JPS627617Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention provides an analytical device that is equipped with a photocoupler and a detection unit that uses the photocoupler to automatically detect that the cuvettes used in the analytical device are sequentially sent out. This invention relates to an automatic sequential transfer device for cubes.

For example, in an automatic analyzer, a cuvette loader that automatically feeds reaction vessels sequentially into a reaction line is sometimes used, and such a cuvette loader needs to detect the sequential feeding of the reaction vessels.

The inventor of the present invention first devised a cuvette feeding apparatus that uses a cuvette loader as shown in FIG. 1 to send cuvettes onto a reaction line. First, when the motor 1 rotates, the wire 4 passed between the drive pulley 2 and the driven pulleys 3 rotates clockwise. As the wire 4 rotates, the slider 5 connected to the wire moves in the direction of arrow A, and the end portion 5a of the slider 5 moves the cuvettes 7 arranged vertically.
For example, the cuvette 7 is inserted into a notch formed on the periphery of a turntable (not shown).
are fitted and held in sequence. On the other hand, a photocoupler 8 fixed to the slider 5 via a clamping plate 6 detects the sequential feeding of the cuvette 7 due to the movement of the slider 5 via a detection hole 9a provided in a detection plate 9, and stops the motor 1. let The detection holes 9a are arranged on the detection plate 9 so as to correspond to each of the cuvettes 7 arranged in a column, so that each time the photocoupler 8 passes through each of the detection holes 9a, one cuvette 7 is transferred to the substrate 10. Drain from above. When all the columns of the cuvettes 7 have been fed, the motor 1 is reversed, the wire 4 is rotated counterclockwise, the slider 5 fixed to the wire 4 moves in the opposite direction of arrow A, and the feed of the cuvettes 7 begins. Return to position and stop. Next, a drive device (not shown) moves the entire stored cuvette 7 in the direction of arrow B to a position where the front row of the cuvette engages with the end 5a of the slider 5, and once stops. The motor 1 rotates again and the above-described operation is repeated.

As described above, the photocoupler for detecting the feeding of the cuvette in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is configured to be fixed to the slider and move together with the slider. However, if the photocoupler is fixed to the moving part itself in this way, the following drawbacks arise. Firstly, since the photocoupler moves together with the slider, it requires a cord cover for the photocoupler and space for movement.
Second, the frequent movement of the photocoupler cord may cause the wire to break, causing problems with reliability.
Thirdly, in addition to the drive wire, a detection plate for positioning is required, which increases the number of members.
However, in the conventional technology, it is also possible to fix the photocoupler to the board and fix the positioning detection plate to a moving part such as a slider, but in this case, the first and second disadvantages mentioned above are avoided. Although this can be solved, the problem arises that the positioning detection plate is still required and the space for its movement must be considered.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and to provide a cuvette transfer device for an analyzer that can detect the cuvette feed while the photocoupler is fixed to the substrate, simplifying the design and improving reliability. This is what I am trying to do.

The cuvette transfer device of the present invention holds a plurality of cuvettes arranged in tandem in a first direction in a plurality of rows in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. In a cuvette feeding device for an analyzer configured to feed one cuvette one by one in a direction, an endless belt extending in the first direction; a power source for reciprocating the endless belt; a guide shaft disposed on one side of the endless belt to extend parallel thereto; and an endless belt slidably disposed on the guide shaft and reciprocated integrally with the endless belt. a slider connected to said cuvette row, having an end portion that engages with the rear end of the rearmost cuvette in said cuvette row; a photocoupler for optically detecting the positioning detection parts provided on the endless belt at intervals equal to the length of each cuvette measured in the first direction, and the positioning detection parts provided on the endless belt are After the endless belt and the slider connected thereto are intermittently moved forward while being detected by a photocoupler to supply the cubes in the queue one by one, the endless belt and the slider are moved forward and the entire queue is transferred to the second queue. The device is characterized in that it is configured to move forward by one pitch in the direction of.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
In the following figures, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the cuvette feeding device in the automatic analyzer of the present invention. A motor 1 for driving a drive pulley 2 provided at one end of the upper surface of the substrate 10 is provided on the lower surface of the substrate 10,
A motor shaft 1a of this motor 1 is fitted onto a drive pulley 2, so that the drive pulley 2 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the motor shaft 1a. On the other hand, a driven pulley 3 is provided at the other end of the upper surface of the substrate 10, and the driving pulley 2
The belt 11 is passed between the two. This belt 1
1 is sandwiched between the slider 5 and the belt clamping plate 6 with a screw 6a, so that the slider 5 moves via the guide shaft 12 as the belt 11 rotates. On the other hand, as will be explained later in the explanation of the operation, the belt 11 is provided with sensing elements having a spacing equal to the number of cuvettes in the cuvette column that can be engaged with the end of the slider and equal to the length of each cuvette measured in the direction of the cuvette column. A detection hole 11a constituting the slider 5 is provided, and a photocoupler 8 for detecting feeding of the cuvette 7 through the detection hole 11a is mounted on the substrate so as to sandwich the rotating belt 11 on the other side of the slider 5. Fix it to the top surface of 10.

In the state shown in Fig. 2, the motor shaft 1a is rotated by the drive of the motor 1, and the belt 11, which is passed around the drive pulley 2 and the driven pulley 3, which rotate together with the motor shaft 1a, rotates clockwise. do. The slider 5 fixed to the belt 11 moves in the direction of arrow A along the guide shaft 12. When the slider 5 moves, the column of cuvettes 7 engaged with the end 5a of this slider is pushed by the slider 5 and moves in the first direction indicated by arrow A, and as in the case of FIG. The cuvettes 7 are sequentially fitted into and held in notches formed on the periphery of the turntable. On the other hand, when the photocoupler 8 detects the sequential feeding of the cuvettes 7 through the detection hole 11a provided in the belt 11, the drive of the motor 1 is stopped through a detection circuit (not shown). As described above, the detection holes 11a are arranged on the belt 11 so as to correspond to each of the cubes 7 arranged in a column, so that the detection holes 11a correspond to the photocoupler 8.
The cuvettes 7 can be ejected from the substrate 10 one by one each time the cuvette 7 passes through the interior of the substrate 10. When all columns of cuvettes 7 have been ejected, motor 1
The motor shaft 1a is reversed by the drive of the belt 11.
is rotated counterclockwise to move the slider 5 fixed to the belt 11 in the first direction shown by arrow A, return to the feed start position, and stop. Then,
A drive device (not shown) moves the entire cuvette 7 in the stored state in the second direction shown by arrow B, moves the front row of the cuvette 7 to a position where it engages with the end 5a of the slider 5, and then stops. do. The motor 1 rotates normally again, and the above-described operation is repeated.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in this embodiment, the photocoupler 8
Although a detection hole 11a is provided in the belt 11 as a detection part for positioning according to the method, a notch 11b shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the belt 11 may be provided with a protrusion 11c as shown in FIG. Further, the photocoupler 8 may be of a transmission type or a reflection type. Further, the material of the belt 11 may be metal, rubber, synthetic resin, or the like.

Since the cube transfer device of the present invention is configured as described above, firstly, the photocoupler cord can be fixed, so there is no need for a cord cover or space for moving the cord, and there is no need to take up extra space. ,Secondly, since the cord does not need to be moved, there is no need to consider accidents due to cord breakage, improving reliability.Thirdly, there is no need to provide a positioning detection plate to detect the feeding of the cuvette. , can also be used as a drive belt, which has the advantage of reducing the number of parts and simplifying the design.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cube loader using the cube transport device devised by the present inventor in the process of developing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cube loader to which the cube transfer device according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cuvette, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively modified examples of the belt used in the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Motor, 1a... Motor shaft, 2... Driving pulley, 3... Driven pulley, 4... Wire, 5...
...Slider, 5a...Slider end, 6...Pinch plate, 6a...Screw, 7...Cube, 8...Photocoupler, 9...Detection plate, 9a...Detection hole, 1
0...Substrate, 11...Belt, 11a...Detection hole, 11b...Notch, 11c...Protrusion, 12...
...Guide shaft.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A plurality of cuvettes arranged in a column in a first direction,
In a cuvette feeding device for an analyzer, the cuvettes are arranged and held in a plurality of rows in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the cuvettes in the first row are sequentially fed one by one in the first direction. an endless belt extending in the first direction; a power source for reciprocating the endless belt; and a guide disposed on one side of the endless belt to extend parallel to the endless belt. a shaft, which is slidably disposed on the guide shaft, is connected to the endless belt so as to reciprocate integrally with the endless belt, and engages with the rear end of the rearmost cuvette in the cuvette row; a slider having an end that engages the end of said slider; and said endless belt at intervals equal to the number of cuvettes of the cuvette row engaging the end of said slider and equal to the length of each cuvette measured in a first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the cuvettes. a photocoupler that optically detects a positioning detection section provided on the endless belt, and the endless belt and the slider connected thereto are intermittently moved forward while the photocoupler detects the positioning detection section provided on the endless belt. 1. A cuvette in an analyzer, characterized in that, after feeding the cuvettes of the cuvette row one by one, the endless belt and the slider are moved back and further the entire cuvette row is advanced by one pitch in the second direction. Transfer device.