JPH073038U - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a bar code reader which can be carried along with a test tube stand and read the bar code regardless of the position of the bar code label attached to the test tube. [Construction] The bar code reading device is equipped with a suction means for suctioning and lifting the rubber stopper 12 fitted into the opening of the test tube 10.
Rotation means for rotating the suction means, bar code reader 20 for reading the bar code of bar code label 14 attached to the test tube, and slit 72 formed on only one side in the longitudinal direction so as to expose the lower part of each test tube 10. The test tube stand 16 is provided. The suction means includes a vacuum pad 22 that engages with the rubber plug 12, and a vacuum pump 28 that reduces the air pressure between the vacuum pad 22 and the rubber plug 12.
The vacuum pad 22 has a tube 30 for sucking air from the central hole and joined to a vacuum pump. The rotating means has a shaft 24 for supporting the vacuum pad 22 and a drive source 26 for rotating the shaft 24. It consists of and.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a bar code reader, and more particularly to an improvement of a bar code reader that reads a bar code on a bar code label attached to a test tube.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 At present, the automation of testing of specimens is promoted, and the barcode in which the specimen is injected has a barcode attached with the data for identifying the specimens and the data for the inspection process items. Then, based on the data described in this bar code, each sample is accurately analyzed for the necessary test items under the control of the computer.

Conventionally, an operator rearranges the bar codes of the bar code label attached to the test tube toward the bar code reader, but this work is complicated.

In recent years, as shown in FIG. 6, the test tubes 10 are transferred one by one from a test tube stand to a cylindrical cup 116 made of milky white resin, and the cylindrical cup 116 is transferred to a bar code reader 20 by a belt conveyor. Transporting. Then, the cylindrical cup 116 is rubbed by a rubber roller or the like arranged on an extension of the barcode reader 20 and the cylindrical cup 116 to a position where the barcode of the label 14 attached to the test tube 10 can be read. Is rotated by. As a result, work is replaced by the operator, and automation is promoted.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, since this cylindrical cup is made of milky white resin, there is a problem that the bar code reader cannot read the bar code when the bar code label is attached to the lower part of the test tube.

[0006] Although the operator saves the labor of changing the direction of the test tube as compared with the conventional case, there is a problem that the process of transferring from the test tube stand to the cylindrical cup one by one increases.

Further, since the cylindrical cup is conveyed by the belt conveyor, the cylindrical cup rotates during the conveyance. For this reason, it was necessary to rotate the cylindrical cup each time to read the barcode for each inspection processing system so that the directions were aligned. Therefore, a rotating means for rotating the cylindrical cup is required for each inspection processing system, which causes a problem that the size of the entire apparatus becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to carry a barcode together with a test tube stand and to read a barcode regardless of the position of the barcode label attached to the test tube. It is to provide a code reading device.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the device according to claim 1 provides a reading device for reading a bar code of a bar code label attached to a test tube at the time of automatically opening a test tube at the opening of the test tube. And a bar code reader for reading the bar code of the bar code label attached to the test tube. It is characterized in that the bar code reader lifts and rotates the test tube by the suction means to orient the test tube in an appropriate direction so that the bar code of the bar code label attached to the test tube can be read. .

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is mounted on the opening of the test tube in the reading device for reading the bar code of the bar code label attached to the test tube when automatically performing the sample test. Adsorption means for adsorbing on a rubber stopper and lifting it, rotating means for rotating the adsorption means, bar code reader for reading the bar code of the bar code label attached to the test tube, and a hole for standing a plurality of test tubes. And a test tube stand in which a slit is formed in each test tube stand hole only on one side in the longitudinal direction of the test tube stand so that the lower part of each test tube is exposed. Then, the bar code reader holds the test tube by the suction means so that the bar code on the bar code label attached to the test tube can be read from the slit of the test tube stand. It is characterized in that it is lifted and rotated to orient the test tube in an appropriate direction.

[0011]

[Action]

 According to the structures of claims 1 and 2, since there is an adsorbing means for adsorbing and lifting the rubber stopper attached to the opening of the test tube, the barcode label is provided near the opening of the test tube. Even if it is attached, it can be read with a barcode reader. Further, according to the above configuration, since the test tube can be transported to the bar code reader together with the test tube stand, it is not necessary to transfer the test tube, and once the test tube is reoriented, the test tube can be tested again. There is no need to rotate the tube.

Further, according to the configuration described in claim 2, since the slit is formed for each test tube stand hole only on one side in the longitudinal direction of the test tube stand so that the lower part of each test tube is exposed. The bar code can be read regardless of the position of the bar code label attached to the test tube.

[0013]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire configuration of a barcode reading device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the bar code reading apparatus of the present invention includes a suction means for sucking and lifting the rubber stopper 12 mounted on the opening of the test tube 10, a rotating means for rotating the suction means, and a test tube. A bar code reader 20 for reading the bar code of the bar code label 14 (hereinafter abbreviated as label 14) attached to the test tube 10 and each test tube 10 only on one side in the longitudinal direction so that the bottom of each test tube 10 is exposed. A test tube stand 16 in which a slit is formed for each standing hole (see FIG. 3) is provided. The structure of the test tube stand 16 will be described in detail later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the suction means comprises an umbrella-shaped rubber vacuum pad 22 that engages with the rubber plug 12 fitted in the test tube, and between the vacuum pad 22 and the rubber plug 12. A vacuum pump 28 for reducing the air pressure of the vacuum pad 22 and a tube 30 for sucking air from the central hole of the vacuum pad 22 and joining the vacuum pump. The pressure reducing means is not limited to the vacuum pump, and any means capable of reducing the pressure via the vacuum pad 22 may be used.

The rotating means is composed of a shaft 24 that supports the vacuum pad 22, and a drive source (for example, a motor) 26 that rotationally drives the shaft 24.

The adsorbing means will be described in detail below.

2 (a) and 2 (b) are sectional views showing the structure of the adsorption means of the present invention.

The suction means includes an umbrella-shaped rubber vacuum pad 22 that engages with the rubber plug 12 fitted in the test tube 10, a vacuum pump 28 that reduces the air pressure in the vacuum pad 22, and a vacuum pad 22. A hollow passage 53 formed inside a shaft 24 for supporting the vacuum pad 22 for sucking air through the central hole of the plate, and a plate 38 through which the shaft 24 penetrates and in which a drive source 26 is arranged, It has a tube 30 connecting this hollow passage 53 and the vacuum pump 28.

Therefore, the vacuum pad 22 is lowered in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 2 (a), and the rubber plug 12 and the vacuum pad 22 are engaged with each other via the tube 30 as shown in FIG. 2 (b). The vacuum pump 28 reduces the air in the space formed between the rubber plug 12 and the vacuum pad 22 from the central hole of the vacuum pad 22 in the direction of the arrow 62, so that the test tube 10 can be adsorbed. it can.

It should be noted that what is adsorbed to the test tube is not limited to the vacuum pad, and may be one that sandwiches the rubber plug 12 such as a manipulator.

A feature of the present invention is that the test tube 10 can be adsorbed from above and rotated so that the bar code label 14 attached to the test tube 10 can be oriented in the reading direction of the bar code reader 20. Therefore, even if the barcode label 14 is attached near the opening of the test tube 10, it can be read by the barcode reader 20. Further, since the test tube 10 can be conveyed to the barcode reader 20 together with the test tube stand 16 in the direction of the white arrow shown in FIG. 1, it is not necessary to transfer the test tube 10. Further, even when performing the inspection process in multiple steps, once the orientation of the test tube is adjusted, it is not necessary to rotate the test tube again.

Further, the present invention is devised so that the barcode label 14 can be easily read.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the test tube stand 16 according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the test tube stand 16 of the present invention has a plurality of holes 70 for standing the test tube 10 and only one side of the test tube stand 16 in the longitudinal direction is exposed to the lower part of each test tube 10. A slit 72 is formed for each hole 70.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of an essential part of the test tube rack 16 of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the slit 72 of the test tube stand 16 is cut into a width sufficient to read a barcode from slightly above the bottom position of the test tube 10 to the upper surface of the test tube stand. It is a thing. Therefore, since it is exposed from the slit 72 to the lower side of the test tube 10, if the label 14 is directed toward the bar code reader 20 by the above-mentioned suction means and rotation means, the label 14 attached to the test tube 10 will be exposed. The barcode can be read regardless of the position of.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the test tube rack 16 of FIG. 3 taken along the line AA ′.

As shown in FIG. 5, a hole 74 reaching the lower surface of the test tube stand 16 is formed in a portion in contact with the bottom of the test tube 10. Therefore, the test tube can be pushed upward from the lower part of the hole 74 with a pin or the like, and the drainage property of the hole 70 after cleaning the test tube stand 16 is also improved.

As described above, the bar code reading device according to the present invention, which conveys the whole test tube stand, lifts and rotates the test tube 10 and reads it regardless of the position of the bar code label, has been described. The mechanism for moving a test tube whose barcode could not be read to another test tube rack without pausing is described below.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the plate 38 on which the suction means including the vacuum pad 22 and the like and the rotating means including the drive source 26 and the like for rotating the test tube 10 are arranged is the YZ direction movement control. It is connected to the device 32 by rails 42a, 42b. Therefore, the YZ direction movement control device 32 can move the test tube 10 sucked by the vacuum pad 22 in the Z direction (double-headed arrow 40) by pulling up / down the rails 42a, 42b.

Further, a large rail 46 for moving the YZ direction movement control device 32 in the Y direction in order to move the plate 38 supporting the vacuum pad 22 and the like in the Y direction (double-headed arrow 48), The control rod 50 has a diameter increased from a predetermined position so that the test tube 10 incapable of reading the barcode can be accurately moved to another test tube stand 16. Therefore, the test tube 10 sucked by the vacuum pad 22 can move in the Y direction (double-headed arrow 48) by a predetermined distance.

Since it has the above-mentioned mechanism, only the test tube 10 that cannot read the bar code moves in the direction of the dashed-dotted line arrow 60 and is automatically sent to the inspection without pausing during the reading operation. The test tubes 10 can be arranged in the order described above.

[0034]

[Effect of device]

 As explained above, according to the present invention, since the rubber stopper attached to the opening of the test tube is provided and the suction means is provided, the barcode label is attached near the test tube opening. Even if it is read, it can be read with a barcode reader.

Since the test tube can be transported to the bar code reader together with the test tube stand, it is not necessary to transfer the test tube, and once the test tube is oriented again, the test tube is rotated again. You don't have to.

Further, since a slit is formed for each test tube stand hole only on one side in the longitudinal direction of the test tube stand so that the lower part of each test tube is exposed, the position of the bar code label attached to the test tube The barcode can be read regardless of.

When the barcode of the barcode label cannot be read by rotating the test tube, the test tube can be lifted by the suction means and easily moved to another test tube stand. Therefore, since only the test tube whose bar code cannot be read can be easily collected, the apparatus is not suspended during the bar code reading operation of the label, and it is not necessary for the operator to remove the test tube.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the overall configuration of a bar code reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a suction unit of the barcode reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a test tube stand of the barcode reader according to the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the test tube stand shown in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of the test tube stand shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional barcode reading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Test tube 12 Rubber stopper 14 Bar code label 16 Test tube stand 20 Bar code reader 22 Vacuum pad 24 Axis 26 Drive source 28 Vacuum pump 30 Tube 72 Slit

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An adsorbing means for adsorbing and lifting a rubber stopper attached to an opening of a test tube in a reading device for reading a bar code of a bar code label attached to the test tube when automatically performing a sample test. A bar code reader for reading the bar code of the bar code label attached to the test tube, and the bar code reader attached to the test tube. A bar code reader, wherein the test tube is lifted and rotated by the suction means to orient the test tube in an appropriate direction so that the bar code of the bar code label can be read. 2. A reading device for reading a bar code of a bar code label affixed to a test tube when automatically performing a sample test, and an adsorbing means for adsorbing and lifting a rubber stopper attached to an opening of the test tube. A rotating means for rotating the suction means, a bar code reader for reading a bar code of a bar code label attached to the test tube, and a test tube stand having holes for erecting a plurality of test tubes,
A test tube stand in which a slit is formed for each test tube stand hole only on one side in the longitudinal direction of the test tube stand so as to be exposed to the lower part of each test tube; A test characterized in that the test tube is lifted and rotated by the suction means so that the bar code of the bar code label attached to the test tube can be read from the slit of the tube stand, and the test tube is directed in an appropriate direction. Bar code reader for tube mounted bar code labels.