JPH09207993A - Automatic unstopping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic unstopping apparatus having versatility accommodative to various containers varying in height to some extent, capable of executing unstopping certainly without giving damages to the upper opening of the container while being avaiable for returning a holding claw without fail even though a stopper remains at the upper opening of the container on unsuccessful unstopping and also available for consecutive operations with the remained stopper removed by execution of another unstopping. SOLUTION: This automatic unstopping apparatus is composed of a first swing body 5 operated in a swing motion round a pivot 6, a second swing body 21, supported being capable of swinging against the first swing body 5 and is equipped at its front end with a holding claw 25 for engagement with a stopper 2, a contacting member composed of a roller 28 that comes in contact with the second swing body 21 and swings the second swing body relatively against the first swing body 5 in the direction of raising the holding claw 25, and a fixing device arranged for fixing the second swing body 21 to the first swing body 5. The holding claw 25 is hung down so that it can be turned backward against the second swing body 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention automatically opens a stopper such as a rubber stopper attached to an upper opening of a container such as a test tube used for containing a specimen such as blood or urine or a reagent. Automatic opening device for

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automatic cap opening device of this type, a locking claw that engages with a plug body mounted on an upper opening of a container to open the container is swingably driven around a support shaft. There is disclosed an automatic opening device that automatically opens and closes by reciprocating on a certain arc through an oscillating body (JP-A-5-22).
No. 1487 and No. 5-92196.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the locking claw is integrally formed with the rocking body and mechanically moves along a fixed arc around the pivot of the rocking body. Since it was a structure that only reciprocates, if there is some variation in the height of the container due to manufacturers etc., it interferes with the trajectory of the locking claws and the upper opening of the container is damaged,
There is a problem in that the locking claw is not properly locked to the plug body and the opening fails. Also, if the stopper claw enters the return operation while the stopper is unsuccessful and the stopper remains on the upper opening of the container, the stopper claw remains on the same trajectory as when the stopper was opened and remains. There is a problem in that the container cannot be returned to the original position by interfering with the stopper, and the container whose operation is stopped or the stopper is incomplete is sent to the next process as it is. The present invention
It was made in view of the conventional problems as described above, and the purpose thereof is to have flexibility so that even if there is some variation in the height of the container, the upper opening of the container is damaged. Without fail, the locking claw can be restored without any trouble even if the stopper fails and the stopper remains on the upper opening of the container. The point is to provide an automatic opening device capable of continuously operating by removing the plug body.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an automatic opening device including a first oscillating body which is oscillated about a support shaft, and the first oscillating body. A second oscillating body that is pivotally supported and has a locking claw on the tip side that engages with a plug body that is mounted in the upper opening of the container, and the first oscillating body during the opening operation. An abutting member that abuts the second oscillating body at a predetermined angle, and further oscillates the second oscillating body relative to the first oscillating body in a direction in which the locking pawl is raised; A technical means is adopted in which the rocking body is composed of a fixing means attached so as to be fixed to the first rocking body. As a result, when the locking claw is returned, the locus is higher than the locus at the time of opening operation, so that there is no problem even if the unopened plug remains on the upper opening of the container. It is possible to recover, and it is possible to remove the remaining plug body by the opening operation again. Further, if the locking claws are rotatably hung rearward with respect to the second oscillating body, the locus of the locking claws at the time of the opening operation and the upper end opening of the container due to variations in the height of the container and the like. , The locking claws rotate backward and move upward along the outer peripheral surface of the upper part of the container.As a result, unnecessary force is not applied to the container and damage to the upper opening of the container is prevented. In addition to being avoided, the upward movement of the locking claws along the outer peripheral surface of the container enables more accurate engagement with the plug body, thereby reducing unsuccessful opening of the plug.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The first oscillating body is not limited to a specific drive means or shape as long as it is configured to be oscillated around a support shaft. That is, as the driving means, it is possible to use mechanical means such as a cam, electrical means such as a servomotor, fluidic means such as a fluid motor, or the like. Further, the shape of the first oscillating body may be a shape that is more suitable in relation to the type of the driving means used. Similarly, with respect to the second oscillating body as well, the locking claw provided on the tip end side surely engages with the stopper body attached to the upper end opening portion of the container, so that a more accurate opening operation can be obtained. The position of the support shaft with respect to the first oscillating body and the distance between the support shaft and the locking claws may be selected so as to follow.
At the same time, the contact body contacts the second rocking body at a predetermined angle before and after the end of the opening operation based on the rocking of the first rocking body,
The second oscillating body is arranged at a position where the second oscillating body can be rotated about the support shaft in the direction in which the locking claw is moved upward by continuing the oscillating movement of the first oscillating body. Further, between the first oscillating body and the second oscillating body, an appropriate fixing means including an electromagnetic brake or the like for fixing the second oscillating body to the first oscillating body is attached, and the second oscillating body is provided with It is configured so that the locking claw can be returned while being held in a state of being moved upward by the contact with the contact member. As a result, as described above, even if the unopened plug remains on the upper opening of the container, it can be restored without any trouble.

Further, the locking claw may have an appropriate shape that facilitates engagement with the plug body mounted in the upper opening of the container. Further, as described above, if the locking claw is rotatably hung backward with respect to the second rocking body,
If the trajectory of the locking claws at the time of opening the container interferes with the upper end opening of the container due to variations in the height of the container, etc., the locking claws may rotate rearward and move along the outer peripheral surface of the upper part of the container. Since it moves upward, damage to the upper opening of the container is avoided and
Since the engagement with the stopper is performed more accurately, failure in opening the stopper can be reduced.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an essential part of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof. It is shown. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a tubular container such as a test tube, and a stopper body 2 made of a rubber stopper or the like is attached to an upper opening thereof so that a predetermined number of the stopper bodies 2 are stored in a rack 3 and transported to a predetermined position. It is configured. The automatic opening device 4 is provided on the side of each container 1 stored in the rack 3 transported to a predetermined position.
In this embodiment, the stoppers 2 of the respective containers 1 can be opened at the same time.

In the figure, reference numeral 5 is a first oscillating body which constitutes the automatic cap opening device 4, and is constructed so as to be oscillatable about a support shaft 6 located substantially in the center. In this embodiment, the first rocking body 5 is composed of rocking members 7 and 8 fixed to both ends of a support shaft 6 and a connecting member 9 for connecting their upper ends, as shown in FIG. It is rotatably supported by the fixed support 12 via the bearings 10 and 11. A support portion 14 fixed to the drive shaft 13 is provided below the swing member 7.
The cam follower 15 that makes a circular motion is abutted through and functions as a cam lever. That is, when the drive shaft 13 is rotated by the drive means (not shown) connected to the pulley 17 via the belt 16 and the like, and the cam follower 15 starts a circular movement, the cam follower 15 pushes the lower part of the swing member 7. , Swings around the support shaft 6. As a result, the other swing member 8 connected through the support shaft 6 and further the connecting member 9 are simultaneously swung,
The entire first oscillating body 5 is oscillated and driven about the support shaft 6. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 18 denotes a return spring provided between the lower portion of the swinging member 7 and an appropriate position on the fixed side, which is provided in the direction in which the lower portion of the swinging member 7 is brought into contact with the cam follower 15. It is for encouraging.

As described above, the second swinging body 21 is swingably supported on the first swinging body 5 via the support shafts 19 and 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the second oscillating body 21 has a lateral width wider than the length of the rack 3 in this embodiment. Then, the support shafts 22, 2 are attached to the tip portion thereof.
3, an opening member 24 having a similar width is rotatably hung rearward, and a locking claw 25 formed at the lower end of the opening member 24 is attached to the rack 3 during the opening operation as shown in FIG. By simultaneously engaging with the stepped portion of each of the stored plug bodies 2, the opening operation is performed at the same time.
Further, the lever portion 26 is provided at an appropriate portion of the second rocking body 21.
Is integrally formed, and is configured to come into contact with an abutting member including a roller 28 rotatably supported by a fixed shaft 27 when the first rocking body 5 is at a predetermined angle as shown in FIG. Has been done.

Further, at least one of the support shafts 19 for supporting the second rocking body 21 is provided with fixing means 29 for fixing the second rocking body 21 to the first rocking body 5. As will be described later, the trajectory of the locking claw 25 can be moved upward by fixing the two during the return operation. That is, for example, an appropriate fixing means such as an electromagnetic brake is used as the fixing means 29, and the support shaft 19 is
One side is fixed to the second oscillating body 21, and the other side is fixed means 19
The fixing means 1 is fixed to the rotating side 30 constituting the
By fixing the fixed side 31 of 9 to the side of the first oscillating body 5, the electromagnetic force or the like acting through the gap S between the rotating side 30 and the fixed side 31 is controlled to release or fix the electromagnetic side. Is configured to get.

As shown in FIG. 3, support members 32 and 33 are fixed to both sides of the tip end portion of the second oscillator 21, and the support shafts 22 and 23 are interposed between the support members 32 and 33. And the stopper member 24 is rotatably suspended,
As shown in FIG. 2, optical sensors 36 and 37 for detecting the unopened state are attached via the attaching members 34 and 35, and the open state can be monitored.

Next, the operation of the automatic uncapping apparatus 4 will be described with reference to the operation state diagrams shown in FIGS. First,
As shown in FIG. 4, the drive shaft 13 is rotated from the state where the locking claw 25 is located at the origin position indicated by the position a.
The lower portion of the rocking member 7 of the rocking body 5 is the cam follower 15 described above.
When pushed by, the first rocking body 5 is rotated around the support shaft 6. Along with this, the locking claw 25 advances to reach the position b where it reaches the outer peripheral surface of the container 1. Further, the first rocking body 5
When is rotated, the locking claw 25 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 to prevent the forward movement, so that the uncapping member 24 causes the support shaft 2 to move.
The part of the locking claw 25 moves upward along the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 while rotating rearward about 2 and 23, reaches the position c, and engages with the stepped part of each plug 2. Thereafter, when the cam follower 15 further rotates the first swinging body 5 toward the position d, the stopper body 2 attached to the upper opening of each container 1 is opened. That is, by this operation, the locking claw 25 moves from the position c to the position d while being engaged with the step portion of the plug body, so that the plug body 2 is opened as shown in FIG. In this case, the opening member 24 is attached to the support shaft 2
Since it hangs rotatably rearward about 2 and 23, as described above, when the locking claw 25 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the container 1, the stopper claw 25 moves upward along the outer peripheral surface to move the step of the plug body 2. As described above, even if there is some variation in the height of the container 1, it is absorbed by moving upward along the outer peripheral surface of the container 1, and damage to the upper opening of the container is avoided. At the same time, the engagement with the stopper is more accurately performed, and the failure of opening the stopper is reduced. Since the load acting on the locking claws 25 disappears after the opening of the stopper is completed, the locking claws 25 rotate forward due to their own weight and return to the original state.

As described above, when the opening operation of each plug 2 is completed and the first swinging body 5 reaches the position d of the locking claw 25 as shown in FIG. 5, it is set in advance. When the predetermined angle is reached, the lever portion 26 formed at an appropriate portion of the second oscillating body 21 comes into contact with an abutting member such as a roller 28 rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 27. Accordingly, after that, the cam follower 15 is further used for the first
When the rocking body 5 is rotated, the second rocking body 21 moves the support shaft 19,
It rotates relative to the first oscillating body 5 about 20. As a result, the locking claw 25 is at the position d as shown in the figure.
To the position e, the locus moves upward, and the state shown in FIG. 6 is reached.

Next, when the state shown in FIG. 6 is reached, the above-mentioned fixing means 29 is operated to fix the second rocking body 21 to the first rocking body 5. As a result, the second oscillating body 21
Is fixed in a state of being relatively rotated with respect to the first rocking body 5 as shown in the figure, and hence the locking claw 25 is moved to the position e thereafter.
To follow the locus indicated by the position f. That is,
When the cam follower 15 is rotated via the drive shaft 13,
This time, in cooperation with the return spring 18, the first swinging body 5 enters a return operation in which it rotates in the opposite direction.
As a result of the fixed state being maintained, the locking claw 25 follows a locus above the locus from the position a to the position d during the opening operation. Therefore, as described above, even if the opening operation fails and the plug 2 remains on the upper opening of the container, it can be restored without any trouble.

When the locking claw 25 reaches the position f and reaches the state of FIG. 7, this time the fixing means 29 is released and the second rocking body 21 is rocked with respect to the first rocking body 5. Change to moveable free state. As a result, the second swinging body 21 rotates about the support shafts 19 and 20 due to its own weight, and as a result, the locking claw 25
Will return to the origin position by following the locus indicated by the position a from the position f.

The optical sensors 36 and 37 attached to the second rocking body 21 via the support members 32 and 33 and the attachment members 34 and 35 move together with each other through the above-mentioned operation to open the opened state. Monitor. As a result, when the unopened state in which the stopper 2 fails to be opened and the stopper 2 remains on the upper opening of the container 1, the remaining stopper is repeated by repeating the same opening operation again. 2 can be reliably removed.

[0017]

According to the present invention, since the locus of the locking claw that is engaged with the stopper and opened for opening is higher than the locus of the opening operation, the upper opening of the container is opened. Even if there is a plug that failed to open on the top, it can be restored without any problems, and the problems of the conventional system such as stopping the device and sending the container to the next process with incomplete opening are solved. It Further, it is possible to continue the operation by removing the remaining plug body by the opening operation again. Further, by hanging the locking claw so as to be rotatable rearward with respect to the second swinging body, damage to the upper opening of the container as in the conventional case can be avoided even when the height of the container varies. In addition, it is possible to more accurately engage the stopper with the upward movement of the locking claw along the outer peripheral surface of the container, and to reduce the failure of opening the stopper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation state diagram showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation state diagram showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation state diagram showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation state diagram showing the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Container, 2 ... Stopper, 3 ... Rack, 4 ... Automatic opening device,
5 ... 1st rocking body, 6 ... Support shaft, 7, 8 ... Rocking member, 9 ... Connecting member, 10, 11 ... Bearing, 12 ... Fixed support body,
13 ... Drive shaft, 14 ... Support part, 15 ... Cam follower, 1
6 ... Belt, 17 ... Pulley, 18 ... Return spring, 1
9, 20 ... Support shaft, 21 ... Second rocking body, 22, 23 ... Support shaft, 24 ... Opening member, 25 ... Locking claw, 26 ... Lever portion,
27 ... Fixed shaft, 28 ... Roller, 29 ... Fixing means, 30 ...
Rotating side, 31 ... Fixed side, 32, 33 ... Support member, 34,
35 mounting members, 36, 37 ... Optical sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first oscillating body which is oscillated about a support shaft, and is rotatably supported by the first oscillating body, and is attached to the upper opening of the container at the tip side. A second oscillating body having a locking claw that engages with the plug body contacts the second oscillating body at a predetermined angle when the first oscillating body is opened, and further the second oscillating body is connected to the second oscillating body. 1. An abutment member that relatively oscillates the locking claw with respect to the first oscillating body, and a fixing means that is provided so as to fix the second oscillating body to the first oscillating body. Automatic opening device. 2. The automatic cap opening device according to claim 1, wherein the locking claw is rotatably suspended rearward with respect to the second swing body.