JPH1123581A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To read rack identification(ID) codes and easily control unprocessed racks even when a device operation is interrupted by counting the number of the racks remaining on a conveyance line on the upstream side than the processing position based on the shift quantity of a rack moving member. SOLUTION: A conveyance section is provided with a pawl 50 for transporting racks 12 on a conveyance line 13, a pawl position detector 51 for judging the reference position on the conveyance line 13, an ID code reader 52 for reading the identification labels fitted to the racks 12 on the conveyance line 13, a detector 53 for detecting that the pawl 50 reaches the terminal of the conveyance line 13, and a detector 54 for detecting that there are racks 12 to be carried out to the downstream side of the conveyance line 13. Even if the operation of this automatic analyzer is interrupted, the racks 12 unprocessed with ID reading or dispersion can be remained on the conveyance line 13, and the unprocessed racks 12 can be easily controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and more particularly, to an automatic analyzer for dispensing a sample stored in a rack to an analysis unit and executing an analysis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to continuously analyze a large number of biological samples (samples), a method of moving a rack holding sample containers on a transport line and supplying a sample from the rack on the transport line to an analysis unit is known. This is known, for example, from JP-A-3-172762.

In an automatic analyzer employing this type of rack transport system, when a rack is left on a transport line at the start of an analysis operation, all the remaining racks are once collected in a rack collecting section. Or, it has been carried out to a downstream transport line.

[0004]

In the conventional apparatus, all the racks remaining on the transport line are unloaded downstream at the start of the analysis operation. Therefore, the unloading time is required for the overall analysis efficiency. Was causing a decline. In addition, since the racks that have been unloaded include racks that have not been subjected to rack ID reading processing or sample dispensing processing, it is necessary to reload the unprocessed racks into the rack supply unit. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer which can easily manage an unprocessed rack which requires reading of a rack identification code and dispensing of a sample on a transport line even when the operation of the apparatus is interrupted. It is in.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a transport section for transporting a rack containing a sample from a rack supply section to a rack collection section via a transport line, and a rack which depends on the transport line by a dispensing nozzle. An analysis unit for analyzing a sample dispensed from a rack, wherein at least one of a reading process of a rack identification code and a dispensing process by the dispensing nozzle is performed by a processing device on the transport line.
A processing device for performing two processes, and a rack moving member that is reciprocally movable along the transport line and moves the rack to the processing position, and is configured to move from the processing position based on the amount of movement of the rack moving member. The racks remaining on the upstream transfer line are counted.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when there is an instruction to start a dispensing operation or an instruction to read a rack identification code, a rack processed by the processing device is sent out from the processing position, and the rack is not processed by the processing device. The processing rack is left in the buffer area on the transport line.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an automatic analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention. The automatic analyzer collects a rack supply section into which a rack loaded with a sample container containing a biological sample is loaded, a transport line through which the rack sent from the rack supply section is transported, and a processed rack. And a rack collecting unit for stocking the stock. Further, the automatic analyzer has an analysis unit 10 for performing analysis and measurement of a sample. The operation of each component is controlled by a control unit including a computer.

In the analyzing section 10, the measuring mechanism 6 includes a reaction vessel and a photometric section, and a photometric section measures a photoreaction liquid of a sample and a reagent formed in the reaction vessel, and calculates an analysis item concentration of the sample. The analysis result is output to a printer and a screen display (CRT). The sample dispensing mechanism 1 of the analysis unit 10 includes a dispensing nozzle 3 held on a movable arm 2 and a syringe pump for causing the dispensing nozzle to perform suction and discharge operations. In the reagent supply mechanism 4 of the analysis unit 10, a large number of reagent bottles corresponding to the analysis items to be measured are installed. A reagent disk 5 and a dispenser for dispensing a reagent from a necessary reagent bottle to a reaction container of a measuring mechanism are provided.

The transport section 13 of the transport section 11 has one or two
One or more are appropriately combined. On the transport line 13, there is an ID reading position which is a rack stop location for reading a rack identification code (rack ID code) attached to the rack 12 holding the sample container 18. In addition, on the transport line 13, there is a dispensing position which is a rack stop place for sucking the sample accommodated in the rack 12 by the dispensing nozzle 3. The ID reading position and the dispensing position may be provided in the same area on the transport line 13, but in this embodiment, the ID reading position area is provided on the transport line 13 on the upstream side of the dispensing position area. An example will be described.

When the sample on the rack 12 is sucked by the dispensing nozzle 3 at the dispensing position, the dispensing nozzle 3 is moved to the measuring mechanism 6 by the movable arm 2 and held in the dispensing nozzle 3. The sample is discharged into the reaction container. A reagent is also added to the reaction vessel to form a reaction solution. ID identification mechanism 1
4 includes an ID code reader (for example, a bar code reader) 15 for reading an identification code (for example, a bar code) of the rack at the ID reading position. In a processing area for performing processing such as ID reading or dispensing, a claw 20 as a rack moving member capable of contacting the rear end of the rack, and a claw 20 attached so as to reciprocate along the transport line 13 are provided. A rack moving mechanism including the moving belt 16 is disposed.

The analysis section 10 partially overlaps the transport section 11, and the overlapping portion is where the analysis section 10 and the transport section 11 overlap.
This is a common area. In the common area, the sample is dispensed by the dispensing nozzle 3 of the analysis unit 10. Transport unit 11
Transports the rack 12 along the transport line 13. Although five sample containers 18 can be placed on the rack 12, it is not necessary to load them all. Each sample container 18 contains a sample (sample) to be dispensed. Each rack 12 has an identification label (not shown) attached thereto, which is read by the ID code reader 15 of the ID identification mechanism 14 and registered in the control unit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration near the dispensing position in the embodiment of FIG. In the area near the dispensing position, a claw 20 for transporting the rack 12 and the transport line 1 are provided.
3 and a rack detector 24 for determining whether or not there is a rack at a buffer position A located before the dispensing position B on the transport line 13. And The pawl 20 is connected to the rotating belt 16.
And the rack at the buffer position A is positioned at the dispensing position B. The positioning of the rack is performed by transmitting a signal from the claw position detector 27 to the control unit and stopping the pulse motor 25 to control the claw position.

The rack is carried into the transport line from the rack supply section upstream of the transport line 13 and transported in order through the buffer position A and the dispensing position B. At the dispensing position B, the rack for which dispensing by the dispensing nozzle 3 has been completed is carried out to the downstream transport line. The claw 20 does not return to the reference position until the carrying rack is carried out downstream. The claw 20 pushes the rack when moving in the rack transport direction, but rotates in a state parallel to the transport line and does not push the rack when moving in the opposite direction to the rack transport direction. Reference numeral 26 denotes a dispensing positioning detector.

With the rack at the dispensing position B, the rack may be carried into the buffer position A from the upstream transfer line. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the position of the rack and the position of the claw at the time of dispensing stop when the control section instructs to stop the dispensing operation. FIG. 3A shows a state where there is a rack at the dispensing position B and there is no rack at the buffer position A. FIG. 3 (b)
This shows a state where there is no rack at the dispensing position B and there is a rack at the buffer position A. FIG. 3C shows a state where racks are present at both the dispensing position B and the buffer position A. FIG. 3D shows a state in which the rack straddles both the dispensing position B and the buffer position A. In the state of FIG. 3D, the rack is dispensed at the dispensing position B.
Shows a case where the conveyance is stopped during the operation for providing the information. FIG. 3E shows a state where there is no rack at both the dispensing position B and the buffer position A.

In each state shown in FIG. 3, after the dispensing operation is stopped, when a signal for starting dispensing is input from the control unit, a pre-dispensing preparation operation is performed before the dispensing operation is performed. FIG. 4 shows a flow of the pre-dispensing preparation operation at the start of the analysis. After receiving the dispensing start signal (step 40), it is determined whether or not the nail 20 is at the reference position based on the signal of the detector 21 (step 41). If there is no claw at the reference position, the claw 20 is moved from the current position to the unloading position H, and the rack on the transport line 13 is transported downstream (step 42). Thereafter, the claw 20 is moved from the unloading position C to the reference position (Step 4).
3), the preparatory operation before dispensing ends (step 44).
If there is a claw at the reference position in step 41, the operation of removing the claw 20 from the reference position is performed (step 45), and thereafter, the claw 20 is returned to the reference position (step 46), thereby determining the position of the claw 30 with respect to the transport line 13. .

At the end of the preparation before dispensing, the state shown in FIG. 3B or FIG. Thereafter, the rack at the buffer position A is transported to the dispensing position B as an unprovided rack that has not been collected and unloaded, and the sample is sucked by the dispensing nozzle 3 of the dispensing mechanism. The manner of counting the racks on the transport line will be described later.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration near the ID reading position in the embodiment of FIG. The transport unit 11 is a transport line 1
Claw 50 for transporting the rack 12 on the rack 3 and a claw position detector 5 for determining a reference position on the transport line 13
1 and an ID code reader 52 for reading an identification label attached to a rack on the transport line 13. Further, a detector 53 for detecting that the claw 50 has reached the end of the transport line and a rack detector 54 for determining that there is a rack to be carried out downstream of the transport line are also provided. The buffer position C shown in FIG. 5 is a place where unprocessed racks before ID code reading are stored. In this example, up to four racks are stored at the buffer position C.
The ID reading position E is a position where the code of the identification label is read by the ID code reader 52.

The pawl 50 is moved by the pulse motor 57 via the rotating belt 30, and conveys the rack carried in from the upstream to the buffer position C. The rack at the buffer position C is transported to the ID reading position E. When there are a plurality of racks at the buffer position C and the racks are transported to the ID reading position E by the pawls 50, the racks at the rear push the first rack for reading the ID. At this time, after the rack is positioned at the position D before the ID reading by the signal of the rack positioning detector 58, the rack is transported so as to correspond to the position of the ID code reader, and the ID is read. After reading the ID code, the rack is carried downstream. The rack is not carried into the buffer position C from the upstream during the ID reading.

FIG. 6 shows the state when I is instructed to stop by the control unit.
D shows the state of the position of the rack 12 and the position of the claw 50 when reading is stopped. FIG. 6A shows a state where there is a rack at the ID reading position E and no rack at the buffer position C. FIG. 6B shows a state where there is no rack at the ID reading position E and there are racks at the buffer position C and the near position D. FIG. 6C shows a state in which there are racks at both the ID reading position E and the buffer position C, and the plurality of racks are pressed by the claws 50. FIG. 6D shows a state where there is no rack at both the ID reading position E and the near position D. The state shown in FIG. 6D shows a state in which the rack from which the ID reading has been completed is carried out downstream from the ID reading position E. FIG. 6 (e)
Shows a state where there is no rack at the ID reading position E and the claw 50 returns to the reference position.

In each of the states shown in FIG. 6, after the ID reading is stopped, when an instruction signal for starting the ID reading is received from the control unit, a pre-ID reading operation is performed before the ID reading operation. FIG. 7 shows a preparation operation flow before reading the ID at the start of the analysis. After receiving the ID reading start signal (Step 70), it is determined whether or not the nail 50 is at the reference position based on the signal of the detector 51 (Step 71). When the nail 50 is located at the reference position as in the state of FIG. 6E, the operation of removing the nail from the reference position is performed (step 72). After the operation of removing from the reference position, or when there is no claw at the reference position, the claw 50 is moved from the current position to the detector 5.
(Step 7)
3). At that time, the distance from the current position to the reference position is obtained (step 74). The distance is obtained from the number of pulses of the pulse motor 57 until a signal from the detector 51 is input.

According to the distance from the current position to the reference position,
It is determined whether there is a rack at the ID reading position (step 75). FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the number of pulses for this determination and the reference value for determining the presence of a rack. At this time, FIG.
In the states of (a), (c) and (d) of FIG. 6, it is determined that the rack is located at the ID reading position E. In the states of FIGS. 6B and 6E, it is determined that there is no rack at the ID reading position. If it is determined that there is a rack at the ID reading position,
The claw 50 at the reference position is moved until a signal from the detector 53 attached to the end of the transport line is obtained or to a position where a signal from the rack detector 54 is obtained (step 76). When the signal is obtained from the rack detector 54, the moving distance of the nail from the reference position to the input of the signal of the rack detector 54 is obtained (step 77). The distance is obtained from the number of pulses of the pulse motor 57 until the signal of the rack detector 54 is input.

Based on the distance from the reference position to the rack detector 54, the number of racks remaining at the buffer position C is obtained and stored in the storage unit of the apparatus (step 78). FIG.
Shows the relationship between the number of pulses and the number of racks remaining at the buffer position. If the number of racks remaining at the buffer position C is 0 in step 79, the claw 50 is moved to the reference position (step 83). Also, the detector 53 attached to the end of the line
When the claw is stopped based on a signal indicating that there is a rack, the number of remaining racks is set to 0 and the claw is moved to the reference position (step 83).

At the start of the preparatory operation before ID reading, if it is determined in step 75 that there is no rack at the ID reading position E, a signal is obtained from the claw 50 at the reference position from the detector 53 attached to the end of the transport line. Or until a signal is obtained from the detector 58 (step 80).

When a signal is received from the detector 58, the moving distance of the nail from the reference position until the signal of the detector 58 enters and the nail 50 stops is obtained (step 81). The distance is obtained from the number of pulses of the pulse motor until a signal from the detector 58 is input. The number of racks remaining on the transport line 13 including the buffer position C is determined based on the distance from the reference position to the signal from the detector 58, and stored in the storage unit of the apparatus (step 82). FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the number of pulses and the number of remaining racks on the transport line. If the claw 50 is detected and stopped by the detector 53 attached to the end of the line, the number of remaining racks is set to 0, and the claw is moved to the reference position (step 83). Then, the preparatory operation before reading the ID ends (step 84).

After the preparatory operation before reading the ID, the racks at the buffer position A and the front position D are transported to the ID reading position E by the operation of the claw 50 as unprocessed racks that have not been collected and unloaded. Code reader 5
2 is used to read the barcode label.

In the above-described embodiment, after the dispensing operation and the ID reading operation to the analysis unit are stopped, when the processing is performed again to start the analysis, the analysis is performed without re-installing the sample installed on the transport line. Can reduce the work time for setting the sample and the preparation operation time before dispensing.
Improvement in analysis efficiency can be realized. When a rack transport mechanism is used, a detector is provided that can detect the presence or absence of a rack in front of the dispensing mechanism or ID registration mechanism by a signal, and the rack transport mechanism is controlled by the state of the detector at the start of analysis. By doing so, provided racks are collected or taken out, and unprocessed racks are left uncollected, so that residual racks are treated as analysis racks, and undispensed remaining in the transport line when analysis is stopped. Perform dispensing of containers.

[0028]

According to the present invention, even if the operation of the automatic analyzer is interrupted, it is possible to leave a rack on which ID reading and dispensing have not been processed on the transport line. Management becomes easier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration near a dispensing position.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a rack position and a conveying claw in the example of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the transport claw at the start of analysis in the example of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration near an ID reading position in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a rack position and a transport claw in the example of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the transport claw at the start of analysis in the example of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a rack presence / absence determination reference value at an ID reading position.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of pulses and the number of remaining racks at the buffer position.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the number of pulses and the number of remaining racks on a transport line.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... analysis part, 11 ... conveyance part, 12 ... rack, 13 ... conveyance line, 15, 52 ... ID code reader, 20, 50
... claw, 21, 26, 27, 53, 58 ... detector, 24,
54: rack detector, 25, 57: pulse motor.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A transport unit that transports a rack containing a sample from a rack supply unit to a rack collection unit via a transport line;
An analysis unit for analyzing a sample dispensed from a rack dependent on the transport line by a dispensing nozzle, wherein a rack identification code is read at a processing position on the transport line and the analysis is performed. A processing device for performing at least one of the dispensing processes by the injection nozzle,
A rack moving member that can reciprocate along the transfer line and moves a rack to the processing position is provided, and remains on a transfer line upstream of the processing position based on the amount of movement of the rack moving member. An automatic analyzer characterized in that it is configured to count racks to perform. 2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein when an instruction to start a dispensing operation is given, a rack processed by said processing device is sent out from said processing position, and a rack not processed by said processing device is sent out. In the buffer area on the transport line. 3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein when an instruction to read a rack identification code is issued, a rack processed by the processing device is sent out from the processing position, and a rack not processed by the processing device is sent. In the buffer area on the transport line.