JPH0891487A - Device for correcting peeling type cap tab and unstopping system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable automatically correcting the position in which the tab of a peeling type cap holds itself to the normal position securely and in a simple manner by a method wherein, when, with rotation of a test tube, the tab passes the position where a correcting needle is set, the tab is pierced by the correcting needle relatively from the region of the base of the tab through to the region of its tip. CONSTITUTION: When a test tube 10 is rotated at a specified position, a correcting needle 52 is stuck into the tab 12 of a peeling type cap 11 with the tip of the correcting needle relatively into the region of the base, that is, a part of the underside, of the tab 12. With further rotation of the test tube 10, the correcting needle 52 makes its way further relatively from the region of the base of the tab 12 toward the region of its tip. As a result, a tab 12 bent down in a state relatively hard to correct becomes redressed in shape from the region of the base continuously to the region of the tip as the droop is raised part after part by the circumference of the correcting needle 52. When in this manner the tab 12 has passed the position where the correcting needle 52 is set, the tab 12 assumes a corrected shape substantially paralleled to the rim of the test tube 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a "peelable cap knob straightening device" for correcting the knob portion of a peelable cap closing the open end of a test tube containing a specimen to a correct posture, and The present invention relates to a "peelable cap opening system" including the knob correction device and a cap opening device that automatically removes the peelable cap whose posture is corrected by the device from the test tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been no device for automatically peeling and opening a peelable cap that closes the open end of a test tube containing a specimen. For this reason, the peeling operation of the peelable cap, that is, the opening operation has been performed exclusively by hand.

However, such manual opening becomes extremely complicated when it is necessary to open the peelable caps of a large number of test tubes containing specimens, and the test is performed by a shock at the time of opening. There is a risk that the sample inside the tube may be scattered and adhere to the human body, or foreign matter may be mixed into the test tube from the outside through the hand of the operator.

In order to avoid the occurrence of such a situation, recently, an automatic opening device for automatically opening the peelable cap has been proposed. However, this type of device proposed so far can exhibit the required function only when the knob part has a normal posture, and when the knob part does not have a normal posture. Had a problem that it could not exhibit the required functions.

By the way, since the knob portion attached to the peelable cap is usually formed of a relatively soft member, it is easily bent and deformed when an external force is applied to the knob portion. have. There is a problem that it is not easy to correct the knob portion of the peelable cap that has once been bent and deformed to a normal posture, and it takes a lot of labor and time to repair it.

[0006]

If the knob portion of the peelable cap is bent, there is a problem that the automatic opening operation by the automatic opening device cannot be performed smoothly. In particular, when the knob part is extremely bent and deformed from the root part, not only can automatic opening not be performed, but the posture of the knob part is further deteriorated, and the cap cannot be opened. I was afraid.

An object of the present invention is to provide a knob correction device and a cap opening system for a peelable cap as described below. a. A peeling cap knob straightening device that can automatically and simply correct the posture of the peeling cap that closes the open end of the test tube to a normal posture.

B. It consists of a knob correction device and a cap opening device of the peeling cap, and the peeling cap whose posture is automatically corrected by the knob correction device is used to automatically peel and open the cap. A detachable cap opening system.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the objects, the peeling cap knob correction device and the cap opening system of the present invention are configured as follows. (1) The knob correction device for a peelable cap according to the present invention is
Means for holding the test tube closed by the peelable cap in a rotatable state about the tube axis, and rotation driving means for rotating the test tube held by the holding means about the tube axis. A correction means for correcting the posture of the knob portion of the peelable cap of the test tube which is rotationally driven by the rotation driving means, the correction means comprising:
It has a straightening needle arranged so that the pointed portion is close to the outer peripheral portion of the open end of the test tube, and the knob portion of the peelable cap passes the position of the straightening needle as the test tube rotates. In doing so, the straightening needle relatively advances toward the distal end region from the root region on the back surface of the knob portion, and includes a raising means for causing the posture of the knob portion to be in a state parallel to the open end of the test tube. . (2) The peeling cap knob correction device of the present invention is
The apparatus according to (1) above, wherein the straightening means is a straightening table disposed near the outer peripheral portion of the open end of the test tube and having a flat surface parallel to the open end; and a flat surface of the straightening table. The pressing means includes a columnar correction pressing body that presses the knob portion that passes therethrough against the flat surface to flatten it. (3) The cap opening system of the present invention includes the knob part correction device for the peelable cap described in (1), the knob part of the peelable cap whose posture is corrected by the knob part correction device, and the test tube. And (2) are separately held, and both are relatively displaced to separate the peelable cap from the test tube and open the cap.

[0010]

As a result of taking the above-mentioned measures (1) to (3), the following effects will occur. (1) In the peeling cap knob straightening device of the present invention, when the test tube is rotationally driven at the set position,
The tip of the orthodontic needle is relatively inserted into the root region of the back surface of the knob portion of the peelable cap. Then, as the test tube is further driven to rotate, the straightening needle relatively advances from the root region of the knob portion toward the tip region.
As a result, the knob portion, which is bent downward in a relatively difficult state to correct, is continuously deformed from the root region to the tip region while being sequentially caused by the outer peripheral surface of the correction needle. Thus, when the knob portion has passed the position where the correction needle is disposed, the knob portion is deformed and corrected in a state substantially parallel to the open end of the test tube. Even when the knob portion is extremely bent downward from the root portion, the point of the correction needle enters the minute gap in the root portion region of the knob portion and acts to cause the knob portion, so the above correction operation is performed. Definitely done. (2) In the peeling cap knob straightening device of the present invention, when the knob is bent downward, the point of the straightening needle is the root on the back surface of the knob as in the case described above. Plugs into the area and acts to trigger the knob. When the knob portion 1 is bent upward, the knob portion is pressed against the flat surface of the correction table parallel to the open end of the test tube by the correction pressing body. Thus, when the knob has finished passing through the position where the correction needle is arranged and the position where the correction pressing body is arranged, the knob is deformed and corrected into a state substantially parallel to the open end of the test tube.

In the correction means, the knob portion deformed and corrected in a predetermined direction by one of the correction needle and the correction pressing body is repeatedly deformed and corrected in the other direction by the other of the correction needle and the correction pressing body. It has a correction function. For this reason, even if the knob portion of the peelable cap is excessively deformed and corrected in one direction by the correction needle or the correction pressing body, the above-described repetitive correction function will eventually perform accurate correction. (3) In the uncapping system of the present invention, the peelable cap that closes the open end of the test tube containing the sample is corrected by the knob correction device to correct the posture of the knob, and then the test tube is opened by the cap opening device. It will be automatically peeled off and opened. Therefore, the automatic cap opening process of the peelable cap can always be performed stably, reliably and efficiently.

[0012]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a peeling cap knob correction device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views for explaining the correction operation of the knob correction device for the peelable cap according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 shown in the central portion is a test tube into which a sample such as blood is injected, and its open end is closed by a peelable cap 11. A knob 12 for a peeling operation is provided on a part of the periphery of the peelable cap 11. The test tube 10 can be carried to a predetermined position while being held vertically by a test tube carrying rack 20 which is a holding means.

The test tube transport rack 20 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and the test tube 10 can be held in the hollow portion so as to be rotatable around the tube axis. On the outer peripheral surface of the test tube transport rack 20, the first annular groove 21,
The second annular groove 22 is formed. Thus, the test tube transport rack 20 has the first annular groove 21 in the transport mechanism 30.
It is conveyed by the conveyance belt conveyor 32 of the conveyance mechanism 30 in a state in which it is prevented from falling by engaging with the guide edge 31 of the above. Further, the test tube transport rack 20 is stopped at a predetermined position of the transport mechanism 30 by inserting a stop pin (not shown) into the second annular groove 22. The stop pin is driven by a pneumatic piston / cylinder device 33 attached to the side wall of the transport mechanism 30 so as to project at a predetermined timing so as to cross a space existing on the transport belt conveyor 32, that is, a transport path. The test tube transport rack 20 is inserted into the second annular groove 22 of the test tube transport rack 20 being transported on the transport path, and the transport of the test tube transport rack 20 can be stopped.

The test tube 10 held by the test tube transfer rack 20 whose transfer is stopped at a predetermined position is
The rotation driving means 40 is driven to rotate about the tube axis.

The rotation driving means 40 is arranged in the upper region of the transport mechanism 30 so as to be opposed to each other so as to be movable back and forth in the X direction orthogonal to the transport direction.
1, 42, a pair of pneumatic piston / cylinder devices 43, 44 provided to move the pair of roller mounts 41, 42 back and forth, and a test tube mounted on one of the roller mounts 41. Roller 41
a, 41b and a roller driving motor 45 for simultaneously driving the test tube holding rollers 42a, 42b mounted on the other roller mount 42 in the same direction via a power transmission mechanism (not shown). . At least the outer peripheral portion of each roller is formed of a member having appropriate elasticity such as rubber or synthetic resin.

Thus, the rotation driving means 40 rotates the roller driving motor 45 while holding the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 10 by the test tube holding rollers 41a, 41b and 42a, 42b in four directions. The rollers 41a, 41b and 42a, 42b are simultaneously rotated in the same direction, and the rotational force thereof drives the test tube 10 to rotate in a predetermined direction. This rotation driving means 4
The knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11 in the test tube 10 which is rotationally driven by 0 is corrected in its posture by the correction means 50.

The straightening means 50 is provided in the upper region of the transport mechanism 30 so as to be capable of advancing and retreating in the Y direction parallel to the transport direction, and surrounds the outer circumference of the test tube so as to hold the outer periphery of the test tube from the side during forward movement. A straightening base 51 having a U-shaped cutout on one side edge, and a base end portion fixed to the straightening base body 51, the pointed portion being close to the outer peripheral portion of the open end of the test tube 10 and substantially tangential to the open end. Orthodontic needle 5 arranged so as to face
2 and a straightening table 53 which is a part of the straightening base 51 and is arranged at a position close to the outer peripheral portion of the open end of the test tube 10 and which has a flat surface parallel to the open end of the test tube 10. A columnar shape that is arranged so as to face the flat surface of the correction table 53 with a minute gap therebetween and presses the knob portion 12 passing on the flat surface against the flat surface to flatten it. A straightening pressure body 54 formed of a rod or a roller, a knob monitoring sensor 55 attached to the straightening base 51, an air type piston / cylinder device 56 for moving the straightening base 51 back and forth in the Y direction, Air that is coupled to an air type piston / cylinder device 56 via a frame 58 and further moves up and down the device 56 and the correction base 51 in the Z direction. The piston-cylinder device 5
It consists of 7.

By the way, the straightening needle 52 is relatively moved by the straightening needle 52 when the knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11 passes through the position where the straightening needle 52 is arranged as the test tube 10 rotates. To the tip region from the root region on the back surface of the knob portion 12,
The posture of No. 2 is caused to be parallel to the open end of the test tube 10.

The knob monitoring sensor 55 is composed of, for example, a light reflection type photo sensor, and when the rotating knob 12 passes over the knob monitoring sensor 55,
It receives the reflected light and outputs an ON signal.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the cap opening device according to this embodiment. The transport mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 3 has a guide edge 61 at the upper end and a transport belt conveyor 62, and is basically a transport mechanism having the same structure as that shown in FIG. The test tube transport rack 20 that has been transported to a predetermined position by the transport mechanism 60 and stopped by a stop pin (not shown) that is driven to project by a pneumatic piston-cylinder device 63.
The test tube 10 held at is clamped by the clamp means 70.

The clamp means 70 includes a pair of clamp members 71, which are arranged in the upper region of the transport mechanism 60 so as to face each other so as to be movable back and forth in the X direction orthogonal to the transport direction.
72, and a pair of pneumatic piston / cylinder devices 73, 74 provided to move the pair of clamp members 71, 72 back and forth. Elastic members 75 and 76 are provided at the portions of the pair of clamp members 71 and 72 that hold the outer peripheral surface of the test tube, respectively. The peelable cap 11 of the test tube 10 clamped by the clamp means 70 is peeled and opened by the peeling mechanism 80.

In the peeling mechanism 80, at least one of the peeling mechanisms 80 moves in parallel in the vertical direction, that is, in the E direction in the upper region of the conveying mechanism 60, and the holding plates 81 and 82 are provided so as to be able to hold the knob portion 12 of the peeling type cap 11. And this holding plate 8
While holding the base end portions of 1, 82, the holding plate 8
From a rotation mechanism 83 for rotating 1, 82 in the F direction, and a moving mechanism 84 for holding the rotation mechanism 83 and the holding plates 81, 82 and moving the whole in the Y direction parallel to the transport direction in the transport mechanism 60. Has become. A synthetic rubber or resin elastic member 85 is attached to the holding surface of one holding plate 81, and a projection 86 is provided on the holding surface of the other holding plate 82, which sandwiches the knob portion 12 between them. It is designed to mesh with each other.

FIG. 4 is a "peelable cap opening system" including the knob correction device and the cap opening device according to this embodiment.
3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sequence control device 90 of FIG. When the operation start command DS is issued from the console 91, the main controller 92 is activated, and the control command signals SA and SB are sent to the test tube transport control system 93, the knob correction device control system 94, and the cap opening device control system 95. , SC are supplied.

The test tube transport control system 93 is a main controller 92.
When the control command signal SA is given from the belt conveyor 32 of the transport mechanism 30, the pneumatic piston / cylinder
Control signals S1 and S2 for operating the device 33 at a predetermined timing are transmitted. A control signal S3 for operating the belt conveyor 62 and the pneumatic piston / cylinder device 63 of the transport mechanism 60 at a predetermined timing.
Send S4.

When the control command signal SB is given from the main control unit 92, the knob correction unit control system 94 has a pair of pneumatic piston / cylinder devices 43 and 44 of the rotary drive means 40 and a roller drive motor 45. , Pneumatic piston-cylinder device 56 of correction means 50
And control signals S5 to S7 for operating 57 and 57 at predetermined timings. Also, the knob monitoring sensor 55
Then, a knob correction end signal S8 is input.

When the control command signal SC is given from the main control unit 92, the opening control system 95 controls the pair of pneumatic piston / cylinder devices 73 and 74 of the clamp mechanism 70 to operate at a predetermined timing. The signal S9 is transmitted. In addition, the holding plates 81, 8 of the peeling mechanism 80
2. Control signals S11 to S13 for actuating at a predetermined timing are sent to the respective drive sources of the rotating mechanism 83 and the moving mechanism 84.

The peeling cap opening system of the present embodiment constructed as described above operates as follows based on the control signal from the control system. First, the knob correction device of the peeling cap 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 operates as follows. When the test tube 10 containing the sample closed by the peeling cap 11 is carried to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 32 while being held by the test tube carrying rack 20, the pneumatic piston / cylinder・ Device 3
3, the stop pin (not shown) is driven to project, and the transport rack 20 stops at a predetermined position.

Next, the air type piston / cylinder devices 43 and 44 are activated to operate the pair of roller mounts 41 and 4.
2, the test tube holding rollers 41a, 41b and 42a, 42b hold the outer circumference of the test tube 10 from four directions.

Next, the pneumatic piston / cylinder devices 56 and 57 are activated to move and adjust the straightening substrate 51 in the Y and Z directions so that the U-shaped notch holds the outer circumference of the test tube from the side. Surround with. At this time, the correction needle 52 is positioned so that its sharp end portion is close to the outer peripheral portion of the open end of the test tube 10 and is oriented in a substantially tangential direction of the open end. The straightening table 53, which is a part of the straightening base 51, is arranged so as to be located near the outer peripheral portion of the opening end of the test tube 10, and the straightening pressing body 54 has its tip located at the center of the upper surface of the peeling cap 11. It is arranged as follows.

When the roller driving motor 45 starts to rotate, the test tube holding rollers 41a, 41b and 42 are held.
a and 42b also rotate, and the test tube 10 is accompanied by the arrow L.
Is driven to rotate in the direction. When the test tube 10 rotates, the peeling cap 11 naturally rotates. Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the knob portion 1 bent downward.
It is assumed that 2 reaches the position where the correction needle 52 is arranged and continues to rotate, and thus passes through the position where the correction needle is arranged. At this time, the correction needle 52 relatively pushes from the root region to the tip region on the back surface of the knob 12. As a result, the posture of the knob portion 12 is caused to be parallel to the open end of the test tube 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the knob portion 12 in the state of being bent upward reaches the position where the correction pressing body 54 is disposed and continues to rotate, whereby the correction table 53 and the correction pressing body 54 are separated from each other. Suppose that it has passed through the gap. At this time, the knob portion 12 is moved by the correction pressing body 54 to the correction table 53.
It is pressed against the flat surface of and flattened.

When the tip of the knob portion 12 whose posture is corrected normally passes over the area above the knob portion monitoring sensor 55, the knob portion monitoring sensor 55 receives the reflected light and receives an ON signal (knob portion correction end signal). ) S8 as main controller 92
Output to. As a result, the control signals given from the main controller 92 to the rotary drive means 40 and the correction means 50 are cut off, and both are returned to their original states. Then, the pneumatic piston / cylinder device 33 of the transport mechanism 30 is returned to operate to move the stop pin backward. Therefore, the test tube transport rack 20 is carried by the belt conveyor 32, and the test tube 10 is sent to the cap opening device.

The opening device shown in FIG. 3 operates as follows. When the transport rack 20 sent from the above-mentioned knob correction device is transported by the transport mechanism 60 to the place where the cap opening device is installed, the pneumatic piston-cylinder device 63 operates. Therefore, the stop pin operates, and the transport rack 20 is stopped at that position. Then, the pair of pneumatic piston-cylinder devices 73, 74 in the clamping means 70 are actuated, and the pair of clamping members 71, 72 hold the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 10 from both sides. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 10 has elastic members 75, 76.
There is no risk of damage as it is pinched through.

Next, the moving mechanism 84 of the peeling mechanism 80 is operated, and the entire mechanism including the holding plates 81, 82 and the rotating mechanism 83 moves in the Y direction parallel to the carrying direction of the carrying mechanism 60. Then, the sandwiching portions of the sandwiching plates 81, 82 stop at a position facing up and down with the knob portion 12 sandwiched therebetween. Next, at least one of the holding plates 81, 82, for example, 81
Moves downward in parallel, and holds the knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11 from above and below at the engaging portion between the protrusion 86 and the elastic member 85. Thus, the gripping portions of the gripping plates 81, 82 hold the knob portion 12 in a stable and reliable manner. Next, the rotation mechanism 83 rotates in the F direction to move the holding plates 81, 82.
Rotate and displace. Therefore, the peelable cap 12 is peeled off from the open end of the test tube 10.

In this way, the peelable cap 11 has the knob portion 12 corrected by the knob portion correcting device,
The test tube is peeled from the open end of the test tube by the cap opening device and the cap is opened. It should be noted that the above description has been made on a single test tube 10, but in reality, it is sequentially and successively performed on a large number of test tubes.

(Second Embodiment) The correction means 50 of the knob correction device according to the present embodiment has an arrangement angular position different from that of the first correction needle 52 shown in FIGS. As shown in a modified example by a broken line arrow K in b), a second straightening needle (not shown) is provided at an arrangement angle position different from the first straightening needle 52 by 90 °) to rotate the test tube 10. Accordingly, when the knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11 passes the position where the second straightening needle (not shown) is arranged, the second straightening needle (not shown) relatively moves the surface of the knob portion 12. In this case, the position of the knob 12 is corrected by advancing from the root region to the tip region. Therefore, in the knob correction device of this embodiment, when the knob 12 of the peelable cap 11 is bent downward from the open end of the test tube 10, the knob 12 is moved by the first correction needle 52.
When the knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11 is bent upward from the open end of the test tube 10, the knob portion 12 is raised by a second straightening needle (not shown). Be done. Therefore, the knob 1
Regardless of the bending direction and the bending degree of No. 2, the rectification of the knob portion 12 with only the correction needle is surely executed.

(Summary of Examples) The constitutions and operational effects of the "peel-type cap knob correction device" and the "peel-type cap opening system" shown in the examples are summarized as follows.

(1) The knob correction device of the peelable cap shown in the embodiment holds the test tube 10 closed by the peelable cap 11 in a rotatable state about the tube axis. In the peelable cap 11 of the test tube 10 which is rotationally driven by the rotary driving means 40, the rotary driving means 40 which rotationally drives the test tube 10 held by the holding means 20 about the tube axis. A straightening means 50 for straightening the posture of the knob portion, and the straightening means 50 has a straightening needle 52 arranged such that a tip portion thereof is close to the outer peripheral portion of the open end of the test tube 10, and the peeling is performed. When the knob portion 12 of the formula cap 11 passes through the position where the correction needle 52 is disposed as the test tube 10 rotates, the correction needle 52 relatively moves from the root region to the tip on the back surface of the knob portion 12. Go to the part area and press the knob 1 above
It includes a triggering means for causing the posture of No. 2 to be parallel to the open end of the test tube 10.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned knob portion correcting device for the peelable cap, when the test tube 10 is rotationally driven at the set position, the tip of the correction needle 52 relatively moves to the knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11. It is inserted in the root region on the back surface. Then, as the test tube 10 is driven to rotate further, the correction needle 52 relatively advances from the root region of the knob 12 toward the tip region. As a result,
The knob portion 12 that is bent downward in a relatively difficult state to correct is successively deformed from the root portion region to the tip region while being sequentially caused by the outer peripheral surface of the correction needle 52. Thus, when the knob portion 12 has finished passing through the position where the correction needle 52 is disposed, the knob portion 12 is deformed and corrected into a state substantially parallel to the open end of the test tube 10.
Even when the knob portion 12 is extremely bent downward from the root portion, the pointed portion of the correction needle 52 enters the minute gap in the root portion region of the knob portion 12 and acts to cause the knob portion 12, The above-mentioned correction operation is surely performed.

(2) The knob cap straightening device of the peelable cap shown in the embodiment is the device described in (1) above, and the straightening means 50 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the open end of the test tube 10. A straightening table 53 disposed in the vicinity and having a flat surface parallel to the opening end, and a columnar shape for pressing and flattening the knob portion 12 passing on the flat surface of the straightening table 53 against the flat surface. Correction pressing body 5 composed of a rod, roller, etc.
4 is included in the pressing means.

Therefore, in the peeling cap knob straightening device, when the knob 12 is bent downward, the tip of the straightening needle 52 is on the back surface of the knob 12 as in the case described above. It is inserted into the root region and serves to trigger the knob 12. When the knob portion 12 is bent upward, the knob portion 12 is pressed by the correction pressing body 54 against the flat surface of the correction table 53 parallel to the open end of the test tube 10. Thus, when the knob portion 12 has finished passing through the disposition position of the correction needle 52 and the disposition position of the correction pressing body 54, the knob part 12 is deformed and corrected into a state substantially parallel to the open end of the test tube 10. become.

In the correction means 50, the knob portion 12 deformed and corrected in one direction by one of the correction needle 52 and the correction pressing body 54 has the correction needle 52 or the correction pressing body 5.
The other of 4 has a repetitive correction function in which the deformation is corrected again in the other direction. Therefore, even if the knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11 is excessively deformed and corrected in one direction by the correction needle 52 or the correction pressing body 54, an accurate correction is finally performed by the repetitive correction function. It will be.

(3) The knob cap straightening device of the peelable cap shown in the embodiment is the device described in (1) above, and the straightening means 50 is arranged differently from the first straightening needle 52. A second straightening needle (not shown) is provided at an installation angular position (for example, an arrangement angular position different from the first straightening needle 52 by 90 ° as shown by a modified example by a broken line arrow K in FIG. 2B). Along with the test tube 1
When the knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11 passes through the position where the second straightening needle (not shown) is disposed with the rotation of 0,
The second straightening needle (not shown) is relatively fixed to the knob portion 1.
The root portion of the surface of No. 2 advances from the root portion area to the tip portion area, and the posture of the knob portion 12 is corrected.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned knob portion correction device for the peelable cap, the knob portion 1 of the peelable cap 11 is used.
When 2 is bent downward from the open end of the test tube 10, the first correction needle 52 causes the knob portion 12 to be raised, and also the knob portion 12 of the peelable cap 11 is pulled.
Is bent above the open end of the test tube 10, the knob 12 is raised by the second correction needle (not shown). Therefore, irrespective of the bending direction and the bending degree of the knob portion 12, the trigger correction of the knob portion 12 using only the correction needle can be reliably performed.

(4) The uncapping system shown in the embodiment is the knob portion correcting device of the peeling cap 11 described in (1) above, and the peeling cap whose posture is corrected by this knob portion correcting device. A knob 12 of 11 and the test tube 10
Is held separately, and both are relatively displaced (including rotational displacement and linear displacement), and the peelable cap 11
Is opened from the test tube 10 and opened.

Thus, in the above-mentioned opening system, the peelable cap 11 closing the open end of the test tube 10 containing the sample is corrected by the knob correcting device to correct the posture of the knob 12 and then opened by the capping device. The test tube 10 is automatically peeled off and opened. Therefore, the automatic cap opening process of the peelable cap 11 can always be performed stably, reliably and efficiently.

[0047]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a knob correction device and a cap opening system for a peelable cap as described below. a. A peeling cap knob straightening device that can automatically and simply correct the posture of the peeling cap that closes the open end of the test tube to a normal posture.

B. It consists of a knob correction device and a cap opening device of the peeling cap, and the peeling cap whose posture is automatically corrected by the knob correction device is used to automatically peel and open the cap. A detachable cap opening system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a knob portion correction device for a peelable cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the knob correction device for the peelable cap according to the same embodiment (including some modifications).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a peelable cap opening device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sequence control device in the cap opening system according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Test tube 11 ... Peeling type cap 12 ... Knob part 20 ... Test tube transport rack 21 ... First annular groove 22 ... Second annular groove 30, 60 ... Conveying mechanism 31, 61 ... Guide edge 32, 62 ... Conveying Belt conveyors 33, 43, 44, 56, 57 ... Air type pistons
Cylinder device 40 ... Rotation drive means 41, 42 ... Roller mounts 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b ... Roller for holding test tube 45 ... Roller drive motor 50 ... Straightening means 51 ... Straightening base 51 52 ... Straightening needle 53 ... Straightening table 54 ... Correction pressing body 55 ... Knob part monitoring sensor 63.73, 74 ... Air type piston / cylinder device 70 ... Clamping mechanism 71, 72 ... Clamping member 75, 76 ... Elastic member 80 ... Peeling mechanism 81, 82 ... Clamping Plate 83 ... Rotation mechanism 84 ... Moving mechanism 85 ... Elastic member 86 ... Projection 90 ... Sequence control device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Holding means for holding a test tube closed with a peelable cap in a rotatable state about a tube axis, and rotating the test tube held by this holding means about a tube axis. A rotation driving means for driving, and a correction means for correcting the posture of the knob portion of the peelable cap of the test tube which is rotationally driven by the rotation driving means. The straightening needle is provided close to the outer peripheral portion of the open end of the tube, and when the knob portion of the peelable cap passes through the position where the straightening needle is arranged as the test tube rotates, the straightening needle is corrected. The needle relatively projects from the root region to the tip region on the back surface of the knob portion, and includes a triggering means for causing the posture of the knob portion to be in a state parallel to the open end of the test tube. Peeling The knob portion correcting device of the cap. 2. The straightening means comprises a straightening table disposed near an outer peripheral portion of an open end of a test tube and having a flat surface parallel to the open end, and a knob portion passing on the flat surface of the straightening table. The knob correction device for a peelable cap according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing means including a cylindrical correction pressing body that presses against a flat surface to flatten it. 3. A peeling cap knob straightening device according to claim 1, and a peeling cap knob portion whose posture is corrected by the gripping portion straightening device, and the test tube are separately held, And a cap opening device that displaces the both caps relative to each other to separate the cap from the test tube and open the cap.