JPS5830225Y2 - Rack transfer device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a test tube rack transfer device used in automatic biochemical analyzers and the like.

The test tube rack used in automatic biochemical analyzers is the first
It has a structure as shown in the figure, and is formed of a rectangular box 1 having a number of compartments 1a into which test tubes are inserted.

Such a test tube rack is used, for example, in a biochemical analyzer as shown in FIG. 2, to aspirate samples from the test tubes placed in the rack and inject reagents into the test tubes.

Therefore, in FIG. 2, a sending side force set feeder 11 and a receiving side force setting feeder 12 are arranged on both sides of the analyzer main body 10, and a large number of test tube racks are placed on the sending side force set feeder as shown in the figure. , the sample feeder 13 provided in the analyzer main body 10 feeds the reaction tubes 15 disposed circumferentially on the wheel 14.
The receiver is fed onto the lateral force set feeder 12 after the sample is sucked out from the test tube in order to inject the sample in the test tube placed on the rack.

In this way, since there is no rack at a position along the rack feeding belt 13 of the feeding side force set feeder 11, the comb toothed rack receiver 15 is moved to move the next rack to the feeding position.

On the other hand, the side force set feeder 12 also moves the comb rack receiver 16 in preparation for when the next rack is sent.

In an apparatus having such a configuration, the sending side force set feeder 11 is equipped with a transfer device for moving the rack from there onto the sample feeder 13 of the analyzer main body 10, and the receiving side force set feeder 12 is equipped with a sample feeder 1.
A transfer device is provided for moving the three racks into position.

The transfer device 20 provided in this cassette feeder has a structure as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In other words, there are 5 pulleys 21.2 on the mounting plate 26 on both sides.
2, 23, 24, and 25, and a belt 27 is hung thereon as shown in FIG. 1 was being fed (in the case of the feeding side, feeding it from the cassette feeder to the sample feeder).

According to this conventional transfer device, it is necessary to eliminate belt slack so that the rack does not get caught on the belt when moving the rack between the table 29 on which the rack of the cassette feeder is placed and the transfer device 20 using the comb rack receiver 15 or 16. There is,
Therefore, the tension roller 25 is necessary and its force must be large.

Moreover, the number of parts is large and the number of assembly steps is also large.

Furthermore, in order to detect whether the field feed of the force set feeder on the sending side is reliably sent to the sample feeder,
In addition, if the receiver is a side force set feeder, a switch mechanism is required to confirm that the latch has reached the specified position.
A reed switch 31 operated by a magnet 30 provided on the rack 1 is used for this purpose.

Therefore, malfunctions often occur due to belt slack, thickness, etc.

Furthermore, since the switch is installed inside the mounting plate 26, it is necessary to remove the mounting plate each time for maintenance, which makes maintenance difficult.

The present invention was developed in order to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional rack transfer device as described above, and it transfers by a roller that rotates in conjunction with the drive of the sample feeder without using a belt. The present invention provides a rack transfer device that ensures rack detection.

5 and 6 are diagrams showing the rack transfer device of the present invention, in which the receiver is used as a side force set feeder.

In these figures, 41 is a base, 42 and 43 are rollers attached to a mounting plate (not shown) fixed to the base 41, and the upper part thereof is connected to the base 41 through openings 41 a and 41 b formed in the base 41. It is placed so that it protrudes from the top surface.

44 is a gear fixed to one side of the roller 42;
5.46 are the shafts 42 a and 4 of the rollers 42 and 43, respectively.
3 a, a chain 47 connecting both gears 45 and 46, 48 a gear meshing with the gear 44, and 49 installed in the sample feeder 13 provided in the analyzer main body 10 shown in FIG. gear in gear 4
It meshes with 8.

Reference numerals 50, 51, and 52 designate receivers provided on the upper surface of the base 41 for smooth rack feeding, and 53 represents a reed switch fixed to the side surface of the receiver 52.

The transfer device of the present invention having such a configuration is operated by driving the sample feeder 13 of the main body of the analyzer.

In other words, due to the rotation of gear 49, gear 48 and gear 4
4, the roller 42 is rotated in the direction of the arrow.

As the roller 42 rotates, the roller 43 is also rotated in the same direction as the roller 42 through a gear 45 fixed to the shaft 42a, a chain 47, and a gear 46 fixed to the shaft 43a.

As a result, the tip of the test tube rack 1 fed by the sample feeder 13 of the analyzer main body is placed on the roller 42, and is advanced further by the rotation of the roller 42, and is sent onto the next roller 43. It is further advanced by the rotation of these rollers 42, 43.

In this way, the magnet provided on the rack comes to a position where the reed switch 53 is activated.

If this reed switch 53 is placed in a position where it is activated when the rack 1 is completely transferred onto the side force set feeder 12, the function of this reed switch 53 can be used to stop or restart the equipment. While in this state, move the comb rack receiver 16 shown in FIG. 2 to move the rack 1 by one hex in the direction of the arrow.

Similarly, when the transfer device of the present invention is used as a force set feeder on the sending side, the roller is rotated by driving the sample feeder, and one rack on the cassette feeder is moved and transferred onto the sample feeder.

When the rack is completely transferred onto the sample feeder, the reed switch operates to move the comb rack receiver 15 to move the next rack to the transfer position.

The reed switch 53 is not limited to the receptacle 52, but may be installed at a position slightly lower than the height of the upper end of the rollers 42.43, that is, where it does not interfere with the movement of the rack fed by the rollers 42.43. The height should preferably be close to the bottom of the rack.

Also, the receiver shown in the diagram is a side force set feeder,
In the case of a force set feeder on the sending side, the rack will be moved from the force set feeder on the sending side to the sample feeder.

Therefore, it is necessary to confirm at the force set feeder on the sending side that the rack has been sent from the cassette feeder to the sample feeder.

Therefore, it is necessary to install the reed switch at a position closest to the sample feeder, such as the receiver 50 in FIG. 6.

As a result, if magnets are placed in front and behind the rack (front and back with respect to the direction of movement when the rack is fed by the sample feeder 13), if the rack is placed on the transfer device of the present invention using the comb-tooth rack receiver 15, the lead string can be placed. It is possible to detect that the rack is placed in a predetermined position.

Furthermore, if the rack is sent to the sample feeder from the force set feeder on the sending side using the transfer device of the present invention, it can be detected whether or not the rack has been sent out reliably by a reed switch installed near the sample feeder.

As explained above, the rack transfer device of the present invention has a simple configuration, has few failures, is reliable in conjunction with the drive of the sample feeder, and does not use a belt, so it is easy to move the rack when moving it using a comb-like rack holder. It is reliable, and the operation of the reed switch for detecting the position of the rack is reliable, and maintenance of the reed switch can be performed extremely easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an automatic biochemical analyzer, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional rack transfer device, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional rack transfer device. 5 is a plan view of the rack transfer device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the rack transfer device of the present invention along the line VI-VI. 41... Base, 42.43... Roller, 44, 45, 46° 48.49... Gear, 47... Cheno, 53... ···Reed switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The feeding side force set feeder that sends the test tube racks used in automatic biochemical analyzers, etc. to the moving sample feeder, or the receiver that receives the racks from the sample feeder, is a transfer device provided on the side force set feeder. A roller for transporting the rack that rotates in conjunction with the drive of the sample feeder, and a lead for detecting a magnet installed on the rack that is transported by the roller placed at a position slightly lower than the top of the roller. A rack transfer device equipped with a switch mechanism.