WO2016017401A1 - Inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an inspection device for which cost can be reduced. An inspection device is provided with a spindle motor, a stepping motor, and a holder (61). The holder (61) is provided with a holder part (60), an opening and closing part (79), and a weight part (900). The holder part (60) is provided with a mounting part to which an inspection chip (2) can be attached and detached via a holder opening part. The spindle motor rotates the holder part (60) around a first axial center and exerts centrifugal force on the holder part (60). The stepping motor rotates the holder part (60) around a second axial center (A2) that intersects with the first axial center. The opening and closing part (79) is provided on the holder part (60) and opens and closes at least a portion of the holder opening part. The weight part (900) is provided on the holder part (60) so as to be on the opposite side of the second axial center (A2) than the opening and closing part (79).

Description

Inspection device

The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus that rotates a holder that supports an inspection chip and feeds liquid by centrifugal force.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inspection apparatus that rotates a holder that supports an inspection chip and supplies a liquid by centrifugal force is known. For example, the inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a chip holder that supports an inspection chip. The inspection chip is formed of a synthetic resin plate having a predetermined thickness. The inspection device drives the spindle motor and rotates the spindle to cause the tip holder to revolve around the axis of revolution along the vertical direction, thereby applying a centrifugal force to the inspection chip. The tip holder can rotate around the axis of rotation along the horizontal direction. The inspection apparatus drives the stepping motor to rotate the chip holder by rotating the chip holder about the axis of rotation. Thereby, the direction of the centrifugal force acting on the inspection chip is changed, and the liquid arranged in the flow path of the inspection chip is sent.

JP 2011-214897 A

In such an inspection apparatus, for example, a configuration in which an opening / closing part for opening / closing a part to which the inspection chip is mounted is provided in the chip holder is conceivable. In this case, after the opening / closing part is opened and the inspection chip is mounted on the chip holder, the opening / closing part is closed and the inspection chip is fixed to the chip holder. However, when the opening / closing part is provided in the chip holder, the opening / closing part also rotates in the same manner as the chip holder. Therefore, the center of gravity of the chip holder may be separated from the axis of rotation compared to the case where the opening / closing part is not provided. is there. When the center of gravity of the chip holder moves away from the axis of rotation, the torque for rotating the chip holder increases. In particular, since the tip holder rotates in a state in which centrifugal force is applied due to revolution, torque is generated by moving the center of gravity of the tip holder away from the axis of rotation compared to the case where the centrifugal force is not applied to the tip holder. Easy to increase. When the torque for rotating the chip holder increases, it is necessary to increase the torque of a driving unit such as a stepping motor that rotates the chip holder, which may increase the cost of the driving unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus capable of reducing the cost.

An inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a holder portion having a mounting portion to which an inspection chip can be attached and detached through a holder opening, and the holder portion is rotated about a first axis, and centrifugal force is applied to the holder portion. A first rotating mechanism for rotating, a second rotating mechanism for rotating the holder part with a direction intersecting a direction in which the first axis extends as a second axis, and at least the holder opening An opening / closing portion that partially opens and closes, and a weight portion that is provided on the holder portion and is located on the opposite side of the opening / closing portion with respect to the second axis.

In this case, since the weight part is provided on the opposite side of the opening / closing part with respect to the second axis, the holder part provided with the opening / closing part and the weight part is compared with the case where the weight part is not provided. The position of the center of gravity approaches the second axis. For this reason, compared with the case where the weight part is not provided, the torque required to rotate the holder part around the second axis is reduced. Therefore, compared with the case where the weight part is not provided, the second rotation mechanism with a small torque can be used, and the cost of the second rotation mechanism can be reduced.

In the inspection apparatus, the weight portion may be a weight that approximates a center of gravity position determined by a member including the holder portion, which is rotated by the second rotation mechanism, to the second axis. In this case, the torque required to rotate the holder portion around the second axis is reduced. Therefore, the second rotating mechanism with a small torque can be used, and the cost of the second rotating mechanism can be reduced.

The inspection apparatus includes a biasing member that is provided in the holder portion and can bias the inspection chip mounted on the mounting portion, and the weight portion has the inspection chip mounted on the mounting portion, The weight may be such that the position of the center of gravity of the holder part provided with the opening / closing part and the urging member approaches the second axis. In this case, as compared with the case where the weight portion is not provided, the inspection chip is attached to the attachment portion, and the position of the center of gravity of the holder portion provided with the opening / closing portion and the biasing member approaches the second axis. Therefore, the torque required to rotate the holder portion around the second axis is reduced. Therefore, the second rotating mechanism with a small torque can be used, and the cost of the second rotating mechanism can be reduced.

In the inspection apparatus, the weight portion may be provided in a portion of the holder portion that is closer to the first axis than the opening / closing portion. In this case, since the opening / closing part is provided in a part farther from the first axis than the weight part in the holder part, compared to the case where the opening / closing part is provided in a part closer to the first axis than the weight part. The possibility of interference between the member for rotating the holder part and the opening / closing part can be reduced.

The inspection apparatus includes a light emitting unit disposed outside a rotation orbit of the holder unit by the first rotation mechanism, and a light emitting unit disposed outside the rotation orbit, opposed to the light emitting unit, and configured to emit light from the light emitting unit. A light receiving unit that receives light and a light beam that is provided at a position farther from the first axis than the second axis in the holder unit, and transmits light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit through the inspection chip. And the opening / closing part is provided on a side farther from the first axis than the second axis, and the weight part is closer to the first axis than the second axis. May be provided. In this case, the transmission opening is provided on the side farther from the first axis than the second axis, and the weight is provided on the side closer to the second axis in the holder part. For this reason, even if the position of the weight portion is slightly displaced, the weight portion does not disturb the optical path of the light passing through the transmission opening. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the inspection accuracy is deteriorated by obstructing the optical path of the light passing through the transmission opening by the weight portion.

In the inspection apparatus, the weight portion may have a radial shape that increases in an arc shape with the second axis as a center as the distance from the second axis increases. In this case, it is possible to reduce the size of the weight portion in the direction away from the second axis as compared to the case where the weight portion is rectangular along the direction away from the second axis. Therefore, the material constituting the weight portion is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

The inspection device is provided in the opening / closing portion, and provided in the holder portion, a first engagement portion that engages with the holder portion when the opening / closing portion is in a closed position for closing the holder opening portion, A second engagement portion that engages with the first engagement portion, and the opening / closing portion rotates around a third axis in a direction along the second axis, and from the closed position, When rotating to an open position for opening the holder opening, the holder rotates in a direction away from the second axis, and the third axis is provided on a side farther from the first axis than the second axis. The second engagement portion may be provided on the first axis side with respect to the third axis and on the second axis side with respect to the third axis. In this case, since the second engagement part is provided on the second axis side with respect to the third axis, the centrifugal force acts in a direction to hold the opening / closing part in the closed position. Therefore, compared with the case where the 2nd engaging part is provided in the side far from the 2nd axis rather than the 3rd axis, it becomes difficult for an opening-and-closing part to move to an open position while centrifugal force is acting. Therefore, the possibility that the opening / closing part moves to the open position, the center of gravity of the holder part becomes far from the second axis, and the torque increases can be reduced. Therefore, the second rotating mechanism with a small torque can be used, and the cost of the second rotating mechanism can be reduced.

The inspection apparatus may include a protrusion that extends in a direction in which the first axis extends and protrudes in a direction in which the second axis extends at an end of the mounting portion that is far from the first axis. Good. In this case, when the inspection chip is mounted on the mounting portion, the inspection chip can be positioned by the protruding portion. Since the liquid flowing through the flow path of the test chip flows in the direction in which the centrifugal force acts, the measurement unit where the measurement is performed in the test chip is arranged at a position close to the end on the side far from the first axis in the mounting unit. The The protrusion is disposed at the end of the mounting portion on the side far from the first axis. For this reason, compared with the case where a protrusion part is provided in the edge part near the 1st axis in a mounting part, a protrusion part is arrange | positioned near the measurement part and a measurement part can be positioned. Therefore, the possibility that the measurement unit is displaced can be reduced, and the inspection accuracy is improved. Further, the projecting portion extends in the direction in which the first axis extends. For this reason, even if the handle part of the inspection chip protrudes from the inspection chip 2 in the first axial direction, the possibility that the protrusion part contacts the handle part can be reduced, and the accuracy of positioning the inspection chip is improved.

The inspection apparatus may include a fixing part that fixes the weight part to the holder part, and the fixing part may be located outside the mounting part in a direction orthogonal to the second axis. In this case, it is difficult for the fixing portion to protrude into the mounting portion as compared with the case where the fixing portion is provided inside the mounting portion in the direction orthogonal to the second axis. For this reason, a test | inspection chip can be hold | maintained more reliably by a mounting part, fixing a weight part to a holder part by a fixing | fixed part.

In the inspection apparatus, the weight portion may have a specific gravity greater than a portion of the holder portion where the weight portion is mounted. In this case, the weight portion can be reduced in size compared to the case where the specific gravity of the weight portion is smaller than the specific gravity of the portion of the holder portion where the weight portion is mounted. Therefore, the holder part provided with the weight part and the opening / closing part can be reduced in size.

It is a front view which shows the structure of the inspection system 3 in case a holder 61 exists in a 1st rotation angle. It is a front view which shows the structure of the test | inspection system 3 in case a holder 61 exists in a 2nd rotation angle. It is a figure which shows the top view of the test | inspection apparatus 1, and the structure of the control apparatus 90. FIG. It is a front view of the test | inspection chip 2. FIG. It is a front view of the holder 61 which has the opening-and-closing part 79 in the closed position and supported the test | inspection chip 2. FIG. It is a front view of the holder 61 which supported the test | inspection chip 2 in which the opening-and-closing part 79 exists in an open position. It is a perspective view of the holder 61 which supported the test | inspection chip 2 in which the opening-and-closing part 79 exists in a closed position. It is a front view of the holder 61 in a state where the aperture base 69 and the opening / closing part 79 are removed. 6 is a perspective view of a holder 61. FIG. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the holder 61. It is a state transition diagram of the holder 61 and the test | inspection chip 2 in a centrifugation process.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<1. Schematic structure of inspection system 3>
The schematic structure of the inspection system 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. The inspection system 3 of the present embodiment includes an inspection chip 2 that can store a sample and a reagent that are liquids, and an inspection apparatus 1 that performs an inspection using the inspection chip 2. The inspection chip 2 is supported by the holder 61 of the inspection apparatus 1. When the inspection apparatus 1 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 around the first axial center A1 in the vertical direction separated from the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2, a centrifugal force acts on the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2. When the inspection apparatus 1 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 around the horizontal second axis A2 orthogonal to the first axis A1, the centrifugal force acting in the direction of the centrifugal force acting on the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 is obtained. The direction is switched with respect to the inspection chip 2.

<2. Structure of the inspection apparatus 1>
The structure of the inspection apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the upper, lower, right, left, front side, and rear side of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are respectively the upper, lower, right, left, front, and front sides of the inspection apparatus 1. It will be backward. In the present embodiment, the direction of the first axis A1 is the vertical direction of the inspection apparatus 1, and the direction of the second axis A2 is when the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 are rotated about the first axis A1. The direction of speed. 3 shows a state where the top plate of the upper housing 30 of the inspection apparatus 1 is removed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inspection apparatus 1 includes an upper housing 30, a lower housing 31, an upper plate 32, a turntable 33, an angle changing mechanism 34, a holder 61, and a control device 90. The turntable 33 is a disk rotatably provided on the upper side of an upper plate 32 described later. The inspection chip 2 is supported by a holder 61 disposed above the turntable 33. The angle changing mechanism 34 is a drive mechanism provided on the turntable 33. The angle changing mechanism 34 rotates the inspection chip 2 by rotating the holder 61 around the second axis A2. The upper housing 30 is fixed to an upper plate 32 described later, and a measurement unit 7 shown in FIG. 3 that performs optical measurement on the inspection chip 2 is provided inside. The control device 90 is a controller that controls various processes of the inspection device 1.

The schematic structure of the lower housing 31 will be described. As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the lower housing | casing 31 has a box-shaped frame structure which combined the frame member. An upper plate 32 that is a rectangular plate material is provided on the upper surface of the lower housing 31. Inside the lower housing 31, a drive mechanism for rotating the turntable 33 around the first axis A1 is provided as follows.

A spindle motor 35 that supplies a driving force for rotating the turntable 33 is installed on the left side of the lower housing 31. A shaft 36 of the main shaft motor 35 protrudes upward, and a pulley 37 is fixed. A vertical main shaft 57 extending upward from the inside of the lower housing 31 is provided at the center of the lower housing 31. The main shaft 57 passes through the upper plate 32 and protrudes above the lower housing 31. The upper end portion of the main shaft 57 is connected to the center portion of the turntable 33.

The main shaft 57 is rotatably held by a support member 53 provided immediately below the upper plate 32. A pulley 38 is fixed to the main shaft 57 below the support member 53. A belt 39 is stretched over the pulley 37 and the pulley 38. When the main shaft motor 35 rotates the shaft 36, the driving force is transmitted to the main shaft 57 via the pulley 37, the belt 39, and the pulley 38. At this time, the turntable 33 rotates around the main shaft 57 in conjunction with the rotation of the main shaft 57.

A guide rail 56 extending in the vertical direction inside the lower housing 31 is provided on the right side in the lower housing 31. The T-shaped plate 48 is movable in the vertical direction in the lower housing 31 along the guide rail 56.

The main shaft 57 is a hollow cylindrical body. The inner shaft 40 is a shaft that can move in the vertical direction inside the main shaft 57. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner shaft 40 has a quadrangular shape when viewed from above. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper end portion of the inner shaft 40 extends through the main shaft 57 and extends above the turntable 33 and is connected to a pair of rack gears 43 described later. A bearing 41 is provided at the left end of the T-shaped plate 48. Inside the bearing 41, the lower end portion of the inner shaft 40 is rotatably held.

A stepping motor 51 for moving the T-shaped plate 48 up and down is fixed in front of the T-shaped plate 48. The shaft 58 of the stepping motor 51 protrudes rearward. A disc-shaped cam plate 59 is fixed to the tip of the shaft 58. A cylindrical projection 70 is provided on the rear surface of the cam plate 59. The tip of the protrusion 70 is inserted into the groove 83. The protrusion 70 can slide in the groove 83. When the stepping motor 51 rotates the shaft 58, the projection 70 moves up and down in conjunction with the rotation of the cam plate 59. At this time, the T-shaped plate 48 moves up and down along the guide rail 56 in conjunction with the protrusion 70 inserted in the groove 83.

The detailed structure of the angle changing mechanism 34 will be described. The angle changing mechanism 34 includes a pair of rack gears 43. The pair of rack gears 43 are metal plate-like members. As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of rack gears 43 are fixed to the upper ends of the mutually facing surfaces of the inner shaft 40. One rack gear 43 extends from the inner shaft 40 in one direction when viewed from above, and the other rack gear 43 extends in the opposite direction to the one direction side. As shown in FIG. 1, a gear 431 is formed in the vertical direction at the end of the pair of rack gears 43 opposite to the inner shaft 40 side. The rack gear 43 moves up and down as the inner shaft 40 moves up and down.

As shown in FIG. 3, support portions 47 are respectively provided on the counterclockwise direction sides of the rack gears 43 as viewed from the upper side of the inspection apparatus 1. The support part 47 supports the holder 61 rotatably. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support portion 47 includes two cylindrical portions 471, an extending portion 472, and a support shaft 473. The two cylindrical portions 471 are arranged side by side along the rack gear 43 and extend in the vertical direction. The extending portion 472 extends from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 471 in a direction away from the inner shaft 40 along the rack gear 43, and the distal end fixes the support shaft 473. The support shaft 473 extends in the clockwise direction when viewed from above, and the tip thereof is disposed inside a gear portion 76 described later formed in the holder 61. A bearing 479 shown in FIG. 9 is disposed between the support shaft 473 and the gear portion 76. The gear portion 76 meshes with the gear 431 of the rack gear 43. As the rack gear 43 moves up and down, the gear portion 76 rotates around the support shaft 473, whereby the holder 61 rotates. Therefore, the inspection chip 2 held by the holder 61 rotates around the support shaft 473.

In the present embodiment, as the spindle motor 35 rotates the turntable 33, the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 rotate around the inner shaft 40 which is a vertical axis, and the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 are centrifuged. Force acts. That is, the main shaft motor 35 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 around the first axis A <b> 1 and applies a centrifugal force to the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2. The rotation around the first axis A1 of the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 is referred to as revolution. On the other hand, as the stepping motor 51 moves the inner shaft 40 up and down, the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 rotate around the support shaft 473 that is a horizontal axis, and the centrifugal force acting on the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2. The centrifugal direction of the relative change. That is, the stepping motor 51 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 around the second axis A2. The rotation around the second axis A2 of the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 is referred to as rotation.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the T-shaped plate 48 is raised to the uppermost end of the movable range, the rack gear 43 is also raised to the uppermost end of the movable range. At this time, the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 are in a steady state where the rotation angle is 0 degree. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the state where the T-shaped plate 48 is lowered to the lowermost end of the movable range, the rack gear 43 is also lowered to the lowermost end of the movable range. At this time, the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 are rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise around the second axis A2 from the steady state. That is, in the present embodiment, the angular width in which the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 can rotate is the rotation angle of 0 degree to 90 degrees. In the following description, the rotation angle of 0 degrees may be referred to as a first rotation angle, and the rotation angle of 90 degrees may be referred to as a second rotation angle.

The detailed structure of the upper housing 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper housing 30 has a box-like frame structure in which frame members are combined, and is installed on the upper left side of the upper plate 32. The upper housing 30 is provided outside the range in which the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 are rotated as viewed from the main shaft 57 at the rotation center of the turntable 33.

The measurement unit 7 provided inside the upper housing 30 includes a light source 71 that emits measurement light, and an optical sensor 72 that faces the light source 71 and detects the measurement light emitted from the light source 71. The light source 71 and the optical sensor 72 are disposed on both the front and rear sides of the turntable 33 outside the rotation path of the inspection chip 2. In the present embodiment, the position on the left side of the main shaft 57 in the reciprocable range of the inspection chip 2 is the measurement position at which the inspection chip 2 is irradiated with the measurement light. When the inspection chip 2 is at the measurement position, the measurement light connecting the light source 71 and the optical sensor 72 intersects the front surface and the rear surface of the inspection chip 2 substantially perpendicularly.

<3. Electrical configuration of control device 90>
The electrical configuration of the control device 90 will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 90 includes a CPU 91 that performs main control of the inspection device 1, a RAM 92 that temporarily stores various data, and a ROM 93 that stores a control program. Connected to the CPU 91 are an operation unit 94 for a user to input instructions to the control device 90, a hard disk device 95 for storing various data and programs, and a display 96 for displaying various information. As the control device 90, a personal computer may be used, or a dedicated control device may be used. Further, the control device 90 may be built in the housing of the inspection device 1.

Further, a revolution controller 97, a rotation controller 98, and a measurement controller 99 are connected to the CPU 91. The revolution controller 97 controls the revolution of the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 by transmitting a control signal for rotating the spindle motor 35 to the spindle motor 35. The rotation controller 98 controls the rotation of the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 by transmitting a control signal for rotating the stepping motor 51 to the stepping motor 51. The measurement controller 99 performs the optical measurement of the inspection chip 2 by driving the measurement unit 7. The measurement controller 99 transmits a control signal for causing the light source 71 to emit light and the light sensor 72 to detect light, to the light source 71 and the light sensor 72. The CPU 91 controls the revolution controller 97, the rotation controller 98, and the measurement controller 99.

<4. Structure of inspection chip 2>
With reference to FIG. 4, the detailed structure of the test | inspection chip 2 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. In the following description, the upper, lower, left, right, front side, and back side of FIG. 4 are respectively referred to as the upper, lower, left, right, front, and rear of the inspection chip 2, respectively. To do.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inspection chip 2 has a square shape when viewed from the front as an example, and is formed from a transparent synthetic resin plate 20 having a predetermined thickness. The front surface of the plate member 20 is sealed with a sheet 291 made of a transparent synthetic resin thin plate. Between the plate member 20 and the sheet 291, a liquid channel 25 is formed through which the liquid sealed in the inspection chip 2 can flow. The liquid flow path 25 is a recess formed at a predetermined depth on the front side of the plate member 20 and extends in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, which is the thickness direction of the plate member 20. The sheet 291 seals the flow path forming surface of the plate material 20. The sheet 291 is not shown in the drawings other than FIG. The liquid channel 25 may be formed on the rear surface of the plate member 20 or may be formed on both the front surface and the rear surface.

A handle portion 27 is provided on the upper right portion of the inspection chip 2. The handle portion 27 protrudes from the inspection chip 2 in the upward direction along the direction in which the first axis A1 extends. The handle portion 27 is formed of a folded plate-like member, and is attached to the surface of the sheet 291 and the rear surface of the inspection chip 2. For this reason, the handle part 27 protrudes in the front-rear direction from the inspection chip 2 by the thickness.

The liquid flow path 25 includes the sample quantitative flow path 11, the reagent quantitative flow paths 13, 15 and the measurement unit 80. The sample quantitative flow path 11 is provided in the upper left part of the test chip 2. The reagent quantitative channel 13 is provided on the right side of the sample quantitative channel 11. The reagent quantitative channel 15 is provided on the right side of the reagent quantitative channel 13 and on the upper right part of the test chip 2. The measurement unit 80 is provided in the lower right part of the inspection chip 2.

In FIG. 4, the reference numerals common to the sample quantitative flow path 11 and the reagent quantitative flow paths 13 and 15 are described only in the sample quantitative flow path 11, and the reference numerals in the reagent quantitative flow paths 13 and 15 are omitted. The sample quantification channel 11 and the reagent quantification channels 13 and 15 include a holding unit 111, a supply unit 112, a quantification unit 114, a first guide unit 115, a second guide unit 117, and a surplus unit 116, respectively. The holding part 111 is a recessed part that opens upward. The holding unit 111 is a part where the specimen 17, the first reagent 18, or the second reagent 19 is injected and stored. The specimen 17 is a liquid containing components such as blood, plasma, blood cells, bone marrow, urine, vaginal tissue, epithelial tissue, tumor, semen, saliva, or food. In the following description, the specimen 17, the first reagent 18, and the second reagent 19 are collectively referred to as “liquid 16” or when any of them is not specified.

The supply unit 112 is a flow path extending downward from the upper right part of the holding unit 111. A quantitative unit 114 is provided below the supply unit 112. The quantification unit 114 is a part in which the liquid 16 is quantified, and is a concave part recessed in the lower left. In the following description, the quantitative units 114 provided in the specimen quantitative channel 11, the reagent quantitative channel 13, and the reagent quantitative channel 15 may be referred to as quantitative units 114A, 114B, and 114C, respectively.

From the upper part of the fixed amount unit 114, the first guide unit 115 extends in the right direction, and the second guide unit 117 extends in the left direction. The first guide part 115 is connected to a surplus part 116 provided on the lower left side of the fixed quantity part 114. The surplus part 116 is a part in which the liquid 16 moved through the second guide part 117 is accommodated, and is a concave part provided in the right direction from the lower end part of the second guide part 117.

The first guide part 115 is a flow path through which the liquid 16 quantified in the quantification part 114 moves. The first guide portion 115 extends in the right direction and then extends downward. The lower end of the first guide part 115 is connected to a measurement part 80 provided in the lower right part of the inspection chip 2. The measurement unit 80 is a recess that is recessed downward. When optical measurement to be described later is performed, measurement light is transmitted through the measurement unit 80.

<5. Other structures of inspection chip 2>
As the holder 61 rotates about the support shaft 473, the inspection chip 2 rotates about the support shaft 473. When the inspection chip 2 is in the steady state shown in FIG. 4, the upper side 21 and the lower side 24 are orthogonal to the direction of gravity G, the right side 22 and the left side 23 are parallel to the direction of gravity G, and the left side 23 Is disposed closer to the main shaft 57 than the right side portion 22. In a state where the inspection chip 2 in the steady state is arranged at the measurement position, the inspection apparatus 1 performs optical measurement by allowing the measurement light connecting the light source 71 and the optical sensor 72 to pass through the measurement unit 80.

<6. Structure of holder 61>
The holder 61 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the left side, the right side, the upper side, the lower side, the front side of the paper surface, and the back side of the paper surface in FIGS. The rear side. 1 is located on the left side of the holder 61. The first axis A1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the holder 61 includes a holder part 60, an opening / closing part 79, and a weight part 900 shown in FIG. 9. The holder unit 60 includes a holder housing 62 and an aperture base 69. The aperture base 69 is provided on the front side of the holder housing 62. A mounting portion 74 and a holder opening 75 are formed by the holder housing 62 and the aperture base 69. The mounting part 74 is a part to which the inspection chip 2 can be attached and detached. The holder opening 75 is an opening through which the inspection chip 2 is attached to and detached from the mounting portion 74.

As shown in FIG. 5, the aperture base 69 is a plate-like member attached to the front surface of the holder housing 62. An upper end 701 of the aperture base 69 extends in the left-right direction. The left and right ends of the aperture base 69 are along the outer periphery of the holder housing 62. A lower end 702 of the aperture base 69 extends in the left-right direction on the front side of a lower wall portion 64 to be described later. An aperture 694 is provided in the lower right portion of the aperture base 69. The aperture 694 is provided on the right side which is the side farther from the first axis A1 than the second axis A2. The aperture 694 transmits the measurement light emitted from the light source 71 shown in FIG. 1 toward the optical sensor 72 to the measurement unit 80 of the inspection chip 2.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a wall portion 691 protruding forward is provided on the upper right portion of the aperture base 69. The wall portion 691 includes a pair of extending wall portions 692 and an engaging wall portion 693. The pair of extending wall portions 692 are separated from each other in the left-right direction and extend in the up-down direction. The engaging wall portion 693 extends in the left-right direction and is connected to the upper ends of the pair of extending wall portions 692. The engagement wall portion 693 engages with a claw portion 802 provided on the opening / closing portion 79 described later. As shown in FIG. 6, the wall portion 691 has a left side that is closer to the first axis A1 than a third axis A3 that will be described later, and a lower side that is closer to the second axis A2 than the third axis A3 that will be described later. Is provided. An opening 695 that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front side and penetrates the aperture base 69 in the front-rear direction is provided below the engagement wall portion 693.

As shown in FIG. 8, the holder housing 62 has a rear wall 63, a lower wall 64, a first left wall 651, a second left wall 652, a right wall 66, and a pair of holdings shown in FIG. A portion 67 is provided. The rear wall part 63 forms the rear part of the holder housing 62. The rear wall 63 includes a circular hole 631 in the center as viewed from the front side. The hole 631 penetrates the rear wall 63 in the front-rear direction. A support shaft 473 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 is disposed inside the hole 631 via a bearing 479. The center of the support shaft 473 when viewed from the front side of the holder 61 is the second axis A2. The lower left surface and the lower right surface of the rear wall portion 63 are arcuate surfaces 632 and 633 formed in an arc shape with the second axis A2 as the center. The upper surface 634 and the lower surface 635 of the rear wall 63 extend in the left-right direction, and the left surface 636 and the right surface 637 extend in the up-down direction. A protruding portion 638 that protrudes upward is provided at the center and slightly to the right of the upper surface 634. As shown in FIG. 10, the protruding portion 638 abuts on an opening / closing portion 79 described later. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a gear portion 76 is provided around the hole 631 in the rear portion of the rear wall portion 63.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a hole 639 that penetrates the rear wall 63 in the front-rear direction is provided in the lower right portion of the rear wall 63. The hole 639 is a part through which light transmitted through the aperture 694 and the measurement unit 80 of the inspection chip 2 passes.

As shown in FIG. 8, a circular hole 73 is provided in the lower left part of the rear wall 63 as viewed from the front side of the holder 61 that passes through the rear wall 63 in the front-rear direction. A plurality of ribs 731 that protrude toward the inside of the hole 73 are provided inside the hole 73. A shaft portion of a fixing portion 920 described later shown in FIG. 9 is press-fitted into the hole portion 73.

The lower wall part 64, the first left wall part 651, the second left wall part 652, and the right wall part 66 protrude forward from the lower part, the left part, and the right part of the rear wall part 63, respectively. The lower wall portion 64 has a concave shape with the upper surface recessed downward as viewed from the front side. An upper end 641 of the lower wall portion 64 defines a lower end of a mounting portion 74 described later. The first left wall portion 651 and the second left wall portion 652 are separated from each other in the vertical direction. The second left wall portion 652 is located below the first left wall portion 651. The right end 653 of the first left wall portion 651 and the right end 654 of the second left wall portion 652 define the left end of the mounting portion 74 described later. The right wall 66 extends in the up-down direction. The right wall portion 66 includes a protruding portion 661 at the upper portion and a protruding portion 662 at the lower portion. The protrusions 661 and 662 protrude to the left. The protruding portions 661 and 662 define the right end of the mounting portion 74 described later.

As shown in FIG. 8, a columnar portion 649 protruding forward is provided on the left portion of the rear wall portion 63. The cylindrical portion 649 is located on the left side of the first left wall portion 651 and the second left wall portion 652. A cylindrical portion 650 protruding forward is provided at the right end portion of the rear wall portion 63. The cylindrical portion 650 is located on the right side of the right wall portion 66. The cylindrical portions 649 and 650 are provided with screw holes (not shown) for fastening the shaft portions of the screws 851 and 852, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the left and right portions of the aperture base 69 are provided with holes (not shown) that penetrate the aperture base 69 in the front-rear direction. When the aperture base 69 is attached to the holder housing 62, the shafts of the screw 851 and the screw 852 are fastened to the screw holes of the cylindrical portions 649 and 650 via the holes of the aperture base 69, respectively. The aperture base 69 is sandwiched between the head of the screw 851 and the cylindrical portion 649, and the aperture base 69 is sandwiched between the head of the screw 852 and the cylindrical portion 650, so that the aperture base 69 is held in the holder housing. It is attached to the body 62.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a rectangular parallelepiped region surrounded by the holder housing 62 and the aperture base 69 is a mounting portion 74 to which the inspection chip 2 can be attached and detached. The rear surface of the aperture base 69 is the front surface of the mounting portion 74. The front surface of the rear wall portion 63 is the rear surface of the mounting portion 74. As shown in FIG. 8, a virtual surface obtained by extending the upper end 641 of the lower wall portion 64 in the left-right direction and the upper end 641 are the lower surface of the mounting portion 74. A virtual surface obtained by extending the right end 653 of the first left wall portion 651 and the right end 654 of the second left wall portion 652 in the vertical direction and the right ends 653 and 654 are the left surface of the mounting portion 74. A virtual surface obtained by extending the protruding portions 661 and 662 of the right wall portion 66 in the vertical direction and the protruding portions 661 and 662 are the right surface of the mounting portion 74. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper end 701 and the rear wall 63 of the aperture base 69 form a holder opening 75 into which the inspection chip 2 can be inserted into the mounting portion 74. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the inspection chip 2 is held by the holder 61, the inspection chip 2 is disposed on the mounting portion 74, and the upper portion of the inspection chip 2 is exposed above the mounting portion 74.

As shown in FIG. 8, protrusions 961 and 962 are provided at the right end portion of the mounting portion 74, which is the end portion on the side far from the first axis A <b> 1 shown in FIG. 1. A protrusion 963 is provided at the left end, which is the end of the mounting portion 74 on the side close to the first axis A1 shown in FIG. 8 and 11, the range of the protrusions 961 to 963 is indicated by hatching. The protruding portions 961 to 963 extend in the vertical direction in which the first axis A1 extends, and protrude from the front surface of the rear wall portion 63 in the front direction, which is the direction in which the second axis A2 extends. As shown in FIG. 11A, when the inspection chip 2 is mounted on the mounting portion 74, the protrusions 961 to 963 abut against the rear surface of the inspection chip 2 to position the inspection chip 2.

As shown in FIG. 8, a leaf spring 698 is provided on the left portion of the holder housing 62. The leaf spring 698 extends obliquely downward to the right from a base end portion 699 located on the left side of the first left wall portion 651, and a lower end portion thereof is bent obliquely downward to the left. The lower end of the leaf spring 698 is not fixed. A lower end portion of the leaf spring 698 is located between the first left wall portion 651 and the second left wall portion 652 in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11F, when the centrifugal force X is not applied to the holder 61 and the holder 61 rotates to the first rotation angle, the gravity G is applied to the holder 61 and the inspection chip. 2 acts downward. The leaf spring 698 biases the inspection chip 2 disposed on the mounting portion 74 in the right direction orthogonal to the gravity direction in a state where the holder 61 is rotated to the first rotation angle. Further, as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11D, when the holder 61 is rotated to the first rotation angle, the centrifugal force X acts on the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 in the right direction. To do. The leaf spring 698 biases the test chip 2 disposed on the mounting portion 74 in the right direction, which is the centrifugal direction, in a state where the holder 61 is rotated to the first rotation angle. Since the inspection chip 2 is biased, the inspection chip 2 is positioned between the leaf spring 698 and the right wall 66.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pair of holding portions 67 extends upward from the upper right portion of the holder housing 62. The pair of holding portions 67 are separated from each other in the front-rear direction. A shaft 797 is spanned between the upper ends of the pair of holding portions 67. The pair of holding portions 67 rotatably supports the opening / closing portion 79 via the shaft 797.

The shaft 797 extends in the front-rear direction along the second axis A2. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the opening / closing part 79 has a closed position shown in FIG. 5 and an open position shown in FIG. 6 around the third axis A3 along the second axis A2. Can rotate between. The third axis A3 is provided on the right side, which is the side farther from the first axis A1 than the second axis A2. The opening / closing part 79 rotates in a direction away from the second axis A2 when rotating from the closed position to the open position.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the opening / closing part 79 is in the open position, the opening / closing part 79 is not positioned above the holder opening 75. Therefore, the opening / closing part 79 opens the holder opening 75 when in the open position. In this open position, the inspection chip 2 is attached to and detached from the mounting portion 74 via the holder opening 75. The opening / closing part 79 in the open position is separated from the inspection chip 2 when the inspection chip 2 is attached to and detached from the mounting part 74 via the holder opening 75. As shown in FIG. 5, when the opening / closing part 79 is in the closed position, the opening / closing part 79 is located above the right part of the holder opening 75. Therefore, the opening / closing part 79 closes a part of the holder opening 75 so that the test chip 2 cannot be removed from the mounting part 74 when in the closed position.

The opening / closing part 79 includes a pair of rotating shaft parts 794 shown in FIG. 7, an arm part 795, an engagement plate part 796, and a contact part 800 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the pair of rotating shaft portions 794 are portions that serve as the rotation center of the opening / closing portion 79. Each of the pair of rotating shaft portions 794 is a cylindrical portion extending in the front-rear direction. The pair of rotating shaft portions 794 are separated from each other in the front-rear direction. A shaft 797 is disposed in the hole inside the pair of rotating shaft portions 794. The opening / closing part 79 is rotated by rotating the rotating shaft part 794 around the axis 797.

Among the pair of rotating shaft portions 794, a plate portion 805 protruding upward is provided at the front end of the rear rotating shaft portion 794. A spring 806 is wound around the shaft 797 between the pair of rotating shaft portions 794. One end of the spring 806 is fixed to the plate portion 805, and the other end is fixed to the holder portion 60. The spring 806 biases the opening / closing part 79 in the direction from the closed position toward the open position.

The arm portion 795 is a plate-like member extending leftward from the rotating shaft portion 794 when the opening / closing portion 79 is in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 5, a contact portion 800 that protrudes downward and contacts the test chip 2 is provided on the lower surface of the arm portion 795 when the opening / closing portion 79 is in the closed position. The abutting portion 800 positions the inspection chip 2 with the upper end 641 of the lower wall portion 64 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the arm portion 795 includes an arm opening 798 penetrating vertically in a rectangular shape in plan view. When the opening / closing part 79 is in the closed position, the handle part 27 of the test chip 2 is disposed inside the arm opening part 798.

At the rear end of the arm portion 795, a protruding plate portion 799 that is a plate-like portion protruding upward is provided. The engagement plate portion 796 is a plate portion that is connected to the front end portion of the arm portion 795 and extends in the vertical direction. The upper end portion 801 of the engaging plate portion 796 is positioned above the arm portion 795 and faces the protruding plate portion 799 in the front-rear direction. The upper end portion 801 and the protruding plate portion 799 of the engagement plate portion 796 are gripped by the user when the arm portion 795 is opened and closed, for example.

As shown in FIG. 5, a claw portion 802 that protrudes rearward is provided on the lower portion of the rear surface of the engagement plate portion 796. When the opening / closing part 79 is in the closed position, the claw part 802 engages with the lower surface of the engaging wall part 693.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a weight portion 900 is attached to the lower left portion of the rear surface of the rear wall portion 63. As shown in FIG. 10, the weight portion 900 is located on the opposite side of the opening / closing portion 79 with respect to the second axis A2. The weight portion 900 is attached to a portion of the holder portion 60 that is closer to the first axis A1 than the opening / closing portion 79. The opening / closing part 79 is provided on the right side, which is farther from the first axis A1 than the second axis A2, and the weight part 900 is the left side, which is closer to the first axis A1 than the second axis A2. Is provided.

The weight portion 900 has a radial shape that increases in an arc shape with the second axis A2 as the center as the distance from the second axis A2 increases. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the weight portion 900 includes surfaces 901 to 906. The surface 901 forms a portion of the weight portion 900 on the second axis A2 side, and is curved in an arc shape centered on the second axis A2. The upper end of the surface 901 is located slightly below the second axis A2 in the vertical direction. The lower end of the surface 901 is substantially at the same position as the lower end of the gear portion 76 in the vertical direction. The surface 902 is connected to the lower end of the surface 901 and extends downward. The lower end of the surface 902 is located above the wall portion 951. The wall portion 951 is a wall portion that protrudes rearward from the lower left portion of the rear wall portion 63 and extends in the left-right direction. The surface 903 extends rightward from the lower end of the surface 902 along the wall portion 951.

The surface 904 is connected to the right end of the surface 903 and extends upward in the shape of an arc along the arc surface 632 of the rear wall 63. The surface 905 is connected to the right end of the surface 904 and extends upward along the wall portion 952. The wall portion 952 is a wall portion that protrudes rearward from the left portion of the rear wall portion 63 and extends in the vertical direction. The vertical positions of the upper end of the surface 901 and the upper end of the surface 905 are the same. The surface 906 extends in the left-right direction and is connected to the upper end of the surface 901 and the upper end of the surface 905.

A hole 908 that penetrates the weight 900 in the front-rear direction is provided at the center of the weight 900 viewed from the rear side. The shaft portion of the fixing portion 920 is press-fitted into the hole portion 73 of the rear wall portion 63 shown in FIG. 8 through the hole portion 908, the rib 731 is crushed, and the shaft portion is fixed. The weight part 900 is fixed to the holder part 60 by the weight part 900 being sandwiched between the head of the fixing part 920 and the rear surface of the rear wall part 63. The fixing portion 920 is located inside the mounting portion 74 in the front-rear and left-right directions orthogonal to the second axis A2.

The weight portion 900 has a higher specific gravity than the portion of the holder portion 60 where the weight portion 900 is mounted. The rear wall portion 63 having a portion to which the weight portion 900 is attached is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The weight part 900 is made of metal, for example.

The weight of the weight portion 900 is determined so that the position of the center of gravity determined by the member including the holder portion 60 rotated by the stepping motor 51 approaches the second axis A2. In this embodiment, the weight of the weight portion 900 is such that when the inspection chip 2 is attached to the attachment portion 74, the center of gravity of the holder portion 60 provided with the opening / closing portion 79 and the leaf spring 698 is at the second axis A2. It is determined to approach. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the weight portion 900 is not attached to the holder portion 60, when the inspection chip 2 is attached to the attachment portion 74, the holder portion provided with the opening / closing portion 79 and the leaf spring 698. The barycentric position 871 of 60 is located at the upper right of the hole 631. When the weight portion 900 is attached to the holder portion 60, when the inspection chip 2 is attached to the attachment portion 74, the gravity center position of the holder portion 60 provided with the opening / closing portion 79 and the leaf spring 698 is greater than the gravity center position 871. It is located at the center of gravity position 872 close to the second axis A2. The barycentric position 872 is located inside the hole 631.

Here, the torque T of the stepping motor 51 necessary for rotating the holder 61 when centrifugal force is applied is calculated by the following equations (1) to (7), for example.
Fc = Mc × L × ω ^ 2 (1)
Tc = Fc × y (2)
Fs = Tc / Z (3)
T1 = Fs × Rs (4)
T2 = Ff × Rs (5)
T3 = Ft × Rs (6)
T = T1 + T2 + T3 (7)

Here, Fc is a centrifugal force acting on the holder 61. Mc is the total weight of the holder 61. L is the distance between the first axis A1 and the second axis A2 in the left-right direction. ω is an angular velocity of the holder 61 around the first axis A1. y is the distance between the second axis A2 in the vertical direction and the center of gravity of the holder 61. y varies depending on the weight of the weight portion 900. Tc is the rotational torque of the holder 61. Z is a distance between the second axis A2 and the gear portion 76, that is, a value half the diameter of the pitch circle of the gear portion 76. Rs is the distance between the first axis A1 and the shaft 58 of the stepping motor 51. Fs is a force necessary for operating the rack gear 43 shown in FIG. 1 that rotates the gear portion 76 shown in FIG. Ff is a force corresponding to a coefficient of dynamic friction between the bearing 479 and the support shaft 473 due to the rotation of the main shaft. Ft is a force that operates the member connected to the stepping motor 51 that rotates the gear portion 76 shown in FIG. 1, and is a force that is necessary in addition to Fs. Ft is, for example, a force that moves the weight of members connected from the shaft 58 to the rack gear 43 shown in FIG. T1 is a torque for rotating the holder 61 in consideration of only the position of the center of gravity. T2 is a torque for only rotating the holder 61 in consideration of the friction coefficient. T3 is a torque for lifting the rack gear 43 upward.

In particular, if the position and weight of the weight portion 900 are set so that the torque T calculated by the above equations (1) to (7) is equal to or less than “1”, the torque T is larger than “1”. Thus, the number of types of stepping motors 51 that can be used increases, and the cost of the stepping motors 51 can be reduced. In this embodiment, when the weight part 900 is not attached, the center of gravity of the holder part 60 in which the inspection chip 2 is attached to the attachment part 74 and the opening / closing part 79 and the leaf spring 698 are provided is shown in FIG. At the center of gravity 871, the torque T is larger than “1”. When the weight part 900 is attached, the inspection chip 2 is attached to the attachment part 74, and the center of gravity of the holder part 60 provided with the opening / closing part 79 and the leaf spring 698 is at the center of gravity position 872 shown in FIG. Torque T is smaller than “1”. The torque T with the weight portion 900 attached may be “1” or more.

<7. Example of inspection method>
An inspection method using the inspection apparatus 1 and the inspection chip 2 will be described. In FIG. 11, the aperture base 69 and the handle 27 are not shown. As shown in FIG. 4, the sample 17 is disposed in the holding unit 111 of the sample fixed amount flow channel 11. The first reagent 18 is disposed in the holding part 111 of the reagent fixed amount flow path 13. The second reagent 19 is arranged in the holding part 111 of the reagent fixed amount flow path 15.

The user arranges the inspection chip 2 on the mounting portion 74 through the holder opening 75 from the upper side of the holder 61 having the first rotation angle and the opening / closing portion 79 in the open position. As a result, the test chip 2 is supported by the holder 61 as shown in FIG. The user rotates the opening / closing part 79 from the open position shown in FIG. 6 to the closed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 11A. As shown in FIG. 11A, the test chip 2 is pushed to the right by the urging force of the leaf spring 698 and positioned in contact with the projecting portions 661 and 662. Further, the contact portion 800 of the opening / closing portion 79 contacts the upper surface of the inspection chip 2 and positions the inspection chip 2 between the upper end 641 of the lower wall portion 64. The protrusions 961, 962, and 963 are in contact with the rear surface of the inspection chip 2, and position the inspection chip 2 with respect to the aperture base 69 shown in FIG.

The user inputs a process start command from the operation unit 94. Thereby, the CPU 91 executes the following centrifugation process based on the control program stored in the ROM 93. The inspection apparatus 1 can inspect two inspection chips 2 at the same time. For convenience of explanation, a procedure for inspecting one inspection chip 2 will be described below. In the following description, when the CPU 91 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 from the first rotation angle to the second rotation angle, the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 are viewed from the front centering on the second axis A2. Rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise. Further, when the CPU 91 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 from the second rotation angle to the first rotation angle, the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 are rotated 90 degrees clockwise around the second axis A2 as viewed from the front. Rotate degrees. Further, the first axis A <b> 1 is located on the opposite side of the direction in which the centrifugal force X acts on the holder 61.

The CPU 91 reads motor driving information stored in advance in the HDD 95, sets driving information of the spindle motor 35 in the revolution controller 97, and sets driving information of the stepping motor 51 in the rotation controller 98. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 are in a steady state and have a first rotation angle. Next, the CPU 91 shown in FIG. 3 controls the revolution controller 97 to start driving the spindle motor 35. As a result, the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 having the first rotation angle revolve. The spindle motor 35 increases the rotation speed of the turntable 33 to the speed V based on an instruction from the revolution controller 97. The speed V is, for example, 3000 rpm. The CPU 91 keeps the rotation speed of the spindle motor 35 at the speed V. As shown in FIG. 11B, a centrifugal force X acts on the holder 61 in the right direction. For this reason, the centrifugal force X acts on the test chip 2 from the left side 23 toward the right side 22. By the action of the centrifugal force X, the liquid 16 moves from the holding unit 111 to the supply unit 112.

CPU91 controls the rotation controller 98 and drives the stepping motor 51. Then, the CPU 91 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 to the second rotation angle shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11C, centrifugal force X acts on the holder 61 in the downward direction. For this reason, the centrifugal force X acts on the test chip 2 from the upper side portion 21 toward the lower side portion 24. Due to the action of the centrifugal force X, the liquid 16 flows from the supply unit 112 to the determination unit 114. The liquid 16 overflowing in the fixed amount unit 114 flows to the surplus part 116 via the second guide part 117. For this reason, the sample 17, the first reagent 18, and the second reagent 19 for the respective volumes of the quantification units 114A, 114B, and 114C are quantified.

CPU91 controls the rotation controller 98 and drives the stepping motor 51. Then, the CPU 91 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 to the first rotation angle shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11D, centrifugal force X acts on the holder 61 in the right direction. For this reason, the centrifugal force X acts on the test chip 2 from the left side 23 toward the right side 22. The sample 17, the first reagent 18, and the second reagent 19 quantified by the quantification unit 114 by the action of the centrifugal force X pass through the first guide unit 115 to the right side of the test chip 2, that is, the measurement unit 80. And move to the upper side of the measuring unit 80. The specimen 17, the first reagent 18, and the second reagent 19 are mixed by the action of the centrifugal force X, and a mixed liquid 26 is generated.

CPU91 controls the rotation controller 98 and drives the stepping motor 51. Then, the CPU 91 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 to the second rotation angle shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11E, centrifugal force X acts on the holder 61 in the downward direction. For this reason, the centrifugal force X acts on the test chip 2 from the upper side portion 21 toward the lower side portion 24. Due to the action of the centrifugal force X, the liquid mixture 26 moves to the measuring unit 80.

CPU91 controls the rotation controller 98 and drives the stepping motor 51. As shown in FIG. 11 (F), the CPU 91 rotates the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 to the first rotation angle. In addition, the CPU 91 controls the revolution controller 97 to stop the rotation of the spindle motor 35. Therefore, the revolution of the holder 61 and the inspection chip 2 is completed. Centrifugation is terminated.

After execution of the centrifugal process, the CPU 91 controls the revolution controller 97 to rotate the inspection chip 2 to the angle of the measurement position. The leaf spring 698 urges the inspection chip 2 to the right and the contact portion 800 contacts the upper surface of the inspection chip 2 so that the inspection chip 2 is positioned. Therefore, the measurement unit 80 performs measurement after passing through the aperture 694. It completely includes the region 82 shown in FIG. 4 through which light passes. Therefore, when the measurement controller 99 shown in FIG. 3 causes the light source 71 to emit light, the measurement light is irradiated to the measurement unit 80 of the inspection chip 2 via the aperture 694 shown in FIG. The measurement light is received by the optical sensor 72 through the liquid mixture 26 stored in the measurement unit 80 and the hole 639 shown in FIG. The CPU 91 performs optical measurement of the liquid mixture 26 based on the change amount of the measurement light received by the optical sensor 72 and acquires measurement data. CPU91 calculates the measurement result of the liquid mixture 26 based on the acquired measurement data. The inspection result of the mixed liquid 26 based on the measurement result is displayed on the display 96 shown in FIG. In addition, the measuring method of the liquid mixture 26 is not restricted to an optical measurement, Other methods may be used.

As described above, the inspection by the inspection apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is performed. In the present embodiment, since the weight portion 900 is provided on the opposite side of the opening / closing portion 79 with respect to the second axis A2, the opening / closing portion 79 and the weight portion are compared with the case where the weight portion 900 is not provided. The position of the center of gravity of the holder portion 60 provided with 900 approaches the second axis A2. For this reason, compared with the case where the weight part 900 is not provided, the torque required in order to rotate the holder part 60 centering on 2nd axial center A2 becomes small. Therefore, compared with the case where the weight part 900 is not provided, the stepping motor 51 having a small torque can be used, and the cost of the stepping motor 51 can be reduced.

In the present invention, the cost reduction is not limited to the cost reduction of the stepping motor 51 itself. For example, in the above embodiment, the stepping motor 51 having a small torque can be used, so that the power consumption of the stepping motor 51 can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, providing the weight portion 900 increases the load on the spindle motor 35. However, the amount of increase relative to the weight portion 900 relative to the total load applied to the spindle motor 35, such as a load that rotates the turntable 33, is as follows. small. The force from the centrifugal force generated by the positional deviation between the center of gravity and the second axis A2 is greater than the weight generated in the weight portion 900. Therefore, by providing the weight part 900, the center of gravity of the holder part 60 can be brought closer to the second axis A2, whereby the cost can be further reduced.

If the torque required to rotate the holder portion 60 around the second axis A2 is reduced, the rigidity between the components constituting the holder 61 and the components supporting the holder 61 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost by using parts with low rigidity.

The weight of the weight portion 900 is determined such that when the inspection chip 2 is attached to the attachment portion 74, the position of the center of gravity of the holder portion 60 provided with the opening / closing portion 79 and the leaf spring 698 approaches the second axis A2. It is weight. For this reason, compared with the case where the weight part 900 is not provided, the position of the center of gravity of the holder 61 which is the holder part 60 in which the inspection chip 2 is attached to the attachment part 74 and the opening / closing part 79 and the leaf spring 698 are provided is. It approaches the second axis A2. Therefore, the torque required to rotate the holder 61 around the second axis A2 is reduced. Therefore, the stepping motor 51 having a small torque can be used, and the cost of the stepping motor 51 can be reduced.

A member for rotating the holder part 60, for example, an inner shaft 40 shown in FIG. 3, is arranged on the first axis A1 side of the holder part 60. For this reason, if the opening / closing part 79 is provided in a part closer to the first axis A1 than the weight part 900, when the opening / closing part 79 rotates, a member for rotating the holder part 60 and the opening / closing part 79 May interfere. In the present embodiment, the opening / closing part 79 is provided at a position farther from the first axis A <b> 1 than the weight part 900 in the holder part 60. For this reason, compared with the case where the opening / closing part 79 is provided closer to the first axis A1 than the weight part 900, there is a possibility that the member for rotating the holder part 60 and the opening / closing part 79 interfere with each other. Can be reduced.

The aperture 694 is provided on the side farther from the first axis A1 than the second axis A2, and the weight part 900 is provided on the holder part 60 on the side closer to the second axis A2. For this reason, even if the position of the weight portion 900 in the holder portion 60 is slightly displaced, the weight portion 900 does not disturb the optical path of the light passing through the aperture 694. Therefore, the possibility that the weight portion 900 interferes with the optical path of the light passing through the aperture 694 and the inspection accuracy is lowered can be reduced.

The weight portion 900 has a radial shape that increases in an arc shape with the second axis A2 as the center as the distance from the second axis A2 increases. For this reason, compared with the case where the weight part 900 is rectangular along the direction away from the second axis A2, the weight part 900 can be downsized in the direction away from the second axis A2. Therefore, the material constituting the weight portion 900 is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

If the engagement wall portion 693 is provided on the side farther from the second axis A2 than the third axis A3 in the vertical direction, the centrifugal force X acts in a direction to move the opening / closing portion 79 to the open position. For example, it is assumed that there is an engagement wall portion 693 at a position P1 shown in FIG. In this case, a line segment L1 connecting the engagement wall portion 693 and the third axis A3 extends obliquely upward and leftward from the third axis A3. For this reason, when the centrifugal force X acts in the right direction, the opening / closing portion 79 tends to rotate in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front side as indicated by an arrow 861. Therefore, the engagement between the claw portion 802 and the engagement wall portion 693 is released, and the opening / closing portion 79 may rotate to the open position. In the present embodiment, since the engaging wall portion 693 is provided on the second axis A2 side from the third axis A3 in the vertical direction, the centrifugal force X acts in a direction to hold the opening / closing portion 79 in the closed position. To do. More specifically, a line segment L2 connecting the third axis A3 and the engagement wall 693 extends obliquely downward and leftward from the third axis A3. Therefore, when the centrifugal force X acts in the right direction, the opening / closing portion 79 tends to rotate in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the front side as indicated by an arrow 862. Therefore, the opening / closing part 79 is held in the closed position. Therefore, compared with the case where the engagement wall portion 693 is provided on the side farther from the second axis A2 than the third axis A3, the opening / closing portion 79 moves to the open position while the centrifugal force X is acting. It becomes difficult to do. Accordingly, the possibility that the opening / closing part 79 moves to the open position and the center of gravity of the holder part 60 becomes far from the second axis A2 and the torque increases can be reduced. Therefore, the stepping motor 51 having a small torque can be used, and the cost of the stepping motor 51 can be reduced.

Compared with the case where the engagement wall portion 693 is provided on the side farther from the second axis A2 than the third axis A3 in the vertical direction, the open / close portion 79 is less likely to move to the open position, and the inspection chip 2 is held in the holder. The portion 60 can be securely held. Therefore, the inspection can be performed in a state where the inspection chip 2 is held in the holder portion 60, and the inspection accuracy is improved.

The inspection chip 2 can be positioned by the protrusions 961 and 962. The liquid 16 flowing through the liquid channel 25 of the inspection chip 2 flows in the direction in which the centrifugal force X acts. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11 (F), the measurement unit 80 in which the measurement is performed in the test chip 2 is disposed at a position close to the right end, which is the end far from the first axis A1 in the mounting unit 74. Is done. The protrusions 961 and 962 are arranged at the right end portion, which is the end portion on the side far from the first axis A1 in the mounting portion 74. Therefore, the protrusions 961 and 962 are disposed near the measurement unit 80 as compared with the case where the protrusions 961 and 962 are provided at the left end that is the end of the mounting portion 74 on the side close to the first axis A1. Thus, the measuring unit 80 can be positioned. Therefore, the possibility that the measurement unit 80 is displaced can be reduced, and the inspection accuracy is improved. Further, the projecting portions 961 and 962 extend in the vertical direction in which the first axis A1 extends. For this reason, compared with the case where the protrusions 961 and 962 extend in a direction different from the vertical direction in which the first axis A1 extends, the protrusions 961 and 962 contact the handle portion 27 of the test chip 2 extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, the accuracy of positioning the inspection chip 2 is improved.

The weight portion 900 has a specific gravity greater than that of the rear wall portion 63 that is a portion of the holder portion 60 where the weight portion 900 is mounted. For this reason, compared with the case where the specific gravity of the weight part 900 is smaller than the specific gravity of the site | part to which the weight part 900 in the holder part 60 is mounted | worn, the weight part 900 can be reduced in size. Therefore, the holder part 60 provided with the weight part 900 and the opening / closing part 79 can be reduced in size.

In the above embodiment, the spindle motor 35 is an example of the first rotation mechanism of the present invention. The stepping motor 51 is an example of a second rotation mechanism of the present invention. The leaf spring 698 is an example of the biasing member of the present invention. The light source 71 is an example of a light emitting unit of the present invention. The optical sensor 72 is an example of a light receiving unit of the present invention. The aperture 694 is an example of the transmission opening of the present invention. The claw portion 802 is an example of the first engagement portion of the present invention. The engagement wall portion 693 is an example of the second engagement portion of the present invention.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A various change is possible. For example, the specific gravity of the weight portion 900 may be larger than the portion of the holder portion 60 where the weight portion 900 is mounted. Further, the protrusions 961 to 963 shown in FIG. 8 may not be provided. Further, the handle 27 may not be provided on the inspection chip 2.

The fixing portion 920 may be positioned outside the mounting portion 74 in the front-rear and left-right directions orthogonal to the second axis A2. In this case, for example, as shown at a position 841 in FIG. 10, the fixing portion 920 may be positioned below the mounting portion 74 shown in FIG. As in a position 842 in FIG. 10, the fixing portion 920 may be located on the left side of the mounting portion 74 shown in FIG. In this case, it is difficult for the fixing portion 920 to protrude into the mounting portion 74 as compared with the case where the fixing portion 920 is provided inside the mounting portion 74 in the direction orthogonal to the second axis A2. For this reason, the test | inspection chip 2 can be hold | maintained more reliably by the mounting part 74, fixing the weight part 900 to the holder part 60 by the fixing | fixed part 920. FIG.

The fixing unit 920 may not be provided. For example, the weight portion 900 may be attached to the holder portion 60 with an adhesive. The third axis A3 may be provided closer to the first axis A1 than the second axis A2. The engagement wall portion 693 may be directed to the side farther from the first axis A1 than the third axis A3. The engagement wall 693 may be provided on the side farther from the second axis A2 than the third axis A3. The opening / closing part 79 may rotate around an axis in a direction different from the second axis A2. That is, the third axis A3 may not be along the second axis A2. The opening / closing part 79 may rotate in a direction approaching the second axis A2 when moving from the closed position to the open position. The opening / closing part 79 may be provided closer to the first axis A1 than the second axis A2. The opening / closing part 79 may close at least a part of the holder opening 75, and may close the entire holder opening 75. The second axis A2 only needs to intersect the first axis A1, and does not have to be orthogonal.

The shape of the weight portion 900 is not limited. For example, the weight portion 900 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape or may have a circular shape when viewed from the rear side. The weight part 900 may be located on the opposite side of the opening / closing part 79 with respect to the second axis A2, and the position where the weight part 900 is provided in the holder part 60 is not limited. For example, the weight portion 900 may be provided on the side farther from the first axis A1 than the second axis A2. The aperture 694 may be provided closer to the first axis A1 than the second axis A2. The weight portion 900 may not be formed separately from the holder portion 60. The weight part 900 only needs to be provided in the holder part 60. For example, the part on the opposite side of the opening / closing part 79 with respect to the second axis A2 in the rear wall part 63 protrudes rearward. May be formed. Also in this case, the center of gravity determined by the member including the holder portion 60 can be brought closer to the second axis A2 than in the case where the weight portion is not provided.

The weight portion 900 only needs to have a weight that allows the center of gravity determined by the member including the holder portion 60 rotated by the stepping motor 51 to approach the second axis A2. For example, when the leaf spring 698 is not provided, the weight portion 900 has a weight that allows the center of gravity of the holder portion 60 provided with the inspection chip 2 to be attached to the attachment portion 74 and provided with the opening / closing portion 79 to approach the second axis A2. If it is. Even in this case, the torque required to rotate the holder 61 around the second axis A2 is smaller than when the weight portion 900 is not provided. Therefore, the stepping motor 51 having a small torque can be used, and the cost of the stepping motor 51 can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inspection apparatus 2 Inspection chip 3 Inspection system 60 Holder part 69 Aperture base 71 Light source 72 Optical sensor 74 Mounting part 75 Holder opening part 79 Opening / closing part 694 Aperture 698 Leaf spring 802 Claw part 900 Weight part 920 Fixed part 961, 962, 963 Projection Part A1 First axis A2 Second axis A3 Third axis

Claims (10)

1. A holder portion having a mounting portion to which the inspection chip can be attached and detached via the holder opening,
   A first rotation mechanism that rotates the holder part around a first axis and applies a centrifugal force to the holder part;
   A second rotation mechanism that rotates the holder portion with a direction intersecting a direction in which the first axis extends as a second axis;
   An opening / closing part provided in the holder part, for opening and closing at least a part of the holder opening;
   An inspection apparatus comprising: a weight portion provided on the holder portion and positioned on the opposite side of the opening / closing portion with respect to the second axis.
2. 2. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weight portion has a weight that brings a center of gravity determined by a member including the holder portion rotated by the second rotation mechanism closer to the second axis.
3. An urging member provided on the holder portion and capable of urging the inspection chip attached to the attachment portion;
   The weight portion has a weight that allows the center of gravity of the holder portion provided with the opening / closing portion and the biasing member to be close to the second axis when the inspection chip is attached to the attachment portion. The inspection apparatus according to claim 2.
4. The inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the weight portion is provided at a position closer to the first axis than the opening / closing portion in the holder portion.
5. A light emitting part disposed outside the rotation orbit of the holder part by the first rotation mechanism;
   A light receiving portion that is disposed outside the rotation path, faces the light emitting portion, and receives light from the light emitting portion;
   A transmission opening provided in a portion of the holder portion that is farther from the first axis than the second axis and transmits light emitted from the light emitting portion toward the light receiving portion to the inspection chip; Prepared,
   The opening / closing part is provided on a side farther from the first axis than the second axis,
   The inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the weight portion is provided closer to the first axis than the second axis.
6. 6. The inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the weight portion has a radial shape that increases in an arc shape with the second axis as a center as the distance from the second axis increases.
7. A first engagement portion that is provided in the opening and closing portion and engages with the holder portion when the opening and closing portion is in a closed position that closes the holder opening;
   A second engagement portion provided on the holder portion and engaged with the first engagement portion;
   When the opening / closing portion rotates around a third axis in the direction along the second axis and rotates from the closed position to an open position that opens the holder opening, the second axis Rotate away from
   The third axis is provided on a side farther from the first axis than the second axis;
   The second engagement portion is provided on the first axis side with respect to the third axis and on the second axis side with respect to the third axis. The inspection apparatus in any one.
8. The end portion of the mounting portion on the side far from the first axis is provided with a projecting portion that extends in a direction in which the first axis extends and projects in a direction in which the second axis extends. Item 8. The inspection device according to any one of Items 1 to 7.
9. A fixing part for fixing the weight part to the holder part;
   The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is positioned outside the mounting portion in a direction orthogonal to the second axis.
10. 10. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weight portion has a specific gravity greater than a portion of the holder portion where the weight portion is mounted.

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