: Test tube insertion / removal mechanism,
21 ... Test tube, 22 ... Chuck, 23 ... Arm,
24 ... Holding substrate, 25 ... Operation rod, 26 ... Test tube rack, 27 ... Conveyor, 30 ... Test tube up / down operating mechanism, 31 ... Base, 32 ... Push-up member, 33 ...
Test tube receiving part, 40 ... Dummy insertion / removal mechanism, 41 ... Dummy member, 42 ... Chuck, 44 ... Holding base, 45 ...
Operation rod, 46 ... Dummy rack, 44 ... Conveyor, 5
0 ... Sensor.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A centrifuge rotor and a plurality of cylindrical tests swingably supported on the peripheral edge of the rotor so that the posture can be changed according to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotor. By fixing the tube holder and at least part of these test tube holders from two horizontal directions, the holder is fixed so that the cylindrical test tube holder is fixed so that the axis of each holder is oriented in the vertical direction. A mechanism and a test tube inserting / removing mechanism for inserting a test tube containing a sample to be centrifuged into the holder fixed by the holder fixing mechanism and removing the test tube after the centrifugation is completed. In synchronization with the operation of inserting and removing the test tube by the test tube inserting and removing mechanism, the bottom of the test tube is moved up and down by the test tube receiving portion provided at the upper end of the holder which is inserted into and removed from the bottom opening of the holder. Specimen centrifuge apparatus characterized by comprising a test tube vertical operation mechanism for supporting the possible work. 2. The test tube inserting / removing mechanism adjusts a relative positional relationship between a plurality of arms each having a chuck capable of holding an outer peripheral surface of the test tube at a tip thereof and a relative positional relationship between the arms. A chuck arrangement state changing mechanism for adjusting the arrangement state of the plurality of chucks to the arrangement state of the test tube insertion holes in the test tube rack or the arrangement state of the test tube holders in the rotor, and a chuck arrangement state changing mechanism by the chuck arrangement state changing mechanism. 2. A transfer mechanism for transferring the plurality of arms at a time in parallel with the changing operation to transfer the test tubes between the test tube rack and the centrifuge rotor. The described sample centrifuge.