JPH06242125A - Biochemical analysis device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To distinct a size of a set sample container and to prevent a sensor for its distinction from being contaminated by a sample liquid in a biochemical analysis device which finds the concentration of the appointed biochemical substance in the sample liquid by measuring an optical concentration of a chemical analysis slide in which the sample liquid is pointedly applied on a reagent layer. CONSTITUTION:A notch 24 for distinction is formed in only a sample rack 21B carrying one of sample container 26B between two kinds of sample containers, and one lever end 126b of a sliding lever 126 is engagingly inserted into the notch 24 so that the sliding lever is set in a non-sliding condition when the sample rack 21B is set. The position of the other lever end 126a of the sliding lever is detected by a photoelectric sensor unit 128 so that it is determined whether the sliding lever 126 is slidable or not.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention applies the above sample liquid to a chemical analysis slide containing a reagent layer that causes a change in optical density due to a chemical reaction with a predetermined biochemical substance contained in a sample liquid such as blood or urine. The present invention relates to a biochemical analysis device for obtaining the substance concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance in a sample liquid by wearing the sample and measuring the optical density of the slide.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a dry type chemical analysis slide capable of quantitatively analyzing a specific chemical component or a formed component contained in a sample liquid simply by spot-feeding small drops of the sample liquid. Has been put to practical use (for example, Japanese Patent Publication Sho 53
-21677, JP-A-55-164356, etc.). In addition, in order to quantitatively analyze the chemical components in the sample liquid using such a chemical analysis slide, after spotting the sample liquid on the chemical analysis slide, place this in an incubator (incubator). Incubation for a predetermined time to cause a color reaction (dye formation reaction), and then for measurement that includes a wavelength selected in advance by combining a predetermined biochemical substance in the sample liquid with a reagent contained in the chemical analysis slide This chemical analysis slide is irradiated with irradiation light to measure its optical density, and from this optical density, a calibration curve showing the correspondence between the optical density and the substance concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance obtained in advance is used. A biochemical analysis device configured to determine the substance concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance in a sample liquid is used.

When performing analysis using such a biochemical analyzer, a predetermined amount of the specimen liquid to be spotted and supplied to the reagent layer of the slide must be precisely weighed and spotted. When the amount of this sample liquid is different from the predetermined amount, the reflection optical density is different,
This is because the analysis accuracy is also reduced. For this reason, various pipettes and the like have been devised so that a predetermined amount can be correctly spotted when the spot liquid is supplied. Such a pipette is, for example, one in which a tip is attached to the tip of the pipette, a predetermined amount of sample liquid is sucked into the tip, and then this predetermined amount of sample liquid is spot-supplied and supplied onto the reagent layer of the slide. is there. In such pipettes,
Suction a predetermined amount of sample liquid into the chip using a syringe,
Also, many of them discharge. In order to aspirate the sample liquid into the chip and discharge it to the reagent layer using such a pipette, first insert the tip of the chip into the sample liquid and aspirate a predetermined amount of sample liquid into the chip with a syringe or the like. After holding, the tip end of the chip is positioned on the reagent layer of the slide, and the sample liquid in the chip is spotted and supplied onto the reagent layer by a syringe or the like.

By the way, when the above-mentioned sample liquid is blood, the blood is separated into two layers of serum and blood clot in the sample container with the passage of time. Furthermore, if centrifugation is performed, the serum and the blood clot are separated into two layers in a short time. Since the specific gravity of serum is lower than that of blood clot, serum forms the upper layer and blood clot forms the lower layer.

In such a state, it is often necessary to suck only a predetermined amount of serum into the pipette and supply it to the reagent by spot application.

In the biochemical analysis of such serum, it is difficult to obtain an accurate analysis result when the blood clot component is contained even a little, and the blood is collected in order to minimize the amount of blood collected. It is necessary to utilize almost all of the serum components. That is, it is necessary to aspirate only the serum component and substantially the whole amount of the serum in the sample container, and for this purpose, it is required to detect the liquid surface of the serum with high accuracy.

Various techniques are conventionally known as methods for detecting the liquid level of such a sample liquid.

For example, the syringe for sucking the sample liquid is moved in the discharge or suction direction, and the liquid level is detected based on the change in the pressure in the cylinder when the tip of the tip is in the air and when it contacts the liquid. A technique or the like that employs a so-called pressure sensor method is known (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-17448).
(See Japanese Patent Publication).

Further, both positive and negative electrodes aligned with the tip of the tip are moved up and down in synchronization with the up and down movement of the tip, and when both electrodes come into contact with the liquid, a current flows between the electrodes. A current value detection method for detecting the liquid surface is also known.

By the way, in the biochemical analysis system as described above, it is desirable to automate all of the suction, spotting, etc. of the sample liquid, and a plurality of sample containers for storing the sample liquid are handled. In this case, it is desirable to automatically determine the size type of the sample container.

By knowing the size of the sample container, the contained amount of serum can be accurately known, and as described above, the operation of efficiently sucking only serum can be reliably performed.

Conventionally, as a method of determining the type of the sample container, information about the size of the container is recorded in a cartridge in which each sample container is set, and this information is read by a photosensor or the like to determine the type of the container. A method for determining is known.

[0013]

However, the above-mentioned prior art requires information detecting means such as a photo sensor,
It is also necessary to record information on the cartridge.

Therefore, there is a problem that special information detecting means is required to identify the size of the sample container, and it takes time to record the information.

Further, conventionally, a sensor for identifying the size of the sample container is provided in the vicinity of the sample container set at a predetermined position, so that when the sample liquid is accidentally spilled from the sample container, There is also a possibility that the sensor liquid may be contaminated by the sample liquid and the function of the sensor may be hindered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
No special information detection means is required to identify and determine the type of sample container, and the labor for recording information regarding this size can be omitted, and the sensor can be arranged apart from the sample container. An object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical analyzer equipped with a sample container discriminating means.

[0017]

A biochemical analyzer according to the present invention comprises a first sample container support for carrying a first sample container, a second sample container, and an identification notch. When the second sample container support and the first sample container support are set at predetermined positions, one lever end abuts against the first sample container support and is swung, and A first swinging lever which is in a non-swinging state when the second sample container support is set in the predetermined position and the one lever end is engaged in the identification notch; A sensor provided on the other lever end side of the first swing lever for detecting the presence or absence of swing of the first swing lever.

In addition to the above-mentioned structure, the biochemical analyzer according to the present invention further comprises a support for the sample container support as the first or second sample container support is set at the predetermined position. A second swing lever that one lever end abuts and swings, and whether or not the second swing lever swings provided on the other lever end side of the second swing lever. It is characterized by further comprising a second sensor for detecting.

[0019]

According to the above-described structure, since the sample container is supported by the sample container support, it is extremely easy to set the sample container in the analyzer and suck the sample liquid.

Further, the first rocking lever is rocked or kept in the non-rocking state depending on the presence or absence of the notch for identification formed on the sample container support which holds the sample container. There is an advantage that it is also very easy to determine the type of.

Furthermore, by setting the sample container support on one lever end side of the first swing lever and arranging the sensor on the other lever end side, it is possible to prevent the sensor from being contaminated by the sample liquid. Can be prevented.

Further, a second swing lever that is swung when the first or second sample container support is set,
By providing the second sensor for detecting the swing / non-swing of the second swing lever, it is possible to detect whether or not the sample container support is set.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan configuration of a biochemical analyzer according to one embodiment with an outer cover removed.

The biochemical analysis apparatus 10 comprises a slide waiting section 12 for accommodating an unused chemical analysis slide 11 and a spotting section 13 for sequentially depositing a sample liquid such as serum or urine on the chemical analysis slide 11.
And an incubator 14 for accommodating the chemical analysis slide 11 and keeping it at a constant temperature for a predetermined time, and transporting means 15 sequentially deposits the chemical analysis slide 11 from the slide waiting section 12 in sequence.
Chemical analysis slide that is transported to 13 and located in this spotting part 13
11, the nozzle tip 25 (see FIG. 4) is attached to the tip of the spotting nozzle 91 of the spotting means 16 (sampler), and then the sample container support set in the sample accommodating portion 17 is provided in the nozzle tip 25. Sample container on the body (hereinafter referred to as "sample rack") 21
After aspirating the sample liquid from 26 and spotting a predetermined amount on the slide 11, the spotted chemical analysis slide 11 is inserted into the storage part 55 of the incubator 14 by the transporting means 15, and the incubator 14 The degree of coloration (reflection optical density) of the chemical analysis slide 11 kept at constant temperature is measured by the photometric head 27 of the measuring means 18, and the chemical analysis slide after the measurement is further measured.
The transport means 15 drops and discharges 11 into a waste hole 56 on the center side of the incubator 14. The spotting means 16 is provided with a syringe means 19 for sucking and discharging the sample liquid by the nozzle tip 25, and the nozzle tip after use.
The reference numeral 25 is a tip extracting portion 20 arranged in the vicinity of the incubator 14 and is removed from the spotting nozzle 91 and dropped and discarded downward. Further, the chemical analysis slide 11 has a reagent layer arranged in a rectangular mount, and has a spotting hole and a photometric hole in the upper and lower parts of the mount, respectively.

Explaining the structure of each part, first, the conveying means.
As shown in FIG. 2 which is a front view of the cross-section, 15 is a carrier 30 that extends linearly toward the center of the incubator 14, and legs 30a at the front and rear ends thereof are installed on a plate-shaped base 31 below. , The slide stand-by portion 12 is provided at the substantially central portion of the carrier table 30.
However, the spotting portion 13 is disposed on the incubator 14 side of the spotting portion 13.

A slide guide 32 for holding the chemical analysis slide 11 is formed in the slide standby portion 12,
A plurality of unused chemical analysis slides 11 are usually stacked and held on the slide guide 32. Above slide guide
32 is mounted in the concave portion of the carrying table 30 so that the chemical analysis slide 11 at the lowermost part is located at the same height as the carrying surface of the carrying table 30, and one sheet is provided on the front surface side of the lowermost part. An opening 32a is formed through which only the chemical analysis slide 11 can pass. Further, an opening through which an insertion member described later can be inserted is formed on the rear surface side, and a groove 32b communicating with a slit 30b described later formed on the carrier table 30 is formed on the bottom surface. It should be noted that the slide guide 32 may be set with a cartridge in which a plurality of chemical analysis slides 11 are stacked and housed.

A slide retainer 33 having a circular opening 33a is installed on the spotting portion 13 in front of the slide waiting portion 12, and the slide retainer 33 is provided inside a cover 34 fixed above the carrier table 30. The cover 34 is housed so that it can be moved up and down slightly.
An opening 35a for spotting is also formed in the glass plate 35 fixed above the glass plate.

The chemical analysis slide 11 is conveyed by the forward movement of the plate-shaped insertion member 36 placed on the conveyance table 30. That is, a slit 30b extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the center of the carrier table 30, and the insertion member 36 is slidably placed on the slit 30b.
A block 37 is fixed to the bottom of the rear end of the insertion member 36 from below through a slit 30b, and the block 37 is provided slidably in the front-rear direction along the slit 30b.
Further, the insertion member is provided on the carrier table 30 at a position rearward of the slide standby portion 12 by the slide guide 32.
An auxiliary plate 38 for pressing the 36 is provided, and the auxiliary plate 38 is a cover.
It is held in 39 so that it can move up and down slightly.

A slider is provided below the block 37.
A slider 40 is attached, and the slider 40 is slidably supported in the front-rear direction by a guide rod 41 arranged along the carrier table 30. Further, a part of a belt 44 wound around pulleys 42, 43 arranged in front of and behind the carrier 30 is fixed to the slider 40. Then, the rear pulley 43 is rotationally driven by the transport motor 45, the insertion member 36 is moved in the front-rear direction by the block 37 that moves integrally with the slider 40, and the tip end of the insertion member 36 chemically moves the lower end of the slide guide 32. By pushing the rear end of the analysis slide 11, the chemical analysis slide 11 is linearly conveyed from the spotting part 13 to the incubator 14.

The chemical analysis slide 11 at the lower end of the slide guide 32 is transported to the spotting section 13 by driving the transport motor 45, and the chemical analysis slide 11 on which the sample liquid is spotted is further inserted into the storage section 55 of the incubator 14. Then, attach the chemical analysis slide 11 after measurement to the waste hole in the center of the incubator 14.
The drive control of the carry motor 45 is performed so that the carry motor is carried to 56.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a sectional front view of the incubator 14 is such that a disc-shaped rotating member 50 is rotatable with respect to a bearing portion 53 via a bearing 52 by a rotating cylinder 51 having a lower center. An upper member 54 is supported and disposed on the rotating member 50. The upper member 54 has a flat bottom surface, and the upper surface of the rotating member 50 has a plurality of recesses (six in the illustrated case) formed on the circumference at predetermined intervals to form a slit-shaped space between both members 50, 54. An accommodating portion 55 is formed, the height of the bottom surface of the accommodating portion 55 is provided to be the same as the height of the conveying surface of the conveying table 30 of the conveying means 15, and the rotating member 50 approaches the tip of the conveying table 30. The outer peripheral part of is located.

Further, the inner hole of the rotary cylinder 51 is formed in the waste hole 56 of the chemical analysis slide 11 after the measurement, and the diameter of the waste hole 56 is set to a dimension through which the chemical analysis slide 11 can pass. Also, in the central portion of the rotating member 50, the waste hole 56
Is formed with an opening 50a. The central portion of the storage portion 55 communicates with the central opening 50a at the same height as the storage portion 55, and when the chemical analysis slide 11 located in the storage portion 55 moves to the center side as it is, the waste is removed. It is configured to drop into the reject hole 56.

The upper member 54 is provided with a heating means (not shown), and the temperature of the chemical analysis slide 11 in the container 55 is kept constant by adjusting the temperature thereof, while the upper member 54 corresponds to the container 55. A holding member 57 is provided which holds the mount of the chemical analysis slide 11 from above to prevent evaporation of the sample liquid. A cover 58 is provided on the upper surface of the upper member 54, while the incubator 14 is covered by an upper cover 59 at the upper and side portions and a lower cover 60 at the bottom to shield light.

Further, an opening for photometry is provided at the center of the bottom of each storage portion 55 for storing the chemical analysis slide 11 of the rotating member 50.
55a is formed, and the reflection optical density of the chemical analysis slide 11 is measured by the photometric head 27 disposed below through the opening 55a. Further, the rotating member 50 is formed with an accommodating portion 61 (see FIG. 1) for the density reference plate on the same circumference as the accommodating portion 55, and white and black for calibrating the photometric head 27 are formed in this portion. Two density reference plates 62 are installed.

Here, in the rotational drive of the incubator 14, a timing belt 64 is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the rotary cylinder 51 supporting the rotary member 50.
Is also wound around the drive pulley 66 of the drive motor 65, and the reciprocating rotational drive of the rotating member 50 is performed by the forward and reverse rotational drive of the drive motor 65. The rotating operation of the incubator 14 is performed by the photometric head 27 disposed below the predetermined rotating position of the incubator 14.
On the other hand, first, after detecting the concentration of the white reference plate, and then performing the calibration by detecting the concentration of the black reference plate, of the color reaction of the chemical analysis slide 11 sequentially inserted in the storage unit 55. The optical density is measured, and after this series of measurements, it is rotated in the reverse direction to return to the reference position, and it is controlled to perform reciprocal rotation drive within the specified angle range so that the next unit can be measured. is there.

Further, below the incubator 14, a recovery box 70 for recovering the chemical analysis slide 11 after measurement is arranged. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the recovery box 70 has a storage chamber 71 formed below the waste hole 56 at the center of the rotary cylinder 51. Due to the relationship with the arrangement, the accommodation chamber 71 is formed wide on one side with respect to the center point C of the incubator 14. In addition, an inclined portion 72 on which the nozzle tip 25, which is replaced for each sample liquid in the spotting means 16 described later, is dropped is formed at a corner portion of the storage chamber 71. The inclined portion 72 is located below the tip extracting portion 20 from which the nozzle tip 25 is dropped, and the bottom surface of the inclined portion 72 tilts the falling nozzle tip 25 to guide it toward the center of the accommodation chamber 71. The slope that makes the 71 side lower (20 ~
45 °).

Further, at the bottom of the accommodating chamber 71, the disposal hole is provided.
A protrusion 73 is erected at a position displaced from the center of the storage chamber 71 to the side opposite to the widened portion of the storage chamber 71. This protrusion 73
Has a spherical or needle-like tip, and has a function of contacting the chemical analysis slide 11 falling from the disposal hole 56 and changing the falling direction to disperse the slide. In addition, collection box
A decorative member 74 that is continuous with the outer case portion of the biochemical analysis device 10 is connected to the side wall of the storage chamber 71 of the container 70.

Next, the spotting means 16 has a sectional front structure as shown in FIG.
A rotary base 82 is rotatably supported by a bearing 81, and a flange member 83 is attached to the upper part of the rotary base 82 so as to rotate integrally therewith. Guide rods 84, 84 are provided on both outer peripheral sides of the flange member 83, respectively.
The guide rods 84, 84 are provided upright. The upper end portions of the guide rods 84, 84 on both sides are fixed to the connecting member 85, and the guide rods 84, 84 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction. In addition, the connecting member 85
The feed screw 86 is arranged in the vertical direction at the center of rotation of
An upper end of the feed screw 86 is rotatably supported by the connecting member 85, a lower end thereof is rotatably supported by a central portion of the flange member 83, and a tip portion of the feed screw 86 is projected from the flange member 83 and a pulley 87 is fixed thereto. ing. Further, the guide rods 84, 84 on both sides allow the spotting arm to be freely moved up and down.
A base end portion of 88 is supported, and a sleeve 89 into which the guide rods 84, 84 are fitted is inserted in the spotting arm 88 of the supporting portion. Further, the feed screw 86 penetrates the spotting arm 88, and a nut member 90 screwed to the feed screw 86 is provided in the penetrating portion, and the spotting arm 88 is moved up and down according to the rotation of the feed screw 86. Is configured to.

At the tip of the spotting arm 88, there is provided a spotting nozzle 91 penetrating in the vertical direction for sucking and discharging the sample liquid. A shaft portion of the spotting nozzle 91 is slidably inserted into the spotting arm 88, and is urged downward by a spring 92. Further, a pipette-shaped nozzle tip 25 is detachably attached to the tip of the spotting nozzle 91, and the unused nozzle tip 25
Is carried together with the sample container 26 on the sample rack 21, and this is fitted and held at the tip of the spotting nozzle 91 by the downward movement of the spotting arm 88, and after use, the tip extracting unit 20 is used.
When the upper end of the nozzle tip 25 is engaged with the engaging groove 20a of the above, the fitting is removed by the upward movement of the spotting arm 88, and the tip extracting portion 20
It is dropped from the opening 20b into the recovery box 70 below and discarded.

In the turning operation of the spotting arm 88, the timing belt 94 is engaged with the outer peripheral portion of the flange member 83 or the rotary base 82 (see FIG. 1), and the timing belt 94 is rotated.
94 is wound around the drive pulley 96 of the turning motor 95 (see FIG. 1), and is turned to a predetermined position by drive control of the forward and reverse rotation of the turning motor 95. Also, the spotting arm 88
The vertical movement of the feeding screw 86, that is, the rotation driving of the feed screw 86, is performed by a belt 99 being hung between the pulley 87 at the lower end portion and the driving pulley 98 of the lifting motor 97 (see FIG. 1), and the forward and reverse rotation of the lifting motor 97. It is moved to a predetermined height by the drive control of.

Next, in the mechanism for sucking and discharging the sample liquid into the nozzle tip 25, an air passage 101 opening to the tip is formed at the center of the spotting nozzle 91, and this air passage 101 is formed. An air pipe (not shown) is connected to the upper end of the. The other end of the air pipe is connected to the upper end portion of the syringe 102 of the syringe means 19, and the syringe 102 is a syringe-like air pump and a columnar support member.
The tubular portion 102a is fixedly supported by the stopper 104 by the stopper 104, and the operating portion 102b at the tip of the rod connected to the piston fitted inside the tubular portion 102a is engaged and fixed to the elevating member 105. This elevating member 105 is a guide shaft arranged in the vertical direction.
It is supported so as to move up and down along 106, and a belt 109 hung on upper and lower pulleys 107 and 108 is fixed to the end thereof. The lower pulley 108 has a syringe motor 110
Is driven, the pulley 108 is rotated by the driving, and the elevating member 105 is operated via the belt 109, and the syringe 10
It is configured to perform suction and discharge by the operation of 2.

Then, by the spotting means 16, with the tip of the nozzle tip 25 immersed in the sample liquid (sample) in the sample container 26 on the sample rack 21, the piston of the syringe 102 is lowered to perform suction. By rotating the spotting section 13, a predetermined amount of spots are spotted on the chemical analysis slide 11. The nozzle chip 25 and the sample container 26 carried on the sample rack 21, the spotting part 13, and the tip extracting part 20 are all on the swirling locus of the tip of the spotting nozzle 91 accompanying the swiveling of the spotting arm 88. Is set to be located in.

As the sample rack 21, a sample rack 21A for carrying a large-diameter sample container 26A having a capacity of 1.5 ml and a nozzle tip 25, and a small-sized sample container 26B having a capacity of 0.5 ml and a nozzle tip 25 are carried. A sample rack 21B for preparing the sample rack is prepared.

One of the sample racks 21A is, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, formed in a case shape with an open bottom surface, and has a sample container 26A provided with a male screw and a flange, not shown, to be screwed into a cap. Hollow cylinder 22A having an inner diameter suitable for inserting and holding the nozzle, and hollow cylinder 23 having an inner diameter and taper suitable for inserting and holding the nozzle tip 25 from above.
Are vertically suspended from the top wall 21a of the sample rack 21A, and the inner cavities 22Aa and 23a of the hollow cylinders 22A and 23 are opened on the upper surface of the sample rack 21A.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the other sample rack 21B also has the same outer dimensions as the sample rack 21A and has the same hollow cylinders 22B and 23.
The inner cavity 22Ba of B has an inner diameter suitable for inserting / holding a small-diameter specimen container 26B. The sample rack 21B has an identification notch 24 formed upward from the lower edge of the one side wall 21b. Both sample racks 21A and 21B are
A label attaching surface 21C is provided on the front wall portion.

The biochemical analysis device 10 has
17 (see FIG. 1) is provided with a sample rack detection mechanism 120 as shown in FIGS.

15 and 16, the sample rack detection mechanism 120 includes a receiving member 121 fixed to the apparatus 10, a base member 122 fixed to the bottom wall of the receiving member 121, and a side surface of the base member 122. , Two shafts 123 and 124 fixedly installed at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction, spacers 125 fitted into the shafts 123 and 124, respectively, and a large-diameter head portion 123a of the shaft 123.
And a spacer 125, and a plate-shaped first swing lever 126 swingably supported by a shaft 123 in a state of being sandwiched. Similarly, the large-diameter head portion 124a of the shaft 124 and the spacer
A plate-shaped second swing lever 127 is swingably supported by a shaft 124 in a state of being sandwiched between the second swing lever 127 and 125.

Further, the sample rack detection mechanism 120 includes a lever end on the outer side of the shafts 123 and 124 of the swing levers 126 and 127.
In order to detect the positions of 126a and 127a, photoelectric sensor units 128 and 129 are fixed to the side surface of the base member 122 in proximity to the lever ends 126a and 127a, respectively.

The two rocking levers 126, 127 are formed such that the lever length on the inner side (center side in the drawing) of the shafts 123, 124 is shorter than the lever length on the outer side (left and right end sides in the drawing). 21B is the specimen storage unit 17 of the apparatus 10.
16 is not set to the bottom surface 12 of the receiving member 121 due to the effect of gravity, as shown in FIG.
1a in the lower position, the inner lever ends 126b, 127
b is located above the line L which is the position of the lower edge when the sample rack 21A or 21B is not set.

Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the sample rack 21
When A is set in the sample storage unit 17, the lever ends 126b and 127b of both swing levers 126 and 127 abut on the lower edge of the sample rack 21A and are swung together to maintain a horizontal state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18, the sample rack 21B
Is set in the sample storage unit 17, the second swing lever 127 swings with its lever end 127b abutting against the lower edge of the sample rack 21B and becomes horizontal, but the first swing of the sample rack 21B. Since the cutout 24 is formed at the lower edge of the moving lever 126 side, the lever end 126b of the first swing lever 126 is engaged in the cutout 24 and does not contact the sample rack 21B. Therefore, the first swing lever 126 is not swung, and is kept in the inclined state shown in FIG.

The photoelectric sensor units 128 and 129 have slits 130 into which the lever ends 126a and 127a are inserted and lever ends inserted into the slits 130 when the swing levers 126 and 127 are in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. The light emitting / receiving device 131 is configured to optically detect the interruption of light by the 126a and 127a, and the light emitting / receiving device 131 performing such operation is known per se. Therefore, illustration and description of the detailed configuration are omitted.

The sample rack detection mechanism 120 in this embodiment
Has a configuration as described above, the first swing lever 126
It is possible to easily determine which of the two types of sample racks 21A and 21B has been set, that is, which of the large and small sample containers 26A and 26B has been set, by detecting the presence or absence of rocking of the sample racks. You can Further, depending on whether or not the second swing lever 127 swings, the sample racks 21A, 21A
It is possible to detect whether B has been set. Therefore, it is possible to switch between automatic insertion and spotting operation of the chemical analysis slide 11 and manual operation.

Further, the photoelectric sensor units 128 and 129 are
Since the sample container 26A, 26B is provided at a position away from the position where it is set,
Even if spilled from A or 26B, there is no possibility that the photoelectric sensor units 128 and 129 are contaminated by the spilled sample liquid.

In this embodiment, the first rocking lever 126 is kept stationary when the sample rack 21B is set, but the lever end 126b is kept in the state shown in FIG. 16, for example.
Of the sample rack 21B, or when the notch 24 of the sample rack 21B has a shallow depth,
B may also be slightly swung by contact with the sample rack 21B. However, by configuring such that the swing in that case is not detected by the photoelectric sensor unit 128, such slight swing of the first swing lever 126 can be regarded as non-swing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a main part mechanism of a biochemical analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional front view of a portion of a conveying unit.

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of an incubator portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional front view of a portion of the spotting means.

[Fig. 5] Plan view of the collection box

[Fig. 6] Side view of the collection box

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the first sample rack.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the same.

10 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a second sample rack.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the same.

14 is a sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the sample rack detection mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which a part of the sample rack is not set as a cross section.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing a state in which the first sample rack is set.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing a state when the second sample rack is set.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Biochemical analyzer 11 Chemical analysis slide 13 Pointing part 14 Incubator 15 Transfer means 16 Pointing means 20 Tip extraction part 21A, 21B Sample rack 24 Notch 25 Nozzle tip 26A, 26B Sample container 36 Insert member 45 Transfer motor 50 Rotating member 51 Rotating cylinder 55 Storage section 56 Disposal hole 70 Collection box 73 Protrusion 88 Pointing arm 91 Pointing nozzle 120 Sample rack detection mechanism 126,127 Swing lever 128,129 Photoelectric sensor unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A biochemical analyzer for determining the concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance in a sample liquid by measuring the optical density of a chemical analysis slide on which a sample liquid is spotted on a reagent layer. A first sample container support that carries a sample container, and a second sample container support that carries a second sample container and is provided with a notch for identification.
When the sample container support of 1 and the first sample container support are set at predetermined positions, one lever end abuts on the first sample container support and is swung, and the second sample container support is swung. A first swinging lever which is in a non-swinging state when the one sample lever end is engaged in the identification notch when the sample container support is set to the predetermined position; and the first swinging lever. It is provided on the other lever end side of the swing lever,
A biochemical analysis device comprising: a sensor that detects whether or not the first swing lever is swinging. 2. A second swing in which one lever end abuts against the sample container support and is swung as the first or second sample container support is set at the predetermined position. A moving lever and a second sensor that is provided on the other lever end side of the second swing lever and that detects the presence or absence of swing of the second swing lever. The biochemical analyzer according to claim 1. 3. The first and second sensors are photoelectric sensors that photoelectrically detect the position of the other lever end of the first and second rocking levers. The biochemical analyzer described.