WO2020040165A1

WO2020040165A1 - Specimen holder conveyance line and specimen inspection automation system

Info

Publication number: WO2020040165A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/032541
Authority: WO
Inventors: 一真田村; 神原　克宏; 正史遠藤
Original assignee: 株式会社日立ハイテクノロジーズ
Priority date: 2018-08-23
Filing date: 2019-08-21
Publication date: 2020-02-27
Also published as: JPWO2020040165A1; CN112534272A; JP7163394B2; CN112534272B

Abstract

The present invention enables transfer of a specimen holder between conveyance lines which have different conveyance directions, without using a new driving mechanism. This specimen holder conveyance line is provided with: a first conveyance line for conveying a specimen holder in a first direction; a second conveyance line for conveying the specimen holder in a second direction different from the first direction; and a passage port which is provided between the first conveyance line and the second conveyance line and through which the specimen holder passes. The specimen holder conveyance line is characterized by being further provided with an inclined guide that is inclined with respect to the first conveyance line so as to guide the specimen holder to the passage port, wherein: when the specimen holder comes into contact with the inclined guide, the inclined guide is pushed out or warped by the conveyance force of the first conveyance line; and, in accordance with movement of the specimen holder along the inclined guide, the inclined guide is returned to the original state so that the specimen holder passes through the passage port and is transferred to the second conveyance line.

Description

Sample holder transport line and sample test automation system

The present invention relates to a sample holder transport line provided in a sample test automation system, and particularly to a mechanism for changing the transport direction of a sample holder.

At hospitals and testing facilities, samples such as blood and urine provided by patients are analyzed by analyzers for clinical tests. Prior to the analysis, in the sample test automation system, preprocessing such as centrifugation, opening, and dispensing is performed on the sample, and the sample after the preprocessing is transported to the analyzer. A sample holder capable of mounting a single sample container containing a sample is used for transporting the sample in the sample test automation system. The direction of the holder is changed.

Patent Document 1 discloses a transfer direction changing device including a direction change mechanism that transfers a test tube holder corresponding to a sample holder between two transfer paths that are different in transfer direction and are parallel at a predetermined interval. I have. The direction changing mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an apparatus that opens and closes a transfer path by operating a cylinder, and performs a test between two transfer paths by using a rotating body with a magnet that attracts a holder engaging / disconnecting rod or a test tube holder that is rotated by a motor. Deliver the tube holder.

JP 2005-263478 A

However, in Patent Literature 1, since the holder engaging and disengaging rod rotated by the motor and the rotating body with the magnet are arranged between the two transport paths, it is necessary to secure a space for them. In addition, since a driving mechanism such as an actuator for driving the direction changing mechanism is required, the cost of the apparatus is increased and the control is complicated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sample holder transfer line capable of transferring a sample holder between transfer lines having different transfer directions without using a new drive mechanism, and a sample test automation system including the same. .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first transport line that transports a sample holder in a first direction, and a second transport line that transports the sample holder in a second direction that is different from the first direction. A transport line, a sample holder transport line that is provided between the first transport line and the second transport line and includes a passage through which the sample holder passes, wherein the sample holder is guided to the passage. As described above, the apparatus further includes an inclined guide that is arranged to be inclined with respect to the first transport line, and when the sample holder contacts the inclined guide, the inclined guide is pushed out by the transport force of the first transport line. As the specimen holder moves along the inclined guide, the inclined guide returns to its original state, so that the specimen holder passes through the passage opening and Characterized in that it is transferred to the second conveying line.

Also, the present invention is a sample test automation system for performing pre-processing on a sample, wherein the system is provided with the sample holder transport line.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sample holder transfer line capable of transferring a sample holder between transfer lines having different transfer directions without using a new drive mechanism, and a sample test automation system including the same.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a structure of a sample test automation system. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a structure of a sample transfer apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a turn mechanism according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating delivery of a sample holder in an acute angle direction by the turn mechanism according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a turn mechanism according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a turn mechanism according to a third embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the sample holder transport line and the sample test automation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and the accompanying drawings, components having the same functional configuration will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

A configuration example of the sample test automation system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. When a sample container containing a sample such as blood or urine is loaded, the sample test automation system 1 performs preprocessing such as centrifugation, opening, and dispensing, and transports the preprocessed sample to the analyzer 5. The system includes a pre-processing system 3, a sample transfer device 2, and a holder transport system 4. The sample test automation system 1 also collects samples after analysis.

The pre-processing system 3 mounts the sample container loaded by the operator on the sample holder, and conveys the sample holder on which the sample container is mounted to each pre-processing unit by a conveyance device such as a belt conveyor. This is a system for performing pre-processing. One sample container is mounted on the sample holder of the present embodiment. The pretreated sample container is transported to the holder transport system 4 while being mounted on the sample holder.

The holder transport system 4 is a system for connecting between the preprocessing system 3 and the sample transfer device 2, and is connected to a plurality of sample transfer devices 2 according to a layout in the sample test automation system 1. The sample holder on which the sample container is mounted is transferred to the sample transfer device 2 via the holder transfer system 4.

The sample transfer device 2 transfers the sample container mounted on the sample holder to a sample rack on which a plurality of sample containers are mounted. For example, five sample containers are mounted on the sample rack. The sample rack on which the plurality of sample containers have been transferred is transported to the analyzer 5, and the analyzer 5 executes an analysis process. The sample transfer device 2 of the present embodiment has a sample buffer line capable of holding a plurality of transported sample holders in case of an abnormal stop in the analyzer 5 or a suspension of the analysis process due to maintenance or the like. Since the sample buffer line can hold a large number of sample holders in a space-saving manner, it is preferable that the sample holder can be transferred between transport lines having different transport directions.

(4) The sample transfer device 2 will be further described with reference to FIG. First, a process until a sample container mounted on a sample holder is transported to the analyzer 5 will be described. The sample holder transferred from the holder transfer system 4 is transferred to the sample transfer line 10 of the sample transfer device 2 and stopped at the holder-side transfer position 25 by the holder stopping mechanism 14. The sample carrying line 10 is, for example, a belt conveyor and keeps moving in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 except when the sample test automation system 1 and the analyzer 5 are stopped. Other lines described later are the same as the sample loading line 10. The holder stopping mechanism 14 includes, for example, a bar that protrudes onto the sample carrying line 10 when the sample holder is stopped, and the bar blocks the sample holder and slides on the sample carrying line 10. Other stop mechanisms described later are the same as the holder stop mechanism 14.

The sample container mounted on the sample holder stopped at the holder-side transfer position 25 is gripped by the transfer arm 22 and transferred from the holder-side transfer position 25 to the sample rack 27 arranged at the rack-side transfer position 26. Is done. The sample rack 27 is supplied in advance from the rack supply lane 21 that holds the plurality of sample racks 27 to the rack-side transfer position 26. The sample rack 27 on which the sample containers are mounted at the rack-side transfer position 26 is unloaded from the sample transfer device 2 by the rack transport line 20 and is loaded into the analyzer 5 through the analyzer transfer line 28. The sample holder that has been emptied by removing the sample container at the holder-side transfer position 25 is restarted to be transported on the sample loading line 10 and is unloaded to the holder transport system 4 via the

holder unloading lines

13a and 13b. Is done.

Next, the sample buffer line of the sample transfer device 2 will be described. The sample buffer line has a buffer carry-in line 11, a buffer carry-out line 12, a holder branching mechanism 15, a holder stop mechanism 16, a turn mechanism 17, and a holder stop mechanism 29. The buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12 are transfer lines capable of holding a plurality of sample holders, and have different transfer directions as indicated by arrows in FIG. The holder branching mechanism 15 controls whether the sample holder conveyed from the holder conveyance system 4 is carried into the buffer carry-in line 11 or goes straight on the sample carry-in line 10 by opening and closing a guide. The sample holder carried into the buffer carrying line 11 is blocked by the holder stopping mechanism 16 and held in the buffer carrying line 11 until it is released from the holder stopping mechanism 16. The sample holder released from the holder stopping mechanism 16 is transferred to the buffer unloading line 12 by a turn mechanism 17 described later with reference to FIG. 3, is blocked by the holder stopping mechanism 29, and is held in the buffer unloading line 12. The sample holder released from the holder stop mechanism 29 or the sample holder that has moved straight on the sample carrying line 10 stops at the holder-side transfer position 25 as described above, and the sample container is transferred to the sample rack 27. You.

(3) The turn mechanism 17 which is a main part of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the holder stopping mechanism 16 blocks a plurality of sample holders 100 and releases one sample holder 101. Further, between the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12, a passage port 45 having a size that allows the sample holder 100 to pass through, that is, a size larger than the diameter of the sample holder 100 is provided. The upstream end of the buffer inlet line 11 of the passage 45 is preferably rounded so that the sample holder 100 can pass through the passage 45 smoothly.

The turn mechanism 17 has a rotating shaft 40, an inclined guide 41, and a torsion spring 42. One end of an inclined guide 41 is rotatably supported on the rotating shaft 40, and one end of a torsion spring 42 is fixed. The rotating shaft 40 is provided on the buffer carry-out line 12 and on the downstream side of the buffer carry-in line 11 with respect to the passage opening 45. The inclined guide 41 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the buffer carry-in line 11 so as to close the passage opening 45, and has a length enough to block the sample holder 100, for example, a length exceeding twice the diameter of the sample holder 100. Having. The torsion spring 42 is connected to the rotation shaft 40 and the inclined guide 41. In a state before the sample holder 101 is released from the holder stopping mechanism 16, a state in which the passage opening 45 is closed by the elastic force of the torsion spring 42 like the inclined guide (closed) 41 a indicated by a dotted line in FIG. The inclination guide 41 is stationary.

When the sample holder 101 is released from the holder stopping mechanism 16, the sample holder 101 transported by the buffer carry-in line 11 comes into contact with the inclined guide 41. After the contact of the sample holder 101, the inclined guide 41 is pushed out by the transport force of the buffer carry-in line 11, and the passage opening 45 is opened like the inclined guide (open) 41b in FIG. At this time, since the inclined guide 41 is inclined with respect to the transport direction of the buffer carry-in line 11, the sample holder 101 moves so as to be guided to the passage 45 along the inclined guide 41. The contact position between the sample holder 101 and the inclined guide 41 changes while the sample holder 101 moves to the passage port 45, and the moment force applied to the inclined guide 41 decreases as the contact position approaches the passage port 45. That is, as the specimen holder 101 approaches the passage port 45, the force of the specimen holder 101 pushing out the inclined guide 41 becomes weaker. Therefore, the elastic force of the torsion spring 42 causes the inclined guide 41 to return to the inclined guide (closed) 41a state. When the inclined guide 41 returns to the original state, the sample holder 101 guided to the passage port 45 is pushed out to the buffer carry-out line 12, and the transfer of the sample holder 101 from the buffer carry-in line 11 to the buffer carry-out line 12 is completed. I do. The transferred sample holder 101 is transported by the buffer unloading line 12.

According to the present embodiment, the inclined guide 41 pushed out by the transfer force of the buffer carry-in line 11 guides the sample holder 101 to the passage port 45, and returns to the original state by the elastic force of the torsion spring 42. It is pushed out to the buffer unloading line 12. That is, the sample holder 101 can be transferred between the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12 having different transport directions without using a new driving mechanism.

Note that the spring coefficient of the torsion spring 42 is such that the sample holder 101 guided to the passage port 45 can be pushed out to the buffer carry-out line 12 and the inclined guide 41 is pushed out by the contact of the sample holder 101 on the buffer carry-in line 11. It is desirable to be within the range.

バッファ Further, the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12 are not limited to the parallel arrangement. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, even when the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12 intersect at an acute angle, the sample is transferred from the buffer carry-in line 11 to the buffer carry-out line 12 by the turn mechanism 17 of this embodiment. The holder 101 can be delivered.

In the first embodiment, the turning mechanism 17 having the inclined guide 41 that returns to the position where the passage opening 45 is closed by the elastic force of the torsion spring 42 having one end fixed to the rotating shaft 40 has been described. The turn mechanism is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, a turn mechanism having a tension spring at the tip of the movable side of the inclined guide will be described. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

(5) The turn mechanism 60 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The turn mechanism 60 has a rotating shaft 61, an inclined guide 62, and a pull spring 63. One end of an inclined guide 62 is rotatably supported on the rotating shaft 61. Note that the rotation shaft 61 is provided on the buffer carry-in line 11 and downstream of the passage opening 45 with respect to the buffer carry-in line 11. The inclined guide 62 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the buffer carry-in line 11 so as to close the passage opening 45, and has a length enough to block the sample holder 102, for example, a length exceeding twice the diameter of the sample holder 102. Having. A tension spring 63 is attached between the other end of the inclined guide 62 and the side of the buffer carrying line 11.

5A, before the sample holder 102 comes into contact with the inclined guide 62 as shown in FIG. 5A, the inclined guide 62 is stopped by the elastic force of the pull spring 63 so as to close the passage opening 45. The sample holder 102 is transported by the buffer carry-in line 11, and when the sample holder 102 comes into contact with the inclined guide 62 as shown in FIG. 5B, the inclined guide 62 is pushed out by the transport force of the buffer carry-in line 11. Since the inclined guide 62 is still inclined with respect to the buffer carry-in line 11 after being pushed out, the sample holder 102 moves so as to be guided to the passage port 45 along the inclined guide 62. As the sample holder 102 approaches the passage opening 45, the force by which the sample holder 102 pushes out the inclined guide 62 is weakened, and the elastic guide spring 63 attempts to return to a state where the inclined guide 62 closes the passage opening 45. When the inclined guide 62 returns to the original state, the sample holder 102 guided to the passage port 45 is pushed out to the buffer discharge line 12, and the transfer of the sample holder 102 from the buffer load line 11 to the buffer discharge line 12 is completed. I do.

According to the present embodiment, the inclined guide 62 pushed out by the transport force of the buffer carry-in line 11 guides the sample holder 102 to the passage port 45, and returns to the original state by the elastic force of the pull spring 63, whereby the sample holder 102 It is pushed out to the buffer unloading line 12. That is, the sample holder 102 can be transferred between the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12 having different transport directions without using a new driving mechanism.

As with the torsion spring 42 of the first embodiment, the spring coefficient of the pull spring 63 can push out the sample holder 102 guided to the passage port 45 to the buffer carry-out line 12 and contact the sample guide 102 with the tilt guide 41. Is desirably within the range of being extruded.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the rotating shaft 61 is provided on the buffer carry-in line 11, when there is no transfer from the buffer carry-in line 11 to the buffer carry-out line 12, the buffer carry-out line 12 looks like a sample holder 103. Can be transported.

Further, the inclined guide 62 may be disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the buffer carry-in line 11 so as to cover the passage opening 45. The rotating shaft 61 that rotatably supports one end of the inclined guide 62, The positions of the extension springs 63 attached to the ends may be exchanged. Further, the inclination guide 62 may be operated as described in the present embodiment by replacing the extension spring 63 with a compression spring.

In the first embodiment, the turning mechanism using the elastic force of the torsion spring 42 and the second embodiment has been described using the elastic force of the pulling spring 63. The turn mechanism is not limited to the configuration using the elastic force of the spring. In the present embodiment, a turn mechanism that utilizes an elastic force due to bending of an inclined guide will be described. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The turning mechanism 70 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The turn mechanism 70 has a support shaft 71 and an inclined guide 72. The support shaft 71 supports the center of the inclined guide 72, and is provided at the center of the passage 75 between the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12. The passage port 75 has a size that is at least twice the diameter of the sample holder. The inclined guide 72 has a length equivalent to the size of the passage 75 and has such a rigidity that the tip thereof is bent by the transfer force of the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12. Although the support shaft 71 does not rotate with the transport force of the buffer carry-in line 11 or the like, the inclination angle of the inclined guide 72 with respect to the buffer carry-in line 11 is adjusted according to the mode switching described later. For adjusting the inclination angle of the inclination guide 72, a stepping motor 73 or the like may be used. The stepping motor 73 is disposed on the back side of the transport surface of the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12.

The turning mechanism 70 of the present embodiment switches between a mode for transferring the sample holder between the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12 and a mode for not transferring the sample holder by adjusting the tilt angle of the tilt guide 72. Can be. FIG. 6A shows a transfer mode, and FIG. 6B shows a non-transfer mode.

6A, the inclination angle is set so that the distance between the inclined guide 72 and the end of the passage 75 is equal to or larger than the diameter of the sample holder 104. When the sample holder 104 or the sample holder 105 comes into contact with the tilt guide 72 at such a tilt angle, the tilt guide 72 is bent by the transport force of the buffer carry-in line 11 or the like. Although the tilt guide 72 is bent, the sample holder 104 and the like move so as to be guided to the passage opening 75 along the bent tilt guide 72 because the tilt guide 72 is kept tilted with respect to the buffer carry-in line 11. Since the moment force applied to the tilt guide 72 decreases with the movement of the sample holder 104 and the like, the bent tilt guide 72 attempts to return to the original state. When the inclined guide 72 returns to the original state, the sample holder 104 and the sample holder 105 guided to the passage 75 are pushed out to the buffer carry-out line 12, and the transfer of the sample holder 104 and the like between the adjacent transport lines is performed. Complete.

6 (b), the inclination angle is set such that the inclination guide 72 is parallel to the buffer carry-in line 11 or the buffer carry-out line 12. At such a tilt angle, the passage opening 75 is closed by the tilt guide 72, and the sample holder 106 and the sample holder 107 are not transferred, so that each sample holder can move straight.

According to the present embodiment, the inclined guide 72 which is bent by the transport force of the buffer carry-in line 11 or the like guides the sample holder 104 or the sample holder 105 to the passage opening 75, and the inclined guide 72 returns to the original state by the elastic force due to the bending. As a result, the sample holder 104 and the like are pushed out to the adjacent transport line. That is, it is possible to transfer the sample holder 104 and the like between the buffer carry-in line 11 and the buffer carry-out line 12 having different transport directions without using a new driving mechanism.

In this embodiment, it is possible to switch between a mode for transferring the sample holder and a mode for not transferring the sample holder by adjusting the tilt angle of the tilt guide 72.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the components may be modified without departing from the gist of the invention. Further, a plurality of components disclosed in the above embodiments may be appropriately combined. Further, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the above embodiment.

1: sample test automation system, 2: sample transfer device, 3: pretreatment system, 4: holder transport system, 5: analyzer, 10: sample carry-in line, 11: buffer carry-in line, 12: buffer carry-out line, 13a : Holder unloading line, 13b: Holder unloading line, 14: Holder stopping mechanism, 15: Holder branching mechanism, 16: Holder stopping mechanism, 17: Turn mechanism, 20: Rack transport line, 21: Rack supply lane, 22: Transfer Arm, 25: holder-side transfer position, 26: rack-side transfer position, 27: sample rack, 28: analyzer loading line, 29: holder stop mechanism, 40: rotating shaft, 41: tilt guide, 41a: tilt guide (Closed), 41b: inclined guide (open), 42: torsion spring, 45: passage opening, 60: turn mechanism, 61: rotating shaft, 62: inclined guide, 63: Spring, 70: turn mechanism, 71: support shaft, 72: tilt guide, 73: stepping motor, 75: passage port, 100: sample holder, 101: sample holder, 102: sample holder, 103: sample holder, 104: Sample holder, 105: sample holder, 106: sample holder, 107: sample holder

Claims

A first transport line for transporting the sample holder in a first direction,
A second transport line that transports the sample holder in a second direction that is different from the first direction,
A sample holder transfer line that is provided between the first transfer line and the second transfer line and includes a passage port through which the sample holder passes,
As the sample holder is guided to the passage opening, further comprising an inclined guide that is arranged to be inclined with respect to the first transport line,
When the sample holder comes into contact with the inclined guide, by the transport force of the first transport line, the inclined guide is pushed or bent,
As the specimen holder moves along the inclined guide, the inclined guide returns to the original state, whereby the specimen holder passes through the passage port and is delivered to the second transport line. Sample holder transfer line.
The sample holder transport line according to claim 1, wherein
A rotating shaft that rotatably supports one end of the inclined guide,
When the sample holder comes into contact with the tilt guide, the tilt guide can be pushed out, and when the sample holder is guided to the passage opening, the sample guide has an elastic force that allows the tilt guide to return to its original state. A sample holder transport line, further comprising an elastic body connected to the sample holder.
The sample holder transport line according to claim 2, wherein
The sample holder transport line, wherein the elastic body is a torsion spring having one end fixed to the rotation shaft.
The sample holder transport line according to claim 2, wherein
The sample holder transport line, wherein the elastic body is a tension spring connected to the other end of the inclined guide.
The sample holder transport line according to claim 1, wherein
Supporting the center of the inclined guide, further comprising a support shaft disposed at the center of the passage opening,
The sample holder transport line, wherein the tilt guide has an elastic force that bends when the sample holder comes into contact and returns to an original state when the sample holder is guided to the passage port.
The sample holder transport line according to claim 5, wherein
By adjusting the inclination angle of the inclined guide with respect to the first transport line, it is possible to switch whether or not to transfer the sample holder between the first transport line and the second transport line. Holder transfer line.
A sample test automation system for performing pre-processing on a sample,
An automated sample test system comprising the sample holder transport line according to claim 1.