JPH0749349A - Rotation device of sample vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a small and simple rotation device of a sample vessel wherein a rotation force from a driving source is accurately transmitted to the sample vessel even when the driving source having small torque is used. CONSTITUTION:A rotation device P1 of a sample vessel comprises an intermittent movement type belt conveyer 20, a needle member 3, a first driving means 4 that reciprocally move the needle member 3 along an axis line of the sample vessel 1 and a second driving means 5 that rotates the needle member 3 around the axis line. The needle member 3 consists of two parallel needle 8, 8 made of stainless steel and a disk-shaped mounting base 9 on which the needles 8, 8 are perpendicularly and eccentrically mounted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample container rotating device, and more particularly, to a sample container (sample container) containing a sample (sample or other sample) such as blood to be analyzed. It relates to a sample container rotating device for rotating around the axis of the container for the purpose of mixing and homogenizing the sample in the container and for reading the code of the bar code label attached to the container. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an automatic analysis system for sequentially carrying a plurality of sample containers each containing a sample to a sample analyzer to analyze the sample. In such a system, in order to hold and transport a plurality of sample containers, a sample rack that holds the sample containers substantially vertically is widely used.

The sample container held in this sample rack is
It may be desirable to rotate about the axis of a substantially vertical container. For example, there is a case where the sample in the sample container is mixed instead of being stirred to make it uniform, and a case where the code of the bar code label attached to the sample container is read. Conventionally, the following is known as a sample container rotating device that rotates a sample container held in a sample rack around an axis of a substantially vertical container.

One of them is a sample container in which a pressure contact member having a substantially flat lower surface and rotatable about a vertical axis is provided so as to be able to move up and down, and a sample is put therein and a cap having a substantially flat upper surface is fitted. The sample container rotating device is configured such that the pressure contact member is lowered from above, the pressure contact member is pressed against the upper surface of the cap of the sample container, and then the pressure contact member is rotated. In this sample container rotating device, the rotational force of the pressure contact member is transmitted to the sample container by the frictional force generated by the pressure contact between the pressure contact member and the cap of the sample container.

The other is that the lower surface of the pressure contact member is formed in a convex shape or a concave shape, and the upper surface of the cap of the sample container is formed in a concave shape or a convex shape to be fitted into the lower surface of the pressure contact member. The sample container rotating device is similar to the rotating device. In this sample container rotating device, the rotational force of the pressure contact member is transmitted to the sample container by the concave and convex fitting of the pressure contact member and the cap of the sample container.

[0006]

In the former sample container rotating device, when the pressing member is pressed against the upper surface of the cap of the sample container, a frictional force is generated between the bottom wall of the sample container and the container holding surface of the sample rack. Occurs. Then, this frictional force acts as a resistance at the time of rotation, which may cause insufficient rotation of the sample container. In order to prevent such a fear, it is necessary to use a large torque drive source for the pressure contact member.

The above-mentioned fear is caused by the necessity of preventing unnecessary rotation of the sample container when reading the code of the bar code label attached to the sample container held in the sample rack. This is especially noticeable when a rubber sheet or the like is laid on.

In the latter sample container rotating device, in order to fit the press contact member and the cap of the sample container in a concavo-convex manner, a mechanism for accurately aligning the press contact member and the cap of the sample container is provided. Will need to be installed,
Therefore, there is a problem that the rotating device becomes large and complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to use a driving source with a small torque,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a small and simple sample container rotating device in which the rotational force from a drive source is reliably transmitted to a sample container.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a holding member for holding a plurality of sample containers with elastic caps in a fixed direction, an intermittent moving means for intermittently moving the holding members, and a holding member held by the holding member are provided. A needle-shaped member having one or a plurality of needles capable of detachably piercing the cap of the sample container, and first driving means for reciprocating the needle-shaped member along the axis of the sample container. A second driving means for rotating the needle-shaped member around its axis, and the holding member holding the sample container is moved by the intermittent moving means and stopped at a predetermined position, and then the needle-shaped member is First
Provided is a sample container rotating device characterized in that the needle is pierced into a cap of one sample container by being moved by a driving unit, and then is rotated by a second driving unit to rotate the sample container through the cap. To be done.

As the sample container, for example, a container composed of a test tube-shaped container body and a rubber or plastic cap fitted in an upper opening of the container body is used. As the holding member, for example, a sample rack for holding ten such sample containers in a row in a substantially vertical direction is used. The holding member is intermittently moved by an intermittent moving means such as a belt conveyor that moves intermittently.

The needle-shaped member is made of, for example, stainless steel 2
It consists of a book of needles and a mount on which the needles are mounted parallel to each other. The needle may be a hollow tubular one such as an injection needle or a solid one such as a sewing needle. As the first drive means and the second drive means, for example, those provided with a motor and its rotation transmission member are used. The reciprocating movement of the needle-shaped member by the first drive means
It is performed by switching the rotation for driving forward / reverse. It is more preferable that the rotation of the needle-shaped member by the second drive means can be switched between forward and reverse. Further, it is more preferable that the sample container rotating device is provided with needle removing means for removing the needle of the needle-shaped member stuck in the cap of the sample container from the cap.

[0013]

In the initial state, the needle-shaped member is located away from the sample container held by the holding member. First, the holding member holding the sample container is intermittently moved by the intermittent moving means and stopped at a predetermined position. After that, the first drive means operates to move (forward move) the needle-shaped member toward the sample container. Then, the needle of the needle-shaped member hits the cap of the sample container and further pierces it. Then, in this state, the second
The drive means is activated to rotate the needle member about its axis. Then, the sample container in which the needle of the needle-shaped member has pierced the cap rotates while being held by the holding member.
In some cases, this direction of rotation is reversed every predetermined time.

By such rotation of the sample container, the sample in the sample container is agitated and made uniform. In addition, the code of the barcode label attached to the sample container is read as necessary.

After the operation of the second drive means is finished and the rotation of the sample container is stopped, the needle-like member is moved (returned) in the direction away from the sample container by the first drive means. Then, the needle of the needle-shaped member is removed from the cap of the sample container. Here, in the case where a needle withdrawing means for removing the needle of the needle-like member pierced by the cap of the sample container is provided,
The needle of the needle-shaped member can be easily removed from the cap of the sample container.

When the needle in the needle-shaped member is hollow and also serves as the sample suction tube, after the sample container has finished rotating, the sample suction tube sucks the sample from the sample container.
It becomes possible to collect, and the dedicated sample suction tube can be omitted. Further, when the needle of the needle-shaped member is hollow and also serves as the ventilation tube, the pressure inside the sample container can be kept equal to the atmospheric pressure.

Further, before rotating the sample container in which the needle of the needle-shaped member has pierced the cap by the operation of the second drive means, the sample container is moved back a small distance by the first drive means and separated from the holding member. By doing so, the frictional resistance between the sample container and the holding member is eliminated, and the subsequent rotation of the sample container becomes smoother.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to two embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these.

Embodiment 1 In FIG. 1, a sample container rotating device P ₁ comprises a sample rack 2 as a holding member for holding a plurality of sample containers 1 substantially vertically.
And an intermittent movement type belt conveyor 2 as an intermittent movement means
0, the needle-shaped member 3, the first driving means 4 for reciprocating the needle-shaped member 3 along the axis of the sample container 1, and the second driving means 5 for rotating the needle-shaped member 3 around the axis. Be equipped with.

The belt conveyor 20 includes a plurality of sample containers 1
The sample rack 2 holding is moved intermittently. Sample container 1
Comprises a test tubular container body 6 containing blood as a sample to be analyzed, and a rubber cap 7 fitted in an upper opening of the container body 6 to seal the opening. The sample rack 2 is in the shape of a test tube stand, and holds ten sample containers 1 in a row and substantially vertically.

The needle-shaped member 3 comprises two stainless steel parallel needles 8 and a disk-shaped mounting base 9 on which these needles 8 and 8 are mounted vertically and eccentrically. Needle 8
8 is solid like a sewing needle, and is a sample container 1
The cap 7 can be pierced so as to be detachable.
The first drive means 4 includes a stepping motor 10 having a horizontal rotation shaft, a first pulley 11 attached to the rotation shaft of the stepping motor 10, and the first pulley 11
The second pulley 1 provided at a predetermined distance vertically above the
2 and a timing belt 13 stretched over the first pulley 11 and the second pulley 12.

On the right side of the timing belt 13, a guide rod 14 is provided upright in parallel with the timing belt 13. The guide rod 14 is attached to the slider 1
5 is attached so that it can slide up and down. Slider 15
The left part of is fixed to the timing belt 13. A motor 5 as a second driving means having a vertical rotation axis is mounted on the right part of the slider 15. The needle member 3 is coaxially attached to the rotation shaft of the motor 5.

Next, the operation of the sample container rotating device P ₁ will be described. In FIG. 1, a sample rack 2 holding a plurality of sample containers 1 is intermittently moved by a belt conveyor 20 and then stopped at a predetermined position (immediately below the needle-shaped member 3). Next, the stepping motor 10 rotates forward, the timing belt 13 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the slider 15 is guided by the guide rod 14 and descends. Then, the needle-shaped member 3 descends, and as shown in FIG. 2, the two needles 8 and 8 pierce the cap 7 of the sample container 1. When the needles 8 are pierced to the root, the normal rotation of the stepping motor 10 stops.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the stepping motor 10 slightly reversely rotates and the timing belt 13
Moves in the direction of the arrow, and the slider 15 is guided by the guide rod 14 and moves up slightly. Then, 2 of the needle-shaped member 3
The bottom of the sample container 1 is slightly separated from the sample rack 2 with the needles 8 of the book piercing the cap 7 of the sample container 1. After that, the motor 5 whose rotation speed is set to about 1000 to 3000 rpm rotates forward (in the direction of the arrow) to rotate the needle-shaped member 3 forward around its axis. Then, the sample container 1 in which the needles 8 are pierced by the cap 7 rotates while being slightly lifted from the sample rack 2. Therefore, the frictional resistance between the bottom wall of the sample container 1 and the container holding surface of the sample rack 2 is eliminated, and the sample container 1 rotates smoothly.

The direction of rotation of the sample container 1 as described above is reversed by the motor 5 rotating in reverse every approximately one second. After a total of 10-40 seconds of normal / reverse rotation,
The motor 5 stops. By the rotation of the sample container 1 as described above, the blood in the sample container 1 is more effectively stirred and homogenized.

After the motor 5 is stopped, the stepping motor 10 rotates in the reverse direction as shown in FIG.
3 turns in the direction of the arrow, and the slider 15 moves the guide rod 14
Guided to rise. Then, the cap 7 has a needle 8/8
The sample container 1 which has been stabbed by moves up, and its cap 7 hits from below the stopper 16 as a means for removing the needle.
From this state, the sample container 1 is further raised and the needles 8 and 8 are removed from the cap 7.

The stopper 16 is a plate member fixed to a fixing member (not shown) and having a circular hole 16a in the center. The diameter dimension of the circular hole 16 a is smaller than the outer diameter of the cap 7 of the sample container 1, and the mount 9 for the needle-shaped member 3 is attached.
Is larger than the diameter of.

When the needles 8 are removed from the cap 7 of the sample container 1, the sample rack 2 is intermittently moved by the belt conveyor 20. Then, the sample is sucked from the sample container 1 by a sample suction device (not shown).

In this sample container rotating device P ₁ , the needle-shaped member 3 is moved by the first drive means 4 to move the needles 8 and 8
Pierces the cap 7 of the sample container 1 held by the sample rack 2 and is then rotated by the second drive means 5,
The sample container 1 is rotated via the cap 7. Therefore, according to the sample container rotating device P ₁ , even if a drive source with a small torque is used, the rotational force from the drive source is surely transmitted to the sample container 1 and the sample container 1 is rotated sufficiently, so that the sample container is small. A simple sample container rotating device can be obtained.

Embodiment 2 In FIG. 5, a sample container rotating device P ₂ comprises a sample rack 2 as a holding member for holding a plurality of sample containers 1 substantially vertically.
A belt conveyor 20 as an intermittent moving means, a needle-like member 23, a first driving means 24 for reciprocating the needle-like member 23 along the axis of the sample container 1, and a needle-like member 23 around the axis. And a second drive means 25 for rotating the motor.

The sample container 1 and the sample rack 2 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The needle-shaped member 23 includes two parallel needles 28 and 30 made of stainless steel, and a disk-shaped mount 29 on which the needles 28 and 30 are vertically and eccentrically mounted.
Consists of. Both the needles 28 and 30 can be detachably pierced into the cap 7 of the sample container 1. The lengths of the two needles 28 and 30 are substantially equal to the container body 6 of the sample container 1, and are hollow tubular like injection needles. One needle 28 also serves as a sample suction tube, and the other needle 30 also serves as a ventilation tube.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper ends 28a and 30a of the two needles 28 and 30 are both bent horizontally in opposite directions. Both of these upper end portions 28a and 30a open to the peripheral wall of the mount 29. And
The openings of the upper ends 28a and 30a of the two needles 28 and 30 are
The insertion end 35a of the plastic sample suction tube 35 and the insertion end 36a of the plastic atmosphere release tube 36 can be respectively detachably inserted.

The first driving means 24 has a stepping motor 10 having a horizontal rotary shaft, a first pulley 11 attached to the rotary shaft of the stepping motor 10, and a predetermined distance vertically above the first pulley 11. It comprises a second pulley 12 provided in advance and a timing belt 33 stretched over the first pulley 11 and the second pulley 12.

On the right side of the timing belt 33, a guide rod 34 is provided upright in parallel with the timing belt 33. The slider 1 is attached to the guide rod 34.
5 is attached so that it can slide up and down. Slider 15
The left part of is fixed to the timing belt 33. On the right part of the slider 15, a motor 25 as a second drive means having a vertical rotation axis is mounted. A needle member 23 is coaxially attached to the rotation shaft of the motor 25.

Next, the operation of the sample container rotating device P ₂ will be described. Since the method of rotating the sample container 1 by the first driving means 24 and the second driving means 25 is the same as that in the first embodiment, detailed description based on FIGS. 5 and 6 is omitted. When the predetermined rotation time of the sample container 1 has elapsed, the mount 29 of the needle-shaped member 23 is stopped from rotating at a predetermined position by a rotary encoder (not shown). This allows
The openings of the upper ends 28a and 30a of the two needles 28 and 30 are
It comes to a predetermined position and stops.

Next, the tubes 35, 36 are moved by the tube moving means (not shown), and the insertion ends 35a, 36a of the respective tubes 35, 36 are in the upper ends 28 of the two needles 28, 30.
It is inserted into the opening of a.30a. After that, sample container 1
The blood inside is sucked through the inside of the needle 28 and the sample suction tube 35. At this time, the sample container 1 has the needle 3
0 and the atmosphere opening tube 36 communicate with the outside, so that the internal pressure is kept equal to the atmospheric pressure, and the sample can be easily sucked.

In this sample container rotating device P ₂ , the needle-shaped member 23 is moved by the first driving means 24 to move the needle 2
8.30 pierces the cap 7 of the sample container 1 held by the sample rack 2, and then is rotated by the second drive means 25 to rotate the sample container 1 via the cap 7.

Therefore, according to the sample container rotating device P ₂ , even if a drive source with a small torque is used, the rotational force from the drive source is reliably transmitted to the sample container 1 and the sample container 1 rotates sufficiently. A small and simple sample container rotating device can be obtained. Further, since one needle 28 of the needle-shaped member 23 also serves as a sample suction tube, a dedicated sample suction tube can be omitted. Further, since the other needle 30 of the needle-shaped member 23 also serves as a ventilation pipe, the pressure inside the sample container 1 can be kept equal to the atmospheric pressure, and the sample can be easily sucked.

[0039]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the present invention is configured as described above, even if a driving source with a small torque is used, the rotating force from the driving source is surely transmitted to the sample container, and the sample is small and simple. A container rotating device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view showing a first stage of an operating state in a sample container rotating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second operational state of the sample container rotating device.
FIG.

FIG. 3 is a third operational state of the sample container rotating device.
FIG.

FIG. 4 is a fourth operational state of the sample container rotating device.
FIG.

FIG. 5 is a structural explanatory view showing a first stage of an operating state in the sample container rotating device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a second operational state of the sample container rotating device.
FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part of the sample container rotating device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 sample container 2 sample rack (holding member) 3 needle member 4 first driving means 5 second driving means 6 container body 7 cap 8 needle 9 mounting base 16 stopper (needle pull-out means) 20 belt conveyor (intermittent moving means) 23 Needle Member 24 First Driving Means 25 Second Driving Means 28 Needles 29 Mounting Base 30 Needles

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G01N 35/10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A holding member for holding a plurality of sample containers with elastic caps in a fixed direction, an intermittent moving means for intermittently moving the holding members, and a cap of the sample container held by the holding member that can be removed. A needle-shaped member having one or a plurality of pierceable needles, a first drive means for reciprocating the needle-shaped member along the axis of the sample container, and a needle-shaped member around the axis. Second holding means for rotating, and the holding member holding the sample container moves by the intermittent moving means and stops at a predetermined position, and then the needle-like member moves by the first driving means to move the needle. Is pierced into the cap of one sample container, and is then rotated by the second drive means to rotate the sample container through the cap. 2. The sample container rotating device according to claim 1, wherein the needle-shaped member has two needles and an attachment base to which these needles are attached. 3. The sample container rotating device according to claim 1, wherein the needle of the needle-shaped member is hollow and also serves as a sample suction tube. 4. The sample container rotating device according to claim 1, wherein the needle of the needle-shaped member is hollow and doubles as a ventilation tube. 5. The sample container rotating device according to claim 1, further comprising needle removing means for removing the needle of the needle-shaped member stuck into the cap of the sample container from the cap.