JPS62291569A - Suction pipe moving mechanism of sample analyser - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an apparatus having a simple structure and accurately moving a suction pipe, by arranging a pair of upper and lower sprockets having a chain trained thereover between the opposed runs of the guide rail of a machine stand. CONSTITUTION:A pair of upper and lower sprockets 16, 16A having a chain 17 trained thereover are arranged between the opposed runs of the guide rail 13 of a machine stand 1. Said sprockets 16, 16A are cooperated with a reversible rotary motor 12 and an up-and-down movable slide plate 2 is mounted to the guide rail 13 and a pipe moving means 3 freely reciprocating with respect to the slide plate 2 is arranged to be fixed to the chain 17. The suction pipe 4 fixed to the leading end of the arm of the means 3 rises and falls by the up-and- down movement of the chain 17 between the sprockets 16, 16A and also moves horizontally. Therefore, the up-and-down movement and horizontal movement of the pipe 4 are achieved smoothly and accurately in series by the chain 17 and the sprockets 16, 16A using a single motor as a drive source.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a mechanism for moving a suction pipe installed in an apparatus for analyzing liquid samples such as blood, for example, in a test tube. The present invention relates to a suction pipe moving mechanism for a sample analyzer that reciprocates a suction pipe for suctioning and transferring a liquid sample to an analyzer between a test tube and a pipe cleaning tank.

(B) Conventional technology The pipe moving mechanism used in sample analyzers usually includes a vertical movement drive means for moving the suction pipe up and down relative to the test tube, and a suction pipe for transferring the sample liquid to the analyzer by suction. The rotation of the cam is achieved by a mechanism that has a separate horizontal movement drive means for horizontally moving it to the cleaning tank, a single drive motor, and a combination of multiple cams (driving joints) and cranks (driven joints). There is a mechanism in which the reciprocating linear movement of the crank is taken out of the motion, and the suction pipe is reciprocated between the test tube and the pipe cleaning tank.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Among the conventional pipe moving mechanisms described above, in the former type (in which the vertical movement drive means and the horizontal movement drive means are separate), the vertical movement and horizontal movement of the suction pipe are different. 1 is operated by a plurality of separate drive motors. Therefore, although the configuration of each driving means constituting the moving mechanism is simplified, the number of component parts such as motors increases, resulting in an expensive device.

In addition, while the latter method (combining a cam and crank) has the advantage of requiring only a single drive motor, the combination structure of the cam and crank is complex, making it difficult to finely adjust the movement of the suction pipe. There were disadvantages such as

It is an object of the present invention to provide a suction pipe moving mechanism for a sample analyzer that has a simple structure and allows accurate movement of the suction pipe by solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional ones. .

(d) Means and operation for solving the problem In order to achieve this object, the suction pipe moving mechanism of the sample analyzer of the present invention has the following configuration.

The suction pipe moving mechanism is equipped with a forward-reverse rotating motor at a suitable location, guide rails are set up at both ends, and a pair of sprockets connected to the motor and equipped with a chain are arranged above and below between the opposing guide rails. A stand, a slide plate that moves up and down on the guide rail of this machine stand, has a stop plate at both ends, and a slide shaft between the stop plates, and is capable of reciprocating on the slide axis with respect to this slide plate. The pipe moving means has an arm protruding from one end for fixing the suction pipe, and is connected and fixed to the chain at a proper position.

According to the suction pipe moving mechanism having such a configuration, the suction pipe is reciprocated between the installed test tube and the washing tank as follows.

Now, assume that the suction pipe is inserted into the test tube. In this state, the fixing point between the pipe moving means and the chain is located near the top of the lower sprocket. Furthermore, this pipe moving means is displaced toward one end of the slide plate, and is in contact with the stop plate at one end of the slide plate. Here, the suction device provided at the tip of the suction pipe is activated, and the liquid sample in the test tube is sucked into the analyzer through the suction pipe.

Next, when the drive motor is rotated, the chain moves upward.
That is, the fixed point between the pipe moving means and the chain moves upward, and the pipe moving means and the slide plate integrally connected to the pipe moving means rise along the guide rail of the machine base. Accordingly, the arm protruding from the tip of the pipe moving means rises while holding the suction pipe and escapes from the test tube.

During this ascending process, the fixed point between the chain and the pipe moving means moves to the axial center of the upper sprocket, and further moves the sprocket half a circle (circular motion) from this axial center passing through the apex of the upper sprocket. During this time, the pipe moving means is pulled in the width direction of the machine (orthogonal to the guide rail) and moves from one end to the other end on the slide axis of the slide plate, and the other end of the pipe moving means is pulled along the slide axis of the slide plate. Contacts the end stop plate. As a result, the rising suction pipe moves from above the test tube toward the washing tank as the arm moves, and is positioned above the washing tank.

Furthermore, when the chain moves and the fixed point descends, the slide plate descends on the guide rail of the machine base. Along with this, the suction pipe descends and approaches the cleaning tank.

Then, when the fixed point descends to near the top of the lower sprocket throat, the suction pipe is completely inserted into the cleaning tank and cleaned.

(E) Embodiment FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the suction pipe moving mechanism of the sample analyzer of the present invention.

The pipe moving mechanism includes a machine base 1 equipped with a turning means 11, a drive motor 12, and a guide rail 13, a guy on this machine base 1, a slide plate 2 that moves up and down on a trail 13, and a slide plate 2 that moves up and down on the slide plate 2. Pipe moving means 3 that is arranged to be able to reciprocate on the shaft and fixes the suction pipe 4 to the protruding tip.
It consists of

As shown in FIG. 3, the test tubes 51 are stored in a rack 52 and placed on the table 5. A cylindrical cleaning tank 6 with an upper opening and a bottom is arranged parallel to the daple 5 at a constant interval.

Further, the machine stand 1 is located behind the cleaning tank 6 at a certain distance, and is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the table 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, this machine base 1 has a rectangular base plate 14 having a constant width and length in an upright shape, and flanges 15 and 15 projecting forward on both sides (upper and lower sides) of this base plate 14. are provided protrudingly, and opposing pipe-shaped guide rails 13.13 are fixed to both ends between the upper and lower flanges 15.15. Furthermore,
A transmission means 11 consisting of a sprocket and a chain is located approximately in the center of the plane of the base plate 14 surrounded by the guide rails 13 and 13.
is in place.

The transmission means 11 includes a pair of sprockets 16.16A,
It consists of a chain 17 wound between the sprockets 16.16A, and the sprockets 16.1.6A.
are arranged one above the other at regular intervals. This lower sprocket 1-16 is connected to a rotating shaft of a forward/reverse rotation motor 12 arranged on the back side of the base plate 14 (on the side opposite to the flange 15 side). The upper sprocket 16A is fixed to the base plate 14 as a driven gear. Then, a fixed shaft 18 is protruded from a link plate 17a constituting the chain, at a suitable position for the circumferential length of the chain 17, and this fixed shaft 1
8 is fixed to a pipe moving means 3 which will be described later.

In this embodiment, the protruding position of the fixed shaft 18 is set at a height approximately corresponding to the apex of the lower sprocket 16 when the chain 17 is stretched between the upper and lower sprockets 16, 16A.

The slide plate 2 has a fitting groove 22.22 formed at a position corresponding to the guide rail 13 on a rectangular plate 21 having a length approximately corresponding to the width between the guide rails 13.13, and the fitting groove 22 is used as a guide. It is engaged with the rail 13 and can freely move up and down (up and down) on the guide rail 13. Furthermore, stop plates 23.23a are provided at both ends of this rectangular plate 21 to protrude in the opposite direction of the fitting groove 22, and this stop plate 23.
．． Two sliding shafts 24, 24 are provided between 23A.

The pipe moving means 3 is a rectangular plate 31 having a constant thickness.
are arranged perpendicularly to the slide plate 2, and the rectangular plate 31 has a through hole 32, 32 corresponding to the slide shaft 24 of the slide plate 2, and the slide shaft 24 is opened in the through hole 32. by inserting the rectangular plate 31 (pipe moving means 3
) can freely reciprocate with respect to the slide plate 2 (see the sectional view in FIG. 2). Further, a bearing hole 33 is opened at the lower end of the rectangular plate 31 at the center of the width thereof, and the fixed shaft 18 of the chain 17 is fitted and fixed into the hole 33, so that the pipe moving means 3 and the chain 17 can be connected to each other. (See Figure 2). Further, a horizontal arm 34 having a certain length is provided at the upper end of the rectangular plate 31 and protrudes outward.
A suction pipe 4 is fixedly held at the tip.

In the suction pipe moving mechanism having such a configuration, it is assumed that the suction pipe 4 is currently inserted into the test tube 51.

In this state, the fixing point between the pipe moving means 3 and the chain 17 (the fixing shaft 18) is located near the top of the lower sprocket 16. Furthermore, this pipe moving means 3 is displaced toward one end of the slide plate 2 and comes into contact with a stop plate 23 at one end of the slide plate 2. Here, a suction device (not shown) provided at the tip of the suction pipe 4 is activated, and the liquid sample 53 in the test tube 51 is sucked into the analyzer through the suction pipe 4.

Next, when a predetermined amount is suctioned and transferred to the analyzer by the suction pipe 4, a detection sensor (not shown) is activated to rotate the drive motor 12. As a result, the chain 17 moves upward. In other words, the fixed point (fixed axis point) 18 between the pipe moving means 3 and the chain 17 moves upward, and the pipe moving means 3 and the slide plate 2 integrally connected to this pipe moving means are attached to the guide rail 13 of the machine base 1. rise along.

Along with this, the arm 34 of the pipe moving means 3 rises while holding the suction pipe 4 fixed at the tip, and moves the test tube 51.
escape from

During this ascending process, the chain 17 and the pipe moving means 3
The fixed point 18 of the upper sprocket 16A moves to the axial center of the upper sprocket 16A, and further moves the sprocket half a circle (circular motion) from this axial center passing through the apex of the upper sprocket 16A. During this time, the pipe moving means 3 is pulled in the width direction of the machine base 1 (orthogonal to the guide rail), moves on the slide shaft 24 of the slide plate 2 from one end to the other end, and the other end of the pipe moving means 3 is pulled. is the other end of the slide plate 2, the stomp plate 23a.
comes into contact with. As a result, the rising suction pipe 4 moves with the movement of the arm 34 and is positioned above the cleaning tank 6 .

Furthermore, when the chain 17 moves and the fixed point 18 descends, the slide plate 2 descends on the guide rail 13 of the machine base 1 while the pipe moving means 3 remains displaced to the other end side of the slide plate 2. Accordingly, the pipe moving means 3, that is, the suction pipe 4 fixed to the arm 34 descends and approaches the cleaning tank 6. When the fixed point 18 of the chain 17 descends to near the top of the lower sprocket 16, the suction pipe 4 is completely inserted into the cleaning tank 6. At this stage, the position detection sensor (not shown) detects the position of the suction pipe 4 and activates the cleaning tank driving means (not shown).
is washed.

Next, when the suction pipe 4 has been cleaned for a certain period of time, the motor 12 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction again, and the chain 17, that is, the fixed point 18 moves backward along the aforementioned trajectory, and the suction pipe 4 fixed by the arm 34 is rotated in the opposite direction. returns to its original position. Then, the suction pipe 4 is again loaded into the liquid sample 53 of a new test tube 51, and the same operation as described above is repeated.

(f) Effects of the Invention In this invention, as described above, a pair of upper and lower sprockets with a chain wound around them are provided between opposing guide rails of the machine base, and these sprockets are connected to a forward and reverse rotation motor, while one guide rail A slide plate that can be raised and lowered is provided, a pipe moving means that can reciprocate with respect to the slide plate is provided, and this pipe moving means and the chain are fixed.

According to this invention, the suction pipe fixed to the tip of the arm of the pipe moving means moves up and down and horizontally as the chain moves up and down between the upper and lower sprockets. Therefore,
The chain and sprocket driven by a single motor allow the suction pipe to move vertically and horizontally in a continuous and smooth manner. Moreover, in this invention, since the drive system is composed of a chain and a sprocket, the movement mechanism is extremely simple, and the movement of the suction pipe can be controlled relatively easily. In addition, the suction pipe, which moves horizontally by the chain's fixed point going around the upper half of the upper sprocket throat and making a circular motion, draws a smooth arc at the tip as it moves toward the cleaning tank, allowing the liquid sample to be sampled. It has excellent effects that achieve the purpose of the invention, such as making it difficult to drip.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of the suction pipe moving mechanism of the embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the suction pipe moving mechanism of the embodiment. 1: Machine base, 2 Ni-Ride plate, 3: Pipe moving means, 4: Suction pipe, 12: Forward/reverse rotation motor, 13 Ni guide rail, 16/16A: Sprocket, 17: Chain, 18: Fixed shaft, 34 :arm. Patent applicant Tateishi Electric Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent Attorney Shigeru Nakamura 12 Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A machine base that is equipped with a forward and reverse rotation motor at a suitable location, with guide rails erected at both ends, and a pair of sprockets connected to the motor and equipped with a chain arranged above and below between the opposing guide rails; A slide plate that moves up and down on the guide rail of the machine base and has a stop plate at both ends and a slide shaft between the stop plates, and a slide plate that is arranged so as to be able to reciprocate on the slide shaft with respect to this slide plate, and has a stop plate at both ends. A suction pipe moving mechanism for a sample analyzer, comprising a pipe moving means having a protruding arm for fixing a suction pipe and fixedly connected to the chain at a proper position.