JPH06771Y2 - Sample rack supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is an apparatus for supplying a sample to an automatic sample analyzer, and more specifically, a sample rack on which a plurality of test tube-shaped sample containers are set up is conveyed by a belt conveyor. , A sample cradle supply device that enables sequential measurement of the samples in the sample container by an analyzer, especially a sample equipped with a start yard that has the function of stocking multiple sample cradles holding sample containers side by side and delivering them sequentially and accurately The present invention relates to a frame supply device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a sample cradle supply device, for example
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 154834. 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.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-41254 discloses a sample dispensing device equipped with a feed stopping device having a microswitch.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54-13751 discloses a conveyor in which a feed claw is exposed in a transfer path of an article and the article is hooked by the feed claw to intermittently transfer a predetermined amount.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-7629 discloses a device for transporting a rod-shaped material by a transport rod which is movable by a drive source.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

The device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-154834 is a device in which two stockers and a transfer device are integrated, and sequentially feeds in a fixed direction, so that the direction of supply and discharge of the sample mount is restricted. ing.

The number of mounts that can be placed on the stocker at one time is 5 to 1
0 was the limit. Further, in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-154834 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-41254, nothing is mentioned about the mechanism of the rack feed slider which is the feature of the present invention.

The inventions disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54-13751 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-7629 disclose an engagement that engages when the article is about to return and stops the movement while disengaging the engagement when moving in the forward direction. Although it uses nails, it is completely different from the configuration of the present invention.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a sample rack supply device capable of accurately and efficiently moving more than 10 sample racks at one time without restricting the supply and carry-out directions of the sample racks. The purpose is to do.

[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 receiving the sample mount and sending the sample mounts to the measuring section of the analyzer 18 one sample at a time.
And stockyard 24 for collecting sample racks after measurement
And a control unit 26 for controlling the operation of each of the above components, each of the units 12, 22, 16, 20, and 24 is an independent device, and the units are combined in a desired combination. The start yard 12 can be configured as a system, and the start yard 12 includes a stocker unit 42 for stocking a plurality of sample mounts arranged side by side, and rack feed sliders 48, 49 for sending out the sample mounts of the stocker unit to the conveyor unit.
And a plurality of sensors that monitor the movements of the sample rack and the stocker unit, and the conveyor unit 43 that receives the sample rack sent from the stocker unit to another device, and the rack feed stockers 48 and 49 are the stockers. Part 42
Two sliders are slidably attached to shafts provided in the front-rear direction on both sides of the slider, and levers 50 and 51 that can rotate only in one direction are pivotally supported on the upper portions of the sliders 48 and 49, respectively. , 49 when moving from the rear of the stocker to the front of the stocker.
When 0, 51 hit the sample mount 30 to push the sample mount to the front conveyor section and move the sliders 48, 49 from the front to the rear, the levers 50, 51 are pushed to both side surfaces of the sample mount to move the slider. The sensors 48 and 49 are configured to pass directly through the sample mount. The sensor is a sensor 102 that determines the presence or absence of the sample mount on the stocker unit 42, and a sensor 104 that detects that the slider is at the rearmost part of the stocker unit. And a sensor 110 for detecting that the slider is at the forefront of the stocker unit, a sensor 106 for detecting that the sample mount has been sent from the stocker unit 42 to the conveyor unit 43, and a sample mount on the conveyor unit for other devices. Sensor 1 to detect that it has been sent out
08, and the conveyor unit 43 is characterized in that it has the outlets of the sample rack on the left and right.

The movement of the sample mount 30 in the sampler 20 for each sample container is controlled by the sample stopper 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 to adjust the overall length of the transfer 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 may be combined as necessary to configure a sample mount supply apparatus according to the purpose.

In addition, the stopper that controls 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. Measurement can be realized.

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.

The stocker unit 42 of the start yard converts sliders 48, 49 for transferring the sample mount, shafts 44, 45, 46, 47 for guiding the sliders, a motor 56 for driving the sliders, and a rotary motion of the motors into a linear motion. And a transmission mechanism for transmitting to the slider.

The transmission mechanism includes a shaft 62, a first timing belt 60 for transmitting the rotational force of the motor to the shaft, and a second timing belt 68 for converting rotational movement of the shaft into linear movement of the slider.
a, 68b, a mechanism 72 for adjusting the tension of the second timing belt, a coupling 66 inserted in the middle of the shaft, and three or more bearings.

Further, a mechanism for preventing generation of abnormal noise during sliding movement can be provided in the attachment portion of the pulley for supporting the second timing belt 68a, 68b and the slider.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the constituent devices described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them only unless otherwise specified, and are merely descriptions. It's just an example.

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 supply device 10 of the sample mount is the sample mount 30 before measurement.
A plurality of A, 30B, and 30C are arranged side by side and stocked, and a start yard 12 having a function of sequentially sending out, auxiliary conveyors 14A and 14B for adjusting the length of a conveyor for transferring the sample mount sent from the start yard 12, and a sample mount Rack sliders 16A, 16 for switching the transfer path of
B, 16C, 16D, and samplers 20A, 20B for sequentially sending the sample containers set up on the sample mount to the measurement units of the analyzers 18A, 18B, and conveyors 22A, 22B having the same length as the transfer unit of the samplers. A stock yard 24 for accumulating the gantry after the measurement, a sensor for judging the presence or absence of a sample gantry 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, 36
Is a conveyor line of the stockyard, 38 is a stock section of the stockyard, 40 is a sample container holding section, and 41 is a groove of the sample mount.

The device for supplying a sample mount according to the present invention is the same as the device 10 shown in FIGS.
It is characterized by the configuration of 2.

An embodiment of a start yard in the sample frame supply device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 16.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an embodiment of the start yard 12 in the sample rack supply device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a right side view thereof. In addition, FIG.
It is an FF line expanded sectional view. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the outline of the appearance of the start yard in which one side of the sample cradle delivery port of the conveyor section is covered with a cover. 9 to 15 are partial explanatory views thereof, and FIG. 16 is a layout diagram of the sensor.

As shown in FIG. 8, the start yard 12 includes a stocker section 42 and a conveyor section 43 for stocking a plurality of sample racks.
It is composed of and.

As shown in FIG. 5, the stocker portion 42 is provided with four shafts 44, 45, 46, 47 in the front-rear direction.
The rack feed slider 48 is attached to the two left shafts.
A rack feed slider 49 is attached to the two right shafts. The rack feed sliders 48 and 49 are
Lever 5 attached to it, as shown in Figure 9a.
It is for pushing the sample mount 30 placed on the stocker unit 42 by 0 and 51 and sending it to the conveyor unit 43.

The levers 50 and 51 can rotate about the shafts 52 and 54 only in the direction shown by the arrow from the position shown in FIG. 9a. Therefore, the rack feed sliders 48, 49 should be
When moving in the direction A of FIG. 9a (from the rear of the stocker to the front), the levers 50 and 51 hit the sample mount 30,
The sample mount is pushed forward (toward the conveyor section), but when the rack feed sliders 48 and 49 are moved in the direction B in FIG. 9b (from the front to the rear of the stocker section), the lever 50,
51 is pushed and retracted on both sides of the sample mount, and the rack feed sliders 48, 49 pass through the sample mount 30 as they are.

The rack feed sliders 48 and 49 are driven as follows.

In FIG. 6, the drive motor 56 is a stepping motor, and as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG.
It is attached to the base 58 of the. This drive motor 5
The rotation of 6 is transmitted to the shaft 62 via the timing belt 60. The shaft 62 contains four bearings 64a, 64b, 64c and 64d as shown in FIGS. In the conventional start yard, only two bearings corresponding to 64a and 64d were used. In this structure, when more than 10 sample mounts are placed on the stocker unit at one time and an attempt is made to move them, the shaft 62 is excessively loaded and the shaft 62 bends. Four bearings were used to prevent this deflection. Further, a coupling 66 is attached in order to absorb the deviation of the shaft caused by using four bearings. In this way, the shaft of the start yard contains the coupling and three or more bearings, and the shaft is designed so as not to bend easily. It is possible to move all at once.

The rotation of the shaft 62 is transmitted to the timing belts 68a and 68b. The timing belts 68a and 68b and the rack feed sliders 48 and 49 described above are connected as shown in FIG. Therefore, due to the rotational movement of the drive motor 36, the rack feed sliders 48, 49 are guided by the shafts 44, 45, 46, 47 to move linearly in the front-rear direction.

The timing belts 68a and 68b are supported by pulleys 70a (70b) on the side opposite to the side supported by the shaft 62. A tension mechanism 72 as shown in FIG. 12 is attached to each of the timing belts 68a and 68b in order to absorb the variation and the extension of the dimension. The tension mechanism 72 includes a mounting plate 74 fixed to the base 58 of the apparatus, a roller 76 placed on the lower belt of the timing belts 68a and 68b, and the timing belt 6.
Roller holder 7 for holding the rollers sandwiching 8a and 68b.
8, a spring 80 placed between the roller holder 78 and the mounting plate 74, a screw 82 penetrating the roller holder 78, the spring 80 and the mounting plate, and a nut 84 for tightening the screw 82.
When the nut 84 is tightened, the roller holder 78 is pulled in the arrow direction (downward) of FIG. 12, so that the tension of the timing belts 68a and 68b is strengthened.

The pulleys 70a and 70b are supported as shown in FIG. The mounting bracket 86 has a box shape and is mounted on the base 58 of the apparatus. The shaft mounting plate 88 is
The shaft 90 is fixed and protrudes, and is attached to the mounting bracket 86 by screws 92. The shaft 90 is the pulley 7
0a and 70b are penetrated and supported. If the pulley 70a,
When the shaft 90 also rotates when the 70b rotates, the wear of the bearing portion becomes severe. Therefore, the shaft 90 should be completely fixed to the shaft mounting plate 88 so as not to rotate, as in the present embodiment. When the pulleys 70a and 70b are made of aluminum and the shaft 90 is made of brass (C3602BE), the shaft is less worn and no abnormal noise is generated during rotation. Further, because of the above-mentioned configuration, the pulley 70
a (70b) can be easily removed from the mounting hardware, and therefore the timing belts 68a, (68b)
Can be easily replaced.

The rack feed slider 49 (48) is attached to the shaft 46 (44) and the shaft 47 (45) as shown in FIG. Teflon is used for the sliding surface 96 of the fixture 94. Further, the linear ball bearing 100 is inserted into the through hole 98 of the fixture 94, and the shaft 4
7 (45). As described above, noise or noise is prevented from being generated when the rack feed slider 49 (48) slides. As described above, if the pulley mounting part and slider are equipped with a mechanism to prevent the generation of abnormal noise, even if more than 10 sample racks are moved at one time, they operate extremely quietly without generating noise. The effect such as doing is exhibited.

Next, the operation of the entire start yard 12 will be described centering on the sensor arrangement diagram shown in FIG.

First, the stocker unit 42 is set by the light transmission type sensor 102.
It is determined whether or not the sample mount 30 is present above. If the sample mount 30 is provided, the rack feed sliders 48 and 49 are sent to the rearmost end of the stocker section 42. When the rack feed slider 49 is detected by the mechanical sensor (micro switch) 104, the rack feed sliders 48 and 49 are reversed and fed forward. At this time, the sample mount 30 is pushed as shown in FIG. 9a. When a plurality of sample mounts are placed on the stocker unit 42, these are stacked and carried. A folded-back portion 67 shown in FIG. 7 is provided on the upper surface of the stocker portion 42, and the sample rack 30 has a groove 41 (fourth portion).
(Refer to the drawing) and move along the folding part 67. Therefore, the sample mount does not fall down during movement.

When the mechanical sensor (micro switch) 106 detects that the sample mount (30A in FIG. 1) at the top is pushed out to the conveyor section 43, the rack feed sliders 48 and 49 stop. At this time, conveyor section 4
The mounting position of the sensor 106 is adjusted so that the sample frame 30 does not come into contact with the frame 112 of FIG. 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 15) and is stopped at an interval of about 1 mm (d≈1 mm). If the sample mount 30 is completely in contact with the frame 112, the contact resistance becomes large when the conveyor unit 43 transfers and sends out the sample mount 30, and the sample mount 30 cannot be carried properly. Further, the horizontal plane of the conveyor section 43 is set slightly lower than the horizontal plane of the stocker section 42, so that the sample mount can be transferred from the stocker section 42 to the conveyor section 43 smoothly.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, if the sample rack can be received in a portion other than the start yard 12, the conveyor unit 4
3 sends out the sample mount 30A to the auxiliary conveyor 14A.
Completion of the delivery means that the light reflection type sensor 108
(See FIGS. 5 and 16).

Next, the rack feed sliders 48, 49 are fed forward until the sample mount 30B shown in FIG. The following operation is the same as that of the sample mount 30A.

When all the racks have been sent out to the conveyor section 43, the fact that the rack feed slider 48 has reached the forefront of the stocker section,
The sliders 48 and 49 are stopped by being detected by the sensor (photo interrupter) 110. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 16, the conveyor unit 43 can send out the sample rack in either left or right direction. Therefore, the flexibility of the system configuration is improved.

[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, the start yard in the present invention has a single function of stocking a plurality of sample racks holding sample containers side by side and accurately delivering them sequentially, and this start yard can be separated from the device, By arranging the start yard according to the restrictions of other equipment,
It is possible to configure an extremely flexible sample platform supply device.

(2) A rack feed slider and a plurality of sensors that monitor the movements of the sample rack and the stocker section can accurately and reliably feed a large number of sample racks in sequence.

(3) When the system configuration is such that the sample rack is transported to the left, when the sample rack is sent out from the outlet on the left side of the conveyor in the start yard and the sample rack is transported to the right, Can send the sample mount from the outlet on the right side of the conveyor in the start yard,
It is possible to configure a sample rack supply system that is highly flexible as a whole.

[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 plan view showing an example of a start yard in the device of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a right side view of the same, FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line FF in FIG.
The figure is a schematic perspective view of the appearance of the start yard with one side of the sample cradle delivery port of the conveyor section covered with a cover.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the start yard, and FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of sensor arrangement. 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, 20A, 20B ... sampler, 22A,
22B ... Conveyor, 24 ... Stockyard, 26 ... Control part, 28 ... Sample container, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C ...
Sample mount, 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D ... Rack slider conveyor line, 34A, 34B ... Sampler conveyor line, 36 ... Stockyard conveyor line, 38 ... Stockyard stock section, 40 ... Sample container holding section, 41 ... Groove, 42 ... Stocker section, 43 ... Conveyor section, 44, 45, 46, 47 ... Shaft, 48, 49
... Rack feed slider, 50, 51 ... Lever, 52, 5
4 ... Shaft, 56 ... Drive motor, 58 ... Base, 60 ... Timing belt, 62 ... Shaft, 64a, 64b, 64c, 6
4d ... Bearing, 66 ... Coupling, 67 ... Folding portion,
68a, 68b ... Timing belt, 70a, 70b ...
Pulley, 72 ... Tension mechanism, 74 ... Mounting plate, 76 ...
Roller, 78 ... Roller holder, 80 ... Spring, 82 ... Screw, 84 ... Nut, 86 ... Mounting bracket, 88 ... Shaft mounting plate,
90 ... Shaft, 92 ... Screw, 94 ... Fixing device, 96 ... Sliding surface,
98 ... Through hole, 100 ... Linear ball bearing, 10
2, 104, 106, 108, 110 ... Sensor, 112
…flame

Continuation of the front page (56) Bibliographic references Sho 60-154834 (JP, U) Japanese patent Sho 52-7629 (JP, B1) Official public Sho 56-41254 (JP, Y1) Official public Sho 54-13751 (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, the starter yard (12) for sequentially sending out the sample mount, the conveyor (22) for transferring the sample mount, the rack slider (16) for switching the transfer direction of the sample mount, and the sample mount for receiving the sample mount. A sampler (2 for sending each sample to the measuring unit of the analyzer (18)
0), a stock yard (24) for accumulating sample racks after measurement, and a control unit (26) for controlling the operation of each of the above components, each unit (12), (22), (16), (2
0) and (24) are independent devices, and
The respective units can be system-configured in a desired combination, and the start yard (12) is a stocker section (42) for arranging and stocking a plurality of sample racks and a rack feed for sending the sample racks of the stocker section to a conveyor section. Slider (4
8) and (49), and a conveyor section (43) that receives the sample mount sent from the stocker section and sends it to another device
And a plurality of sensors for monitoring the movement of the sample rack and the stocker unit. The rack feed sliders (48) and (49) are provided on the both sides of the stocker unit (42), two shafts provided in the front-back direction. The sliders (48) and (49) are slidably attached to the sliders, and levers (50) and (51) that can rotate only in one direction are pivotally supported on the sliders (48) and (49), respectively. ) Is moved from the rear of the stocker to the front of the conveyor, the levers (50), (5
When 1) hits the sample mount (30) and pushes the sample mount to the front conveyor part and moves the sliders (48) and (49) from the front to the rear, the levers (50) and (51) move to the sample mount. The sliders (48), (4
9) is configured to pass directly through the sample mount, and the sensor detects that the sensor (102) determines the presence or absence of the sample mount on the stocker unit (42) and that the slider is at the rearmost part of the stocker unit. A sensor (104), a sensor (110) that detects that the slider is at the forefront of the stocker unit, and a sensor (106) that detects that the sample mount has been sent from the stocker unit (42) to the conveyor unit (43). And a sensor (108) for detecting that the sample mount on the conveyor unit has been sent to another device, and the conveyor unit (43) has a sample mount outlet on the left and right. Frame supply device.