JPH06770Y2 - Sample rack supply device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention is a device for supplying a sample to an automatic sample analyzer, and more specifically, a sample platform on which a plurality of sample tubular sample containers are set up is conveyed by a belt conveyor. , A sample rack supply device that enables the samples in the sample container to be sequentially measured by the analyzer, and in particular, a sampler that reliably sends the sample container set up on the sample rack to the measuring unit of the analyzer, and if necessary, The present invention relates to a sample gantry supply device that can perform remeasurement by moving a sample gantry in a direction opposite to a transport path.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a device for supplying a sample mount, for example, the actual open shovel 60-1
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 54834. This device is equipped with two stockers that stock multiple sample mounts,
The stocker is sent from the stocker to the inspection unit by the transfer device, and after the inspection is completed, the mounter is also transferred to the second stocker by the transfer device. It is to feed in the direction.

In addition, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-92632 discloses a sample rack transporting device in which a conveyor is divided. However, in this device, the height of the rear end of the rack transporting unit is set to the front end of the next rack transporting unit. It is lower than the height, and the tip of the sample rack is configured to surely contact the front edge of the next rack transport unit, so that a strong transport force can be applied even at the unit connection part where the transport belt does not exist. It was done.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-49387 discloses an automatic wire bonder in which a conveyor is laterally moved. However, in this device, a member having two conveyors arranged in parallel is integrally moved in the X direction or the Y direction. As in the present invention, the sampler feed mechanism is used in the transport direction of the sample mount. Same as (or vice versa)
The sample rack is not moved in the direction, that is, the parallel direction, and the transfer path is not switched by moving one belt itself.

Further, the present invention relates to the field of assembling a semiconductor device and is in a technical field different from that of the present invention.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-151421, a plurality of slanted lanes are arranged in parallel so that the directions of the slanting directions are staggered, and a lane is provided between the end of each lane and the start of the next lane. A storage device provided with an inter-product transfer device is described. However, in this device, each lane does not move in the same (or opposite) direction as the transfer direction, that is, in the parallel direction. Further, the present invention relates to the field of product storage of automobile parts and the like, and is in a technical field different from that of the present invention.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the gantry cannot be sent in the reverse direction, so that the gantry must be manually retracted when reinspection is required.

The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-92632 conveys the rack intermittently one pitch at a time by rotating the conveyor belt intermittently in the rack conveying unit. In a behavior-dependent way,
High-precision positioning cannot be realized, and it becomes impossible to detect the presence or absence of a sample container or the presence or absence of a sample specimen. In addition, when the transport unit is lengthened, it is possible that multiple racks ride on one belt. In such a case, move only one rack independently (for example, move it in the opposite direction). It is not possible to make complicated movements. If you rotate the belt backwards, all racks on the belt will move in the opposite direction all at once. Similarly, the device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-154834 cannot perform complicated operation.

JP-B-57-49387 and JP-A-55-151421 disclose
It is disclosed that the direction is bent by 90 degrees to transfer, that is, the movement is switched to the so-called lateral direction, but this is related to the rack slider, and in view of its purpose, configuration, and action, Is not relevant. Furthermore, these are transfers in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to provide a sample mount supply device that can easily perform a retest by allowing the sample mount to be sent in the opposite direction of the transport path as necessary. The purpose is.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a supply device for a sample mount of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A start yard that sequentially stocks a plurality of sample mounts 30 holding sample containers 28 and sequentially sends out the sample mounts. 12, a conveyor 22 for transferring the sample mount, a rack slider 16 for switching the transfer direction of the sample mount, a sampler 20 for sending the sample mounts one sample at a time to the measurement unit of the analyzer 18, and the sample mounts after measurement are integrated. It includes a stockyard 24 and a control unit 26 that controls the operation of each of the above components, and the sampler 20 includes a belt 41 that conveys a sample mount.
A pair of frames 106 and 108 arranged along the belt 41 and higher and parallel to the belt surface, a belt driving unit 42 for moving the belt, a sensor for detecting the position of the sample mount on the belt, The stopper 43 for stopping the sample mount at the upstream part, the stopper 104 for stopping the sample mount on the belt at the downstream part, and the feed mechanism 44 for intermittently feeding the sample mount on the belt sequentially, the sensor is A first sensor 116 that detects the tip of the upstream sample mount on the belt, and a first sensor that detects that the sample mount on the belt has reached the position of the downstream stopper 104.
A second sensor 118 for detecting the edge of the sample mount, which is provided between the sensor 126 of 6 and the upstream and downstream of the belt.
A third sensor 120 for detecting the presence / absence of a sample container in the sample container holder of the sample mount, a fourth sensor 122 for detecting a sample sample in the sample container, and an edge of the sample mount after stirring is completed. The feed mechanism 44 includes a linear slider 48, a movable base 50 mounted on the linear slider, and a position directly or indirectly sandwiching the sample mount on the movable base. Sample stoppers 45 and 46 that are movable in the forward and reverse feed directions, a timing belt 78 attached to the movable base 50, and a drive motor 86 that drives the timing belt are provided, and The feature is that the feeding mechanism 44 reversely feeds the sample mount when measurement is required.

The movement of the sample mount 30 in the sampler 20 for each sample container is controlled by the stoppers 45 and 46 of the sample mount attached to the sampler.

The stock yard 24 is composed of a conveyor section for receiving the sample gantry and a stock section 38 for accumulating the sample gantry. At the rear of the stock yard 24, the sample gantry which has been processed by the present apparatus is installed in another analysis system. A transfer mechanism is provided for sending out to.

It is also possible to add an auxiliary conveyor in the device in order to adjust the entire length of the moving line of the device.

The respective constituent elements of the above-mentioned device are individually separated and independent, and one or a plurality of constituent elements can be combined as necessary to form a specimen mount supply apparatus according to the purpose.

Further, the stoppers 45 and 46 that control the movement of the sample mount in the sampler can also move in the direction opposite to the normal transfer direction of the sample mount, and the function of this stopper causes the sample mount to be sent backward. Re-measurement of the sample can be realized. The feed mechanism of the sampler moves the sample mount in the same (or opposite) direction as the transport direction of the sample mount, that is, in the parallel direction.

Further, a transfer mechanism is provided at the rear part of the stock yard, and by the function of this transfer mechanism, the sample mounts accumulated in the stock part can be successively carried out to another analysis system.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the shape of the components described in this embodiment, the relative arrangement, etc., are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to only those unless otherwise specified, and are merely examples of explanation. Only.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the sample frame supply device 10 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is its front view, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sample mount supplied to the device of the present invention.

The sample mount supply device 10 adjusts the length of a start yard 12 having a mechanism for sequentially stacking and stocking a plurality of sample mounts 30A, 30B, 30C holding sample containers and a conveyor for transferring the sample mounts. Auxiliary conveyors 14A, 14B, rack sliders 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D for switching the transfer path of the sample rack, and sample containers standing on the sample rack are sequentially analyzed by an analyzer 18A,
Samplers 20A and 20B to be sent to the measuring section of 18B, and conveyors 22A and 22B having the same length as the transfer section of the sampler
And a stock yard 24 that collects the pedestals that have been measured.
And a sensor for determining the presence or absence of a sample mount in each part of the device, and a control part 26 for controlling the operation of these devices.

Although these constituent devices can be individually separated, they are arranged in alignment on the measurement table 11 as shown in FIG. 2 in order to perform a desired operation by combining them. 28 is a sample container, 30 is a sample mount, 32A, 32
B, 32C, 32D are rack slider conveyor lines, 34A, 34B are sampler conveyor lines, 35
Is the tip of the sample rack, 36 is the conveyor line of the stockyard, 37a is the first edge of the sample rack, and 37b is the second edge.
Edge, 37c is the third edge, 37d is the fourth edge, 38 is the stock part of the stockyard, 40a, 40
Reference numerals b and 40c are sample container holders.

The sample cradle supply device of the present invention is similar to the device 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 except that the sampler 20A,
It is characterized by the configuration of 20B.

An embodiment of the sampler in the device for supplying the sample mount of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an embodiment of the sampler 20 in the device for supplying a sample mount of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view thereof. Further, FIGS. 7 to 12 are partial explanatory diagrams thereof, and FIG. 13 is a layout diagram of the sensor.

The sample mount 30 (see FIG. 4) sent from the rack slider 16B or 16D in FIG. 1 is on the belt 41 from the right side (right side in FIG. 6) in the direction parallel to the transport direction of the sampler 20. enter in. The gantry 30 placed on the belt 41 is transported to the left in a direction parallel to the transport direction. The belt 41 is driven by the belt drive unit 42.

When the first sensor 116 detects the tip portion 35 (see FIG. 4) of the sample mount 30, the air cylinder 49 is equipped with
Since the stopper 43 driven by air pressure is projected above the belt 41, the pedestal 30 hits the stopper 43 and stops.

The feed mechanism 44 of the sample mount is stopped at an initial position where a stopper 45 attached thereto is located between the second sensor 118 and the third sensor 120. At this time, the stopper 45 on the left side of the feeding mechanism 44 projects above the belt 41, and the stopper 46 on the right side.
Is in a retracted state (the belt 41 is open). When it is confirmed that there is no sample mount in front of the second sensor 118, the stopper 43 is pulled (released), and the sample mount 30 moves to the left in the direction parallel to the transport direction by the movement of the belt 41. , Stopper 45
To stop. At this time, the tip 35 of the sample mount is confirmed by the second sensor 118.

Next, the feeding mechanism 44 of the sample mount will be described in detail. The feed mechanism 44 of the sample mount is assembled on a movable base 50 mounted on a linear slider 48 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11. Three columns 52 are erected on the movable base 50, and a base 54 is mounted on the columns 52. Air cylinders 56 and 58 and linear sliders 60 and 62 are attached to the left and right on the base 54. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 9, the linear sliders 60 and 62 have stopper fittings 6
4, 66 are attached. The rod 68 of the air cylinder 56 and the stopper fitting 64 are connected by a relay plate 72, as shown in FIG. The rod 70 of the air cylinder 58 and the stopper fitting 66 are also similarly coupled. Stoppers 45 and 46 are attached to the tips of the stopper attachments 64 and 66.

While the stopper 43 directly uses the rod of the air cylinder as the stopper of the sample mount, the stoppers 45 and 46 are driven by the air cylinders 56 and 58 via the complicated mechanism as described above. . The reason for this is that the second, third, fourth and fifth parts are provided between the belt 41 and the feeding mechanism 44.
The sensors 118, 120, 122, 124 of the
This is because the feeding mechanism 44 is prevented from hitting 2, 124. If the rods of the air cylinders 56 and 58 are used as stoppers of the sample mount by directing the rods toward the belt side, the length of the rod must be long enough to reach the sample mount, and when the sample mount hits the rod. A large moment is added, which adversely affects the life of the air cylinder. Therefore, the linear sliders 60 and 62 are used as guides for the operation of the stoppers 45 and 46, and the air cylinders 56 and 5 are used.
Reference numeral 8 is used as a simple drive source.

As shown in FIG. 11, an L-shaped light-shield plate 74 is attached to the movable base 50 by screws 76, and a mounting plate 80 is attached to the vertical portion of the light-shield plate 74 with a timing belt 78 interposed therebetween. Installed by. 76 is a screw. Therefore, when the timing belt 78 is driven, the feeding mechanism 44 moves in the same (or opposite) direction as the transport direction of the sample mount, that is, in the parallel direction. The horizontal portion of the light shielding plate 74 is provided with the seventh and eighth sensors (photointerrupter) 12 attached to the base 84 of the sampler 20.
It is provided so that the position of the feed mechanism 44 can be detected by traversing 8 and 130.

The timing belt 78 is driven by a drive motor 86 attached to the base 84, and a side of the timing belt 78 opposite to the drive motor 86 is supported by a pulley 88. If the tension of the timing belt 78 is weak, the accuracy of the stop positioning of the feed mechanism 44 is deteriorated. Therefore, in this apparatus, in order to apply a sufficient tension to the timing belt 78, as shown in FIG. 8, the tension mechanism 92 is provided so that the pulley 90 is pulled by the spring 90. When the knob 91 attached to the pulley holder 89 is pushed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8, the pulley 88 is easily removed from the pulley holder 89, so that the timing belt 78 can be easily removed and replaced. There is.

Next, the feeding of the sample mount 30 in the transport direction and in the square direction will be described. When the distal end portion 35 of the sample mount is confirmed by the second sensor (light reflection type sensor) 118, the stopper 46 on the right side of the feeding mechanism 44 projects above the belt 41. For this reason, the sample mount 30 is sandwiched between the stoppers 45 and 46 as shown in FIG. Belt 4
1 always moves to the left in the direction parallel to the transport direction except the specific case, and the sample mount 30 is stopped by the stopper 45 as described above. Therefore, when the feeding mechanism 44 is moved to the left, the stopper 45 moves to the left, and along with this, the sample mount 30 also moves to the left.

The sample mount 30 moves by one sample, and the second sensor 11
When 8 detects the first edge 37a of the sample mount, the feeding mechanism 44 stops and the sample mount stops. In this position,
The first sample container holder 40a of the sample mount 30 shown in FIG.
The optical reading of the sample identification code (ID) written in the sample container 28 held in is carried out by the analyzer. Only when this ID is read, the belt 41 is stopped. This is because when the belt moves and the sample mount shakes,
This is to avoid adversely affecting ID reading.

When the ID reading is completed, the sample mount 3 is held until the second sensor 118 detects the second edge 37b of the sample mount.
0 moves to the left in the direction parallel to the transport direction. At this position, the third sensor 120 determines whether or not there is a sample container in the first sample container holder 40a. The third sensor 120 is of a light transmission type and is shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b.
As shown in the figure, the test tube-shaped sample container 28 is irradiated with light at a position slightly deviated from the center of the lower part thereof. If there is a sample container, the light will be scattered and the transmitted light will not be detected. At this time, the ID reading is performed on the sample container held by the second sample container holding unit 40b.

When the above is completed, the second sensor 118 moves to the third position of the sample mount.
The sample mount moves to the left in the direction parallel to the transport direction until the edge 37c of the sample is detected. At this position, whether or not there is a sample in the sample container of the first sample container holder 40a
It is determined by four sensors 122. 4th sensor 12
2 is also of a light transmission type and, as shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, irradiates light to a position slightly above the position viewed by the third control 120 of the sample container 28. If there is a sample, the transmitted light does not pass. At this time, it is determined whether or not there is a sample container in the second sample container holder 40b,
The sample container held by the sample container holding unit 40c of
Reading is taking place.

When it is confirmed that the sample is held in the sample container held by the first sample container holding unit 40a, the stirrer 100 shown in FIG. 7 provided in the analyzer descends into the sample container, The sample is agitated.

When the stirring is completed, the fifth sensor 124 is moved to the first position on the sample mount.
The edge 37a of the second sensor 1 or the second sensor 1
Sample mount 3 until 18 detects the fourth edge 37d
0 moves to the left in the direction parallel to the transport direction. At this position, the sample suction pipette 102 shown in FIG. 7 provided in the analyzer descends into the sample container held by the first sample container holding portion 40a, and the sample is sucked. If there is no sample container or no sample, of course, the suction operation is not performed.

Since the sample suction unit is located downstream of the second sensor 118 for positioning, the second sensor 1 is used for the sample in the first half.
Positioning can be performed only with 18, but positioning cannot be performed for the latter half of the sample. Therefore, the second sensor 11
Positioning is performed by ORing the edge detection signal of 8 and the edge detection signal of the fifth sensor 124. Thus, the fifth sensor 124 is an indispensable member.

After that, the same operation as described above is repeated until the processing of all the sample containers held on the sample mount 30 is completed. When the processing of the last sample is completed, the stopper 45 is opened, and the sample mount 30 is transferred to the position of the stopper 104 by the belt 41. The sixth sensor 126 detects that the sample mount has reached the position of the stopper 104. After that, if the rack sliders 16A and 16C are in a receivable state, the stopper 104 is opened, and the sample mount is sent to the left in the direction parallel to the transport direction.

The feeding mechanism 44 is fed to the left in the direction parallel to the transport direction after the sample gantry is opened, and when the eighth sensor (photointerrupter) 130 detects the light shielding plate 74, it is moved to the right in the direction parallel to the transport direction. And is sent to the right in the direction parallel to the conveying direction until the seventh sensor 128 detects the light shielding plate 74. After that, the feeding mechanism is fed to the left by a predetermined distance, and the stopper 45 causes the second sensor 118 and the third sensor 1 to move.
It stops at a position where it stops between 20 (initial position), and waits until the next sample mount is sent. The stopper 46
Is used only as an aid to the stopper 45 in this embodiment, but the type of analyzer changes and the sample rack must be supplied from the left side of the device and transferred to the right in the direction parallel to the transport direction. If not, the movement of the belt 41 is opposite to that of the present embodiment, and the stopper 46 functions as the stopper 45 of the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, when the sample mount is between the stopper 45 and the stopper 46 as shown in FIG. 7, the measured value in the analyzer deviates from the control limit value. When the necessity arises, the feed mechanism 44 is moved to the right in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction, and the stopper 45 is moved against the movement of the belt 41 which is always moving to the left in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction. Push back the sample mount to the right.

FIG. 12 shows two frames 106, 1 sandwiching the belt 41.
The second, third, fourth and fifth sensors 118, 120, 1
Sensor holders 110, 1 for attaching 22, 124
12A and 12B are views for explaining the attachment of the protective plate 114 for protecting the sensor and the signal line of the sensor. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the frame 10 of the sampler 20
6 and 108 are higher than the belt surface, and the width between the frames is slightly wider than the width of the sample mount. In order to avoid the sensor holder 110 and the protective plate 114,
The mechanism of the stoppers 45 and 46 is complicated as described above.

[Effect of device]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

(1) Each unit is an independent device, and by configuring them in a desired combination, it is possible to configure a sample cradle supply device that is highly flexible. In particular, since the sampler of the present invention can push the sample mount back in the opposite direction of the transport path if necessary, even if it is necessary to re-measure the sample in the analyzer, human intervention is required. It can be easily processed without.

(2) Since the frames higher than the belt surface are provided on both sides of the belt, it is possible to prevent the sample rack from falling.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a supply device for a sample mount of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sample mount. FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of a sampler in the device of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a plan view thereof, and FIGS. 7 to 12 are explanatory views showing the essential parts of the sampler.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement example of the sensors. 10 ... Sample rack supply device, 11 ... Measuring stand, 12 ... Start yard, 14A, 14B ... Auxiliary conveyor, 16A,
16B, 16C, 16D ... Rack sliders, 18A, 1
8B ... analyzer, 20, 20A, 20B ... sampler, 2
2A, 22B ... conveyor, 24 ... stockyard, 26
... Control unit, 28 ... Sample container, 30, 30A, 30B, 3
0C ... Sample mount, 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D ... Rack slider conveyor line, 34A, 34B ... Sampler conveyor line, 35 ... Sample mount tip, 36
... conveyor line in stockyard, 37a ... first edge of sample rack, 37b ... second edge of sample rack, 37
c ... third edge of sample mount, 37d ... fourth edge of sample mount, 38 ... stock section of stockyard, 40a ...
1st sample container holding part, 40b ... 2nd sample container holding part,
40c ... 3rd sample container holding part, 41 ... Belt, 42 ...
Belt drive unit, 43 ... Stopper, 44 ... Sample rack feed mechanism, 45 ... Stopper, 46 ... Stopper, 48 ... Linear slider, 49 ... Air cylinder, 50 ... Movable base,
52 ... Struts, 54 ... Base, 56, 58 ... Air cylinders, 60, 62 ... Linear sliders, 64, 66 ... Stopper fixtures, 68, 70 ... Air cylinder rods, 72
... Relay plate, 74 ... Shading plate, 76 ... Screw, 78 ... Timing belt, 80 ... Mounting plate, 82 ... Screw, 84 ... Base,
86 ... Drive motor, 88 ... Pulley, 89 ... Pulley holder, 90 ... Spring, 91 ... Knob, 92 ... Tension mechanism, 100 ... Stir bar, 102 ... Sample suction pipette,
104 ... Stopper, 106, 108 ... Frame, 11
0, 112 ... Sensor holder, 114 ... Protective plate, 116 ...
1st sensor, 118 ... 2nd sensor, 120 ... 3rd sensor, 122 ... 4th sensor, 124 ... 5th sensor, 1
26 ... 6th sensor, 128 ... 7th sensor, 130 ...
8 sensors

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-55-151421 (JP, A) Actually opened 60-154834 (JP, U) Actually opened 61-92632 (JP, U) Actually opened 57- 49387 (JP, Y1)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A sample mount (3) holding a sample container (28).
0) are arranged side by side and stocked, and a sample yard is sequentially sent out, a conveyor (22) for transferring the sample gantry, a rack slider (16) for switching the sample gantry transfer direction, and one sample gantry Each includes a sampler (20) for sending to the measurement unit of the analyzer (18), a stock yard (24) for accumulating the sample rack after measurement, and a control unit (26) for controlling the operation of each of the above components. The sampler (20) includes a belt (41) for transporting the sample mount and two frames (106), (10) arranged parallel to and higher than the belt surface along the belt (41).
8), a belt drive unit (42) for moving the belt, a sensor for detecting the position of the sample mount on the belt, and a stopper (43) for stopping the sample mount on the belt at an upstream portion.
A stopper (104) for stopping the sample mount on the belt at the downstream portion and a feed mechanism (44) for intermittently feeding the sample mount on the belt sequentially, and the sensor is the tip of the upstream sample mount on the belt. A first sensor (116) for detecting a portion, a sixth sensor (126) for detecting that the sample mount on the belt has reached the position of the downstream stopper (104), and an upstream and a downstream of the belt. A second sensor (118) which is provided between the second sensor (118) for detecting the edge of the sample rack, a third sensor (120) for detecting the presence / absence of a sample container in the sample container holder of the sample rack, and a sample in the sample container Fourth sensor (122) for detecting a sample
And a fifth sensor (124) for detecting the edge of the sample frame after the stirring is completed, the feed mechanism (44) includes a linear slider (48),
A movable base (5
0) and stoppers (45), (46) of the sample mount attached to the movable base at positions sandwiching the sample mount directly or indirectly, which are movable in the forward feeding direction and the backward feeding direction.
And a timing belt (78) attached to the movable base (50) and a drive motor (86) for driving the timing belt, and the feed mechanism (44) is provided with a specimen when the sample needs to be remeasured. An apparatus for supplying a sample gantry, characterized in that the gantry is reversely fed.