KR102345717B1 - Apparatus for separating automatically the cork of the blood collection tube - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically separating the lid of a vacuum blood collection tube of the present invention comprises: a tray unit which includes a tube support tray that has tube through-holes formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so as to accommodate vacuum blood collection tubes composed of a tube and a lid, and a carousel that supports the tube support tray and the accommodated vacuum blood collection tube; a base unit which is configured to rotate the carousel in a lower side of the tray unit; and a lid discharge unit which has a lid removal wheel that pushes the lid off and separates the same from the tube.

Description

Vacuum collection tube lid separation automation device {Apparatus for separating automatically the cork of the blood collection tube}

The present invention relates to an automated device capable of automatically separating the lid of a vacuum collection vessel.

With the rapid advancement of clinical laboratory technology, a wide range of blood tests, including serum biochemical tests, serum immunoassays, and blood counts, are contributing greatly to disease prevention and early diagnosis. A blood test collects a certain amount of blood regardless of the subject and type of test, and stores it in a certain container during the process of storage, transportation and processing.

Among the containers used at this time, the most common is a blood collection tube, and the inside of some blood collection tubes is decompressed so that blood can be easily sucked into the container by decompression.

There are several types of collection tubes depending on the use and size, but each collection tube forms a main body and has a structure in which the inlet of a cylindrical tube with an open top is sealed with a rubber packing and the outside of the rubber packing is covered with a cap.

In addition, a label made of paper for recording product and blood collection-related information is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the tube constituting the body of the blood collection tube, and a filler is selectively injected into the tube, for example, blood cells and plasma through centrifugation. Gels and liquid reagents can be used to form a separation wall of These fillers are injected in different ways depending on the type, and must be kept in a different shape inside the tube. Apart from these fillings, the three elements constituting the outer shape of the blood collection tube are a glass or synthetic resin tube, a synthetic resin cap, and a rubber packing for sealing the tube opening.

In the case of large hospitals such as university hospitals, the TLA (Total Laboratory Automation) system has been introduced, and there are cases where equipment that automates the process from removing the cap to the inspection and disposal process when a vacuum collection tube is inserted.

However, in most small and medium hospitals, it is difficult to prepare large-scale automated equipment, and small-scale single examination equipment is used. .

Because of this situation, in small and medium-sized hospitals, a large number of manpower is allocated to manually removing the lid of the vacuum collection vessel in order to analyze blood using a small single device, which causes a lot of inconvenience due to finger injuries and fatigue.

The present invention intends to propose a small device capable of automatically removing the lid of a vacuum collection tube, through which the time and effort required to remove the lid of a vacuum collection tube when performing a blood test using a vacuum collection tube in a small and medium hospital It aims to significantly reduce

The vacuum collection tube lid separation automation device of the present invention comprises a tube support tray in which tube through-holes are formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so that the vacuum collection tubes comprising a tube and a lid are accommodated, the tube support tray, and the vacuum collection tube stored therein. A tray portion including a supporting carousel, a base portion for rotating the carousel from a lower side of the tray portion, and a lid discharge portion comprising a lid removal wheel configured to push the lid away from the tube .

In addition, the tray part includes a chain connected to the carousel, and the base part includes a sprocket for rotating the chain, and is configured on the upper side of the sprocket to rotate together with the sprocket and a side surface of the tube can be seated It characterized in that it comprises a tube fixing outer wheel in which a plurality of fixing grooves are formed.

And, the tray portion is characterized in that it comprises a tube fixing inner wheel having a plurality of fixing grooves in which a part of the side of the tube can be seated in order to simultaneously support the tube seated in the fixing groove of the tube fixing outer wheel.

And, it is characterized in that a cap locking jaw protruding at a predetermined height so as to be in contact with the lower portion of the lid is formed on one side of the tube support tray to make the lid height of the vacuum collection tube constant.

In addition, an elastic band having a predetermined elasticity is interposed in the tube through-hole, and the lid pressing inclined wall is arranged in an inclined state on the upper side of the lid so that the lid of the vacuum collecting vessel moving toward the lid removal wheel is gradually pressed. It is characterized in that it is further configured.

By the proposed device of the present invention, a miniaturized automated device can be realized, and even small and medium-sized hospitals can reduce the time and effort of manpower consumed in the past by automatically removing the lid sufficiently with small equipment rather than large automated equipment. There are advantages that can be

1 is a view showing the overall appearance of the vacuum collection vessel lid separation automation device of the present invention.
2 is a view showing the internal configuration of the vacuum collection vessel lid separation automation device of the present invention.
3 and 4 are views showing a state in which tubes having different lengths are accommodated in the automatic vacuum collection vessel lid separation apparatus of the present invention.
5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining in more detail the configuration of the inside of the vacuum collection vessel lid separation automatic device of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the spirit of the present embodiment can be determined from the matters disclosed in this embodiment, and the spirit of the present embodiment is the implementation of addition, deletion, change, etc. of components with respect to the proposed embodiment It will be said to include transformations.

Figure 1 is a view showing the overall appearance of the vacuum collection vessel lid separation automated apparatus of the present invention, Figure 2 is a view showing the internal configuration of the vacuum collection tube lid separation automated apparatus of the present invention.

1 and 2, the miniaturized lid separation automation device 1 includes a tray 10 in which a plurality of vacuum collection tubes including a tube 2 and a lid 3 are seated in a hole, respectively, and the tray A lid for discharging to the outside of the device after separating the caps of the vacuum collection vessels seated on the base part 20 and the tray part 10 from the tube, respectively, including a configuration for sequentially rotating the part 10 while supporting it. It includes a discharge unit (30).

In detail, the tray unit 10 includes a tube support tray 111 having a hole formed at a predetermined distance so that each of a plurality of vacuum collection vessels are accommodated in positions spaced apart from each other, and the tube support tray 111 is configured below the tube support tray 111 . A carousel 110 configured to rotate by the power generated by the base 20 while supporting the tube support tray 111 and a chain 150 configured at a lower side to rotate the carousel 110 ) is included.

A plurality of the tube support trays 111 may be disposed up and down as shown in FIG. 2 , and in this case, a position corresponding to the tube of the vacuum collection tube is inserted into the tube through hole formed in each tube support tray 111 . In the tube through-holes are disposed.

In particular, on one side of the tube support tray 111, a cap locking jaw 120 protruding at a predetermined height so as to contact the lower part of the lid 3 in order to keep the lid height of the vacuum collecting vessels accommodated in the tube through-holes constant is formed. Even if the tubes of different heights are accommodated, the configuration for making the heights of the lids constant in order to automatically separate the lids of the vacuum collection tube will be described with reference to FIG. 3 .

On the other hand, a circular lid removal wheel ( 320), a motor unit 310 that provides power to enable rotation of the lid removal wheel 320, and the lid removal wheel 320 by turning the rotation generated by the motor unit 310 by turning it by 90 degrees It includes a deceleration unit 321 to transmit to.

As the lid removal wheel 320 rotates, the side surface of the removal wheel obliquely presses and pushes the side surface of the lid 3, thereby separating the lid 3 from the tube 2, and the thickness of the lid removal wheel 320 is It should be manufactured in consideration of the gap between the lids, that is, the gap between the vacuum collection tubes.

Power is provided in the base unit 20 so that the lid 3 of the vacuum collection tube sequentially approaches the lid removal wheel 320 by rotating the carousel 110 and configured on the lower side of the tray unit 10 . The sprocket 210 rotated by

In the illustrated drawings, the sprocket 210 is shown to be disposed outside the carousel 110 , but from the viewpoint of enabling the carousel to rotate, the sprocket is naturally configured inside the carousel, and rotates in engagement with the sprocket It is also possible for the chain to be placed outside the carousel. In order to describe the rotation structure of the carousel, a case in which the sprocket is disposed/configured outside the carousel as shown is taken as an example.

The chain 150 engaged with the teeth of the outer peripheral surface of the sprocket 210 is configured on the lower side of the carousel 110, and by the rotation of the sprocket 210, the chain 150 and the shaft coupled to the chain are rotated. The carousel 110 is configured to rotate.

In addition, the tube fixing outer wheel 220 is provided on the upper side of the sprocket 210 in order to firmly position the vacuum collecting vessel while the lid 3 is removed by the lid removal wheel 320 . The tube fixing outer wheel 220 is rotated at a predetermined angle together with the rotation of the sprocket 210, and a plurality of fixing grooves 221 of a size in which the tube 2 can be seated are formed on the outer peripheral surface.

In addition, the tube fixed inner wheel 230 for fixing the position of the tube 2 together with the tube fixed outer wheel 220 is configured inside the carousel 110, and the tube fixed inner wheel 230 is the tube It serves to firmly fix the tube from which the lid 3 is removed together with the fixed outer wheel 220 . To this end, the tube fixed inner wheel 230 and the tube fixed outer wheel 220 are arranged to be recognized on the lid removal wheel 320, and one tube 2 is simultaneously operated by the tube fixed inner wheel and the outer wheel. It is configured to be supported/pressed. That is, the seating and support of the tube 2 by the fixing grooves of the inner wheel and the outer wheel is configured to be made at a position where the separation is made by the lid removal wheel 320 .

According to the embodiment, it is not necessary to provide for fixing the tube 2 to be removed by the lid with the tube fixed outer wheel 220 and the tube fixed inner wheel 230 together. A fixing groove is formed, and the other wheel may be implemented as a circular wheel having no curvature on the outer circumferential surface.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the lid removal wheel 320 in order to normally accommodate the vacuum collecting vessel moving under the lid removal wheel 320 by the rotating carousel 110 in the tube support tray 111 . A lid pressing inclined wall 270 serving to press the lid 3 before moving downward is provided, and an inclined wall frame 271 for supporting the lid pressing inclined wall 270 is configured.

That is, the vacuum collecting blood vessels moving toward the lid removal wheel 320 are sequentially not accurately accommodated in the tube support tray by the lid pressing inclined wall 270 , the inclined surface of the lid pressing inclined wall 270 . It is pressed down along the tube and pressed into the tube through-hole of the tube support tray. Therefore, when the operator does not accidentally put the vacuum clamping tube in the tube support tray 111 up to a normal height, the automation device is stably pressurized and accommodated. The lid pressing inclined wall 270 is configured to have a lower height as the position closer to the lid removal wheel 320 side, so that the lid 3 of the moving vacuum collecting vessel is naturally pressurized.

3 and 4 are views showing a state in which tubes having different lengths are accommodated in the automatic vacuum collection vessel lid separation apparatus of the present invention.

3 and 4, a plurality of vacuum collecting vessels are seated through the tube through-hole formed in the tube support tray 111, the tube having a first length (2a) and a tube having a second shorter length (2a) Even if 2b) is accommodated, it is possible to remove the lid 3 while stably supporting it.

In order to enable stable support and separation of the lid for tubes having different lengths, the first tube support tray 111 protrudes at a predetermined height to contact a portion of the lower surface of the lid 3 to prevent further descent. A lid locking jaw 120 is formed.

The lid locking jaw 120 is formed to protrude a predetermined height from the tube support tray, and since it comes into contact with the lower portion of the lid 3 , the height of the lids can be maintained constant regardless of the length of the tube 2 .

In addition, after the lid 3 is removed by the lid removal wheel 320 described above, in order to prevent the short tube 2b from falling and being damaged, around the tube through hole of the second tube support tray 112 An elastic band 112 having a predetermined elasticity is configured.

The elastic band 112 is disposed to contact the outer circumferential surface of the tube 2 that is inserted into the tube through hole of the tube support tray, and prevents the tube 2 from falling through the tube through hole after the lid 3 is removed. perform the role The elastic band 112 may be configured such that a band hole is formed in the tube support tray, the elastic band 112 passes through the band hole, and the elastic band 112 passes through the tube through hole and then continues through another band hole. have.

In this way, the elastic band 112 is inserted into the tube through-hole, so as to contact the outer circumferential surface of the tube 2 of the vacuum collection tube accommodated in the tube through-hole, and serves to prevent the tube 2 from falling. do.

5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining in more detail the configuration of the inside of the vacuum collection vessel lid separation automatic device of the present invention.

5 and 6 , the lower surface 151 of the rotating carousel 110 has a shape and size that can accommodate the chain 150 , and a V-groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower surface 151 . At least one roller 260 may be configured to more stably support the rotation of the carousel 110 .

And, when the rotation shaft 240 of the sprocket 210 and the outer tube fixing wheel 220 is rotated, the rotational force is transmitted to the carousel 110 side, although not shown on the rotation shaft of the carousel 110. The connected belt 300 is configured.

The lid separation automation device having the configuration as described above can be manufactured in a small size, so it has the advantage of being easily used in small and medium-sized hospitals.

Claims (5)

A tray portion comprising: a tube support tray in which tube through-holes are formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to accommodate the vacuum collection tubes made of a tube and a lid;
a base part for rotating the carousel from a lower side of the tray part;
and a lid discharge unit configured to push the lid to separate it from the tube, and a lid removal wheel configured to be rotatable;
a tube fixing outer wheel configured to support the tube from the outside of the tray part and rotate together when the carousel rotates;
The vacuum collection tube lid separation automation device, characterized in that it further comprises a tube fixing inner wheel for supporting the tube inside the tray part together with the tube fixing outer wheel. delete The method of claim 1,
A plurality of fixing grooves in which a part of the side surface of the tube can be seated are formed on the outer peripheral surface of any one of the tube fixing outer wheel and the tube fixing inner wheel,
A vacuum collection vessel lid separation automation device, characterized in that a plurality of fixing grooves are formed on both the outer peripheral surfaces of the tube fixing outer wheel and the tube fixing inner wheel, in which a part of the side of the tube can be seated. 4. The method of claim 1 or 3,
The vacuum collection tube lid separation automation apparatus, characterized in that a lid locking jaw protruding at a predetermined height to be in contact with the lower portion of the lid is formed on one side of the tube support tray to keep the lid height of the vacuum collection tube constant. 5. The method of claim 4,
An elastic band having a predetermined elasticity is interposed in the tube through hole,
The vacuum collection tube lid separation automation device, characterized in that it further comprises a lid pressure inclined wall disposed in an inclined state on the upper side of the lid so that the lid of the vacuum collection tube moving toward the lid removal wheel is pressed.

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