KR102122024B1 - Specimen tube aligning apparatus, automated centrifuge system having the same, stack module and centrifuge module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sample tube alignment device, an automated centrifugation system including the same, a stack module and a centrifugation module, which increases the inspection efficiency by aligning the sample tubes so that they can be placed at regular intervals in the rack.
The sample tube alignment device of an embodiment of the present invention is configured to align at least two sample tubes in a line to be spaced apart by a predetermined interval. The sample tube alignment device is configured to transfer the sample tube in a line, a transfer means for creating a delivery path of the sample tube; A stopper defining a transfer limit of a sample tube transferred by the transfer means; At least one sensor disposed to be able to confirm whether the sample tube is positioned at a position to be positioned; It is configured to protrude on the transport path and is interposed between sample tubes transferred from the transport means to drive the spaced unit and the spaced unit that do not protrude or protrude on the transport path by forming the predetermined distance. Separation means having a unit; And a control device for controlling the driving of the driving unit based on the information from the sensor. It includes. The control device controls the driving unit such that the separation unit is interposed between sample tubes sequentially transferred based on information from the sensor.

Description

SPECIMEN TUBE ALIGNING APPARATUS, AUTOMATED CENTRIFUGE SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME, STACK MODULE AND CENTRIFUGE MODULE}

The present invention relates to a sample tube alignment device, an automated centrifugation system including the same, a stack module, and a centrifugation module, and more specifically, to increase the inspection efficiency by aligning the sample tubes so as to be spaced at regular intervals in the rack. A sample tube alignment device, an automated centrifugation system including the same, and a stack module and a centrifugation module.

A centrifuge is a machine most frequently used for the purpose of dividing a homogenate into several parts using a centrifugal force. When a homogenate is put in a test tube and the centrifuge is rotated at a high speed, substances can be separated according to particle size and density.

On the other hand, in the pretreatment process, which occupies about 60% of the entire examination process in the laboratory, a centrifuge for centrifuging blood is widely used. This pre-treatment process is performed through collection of test samples, transfer of test samples, selective centrifugation of test samples, and subsequent pre-analytical processes. The right and left symmetry (balancing) of is essential. This balancing is achieved by placing a dummy tube or the like on the electronic balance, and the time loss for such balancing creates a bottleneck in the pretreatment process.

In order to solve this bottleneck, the present applicant has proposed a number of automatic equilibration centrifuges, etc. in which balancing is performed automatically (see Patent Documents 1 to 4). However, even if such an automatic balance type centrifugal separator is used, the work efficiency is low by transferring the sample tubes to the centrifuge one by one, and the inefficiency of reading the barcode displayed on the sample tube is also occurring.

(Patent Document 1)

Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0978912 (Name of the invention: automatic balance centrifuge)

(Patent Document 2)

Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0615630 (Name of invention: Automatic balanced rotor for centrifuge)

(Patent Document 3)

Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0974525 (Invention name: Automatic balance centrifuge using a balancer)

(Patent Document 4)

Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0986744 (Name of invention: automatic equilibration centrifuge and control method therefor)

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and the problem to be solved in the present invention is to align the sample tubes so that they can be stored at regular intervals in the rack, thereby increasing the inspection efficiency of the sample tube. The present invention provides an automated centrifugal separation system, a stack module, and a centrifugation module.

The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

The sample tube alignment device of the embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems is configured to align at least two sample tubes in a line to be spaced apart by a predetermined interval. The sample tube alignment device is configured to transfer the sample tube in a line, a transfer means for creating a delivery path of the sample tube; A stopper defining a transfer limit of a sample tube transferred by the transfer means; At least one sensor disposed to be able to confirm whether the sample tube is positioned at a position to be positioned; It is configured to protrude on the transport path and is interposed between sample tubes transferred from the transport means to drive the spaced unit and the spaced unit that do not protrude or protrude on the transport path by forming the predetermined distance. Separation means having a unit; And a control device for controlling the driving of the driving unit based on the information from the sensor. It includes. The control device controls the driving unit such that the separation unit is interposed between sample tubes sequentially transferred based on information from the sensor.

According to another feature of the present invention, it is located upstream than the separation means and the sensor, further comprising a supply unit for supplying only one sample tube downstream. The supply unit includes a first plate and a second plate configured to block the transfer path, and a driving device for driving the first plate and the second plate so as not to block or block the transfer path. The first plate and the second plate are spaced so that one specimen tube can be interposed therebetween.

According to another feature of the invention, the driving device is made of a motor, a pinion gear is mounted on a drive shaft of the motor, and a rack is mounted on the first plate and the second plate. , Engaged with the pinion gear, the first plate is driven to block the transfer path by rotation of one direction of the motor, and the second plate is driven not to block the transfer path.

According to another feature of the invention, the separation means is provided with N the separation unit (where N is an integer of 2 or more), the control device is N+1 sample tubes are sequentially transferred, the separation unit The driving units are controlled to be spaced apart from each other and aligned in a line.

According to another feature of the invention, the drive unit is a motor, the spacer further comprises a drive shaft connected to the motor, the spacer units are rotatable connected to the drive shaft, the spacer units are the motor It has a shape that is formed such that a part of the projecting or not projecting on the transport path is caused by the rotation. A first state in which all of the separation units do not block the transfer path, and a separation unit located at the most downstream of the separation units protrudes to block the transfer path, and the second separation units do not block the transfer path Wow, the spaced unit located at the most downstream of the spaced units and the spaced unit located downstream in the next order protrude to block the transport path, and the remaining spaced units can respectively achieve a third state that does not block the transport path, the The shape of the separation units is defined. The control device controls the driving unit to sequentially switch the first state, the second state, and the third state.

According to another feature of the present invention, the conveying means includes a first belt and a second belt and a motor, and the first belt and the second belt can be transported with the lid of the sample tube caught therebetween. It is arranged to be spaced apart at regular intervals, and the first belt and the second belt are configured to transfer the sample tube by being rotated by a motor of the transfer means.

According to another feature of the invention, the lifting means is configured to raise the sample tubes determined to be normally aligned by the sensor; It further includes.

According to another feature of the invention, the sensor consists of a plurality of optical sensors.

An automated centrifugal separation system of an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems includes an automatic equilibration centrifuge; The sample tube alignment device described above; A delivery unit that delivers the sample tubes aligned by the sample tube alignment device to the rack while maintaining the distance therebetween; And a transfer unit for transferring the rack into the automatic balance centrifuge. It includes.

According to another aspect of the invention, the recognition unit configured to identify the identification symbol displayed on the surface of the sample tubes contained in the rack; It is further provided.

According to another feature of the present invention, the recognition unit includes a recognition symbol reader and a rotating unit that rotates the sample tubes contained in the rack about a central axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. The identification symbol reader sequentially scans the identification symbols of the sample tubes contained in the rack, and if any one of the sample tubes does not recognize the identification symbol, after rotating the sample tubes by the rotating unit , The recognition symbol reader is driven to re-scan only the sample tubes for which the recognition symbol was not recognized.

According to another feature of the present invention, the rotating part is configured to hold a motor equipped with a pinion gear on a drive shaft and face each other, and to hold all of the sample tubes contained in the rack therebetween, and the pinion of the motor A first rotating member and a second rotating member, each comprising a rack configured to mesh with a gear, and configured to move in parallel in the opposite direction by rotation of one direction of the motor, and the first rotating member and the second rotating A gap adjusting member configured to adjust the gap between the members, and grooves through which the upper ends of the sample tubes contained in the rack can be inserted, are provided with a seating portion fixed between the first rotating member and the second rotating member. , The motor, the first rotating member, the second rotating member, the gap adjusting member, and a vertical movement unit configured to perform vertical movement of the seating portion. The gap adjusting member adjusts the gap so that the sample tubes can pass between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, and then the movable unit moves the motor, the first rotating member, and the second rotation. The member, the gap adjusting member and the seating portion are lowered to function to insert the upper ends of the sample tubes into the grooves of the seating portion, and when the upper ends of the sample tubes are inserted into the grooves of the seating portion, the gap adjusting member is the first It is configured to close the gap between the rotating member and the second rotating member to hold the sample tubes, and when the sample tubes are caught by the first rotating member and the rotating member, rotate the motor to rotate the sample tubes. .

The stack module of an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems is a stack module for supplying sample tubes to a centrifugal separation module including an auto-balancing centrifuge, the sample tube alignment device according to claim 1; A rack supply unit for supplying a rack capable of containing a sample tube; And rack storage; It includes. The sample tubes aligned in the sample tube alignment device are contained in a rack from the rack supply unit, controlled to be transferred to the centrifugal separation module, and stored in a rack containing the racks containing the sample tubes processed by the centrifugation module. Controlled.

The centrifugation module of an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems is a centrifugal separation module for centrifugation by receiving a rack containing sample tubes arranged in a row, an automatic equilibration centrifuge; And a recognition unit configured to identify a recognition symbol displayed on the surface of the sample tubes contained in the rack. The sample tubes recognized by the recognition unit are transferred to the automatic equilibration centrifuge while being contained in a rack, and subjected to centrifugal separation, and the recognition unit, the recognition symbol reader and the sample tubes contained in the rack are parallel to the longitudinal direction at a time. A rotation unit is rotated around one central axis, and the identification symbol reader sequentially scans the identification symbols of the sample tubes contained in the rack, and when any one of the sample tubes does not recognize the identification symbol , After rotating the sample tubes by the rotating unit, the recognition symbol reader is driven to scan again only the sample tubes for which the recognition symbol was not recognized.

According to the sample tube alignment device of the present invention and an automated centrifugation system including the same, the sample tube is placed in a rack at regular intervals and mounted on an automated centrifuge to automate the pre-treatment process of centrifugation to dramatically reduce inspection time By doing so, the efficiency of the pretreatment process can be increased.

In addition, the automated centrifugal separation system may be configured to be modularized to include a stack module and a centrifugal separation module, and when the apparatus is configured to be modularized, an appropriate number of centrifugation modules may be selectively configured and processed according to the centrifugation throughput Efficiency can be increased, and mass processing of centrifugation is also possible.

1 is a flow chart showing a control procedure of an automated centrifugal separation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram of an automated centrifugal separation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3a is a front view of the actual device of the automated centrifugal separation system of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3b is a conceptual diagram showing the operating principle of the actual device of Figure 3a.
4 is a schematic perspective view of a sample tube alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing some configurations of the sample tube alignment device of FIG. 4 except for some configurations.
6 is a schematic top and front view of the sample tube alignment device of FIG. 5.
7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operating principle of the separation means.
8 shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the spacing means of FIG. 7 and a schematic front view of the spacing units.
9 is a schematic perspective view showing a recognition unit mounted on the transfer device.
10 is a schematic front view of the recognition unit of FIG. 8.
11 is a schematic perspective view of the recognition unit of FIG. 9 seen from another perspective.
12 is a schematic front view and a bottom view of the recognition unit of FIG. 11.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be clarified with reference to embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various different forms, and only the present embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and the general knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully inform the holder of the scope of the invention, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, it goes without saying that these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component. Therefore, it goes without saying that the first component mentioned below may be the second component within the technical spirit of the present invention.

In using the reference numerals in the present specification, the same reference numerals are used when the same configuration is shown even when the drawings are different.

The size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are illustrated for convenience of description, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to the size and thickness of the illustrated component.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the sample tube alignment device of the present invention and an automated centrifugation system including the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the entire system of an automated centrifugal separation system is described, and then a sample tube alignment device is described.

1 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of an automated centrifugation system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an automated centrifugation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, by the automated centrifugation system 1000 according to the present embodiment, the sample tube alignment step (S110), the sample tube to the rack step (S120), the sample contained in the rack The recognition step of the tube recognition symbol (S130), the transfer step to the centrifuge (S140), the centrifugation step by the centrifuge (S150) and the withdrawal step from the centrifugation (S160) are sequentially performed.

First, a sample tube 10 containing test objects such as blood is collected (S10). Collection of the sample tube 10 is performed by a nurse or the like in an individual hospital, and the nurse collects the sample tube 10 using a storage array or the like. The sample tube 10 is composed of a tube 11 and a lid 12, and the collected sample tube 10 is in a state where the contents are protected by the lid 12.

The sample tubes 10 thus collected enter the automated centrifugation system 1000 of the present invention. The method of entering the sample tubes 10 to be subjected to centrifugation into the centrifugal separation system 1000 may be variously configured without limitation, for example, by a manual entry method or by an automated transfer means. A method of entering or the like can be employed.

The sample tubes 10 that have entered the centrifugal separation system 1000 are aligned by the sample tube alignment device 1100 (S110). The sample tubes 10 are aligned in a row at a constant distance d as shown in FIG. 1 by the sample tube alignment device 1100. The description of the specific sample tube alignment device 1100 will be described later.

The aligned sample tubes 10 are transferred to a rack 110 previously manufactured by the transmission unit 1200 (S120). The rack 110 may be grooved so that at least two sample tubes 10 are seated. The rack 110 may be formed of a plastic material, and a hole 111 may be formed on the side surface to recognize a recognition symbol such as a barcode of the sample tubes 10.

Here, the rack 110 is preferably a dedicated rack for inspection generally used in hospitals. The rack 110 may be made of various types according to inspection equipment. In this embodiment, as the rack 110, a rack having 5 holes commonly used in a hospital is illustrated. However, this is only an example, and a rack having various number of holes may be applied.

A variety of devices can be utilized as the delivery part 1200. For example, a known transfer device (robot) capable of holding the lid 12 of the sample tubes 10 and transferring it in three axes (X, Y, and Z axes) Device) can be utilized.

Recognition symbols of each of the sample tubes 10 seated on the rack 110 are recognized through the recognition unit 1300 (S130). Bar code, QR code, etc. may be employed as a recognition code without limitation. This recognition symbol serves to distinguish each of the sample tubes (10). Recognition unit 1300, a conventional barcode reader, QR code reader and the like can be employed without limitation.

Meanwhile, the recognition unit 1300 may be configured to additionally recognize the recognition symbol displayed on the rack 110. A detailed description of the configuration of the recognition unit 1300 will be described later.

If the sample tubes 10 contained in the rack 110 are specified by the recognition unit 1300, the transfer unit 1400 transfers the rack 110 containing the sample tubes 10 to the centrifuge 1500 ( S140).

As the transfer unit 1400, a known transfer system capable of parallel movement in three axes (X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis) may be used without limitation. By means of the transfer unit 1400, the sample tubes 10 can be transferred into the centrifuge 1500 at once (5 in this embodiment).

Thereafter, centrifugation of blood in the sample tubes 10 is performed by the centrifuge 1500 (S150).

Here, the centrifugal separator 1500 is an auto-balanced centrifugal separator that does not require weight balancing on a rotating shaft. Automatic balance centrifugal separator is Korea Patent Registration No. 10-0978912 filed by the applicant of this patent and registered (Invention name: automatic balance centrifugal separator), Korea Patent Registration No. 10-0615630 (Name of invention: centrifugal separation Automatic balance rotor for machines), Korean Patent No. 10-0974525 (Invention name: Automatic balance centrifuge using a balancer) and Korean Patent No. 10-0986744 (Name of invention: Automatic balance centrifuge and control thereof) Method).

Specifically, for example, as disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0978912, the automatic balance type centrifuge of the method of correcting the imbalance of the centrifugal force by transferring the counterweight provided in the rotating arm of the rotor is a centrifugal separator in the present invention (1500). The detailed description of the automatic balance centrifuge is omitted, and the configuration of the automatic balance centrifuge 1500 follows the configuration of the applicant's patents mentioned above.

Since the self-balancing centrifugal separator 1500 includes a self-compensating rotor to match the weight with respect to the center of rotation, a separate dummy tube is provided even if centrifugation is performed by arbitrarily placing sample tubes 10 on the rack 110 There is no need to perform weight compensation through the back.

The driving of the sample tube alignment device 1100, the transmission unit 1200, the recognition unit 1300, the transfer unit 1400, and the centrifuge 1500 is controlled by the control unit 1600. The control unit 1600 may be a known computing device or the like. The control unit 1600 may be configured as one computing device, but of course, may be configured as a plurality of computing devices in a divided physical space.

When centrifugation is complete, the rack 110 is withdrawn from the centrifuge 1500 (S160). The withdrawal may be performed by the transfer unit 1400, or may be performed by a separate transfer device. After the withdrawn rack 110 is mounted in an arbitrary mounting space, various tests are performed (S20).

Since the sample tube 10 collected in this way is automatically contained in the rack 110 and centrifuged at a time, the processing speed can be increased. Specifically, the existing centrifugal separation automation device often uses a centrifuge that does not have a self-compensating rotor, without using a rack, and the transfer device transfers each individual sample tube into the centrifuge, dummy tubes, etc. It had to be centered around the axis of rotation by putting it in. Therefore, since it is necessary for the transfer system to transfer the number of sample tubes to be subjected to centrifugation, it is common that a bottleneck of centrifugation occurs. However, if the automated centrifugation system of the present invention described by FIGS. 1 and 2 is utilized, a plurality of sample tubes 10 may be stored in one rack 110 and transferred to the centrifuge 1500, thereby centrifuging. The time required for separation can be significantly reduced.

Figure 3a is a front view of the actual device of the automated centrifugal separation system of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3b is a conceptual diagram showing the operating principle of the actual device of Figure 3a.

The above-described automated centrifugal separation system 1000 may be configured as modular, as shown in FIG. 3A. The automated centrifugation system is modularized, and includes a hopper 200, a stack module 300 and a plurality of centrifugation modules 400.

As shown in Figure 3a, the automated centrifugal separation system 1000 is basically a hopper 200, one stack module 300 and one centrifugation module 400 as a basic configuration, and increases the centrifugation throughput If desired, the centrifugation module 400 may be further provided in the right direction. 3B illustrates that two centrifugation modules 400 are operated, and the centrifugation module 400 may be further provided.

The hopper 200 refers to a device for temporarily storing the sample tube 10, and the collected sample tubes 10 are collected into the hopper 200. The hopper 200 may be used without limitation of the existing device.

The sample tube 10 collected from the hopper 200 is delivered to the sample tube alignment device 1100. In the sample tube alignment device 1100, the sample tubes 10 are aligned while being spaced in a line, and transferred to the stack module 300. The specific configuration of the sample tube alignment device 1100 will be described later in detail.

The stack module 300 includes a rack supply unit 310 and a rack storage unit 320. In the stack module 300, the sample tubes 10 aligned in the sample tube alignment device 1100 are transferred to the rack 110 supplied from the rack supply unit 310. The recognition symbols are recognized by the recognition unit 1300 while the sample tubes 10 are contained in the rack 110.

The rack 110 containing the sample tubes 10 is transferred to the centrifugation module 400 along the input line I. The sample tubes 10 entering the centrifugal separation module 400 may be recognized again by the recognition unit 1300. That is, it is possible to grasp which sample tubes 10 have entered the centrifugation module 400.

The rack 110 containing the once recognized sample tubes 10 is stored in a separate buffer unit 410. The buffer unit 410 may store, for example, three racks 110. If the rack 110 can no longer be stored in the buffer unit 410, the rack 110 can be transferred to another centrifugation module 400.

The rack 110 stored in the buffer unit 410 is transferred to the preparation line 430. The racks 110 stored in the preparation line 430 are sequentially transferred to an automatic balance centrifuge 1500.

The rack 110 containing the sample whose centrifugation is completed by the automatic balance centrifugal separator 1500 is transferred to the discharge line 420. The rack 110 stored in the discharge line 420 is transferred to the output line O, and the rack 110 is transferred to the stack module 300 along the output line O.

The rack 110 transferred to the stack module 300 is transferred to and stored in the rack storage unit 320. Workers can obtain centrifuged sample tubes 10 from the rack storage 320.

On the other hand, each stack module 300 and the centrifugal separation module 400 are connected to an input line (I) and an output line (O). The input line (I) and the output line (O) can be applied to a conventional parallel transfer system.

The transfer of the racks 110 may be implemented by an existing robot device. A detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the stack module 300 may include a display 301 that can be viewed from the outside, and display the processing status of centrifugation.

If the above-described automated centrifugal separation system 1000 is modularized and configured, the number of centrifugal separation modules 400 can be adjusted according to the throughput, so that an efficient device configuration can be implemented, and mass processing of centrifugation is also possible.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the above-described sample tube alignment device 1100 and the recognition unit 1300 will be described in detail.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a sample tube alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a part of the configuration in the sample tube alignment device of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a schematic view of Figure 5 It is a schematic top and front view of a sample tube alignment device. 7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operating principle of the spacer, and FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective view and a schematic front view of the spacer units of one embodiment of the spacer of FIG. 7.

4 to 6, the sample tube alignment device 1100 of the present embodiment includes a transfer means 1110, a stopper 1120, a sensor 1130, a separation means 1140, and a control device (not shown). To be equipped.

The transfer means 1110 is configured to transfer the sample tubes 10 in a line, thereby creating a transfer path of the sample tubes 10. The conveying means 1110 includes a first belt 1111 and a second belt 1112, and the first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112 are rotated by a motor 1113.

The first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112 are arranged to be spaced apart at regular intervals so that the lid 12 of the sample tube 10 can be caught and conveyed therebetween. The first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112 may be formed of an elastic body.

The first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112 are guided by rollers 1114 disposed at the corner portions of the device 1100. Repetitive grooves are formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of the first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112, and outer circumferential surfaces of the rollers 1114 may be formed to engage with the grooves.

Referring to FIG. 4, a collection part 1001 and a vertical limit part 1002 may be provided on upper surfaces of the first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112. The collection part 1001 covers the first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112 so as not to directly contact the first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112 while the sample tubes 10 are input. ) By specifying the input space, the input of the sample tube 10 to the sample tube alignment device 1100 is facilitated. In addition, when the sample tube 10 to be inputted and transported floats in the vertical direction and may not be detected by the sensor 1130 to be described later, a vertical limit unit 1002 is provided to lower and adjust the vertical height to be constant. Can be. The collection part 1001 and the vertical limit part 1002 may be manufactured by bending a metal plate.

Meanwhile, FIG. 5 illustrates the sample tube alignment device 1100 by removing the collection portion 1001, the vertical restriction portion 1002, and the front plate 1003 for convenience of description.

The stopper 1120 is configured to define a transport limit of the sample tube 10 transported by the transport means 1110. The stopper 1120 functions so that the sample tube 10, which is disposed and transferred between the first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112, is caught and no longer transported.

The sensor 1130 is arranged to be able to confirm whether the sample tube 10 is positioned at a position to be located. In this embodiment, since the alignment device is configured to align the five sample tubes 10, the five sensors are arranged, but the number of sensors may be changed according to the number of sample tubes to be aligned.

Various sensors may be employed as the sensor 1130, for example, an optical sensor having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. When light from the light emitting unit is sensed by the light receiving unit, it can be determined that the sample tube 10 is not located between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, and if not detected, it is positioned.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is exemplified that five pairs of light-emitting and light-receiving units are disposed with the first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112 interposed therebetween. However, the arrangement of such a sensor 1130 is exemplary, and a sensor capable of determining the presence or absence of the sample tube 10 at various positions simultaneously with a single sensor may also be employed.

6 to 8, the separation means 1140 is configured to include a separation unit (1141a, 1141b, 1141c, 1141d, also collectively referred to as 1411) and the driving unit 1143.

The separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d are configured to protrude on the transport path of the specimen tube 10 formed by the transfer means 1110, and the specimen tubes 10 transferred from the transfer means 1110 It is interposed between the sample tubes 10 to function to form a predetermined gap.

Four separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d are required, for example, when aligning five sample tubes 10. That is, when N+1 sample tubes 10 are aligned, they must be interposed therebetween, so N spaced units 1141 are required.

The separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d are not shown in FIG. 7, but the protruding state and non-protruding state to the transport path may be converted by the driving unit. The drive unit may drive each of the spaced units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d individually or may be driven collectively as will be described later.

Referring to (a) of FIG. 7, first, the first sample tube 10-1 is transported along the transport path, and is no longer transported by the stopper 1120. If so, the sensor 1130-1 detects that the first sample tube 10-1 is located at a predetermined position (the one detected in FIG. 7 is marked with black) and the first separation unit as shown in FIG. 7(b). (1141a) is projected on the transport path.

Thereafter, the second specimen tube 10-2 is transferred as shown in FIG. 7(c) to contact the first separation unit 1141a. The first separation unit 1141a acts as a stopper to prevent further transfer of the second sample tube 10-2, and spaces between the first sample tube 10-1 and the second sample tube 10-2. Order.

Thereafter, the sensor 1130-2 senses that the second sample tube 10-2 is located at a predetermined position, and protrudes the second separation unit 1141b on the transport path as shown in FIG. 7(d). Even in this case, the first spaced unit 1141a must remain protruded.

Then, sequentially, in the same manner as described above, the movement of the third sample tube 10-3, the protrusion of the third spacer unit 1141c, the movement of the fourth sample tube 10-4, the protrusion of the fourth spacer unit 1141d , The fifth sample tube (10-5) is moved.

When the fifth sample tube 10-5 is moved, the five sample tubes 10 are spaced apart by the thickness of the separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, 1141d, as shown in FIG. 7(e). They are arranged in a line, spaced apart.

In Fig. 8, a specific embodiment of the separating means 1140 that can function as in Fig. 7 is illustrated. The separating means 1140 may be configured to include the separating units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d, the driving shaft 1142 and the driving unit 1143.

The driving unit 1143 is composed of a motor, and the driving shaft 1142 is connected to the motor and is rotationally driven. The separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d are connected to the drive shaft 1142 and are rotatable.

The separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d of the separation means 1140 have a special structure, and such a structure enables collective driving by a single motor 1143.

In particular, referring to (b) of FIG. 8, when the spacer units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d rotate one rotation around the drive shaft 1142, with respect to the inner circle that subsequently forms the outermost rotation path, It has a blocked portion (A) and a pierced portion (B).

The first spaced unit 1141a is formed with the least number of perforations (B), and the second spaced unit 1141b has more perforated parts (B) than the first spaced unit 1141a, and the third spaced unit 1141c is More perforated portions (B) are formed than the second spaced unit 1141b, and the fourth spaced portion 1141d is formed with more perforated portions (B) than the third spaced unit 1141c.

If the pierced part (B) occupies the transport path, the transport path is not blocked and the sample tube (10) can be moved. If the blocked part (A) occupies the transport path, the movement of the sample tube (10) is prevented. impossible.

The state of FIG. 7(a) is a state in which the pierced portions B of the first to fourth separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d are all arranged to occupy a transport path, and the state of FIG. 7(b) is By rotating the driving unit 1143, the first spaced unit 1141a occupies the transport path, and the remaining spaced units 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d occupy the transport path. Can be formed.

Since the drilled portion B sequentially increases from the first separation unit 1141a to the fourth separation unit 1141d, the separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d are sequentially rotated by the rotation of the driving unit 1143. The transport path can be blocked.

In other words, the separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d have a shape formed such that the portion A blocked by rotation by the motor, which is the driving unit 1143, does not protrude or protrude on the transport path, and FIG. 8 As such, it may have a blocked portion (A) and a pierced portion (B).

The first state in which all of the separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d do not block the transportation path (see FIG. 7(a)), and the separation unit 1141a located at the most downstream of the separation units is a transportation path. The second state (see (b) and (c) of FIG. 7) that protrudes to prevent the rest of the separation units 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d does not block the transport path, and the separation unit located at the most downstream of the separation units ( 1141a) and a spaced unit 1141b located downstream in the next order protrudes to block the transfer path, and the remaining spaced units 1141c and 1141d each have a third state (see FIG. 7(d)) that does not block the transfer path. To achieve this, the shape and arrangement of the spacing units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, 1141d may be defined as shown in FIG. 8.

The first state, the second state, and the third state are sequentially switched, which is achieved by driving the motor by the control device.

The driving unit 1143 is controlled by the control of such a control device, so that the separation units 1141a, 1141b, 1141c, and 1141d are interposed between the sample tubes 10, so that the sample tubes 10 have a certain interval. And can be aligned in a line.

Referring back to the enlarged portion of FIG. 5, the sample tube alignment device 1100 of the present invention may further include a supply unit 1150.

The supply unit 1150 is located upstream of the separation means 1140 and the sensor 1130 and functions to supply only one sample tube 10 downstream. That is, the supply unit 1150 holds the sample tube 10 continuously supplied, and adjusts the time according to the process in which the sample tube 10 is supplied to the spacer 1140 and the spacer unit 1141 sequentially protrudes. Thus, the sample tubes 10 are supplied to the separation means 1140 one by one.

To this end, the supply unit 1150 may include a first plate 1151 and a second plate 1152 and a driving device 1155. The driving device 1155 drives the first plate 1151 and the second plate 1152 to block or not block the transport path. Further, the first plate 1151 and the second plate 1152 are spaced so that one specimen tube can be interposed therebetween.

For the drive 1155 to drive the first plate 1151 and the second plate 1152, a combination of rack-pinion gears can be used. The driving device 1155 is made of a motor, and a pinion gear 1156 may be mounted on a driving shaft of the motor. Racks 1153 and 1154 are mounted on the first plate 1151 and the second plate 1152, respectively, to engage the pinion gear 1156 of the drive shaft of the motor 1155, respectively. On the other hand, it should be noted that the pinion gear 1156 is simplified and illustrated in FIG. 5.

Accordingly, by rotating the motor 1155 in one direction, the first plate 1151 is driven to block the transfer path, and the second plate 1152 can be driven not to block the transfer path. Further, if the motor 1155 rotates in the opposite direction, the first plate 1151 is driven so as not to block the transfer path, and the second plate 1152 can be driven to block the transfer path.

When the first plate 1151 blocks the transfer path and the second plate 1152 does not block the transfer path, the transfer of the sample tubes 10 is restricted by the first plate 1151 to the separation means 1140 The sample tube 10 is not supplied. On the other hand, if the first plate 1151 drives the drive unit 1155 so that the second plate 1152 does not block the transfer path, the first plate 1151 and the second plate 1152 between the Only the sample tube 10 located at is moved to the separation means 1140, and the transfer of the remaining sample tubes 10 waiting by the second plate 1152 is prevented.

Subsequently, when the first plate 1151 again blocks the transfer path and the second plate 1152 is switched back to a state that does not block the transfer path, the remaining sample tubes 10 waiting by the first plate 1151 Transfer is prevented.

One or more specimen tubes 10 may be supplied to the separation means 1140 by the repetitive driving of the motor 1155.

On the other hand, the optical sensor 1157 may be further provided to confirm the existence of the sample tube 10 waiting by the supply unit 1150.

Referring to FIG. 6, the sample tube alignment device 1100 of the present invention may further include a lifting means 1160. The raising means 1160 is configured to push the aligned sample tubes 10 from the lower side to the upper side to raise it. The raising means 1160 may be driven by a combination of a motor and a rack-pinion gear. A detailed description of this driving method is omitted.

The raising means 1160 can be controlled to raise the specimen tubes 10 determined to be normally aligned by the sensor 1130. That is, if all five sample tubes 10 are aligned in line, the sample tubes 10 must be caught from the upper side and transferred to the rack 110. This transfer is carried out by the transmission unit 1200, it is desirable to be somewhat distant from the first belt 1111 and the second belt 1112 in order to ensure that the sample tubes 10 are well caught, this operation is elevated Means 1160.

9 is a schematic perspective view showing a recognition unit mounted on the transfer device, FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the recognition unit of FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view seen from another perspective of the recognition unit of FIG. 9, and FIG. 12 11 are schematic front and bottom views of the recognition unit of FIG. 11.

9 to 12, the recognition unit 1300 is configured to identify a recognition symbol displayed on the surface of the sample tubes 10 contained in the rack 110. To this end, the recognition unit 1300 includes a recognition symbol reader 1310 and a rotating unit 1320.

The recognition symbol reader 1310 may be a barcode reader or a QR code reader that can recognize recognition symbols such as a barcode or a QR code. Recognition symbol reader 1310 is configured to be parallel to each specimen tube 10 by a guide rail. That is, it is possible to recognize the recognition symbols of all the sample tubes 10 contained in the rack 110 in one scan.

On the other hand, the recognition symbol reader 1310 is preferably disposed so that the recognition symbol attached to the rack 110 can be read at the same time.

The rotating portion 1320 is configured to rotate the sample tubes 10 contained in the rack 110 at a time about a central axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. The rotating unit 1320 includes a motor 1321, a first rotating member 1322, a second rotating member 1323, a space adjusting member 1324, a seating unit, and a movable unit.

The motor 1321 provides a driving force for rotating the sample tubes 10, and a pinion gear (not shown) is mounted on the driving shaft.

The first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323 are disposed to face each other, and configured to hold all of the sample tubes 10 contained in the rack 110 therebetween, and the motor 1321 And racks (not shown) configured to engage pinion gears, respectively. With this configuration, the first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323 can be moved in parallel in opposite directions by rotation in one direction of the motor 1321. The combination of rack-pinion gears has the same configuration as the combination of racks 1153 and 1154-pinion gears 1156 described above with reference to FIG. 5.

The first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323 are configured to be long to hold all the sample tubes 10, and the part in contact with the sample tube 10 is equipped with an elastic material such as rubber. Can be.

The gap adjusting member 1324 is configured to adjust the gap between the first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323. The gap adjusting member 1324 includes a driving unit 1325 and a connecting arm 1326, and the distance between the connecting arms 1326 is increased or decreased by the driving of the driving unit 1325, and accordingly the connecting arms The distance between the first rotating member 1322 fixed to 1326 and the second rotating member 1323 may be adjusted.

The seating portion 1327 is formed with grooves 1328 into which the upper ends of the sample tubes 10 contained in the rack 110 can be inserted, and between the first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323. Is fixed. The sample tubes 10 in the grooves 1328 of the seating portion 1327 can rotate, thereby preventing a change in position between the sample tubes 10 due to rotation.

The movable unit 1329 is configured to perform vertical movement of the entire motor 1321, the first rotating member 1322, the second rotating member 1323, the gap adjusting member 1324, and the seating unit 1327. . That is, the sample tubes 10 held by the first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323 may be lifted upward by the movable unit 1329, and the recognition symbol reader in the lifted state A scan of 1310 may be done.

The shanghai-dong unit 1329 may be implemented using a motor 1330, and various known transport systems may be used as it is, so a detailed description of driving is omitted. In the present embodiment, a method of connecting a belt to a drive shaft of the motor 1330, transmitting power through the belt, and transferring it vertically by a linear guide is employed.

Hereinafter, a method of recognizing a recognition symbol using the recognition unit 1300 including the above-described configuration will be described in detail.

9 and 10, the rack 110 itself is transferred by the transfer device 1301. Thereafter, when the seat is moved to the lower side of the recognition unit 1300 to be seated, the gap adjusting member 1324 may pass through the sample tubes 10 between the first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323. After the gap is adjusted, the movable unit 1329 lowers the motor 1321, the first rotating member 1322, the second rotating member 1323, the spacing adjusting member 1324, and the seating unit 1327. The upper end of the sample tubes 10 is inserted into the grooves 1328 of the seating portion 1327.

Subsequently, when the upper end of the sample tubes 10 is inserted into the grooves 1328 of the seating portion 1327, the gap adjusting member 1324 increases the distance between the first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323. Narrow to hold the sample tubes.

Subsequently, the caught sample tubes 10 are raised to a height at which the recognition symbol can be recognized by the recognition symbol reader 1310 using the movable unit 1329.

Thereafter, the recognition symbol is recognized by the recognition symbol reader 1310. Specifically, first, the recognition symbol reader 1310 moves in parallel to sequentially attempt to recognize the recognition symbols of all sample tubes. At this time, since the sample tube 10 was arbitrarily placed, the recognition symbols of some sample tubes 10 may not be recognized. If this situation occurs, both the sample tubes 10 are rotated by rotating the motor 1321 and moving the first rotating member 1322 and the second rotating member 1323 in opposite directions.

Thereafter, the recognition symbol reader 1310 scans only the sample tubes for which the recognition symbol was not recognized again. If there is a sample tube 10 in which the recognition symbol is not recognized even in this case, the sample tubes 10 are rotated again, and then recognition is attempted again.

Here, by checking the position when the recognition symbol reader 1310 recognizes the recognition symbol, it is possible to distinguish between the unrecognized sample tube and the recognized sample tube. As a method of checking the position, a method of checking the number of revolutions of the motor 1311 driving the parallel movement of the identification reader 1310, a method of detecting the position by a separate encoder, etc. can be employed without limitation. .

On the other hand, it is preferable that the transfer device 1301 is provided with a fixing device 1302 capable of fixing the rack 110 upon recognition of the above-described recognition symbol. The fixing device 1302 is configured to press a part of the rack 110, and detailed description is omitted.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. You will understand. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

10… Sample tube
110… Lek
200… Hopper
300… Stack module
400… Centrifugal separation module
1000… Automated centrifugation system
1100… Specimen tube alignment device
1110... Transportation
1120... stopper
1130... sensor
1140... Separation
1150… Supply unit
1160... Ascent
1200… Delivery
1300… Recognition
1310… Recognition Reader
1320... reel
1400… Transport
1500… centrifugal
1600… Control

Claims (14)

A sample tube alignment device for arranging at least two sample tubes in a line to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance,
A transport means configured to transport the sample tubes in a line to create a transport path of the sample tubes;
A stopper defining a transfer limit of a sample tube transferred by the transfer means;
At least one sensor disposed to be able to confirm whether the sample tube is positioned at a position to be positioned;
It is configured to protrude on the transport path and is interposed between sample tubes transferred from the transport means to drive the spaced unit and the spaced unit that do not protrude or protrude on the transport path by forming the predetermined distance. Separation means having a unit; And
A control device for controlling the driving of the driving unit based on the information from the sensor; It includes,
And the control device controls the driving unit such that the separation unit is interposed between sample tubes sequentially transferred based on information from the sensor. According to claim 1,
It is located upstream than the separation means and the sensor, further comprising a supply unit for supplying only one sample tube downstream,
The supply unit includes a first plate and a second plate configured to block the transfer path, and a driving device for driving the first plate and the second plate so as not to block or block the transfer path,
The first plate and the second plate, characterized in that the sample tube is spaced apart so as to be interposed therebetween, the sample tube alignment device. According to claim 2,
The drive device is made of a motor,
A pinion gear is mounted on the drive shaft of the motor,
A rack is mounted on the first plate and the second plate to engage the pinion gear,
The first plate is driven to block the transfer path by rotation of the motor in one direction, and the second plate is driven to not block the transfer path, the specimen tube alignment device. According to claim 1,
The separation means is provided with N the separation unit (where N is an integer of 2 or more),
The control device is characterized in that for controlling the drive unit, N+1 sample tubes are sequentially transferred, spaced apart from each other by the separation units, and aligned in a line. According to claim 4,
The drive unit is a motor,
The separation means further includes a drive shaft connected to the motor,
The separation units are rotatable connected to the drive shaft,
The separation units have a shape that is formed such that a part of the space is projected or not projected on the transport path by rotation by the motor,
A first state in which all of the separation units do not block the transfer path, and a separation unit located at the most downstream of the separation units protrudes to block the transfer path, and the second separation units do not block the transfer path Wow, the spaced unit located at the most downstream of the spaced units and the spaced unit located downstream in the next order protrude to block the transport path, and the remaining spaced units can respectively achieve a third state that does not block the transport path. The shape of the separation units is defined,
And the control device controls the driving unit to sequentially switch the first state, the second state, and the third state. According to claim 1,
The conveying means includes a first belt and a second belt and a motor,
The first belt and the second belt are arranged to be spaced apart at regular intervals so that the lid of the sample tube is caught and transferred between them.
The first belt and the second belt are rotated by the motor of the transfer means, characterized in that configured to transfer the sample tube, the sample tube alignment device. According to claim 1,
A raising means configured to raise the specimen tubes determined to be normally aligned by the sensor; Characterized in that it further comprises, the sample tube alignment device. According to claim 1,
The sensor, characterized in that consisting of a plurality of optical sensors, the sample tube alignment device. Automatic equilibration centrifuge;
The sample tube alignment device of Claim 1;
A delivery unit that delivers the sample tubes aligned by the sample tube alignment device to the rack while maintaining the distance therebetween; And
A transfer unit for transferring the rack into the automatic balance centrifuge; Automated centrifugal separation system comprising a. The method of claim 9,
A recognition unit configured to identify a recognition symbol displayed on the surface of the sample tubes contained in the rack; Characterized in that it further comprises, an automated centrifugal separation system. The method of claim 10,
The recognition unit,
Recognition symbol reader,
A rotating part for rotating the sample tubes contained in the rack about a central axis parallel to the longitudinal direction at a time,
The recognition symbol reader sequentially scans the recognition symbols of the sample tubes contained in the rack, and if any of the sample tubes does not recognize the recognition tube, after rotating the sample tubes by the rotating unit , The recognition symbol reader is driven to re-scan only the sample tubes for which the recognition symbol was not recognized, an automated centrifugation system. The method of claim 11,
The rotating part,
A motor with a pinion gear mounted on the drive shaft,
Arranged to face each other, and configured to hold all the sample tubes contained in the rack therebetween, each of which includes a rack configured to mesh with a pinion gear of the motor, and opposite directions to each other by rotation of one direction of the motor The first rotating member and the second rotating member configured to move in parallel,
A gap adjusting member configured to adjust a gap between the first rotating member and the second rotating member,
Grooves to which the upper end of the sample tubes contained in the rack can be inserted are provided, and a seating portion fixed between the first rotating member and the second rotating member,
The motor, the first rotating member, the second rotating member, the gap adjusting member and a vertical movement unit configured to perform vertical movement of the seating portion,
The gap adjusting member adjusts the gap so that the sample tubes can pass between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, and then the movable unit moves the motor, the first rotating member, and the second rotation. The member, the gap adjusting member and the seating portion descend to function to insert the upper end of the sample tubes into the grooves of the seating portion,
When the upper end of the sample tubes are inserted into the grooves of the seating portion, the gap adjusting member closes the gap between the first rotating member and the second rotating member to hold the sample tubes,
Automated centrifugal separation system, characterized in that when the sample tubes are caught by the first rotating member and the rotating member, the motor is rotated to rotate the sample tubes. A stack module for supplying sample tubes to a centrifugal separation module including an automatic balance centrifuge,
The sample tube alignment device of Claim 1;
A rack supply unit for supplying a rack capable of containing a sample tube; And
Rack storage; It includes,
The sample tubes aligned in the sample tube alignment device are controlled to be transported to the centrifugation module by being placed in a rack from the rack supply,
A stack module, which is controlled to store a rack containing sample tubes processed by the centrifugation module in the rack storage section. delete

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