WO2020075812A1 - Cuvette supply device - Google Patents

Cuvette supply device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020075812A1
WO2020075812A1 PCT/JP2019/040046 JP2019040046W WO2020075812A1 WO 2020075812 A1 WO2020075812 A1 WO 2020075812A1 JP 2019040046 W JP2019040046 W JP 2019040046W WO 2020075812 A1 WO2020075812 A1 WO 2020075812A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cuvette
spiral blade
opening
supply device
cuvettes
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2019/040046
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
美幸 東
旭 張
敬 浅野
Original Assignee
株式会社Ｌｓｉメディエンス
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 株式会社Ｌｓｉメディエンス filed Critical 株式会社Ｌｓｉメディエンス
Priority to JP2020551228A priority Critical patent/JP7323546B2/en
Publication of WO2020075812A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020075812A1/en

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/04—Details of the conveyor system

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cuvette supply device.
  • an automatic analyzer (automatic measuring device) that measures components in a biological sample such as a blood sample or a urine sample is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
  • This kind of automatic analyzer is usually equipped with a cuvette supply device for supplying a cuvette (sample container), and the cuvette supplied from the cuvette supply device is gripped by a chuck such as a cuvette chuck unit, and then placed on a dispensing table or the like. Be transferred.
  • the cuvette supply device includes a storage unit for storing the cuvettes input from the input port, a delivery unit for delivering the cuvettes stored in the storage unit one by one, and a predetermined position with the orientation of the cuvettes aligned in a predetermined direction. It is known to have a carry-out section for carrying out the product.
  • the cuvette supply device when a large number of cuvettes are stored in the storage part, the cuvette is jammed in the sending-out mechanism at the sending-out part that sends out the cuvettes one by one to the outside, and the cuvette is smoothly clogged. There was a risk that it would be difficult to supply the cuvette.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cuvette supply device capable of smoothly supplying cuvettes.
  • a cuvette supply device for solving the above-mentioned problems is provided with a first storage part for accumulating and storing a cuvette introduced from an input port in a bottom part, and a bottom part provided below the first storage part.
  • a discharging member configured to drop the cuvettes stored in the first storage unit into the second storage unit from the opening.
  • the discharge member is a rotary rod that is driven to rotate, and a spiral blade that is provided around the rotary rod and has a transfer slope surface for the cuvette formed on the upper surface thereof. And, while the rotary rod is being driven to rotate, the spiral blade rotates integrally with the rotary rod to transfer the cuvette placed on the transfer slope surface downward and the opening portion. From the first storage unit to the second storage unit.
  • the discharging member may rotate the rotating rod once. Good.
  • the central axis position of the rotating rod and the central position of the opening may be aligned in a plan view.
  • the discharge member may be arranged in a state where the lower region of the spiral blade is inserted into the second storage part through the opening.
  • the discharge member is formed over a region of a predetermined range from a lower end edge of the spiral blade along the outer peripheral edge of the spiral blade, and does not rest on the transfer slope surface of the spiral blade, and a lower surface of the spiral blade. You may further have the outer peripheral cover which suppresses that it dives and falls from the said opening part to the said 2nd storage part.
  • the outer peripheral cover may be formed over a region from the lower end edge of the spiral blade to the circumference of the rotary rod by the spiral blade.
  • the discharge member may be arranged in a state where a lower region of the outer peripheral cover is inserted into the second storage portion through the opening.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a composite analyzer.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the internal configuration of the measurement unit housing portion of the combined analyzer.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cuvette supply device.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cuvette supply device.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of the cuvette supply device.
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of the cuvette supply device.
  • FIG. 7 is a side view of the cuvette supply device.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a cuvette.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the discharge member.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the discharge member.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the cover member is removed from the discharge member.
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the cover member.
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the sending unit.
  • FIG. 14 is a figure explaining the housing which accommodates a sending part
  • FIG. 1 shows a composite analyzer 1000 according to the embodiment.
  • the composite analyzer 1000 is a device for analyzing components in a biological sample, and can perform, for example, LPIA (Latex Photometric Immunoassay) or latex coagulation time measurement.
  • the composite analyzer 1000 includes a measurement unit housing unit 1, a tank housing unit 2, a monitor 3, a status output unit 4, and the like.
  • the measurement unit housing portion 1 houses various measurement units.
  • the tank etc. accommodating section 2 accommodates a tank for storing pure water, cleaning water and waste water, a disposal box for discarding used cuvettes, a computer for controlling the processing performed by the measuring unit accommodating section 1, etc. .
  • the monitor 3 is connected to a computer and outputs the measurement progress status and results. Further, the monitor 3 may be an input / output device that allows a user to perform an input operation, such as a touch panel.
  • the status output unit 4 is connected to a computer or the like, and blinks or lights a warning light to notify the user when an abnormality occurs in the processing executed by the measurement unit housing unit 1.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the internal configuration of the measurement unit housing section 1 of the composite analyzer 1000.
  • the measurement unit housing unit 1 includes a sample rack transport space 101, a cuvette supply device 10, a sample nozzle unit 103, a reagent table 104, a reagent lid opening / closing unit 105, a reagent nozzle unit 106, and a coagulation table 107.
  • An LPIA table 108, a cuvette chuck unit 109, a rail 110, and a cuvette disposal port 111 are provided.
  • the cuvette supply device 10 supplies a cuvette having a predetermined shape for use in the composite analyzer 1000.
  • the cuvettes are sequentially supplied one by one from the cuvette supply unit 1021.
  • the sample nozzle unit 103 is a unit that includes a nozzle connected to a pump, moves within a predetermined movable range under the control of a computer, collects a sample from a blood collection tube, and discharges the cuvette of the LPIA table 108.
  • the reagent table 104 is a disk-shaped holding unit that holds a plurality of reagent bottles containing reagents and rotates under the control of a computer.
  • the held reagent bottle is sampled by the reagent nozzle unit 106 at a predetermined sampling position 1041.
  • the reagent lid opening / closing unit 105 is a unit for moving a predetermined movable range and opening / closing the lid of the reagent bottle under the control of a computer.
  • the reagent nozzle unit 106 is a unit that includes a nozzle connected to a pump, moves within a predetermined operating range under the control of a computer, collects a reagent from a reagent bottle, and discharges it into a cuvette.
  • the coagulation table 107 is a holding unit having a plurality of holes for arranging and holding a plurality of cuvettes in order to measure the degree of coagulation of the contents of the cuvette.
  • a light source and a light receiving unit are arranged with the cuvette held therebetween, and the degree of coagulation is measured based on the absorbance or transmittance of the contents.
  • the cuvette of the solidification table 107 is attached / detached by the cuvette chuck unit 109 at a predetermined attachment / detachment position 1071.
  • the LPIA table 108 is a disk-shaped holding unit that holds a plurality of cuvettes arranged in a circle in a plan view and rotates under the control of a computer in order to measure the amount of antigen in a sample by the LPIA.
  • the held cuvette is attached / detached by the cuvette chuck unit 109 at a predetermined attachment / detachment position 1081, and a reagent is dispensed at a predetermined dispensing position 1082.
  • the cuvette chuck unit 109 moves within a predetermined movable range under the control of the computer to grip and move the cuvette. Further, the cuvette chuck unit 109 holds or drops the cuvette at the attachment / detachment position of the solidification table 107 or the LPIA table 108, the cuvette supply unit 1021, the cuvette discarding port 111, and the like.
  • the reagent nozzle unit 106 and the cuvette chuck unit 109 are respectively connected to the rail 110 and can move along the rail 110.
  • the cuvette disposal port 111 is an opening communicating with a disposal box stored in the storage part 2 such as a tank. For example, after the latex coagulation measurement and the coagulation time measurement, the used cuvette is discarded by the cuvette chuck unit 109. It is conveyed to the mouth 111 and is dropped into the cuvette discarding port 111 to be discarded in the discard box.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of the cuvette supply device 10.
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of the cuvette supply device 10.
  • FIG. 7 is a side view of the cuvette supply device 10. Note that FIG. 6 shows a side surface in the X direction shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a side view as viewed in the Y direction shown in FIG.
  • the cuvette supply device 10 is provided to supply a plurality of cuvettes randomly input by the user to the coagulation table 107 and the LPIA table 108, respectively.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the cuvette 200.
  • the cuvette 200 is provided with a pair of gripping projecting pieces 230, 230 near the upper end portion 220 of a cuvette main body 210 having a substantially rectangular prism shape, and further with a pair of mounting projecting pieces 240, 240 below the cuvette body 210.
  • a cuvette 200 is placed by inserting the lower side of the cuvette body 210 into the holding hole provided in the solidification table 107 or the LPIA table 108.
  • the gripping protruding piece 230 is a portion for the cuvette chuck unit 109 in the composite analyzer 1000 to grip when transferring the cuvette 200.
  • the cuvette supply device 10 has a hopper 20 which is a container for storing the cuvette 200.
  • the hopper 20 has a first storage part 30 having a charging port for charging the cuvette 200 in an upper part and a second storage part 40 provided below the first storage part 30.
  • a partition bottom 31 is provided between the first storage unit 30 and the second storage unit 40, and the partition bottom 31 partitions the first storage unit 30 and the second storage unit 40.
  • the second storage section 40 has a smaller volume than the first storage section 30.
  • the first storage part 30 has an input port 21 formed by opening the upper part, and the cuvette 200 can be input into the first storage part 30 from the input port 21.
  • the large number of cuvettes 200 that have been loaded into the first storage part 30 from the input port 21 are stored in a state of being accumulated on the partition bottom 31 of the first storage part 30.
  • the partition bottom 31 of the first storage part 30 corresponds to the bottom part.
  • the partition bottom 31 has a hollow shape (concave shape).
  • Reference numeral 311 shown in FIG. 4 is an inclined portion of the partition bottom 31, and reference numeral 312 is a flat bottom portion of the partition bottom 31.
  • the inclined portion 311 of the partition bottom 31 is inclined with respect to the flat bottom portion 312.
  • the cuvette supply device 10 is installed in the composite analyzer 1000 such that the height direction of the hopper 20 substantially coincides with the vertical direction and the flat bottom portion 312 of the partition bottom 31 substantially coincides with the horizontal direction.
  • the cuvette 200 stored in the first storage portion 30 is discharged from the first storage portion 30 and dropped into the second storage portion 40 in the flat bottom portion 312 of the partition bottom 31.
  • a discharge opening 32 which is an opening for the discharge, is provided.
  • the discharge opening 32 has a circular cross section and penetrates the flat bottom portion 312 of the partition bottom 31. Therefore, the second storage section 40 in the hopper 20 stores the cuvette 200 that has dropped from the first storage section 30 through the discharge opening 32 formed in the flat bottom portion 312 of the partition bottom 31.
  • the first storage unit 30 is provided with a discharge member 50 for dropping the cuvette 200 stored in the first storage unit 30 from the discharge opening 32 into the second storage unit 40.
  • the discharge member 50 is arranged at a position corresponding to the discharge opening portion 32 of the flat bottom portion 312 in the first storage portion 30 in a plan view. As will be described later in detail, the discharge member 50 restricts the first cuvette 200 from dropping from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 at a time through the discharge opening portion 32, while restricting the cuvette 200 to the first storage part 30.
  • the cuvette 200 stored is transferred to the second storage section 40.
  • FIG. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the discharge member 50.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the discharge member 50 viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG.
  • the discharge member 50 includes a rotating rod 51 that is rotationally driven by a motor, a spiral blade 52 provided around the rotating rod 51, a cover member 53, and the like.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the cover member 53 is removed from the discharge member 50.
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the cover member 53.
  • the rotating rod 51 is a shaft member having a circular cross section. On the one end side of the rotating rod 51, a diameter-reduced portion 511 having a diameter one step smaller than that of other portions is provided. The reduced diameter portion 511 is provided with a pair of flat belt hanging portions 512.
  • the belt hooking portion 512 of the discharging member 50 is a portion on which the annular endless belt 60 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is hung when the discharging member 50 is completely installed in the first storage portion 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge member 50 is arranged such that the diameter reducing portion 511 side of the rotating rod 51 is arranged vertically upward.
  • the end of the rotating rod 51 where the reduced diameter portion 511 is formed is defined as the upper end, and the opposite end is defined as the lower end.
  • the spiral blade 52 and the cover member 53 are provided on the lower end side of the rotating rod 51.
  • the spiral blade 52 is a spiral blade member provided around the rotating rod 51 (outer peripheral surface), and has a transfer slope surface 521 on the upper surface of which the cuvette 20 can be placed and transferred.
  • reference numeral 522 is the outer peripheral edge of the spiral blade 52.
  • reference numeral 523 shown in FIG. 10 is a lower end edge of the spiral blade 52.
  • the spiral blade 52 is provided so as to orbit the periphery (outer peripheral surface) of the rotating rod 51 by about 1.5 turns.
  • the number of revolutions of the spiral blade 52 that circulates around the rotation rod 51 (outer peripheral surface), the range in the axial direction, and the like can be appropriately changed.
  • the cover member 53 includes an outer peripheral cover 54 that covers the outer periphery (side surface) of the spiral blade 52 along the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52, and a bottom cover 55 that partially covers the lower end 54 a side of the outer peripheral cover 54.
  • a cuvette discharge port 56 that is an opening is formed in a region where the bottom cover 55 is not provided.
  • a portion corresponding to the cuvette discharge port 56 (a portion facing the cuvette discharge port 56) is provided with a cutout concave portion 57 by forming a cutout in the end surface of the outer peripheral cover 54.
  • the cuvette discharge port 56 in the cover member 53 has a substantially semicircular shape in a plan view.
  • the shape, size, etc. of the cuvette discharge port 56 in the cover member 53 are not particularly limited.
  • the outer peripheral cover 54 of the discharge member 50 in the present embodiment has a region from the lower end edge of the spiral blade 52 to the spiral blade 52 making one round around the rotation rod 51 (hereinafter , "Outer peripheral cover installation area"), so as to cover the outer periphery (side surface) of the spiral blade 52.
  • the outer peripheral cover 54 is provided so as to cover at least an area below the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52 in the outer peripheral cover installation area.
  • a tip end cover region 541 that covers the lower edge 523 side of the spiral blade 52 beyond the virtual boundary line B shown in FIG. 9 projects above the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52. It is provided to do.
  • tip cover area 541 in the outer peripheral cover 54 a portion of the spiral blade 52 that protrudes above the transfer slope surface 521 is referred to as a tip cover upper area 541a, and an area that covers a lower part of the transfer slope surface 521 is a tip cover lower area 541b.
  • a portion of the outer peripheral cover 54 other than the tip end cover region 541 covers only a portion below the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52.
  • a first support member 34 that supports the upper end side of the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 is laterally provided between the upper portions of the pair of opposing side walls 31 a and 33 b in the first storage portion 30. It is hung.
  • the first support member 34 has a horizontally arranged bottom plate 341 and a pair of support walls 342 and 342 that stand upright from the left and right edges of the bottom plate 341.
  • the bottom plate 341 is provided with a through hole for inserting the rotating rod 51 of the discharging member 50.
  • the through hole of the bottom plate 341 is arranged coaxially with the discharge opening 32 of the flat bottom portion 312 of the first storage portion 30.
  • a disc member 58 is provided on the upper end of the rotating rod 51.
  • the disk member 58 is joined to the upper end surface of the reduced diameter portion 511 of the rotating rod 51 by a screw or the like.
  • the diameter of the disc member 58 is larger than the width of the pair of support walls 342 and 342 of the first support member 34, and the disc member 58 is hooked on the upper end surfaces of the pair of support walls 342 and 342 to rotate the ejection member 50.
  • the upper end side of the rod 51 is supported.
  • a second support member 41 fixed to the inner wall surface of the second storage section 40 is attached to the lower end side of the rotating rod 51.
  • the rotary rod 51 is connected to the second support member 41 so as to be rotatable around its axis. As described above, the rotating rod 51 is rotatably supported at its upper and lower ends in a stable state by the first supporting member 34 and the second supporting member 41. Further, the rotating rod 51 is held in a vertical posture along the vertical direction of the hopper 20, and the central axis position of the rotating rod 51 coincides with the central position of the discharge opening 32 in plan view.
  • the cuvette supply device 10 includes a first motor 61 that rotationally drives the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50.
  • the first motor 61 has a drive shaft 62, and the endless belt 60 is wound around the drive shaft 62 and the reduced diameter portion 511 of the rotating rod 51.
  • the first motor 61 can rotate the drive shaft 62 in either the forward direction or the reverse direction.
  • the rotation rod 51 of the ejection member 50 can be rotated in either the forward direction or the reverse direction by driving the first motor 61.
  • the inner diameter of the discharge opening 32 of the flat bottom portion 312 of the first storage portion 30 is designed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral cover 54 of the discharge member 50, and the spiral blade 52 of the discharge member 50 and A part (lower region) of the cover member 53 is inserted into the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32.
  • the position of the lower end 54a of the outer peripheral cover 54 may be substantially aligned with the flat bottom portion 312 of the first storage portion 30.
  • the delivery unit 70 of the cuvette supply device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the delivery section 70 is housed inside the second storage section 40. The delivery unit 70 is driven to rotate by a motor to pick up the cuvettes 200 stored in the second storage unit 40 one by one, deliver the picked-up cuvettes 200 to the outside, and transfer them to the alignment unit 90. It is a mechanism.
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the sending unit 70.
  • the sending-out part 70 has a pair of disc members 72, 72 and a connecting part 71 that integrally connects these members.
  • the connecting portion 71 is a columnar member that connects the centers of the pair of disc members 72, 72.
  • the pair of disk members 72, 72 have the same structure and are arranged in parallel with each other.
  • the interval (separation dimension) between the pair of disk members 72, 72 is larger than the width dimension D1 (see FIG. 8) of the cuvette body 210 in the cuvette 200, and the pair of mounting projections 240, 240 are It is smaller than the dimension D2 between the tips (see FIG. 8).
  • the pair of disk members 72, 72 are provided with a notch portion 73 in which a part of an arc is cut out at the same position. Then, at the end of the cutout portion 73 formed in the pair of disc members 72, 72, the cuvette 200 stored in the second storage portion 40 is picked up when the delivery portion 70 is rotationally driven. Pickup portion 74 is formed.
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a housing 75 that houses the sending-out unit 70.
  • the housing 75 has a cylindrical accommodation recess 76 facing the inside of the second storage section 40 and opening, and the pair of disk members 72, 72 are accommodated in the accommodation recess 76 in a posture along a vertical plane.
  • Reference numeral 77 shown in FIG. 14 is a rotating shaft of the sending unit 70. The rotating shaft 77 of the feeding unit 70 is held in a posture along the horizontal direction.
  • the diameter of the accommodating recess 76 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the disk members 72, 72.
  • a reference numeral 78 shown in FIG. 14 is a hollow portion formed between the notch portion 73 of the pair of disk members 72, 72 accommodated in the accommodation recess 76 and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodation recess 76.
  • the delivery unit 70 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow C about the rotation shaft 77 by the second motor 80 shown in FIG.
  • the hollow portion 78 in the housing 75 is formed at a position corresponding to the cutout portion 73 of the feeding portion 70, the position of the hollow portion 78 also moves as the feeding portion 70 is rotationally driven.
  • the height of the lower edge of the housing 75 is equal to that of the bottom portion 42 (see FIG. 3) of the second storage portion 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, on the wall surface of the second storage section 40, the cuvette 200 falling from the discharge opening 32 formed in the partition bottom 31 of the first storage section 30 is directed toward the delivery section 70. It is formed so as to be guided. Specifically, the width of the second storage portion 40 in the left-right direction is equal to the width of the housing 75. Further, the wall surface located opposite to the delivery portion 70 (disk members 72, 72) housed in the housing 75 is the inclined wall 43, and the width of the second storage portion 40 is gradually narrowed downward. There is.
  • Reference numeral 44 shown in FIG. 14 is a guide member arranged in the second storage section 40.
  • the guide member 44 has an inclined guide surface 44a on its upper surface, and can appropriately guide the cuvette 200 falling from the discharge opening 32 of the partition bottom 31 toward the delivery portion 70 by the inclined guide surface 44a. it can.
  • the guide member 44 has a disc facing surface (not shown) that faces the front side disc member 72 (the disc member 72 facing the inner space side of the second storage part 40) of the delivery part 70. ing.
  • the clearance dimension between the disk member 72 and the disk facing surface is set so that the cuvette 200 does not enter the gap between the disk facing surface of the guide member 44 and the disk member 72 that is arranged to face the disk facing surface. It is set.
  • the second motor 80 rotates the delivery unit 70 in the direction of arrow C in FIG. To drive. Then, the cuvette 200 existing in the hollow portion 78 of the housing 75 is picked up by the pickup portion 74 of the feed-out portion 70 that is rotationally driven.
  • the interval (separation dimension) between the pair of disk members 72, 72 is larger than the width dimension D1 of the cuvette body 210 in the cuvette 200, and the tips of the pair of mounting protrusions 240, 240 are located. It is smaller than the dimension D2 between parts.
  • the cuvette main body 210 enters the gap between the pair of disk members 72, 72, and the pair of mounting projection pieces 240, 240 of the cuvette 200 are caught by the edge portions of the pair of disk members 72, 72, thereby picking up.
  • the parts 74 can pick up the cuvettes 200 one by one.
  • the delivery unit 70 rotates while picking up the cuvette 200 by the pickup unit 74, and transfers the cuvette 200 to a discharge port 79 (see FIG. 14) formed on the side of the housing 75, thereby discharging the cuvette 200.
  • the cuvette 200 can be sent to the outside from 79.
  • the cuvette 200 sent to the discharge port 79 by the sending unit 70 is delivered to the aligning unit 90.
  • the alignment unit 90 includes a pair of transport rails 91, 91 arranged in parallel.
  • the interval (separation dimension) between the pair of transport rails 91, 91 is larger than the width dimension D1 of the cuvette main body 210 in the cuvette 200, and is larger than the dimension D2 between the tip portions of the pair of mounting projection pieces 240, 240. Is also small.
  • one end of the alignment portion 90 (a pair of transport rails 91, 91) is connected to the discharge port 79, and is inclined obliquely downward from the discharge port 79 side toward the tip side.
  • a flat flat portion is formed at the tip (end) of the alignment portion 90 (a pair of transport rails 91, 91), and the flat portion extends horizontally.
  • the cuvette supply part 1021 is formed by the flat part located at the tip (end) of the alignment part 90 (a pair of transport rails 91, 91).
  • the aligning unit 90 configured as described above receives the cuvettes 200 sent out one by one from the second storage unit 40 by the rotation driving of the sending unit 70 at the discharge port 79. Then, the cuvette main body 210 is inserted into the gap between the pair of transport rails 91, and the pair of mounting projections 240, 240 are supported by the pair of transport rails 91, 91, so that the pair of slanting slants is formed. The cuvette 200 can be slid down along the transport rails 91, 91, and the cuvette 200 can be transferred to the cuvette supply unit 1021 one by one.
  • the cuvettes 200 can be aligned in a line and arranged in a predetermined number in the alignment section 90.
  • the sensor 92 detects this.
  • the control unit of the computer of the composite analyzer 1000 causes the second motor 80 to stop the rotational drive of the delivery unit 70.
  • the control unit of the computer causes the second motor 80 to rotate the delivery unit 70, and the delivery unit 70 causes the cuvettes to rotate. Send out one 200.
  • the sensor 92 may detect whether or not the number of the cuvettes 200 aligned in the alignment section 90 is less than or equal to a certain number. In this case, when the number of the cuvettes 200 aligned in the alignment unit 90 is larger than a certain number, the delivery operation of the cuvettes 200 by the delivery unit 70 is stopped and the number of the cuvettes 200 is reduced to the certain number.
  • the feeding operation of the cuvette 200 by the feeding section 70 may be intermittently performed only when the above is detected.
  • the delivery unit 70 of the cuvette supply device 10 is a mechanism for picking up the cuvettes 200 one by one and delivering them to the outside. Therefore, if a large number of the cuvettes 200 exist in the second storage unit 40, the delivery unit 70 will be provided.
  • the cuvette 200 may be caught or clogged in the notch portion 73, and it may be difficult to smoothly perform the feeding operation of the cuvette 200.
  • the number of cuvettes 200 discharged from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32 is controlled.
  • a sensor 45 for detecting the cuvette 200 stored in the bottom portion 42 of the second storage portion 40 is provided near the height of the bottom portion 42 on the side wall of the second storage portion 40.
  • the control unit of the computer causes the first motor 61 to rotate the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 in the positive direction by a predetermined angle.
  • the first motor 61 may rotate the rotating rod 51 in the positive direction by 360 ° (one rotation).
  • the spiral blade 52 of the discharging member 50 rotates integrally with the rotating rod 51, so that the cuvette 200 stored (deposited) in the first storage portion 30
  • the cuvette 200 on the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 is transferred downward only while the rotating rod 51 is rotating.
  • a small number (for example, about 1 to 2) of the cuvettes 200 can be dropped from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56).
  • the rotation amount (rotation angle) of the rotary rod 51 per time is appropriate according to the number of the cuvettes 200 to be discharged from the discharging opening 32 at one time. It can be set to a controlled variable.
  • the computer is controlled by rotating the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 in the forward direction by a predetermined rotation amount to drop the cuvette 200 of the first storing portion 30 into the second storing portion 40, and then rotating the rotating rod 51. May be rotated in the opposite direction by a predetermined rotation amount (for example, 0.5 rotations).
  • a predetermined rotation amount for example, 0.5 rotations.
  • the discharging member 50 in the present embodiment while the rotating rod 51 is stopped, even if the cuvette 200 is on the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52, it is not transferred downward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cuvette 200 from dropping from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56) during the stop period of the rotating rod 51.
  • the rotating rod 51 of the discharging member 50 is intermittently driven to rotate, one rotation driving of the rotating rod 51 causes the discharging opening 32 (the cuvette discharging port 56) to move to the second storage portion 40. It is possible to adjust the number of cuvettes that drop into a suitable number.
  • the discharge member 50 in the present embodiment includes an outer peripheral cover 54 that covers the outer periphery (side surface) of the spiral blade 52 along the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52. Since the outer peripheral cover 54 covers the area below the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52 in the outer peripheral cover installation area, the outer peripheral cover 54 does not ride on the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 and dives under the lower surface of the spiral blade 52. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56) from falling into the second storage section 40. According to this, when the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 is rotationally driven in the forward direction, it is possible to more reliably prevent a large amount of the cuvette 200 from being discharged from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40. it can.
  • the tip end cover region 541 of the outer peripheral cover 54 is configured so that not only the region below the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 but also the upper region covers the side surface of the spiral blade 52. According to this, on the lower end edge 523 side of the spiral blade 52, the lower surface of the spiral blade 52 is not placed on the transfer slope surface 521, and the lower surface of the spiral blade 52 is diverted to the second storage from the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56).
  • the tip cover lower region 541b can favorably prevent the portion 40 from falling.
  • the tip end region of the spiral blade 52 including the lower end edge 523 is close to the cuvette discharge port 56 and the discharge opening 32 of the cover member 53, but the tip end cover upper region 541a is transferred to the outer peripheral cover 54 in the present embodiment. It projects above the slope surface 521. Therefore, according to the discharging member 50 in the present embodiment, the cuvette 200 located in the vicinity of the tip region including the lower end edge 523 of the spiral blade 52 passes over the upper side of the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 and is directly discharged. It is possible to suppress falling from the opening 32 and the cuvette discharge port 56 to the second storage unit 40.
  • the outer peripheral cover 54 of the discharge member 50 in this embodiment is formed over the region from the lower end edge 523 of the spiral blade 52 to the circumference of the rotary rod 51 by the spiral blade 52.
  • the cuvette 200 does not rest on the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 and is discharged from the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56) under the lower surface of the spiral blade 52. It is considered that the risk of becoming high is high in the region (section) from the lower edge 523 of the spiral blade 52 to the circumference of the rotary rod 51 by the spiral blade 52. Therefore, by arranging the outer peripheral cover 54 in such an area (section), it is possible to more effectively suppress the drop of a large number of cuvettes 200 from the discharge opening portion 32 (cuvette discharge port 56) at one time. Can be obtained.
  • the bottom cover 55 of the cover member 53 of the discharge member 50 extends from the position of the lower end 54a of the outer peripheral cover 54 to the lower surface of the spiral blade 52 so that no cavity is formed on the lower surface side of the spiral blade 52. Are formed so as to occupy (fill) the areas up to (see FIG. 9). Accordingly, it is possible to preferably prevent the cuvette 200 from being caught between the lower surface of the spiral blade 52 and the bottom cover 55 near the lower end edge 523 of the spiral blade 52.
  • the central axis position of the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 is made to coincide with the central position of the discharge opening 32 formed in the partition bottom 31 in plan view. According to this, even if the dimensional difference between the spiral diameter of the spiral blade 52 of the discharge member 50 and the inner diameter of the discharge opening 32 is reduced, the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52 is driven to rotate when the rotating rod 51 is driven to rotate. It is possible to suppress the collision with the peripheral edge of the.
  • the discharge member 50 is installed such that a part (lower region) of the spiral blade 52 and the cover member 53 is inserted into the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32. According to this, it is possible to more accurately control the number of cuvettes 200 discharged at a time from the first storage portion 30 to the second storage portion 40 through the discharge opening portion 32 when the rotating rod 51 is driven to rotate. .
  • the second storage unit 70 that stores the cuvettes 200 one by one from the first storage unit 30 that stores a large number of the cuvettes 200 is stored. It is possible to prevent a large amount of cuvettes 200 from being transferred to the storage part 40 at one time, and to transfer an appropriate number of cuvettes 200 to the second storage part 40 at a time.
  • the smooth feeding operation to the outside is not hindered. Accordingly, the cuvette 200 used in various analyzes of the composite analyzer 1000 can be smoothly supplied by the cuvette supply device.

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Abstract

Provided is a cuvette supply device with which it is possible to smoothly supply a cuvette. This cuvette supply device comprises: a first retention part that retains cuvettes inserted from an insertion opening; a second retention part provided below the first retention part, the second retention part retaining cuvettes that are dropped from the first retention part through an opening part; a pushing part provided to the second retention part, the pushing part pushing the cuvettes to the outside one at a time; and a discharge member that causes cuvettes retained by the first retention part to drop from the opening part to the second retention part. The discharge member has: a rotating rod that is rotationally driven; and a helical blade that is provided to the periphery of the rotating rod and that has formed in an upper surface thereof a cuvette transport slope surface, the helical blade being arranged in the opening part. While the rotating rod is rotationally driven, a cuvette placed on the transport slope surface is transported downward and is caused to drop from the opening part to the second retention part.

Description

キュベット供給装置Cuvette feeder
　本発明は、キュベット供給装置に関する。 The present invention relates to a cuvette supply device.
　従来、血液サンプルや尿サンプル等の生体サンプル中の成分を測定する自動分析装置（自動測定装置）が知られている（例えば特許文献１）。この種の自動分析装置は、通常、キュベット（検体容器）を供給するキュベット供給装置を備えており、キュベット供給装置から供給されたキュベットはキュベットチャックユニット等のチャックによって把持され、分注テーブル等に移送される。 Conventionally, an automatic analyzer (automatic measuring device) that measures components in a biological sample such as a blood sample or a urine sample is known (for example, Patent Document 1). This kind of automatic analyzer is usually equipped with a cuvette supply device for supplying a cuvette (sample container), and the cuvette supplied from the cuvette supply device is gripped by a chuck such as a cuvette chuck unit, and then placed on a dispensing table or the like. Be transferred.
　キュベット供給装置は、投入口から投入されたキュベットを貯留する貯留部と、貯留部に貯留されているキュベットを１つずつ送り出す送り出し部と、キュベットの向きを所定の方向に揃えた状態で所定位置まで搬出する搬出部等を備えたものが知られている。 The cuvette supply device includes a storage unit for storing the cuvettes input from the input port, a delivery unit for delivering the cuvettes stored in the storage unit one by one, and a predetermined position with the orientation of the cuvettes aligned in a predetermined direction. It is known to have a carry-out section for carrying out the product.
国際公開第２００６／１０７０１６号International Publication No. 2006/107016
　しかしながら、従来のキュベット供給装置においては、貯留部に多数のキュベットが貯留されていると、キュベットを１つずつ外部に送り出す送り出し部においてキュベットが送り出し機構に噛み込むなどして詰まってしまい、円滑なキュベットの供給が困難となる虞があった。 However, in the conventional cuvette supply device, when a large number of cuvettes are stored in the storage part, the cuvette is jammed in the sending-out mechanism at the sending-out part that sends out the cuvettes one by one to the outside, and the cuvette is smoothly clogged. There was a risk that it would be difficult to supply the cuvette.
　本発明は、上記のような問題点に鑑みてなされたものであって、その目的は、キュベットの供給を円滑に行うことが可能なキュベット供給装置を提供することにある。 The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cuvette supply device capable of smoothly supplying cuvettes.
　上記課題を解決するための本発明に係るキュベット供給装置は、投入口から投入されたキュベットを底部に堆積させて貯留する第１貯留部と、前記第１貯留部の下方に設けられ、前記底部によって前記第１貯留部と仕切られると共に当該底部に形成された開口部を通じて前記第１貯留部から落下したキュベットを貯留する第２貯留部と、前記第２貯留部に設けられ、当該第２貯留部に貯留されているキュベットを１つずつ外部に送り出す送り出し部と、前記第１貯留部に貯留されているキュベットを前記開口部から前記第２貯留部に落下させる排出部材と、を備え、前記排出部材は、回転駆動される回転ロッドと、前記回転ロッドの周囲に設けられると共に上面にキュベットの移送スロープ面が形成された、前記開口部に配置される螺旋羽根と、を有し、前記回転ロッドが回転駆動されている間、前記螺旋羽根が前記回転ロッドと一体に回転することで前記移送スロープ面に載せたキュベットを下方に向けて移送すると共に前記開口部から前記第２貯留部に落下させることを特徴とする。 A cuvette supply device according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is provided with a first storage part for accumulating and storing a cuvette introduced from an input port in a bottom part, and a bottom part provided below the first storage part. Is provided in the second storage part and a second storage part that stores the cuvette dropped from the first storage part through an opening formed in the bottom part while being partitioned from the first storage part by the second storage part. And a discharging member configured to drop the cuvettes stored in the first storage unit into the second storage unit from the opening. The discharge member is a rotary rod that is driven to rotate, and a spiral blade that is provided around the rotary rod and has a transfer slope surface for the cuvette formed on the upper surface thereof. And, while the rotary rod is being driven to rotate, the spiral blade rotates integrally with the rotary rod to transfer the cuvette placed on the transfer slope surface downward and the opening portion. From the first storage unit to the second storage unit.
　また、前記排出部材は、前記回転ロッドが間欠的に回転駆動されることで、当該回転ロッドにおける一度の回転駆動によって前記開口部から前記第２貯留部に落下するキュベットの数が調節されてもよい。 Further, even if the number of the cuvettes that drop from the opening to the second storage unit is adjusted by rotating the rotating rod intermittently, the discharging member may rotate the rotating rod once. Good.
　また、前記回転ロッドの中心軸位置と前記開口部の中心位置が平面視において一致していてもよい。 Also, the central axis position of the rotating rod and the central position of the opening may be aligned in a plan view.
　また、前記排出部材は、前記螺旋羽根の下部領域が前記開口部を通じて前記第２貯留部に挿入された状態で配置されていてもよい。 Further, the discharge member may be arranged in a state where the lower region of the spiral blade is inserted into the second storage part through the opening.
　また、前記排出部材は、前記螺旋羽根の下端縁から当該螺旋羽根の外周縁に沿って所定範囲の領域に亘って形成され、前記螺旋羽根の前記移送スロープ面に載ることなく当該螺旋羽根の下面を潜って前記開口部から前記第２貯留部に落下することを抑制する外周カバーを、更に有していてもよい。 Further, the discharge member is formed over a region of a predetermined range from a lower end edge of the spiral blade along the outer peripheral edge of the spiral blade, and does not rest on the transfer slope surface of the spiral blade, and a lower surface of the spiral blade. You may further have the outer peripheral cover which suppresses that it dives and falls from the said opening part to the said 2nd storage part.
　また、前記外周カバーは、前記螺旋羽根の下端縁から当該螺旋羽根が前記回転ロッドの周囲を略一周するまでの領域に亘って形成されていてもよい。 The outer peripheral cover may be formed over a region from the lower end edge of the spiral blade to the circumference of the rotary rod by the spiral blade.
　また、前記排出部材は、前記外周カバーの下部領域が前記開口部を通じて前記第２貯留部に挿入された状態で配置されていてもよい。 Further, the discharge member may be arranged in a state where a lower region of the outer peripheral cover is inserted into the second storage portion through the opening.
　本発明によれば、キュベットの供給を円滑に行うことが可能なキュベット供給装置を提供できる。 According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cuvette supply device capable of smoothly supplying a cuvette.
図１は、複合分析装置の一例を示す図である。FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a composite analyzer. 図２は、複合分析装置の測定ユニット収容部の内部の構成の一例を示す平面図である。FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the internal configuration of the measurement unit housing portion of the combined analyzer. 図３は、キュベット供給装置の斜視図である。FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cuvette supply device. 図４は、キュベット供給装置の斜視図である。FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cuvette supply device. 図５は、キュベット供給装置の上面図である。FIG. 5 is a top view of the cuvette supply device. 図６は、キュベット供給装置の側面図である。FIG. 6 is a side view of the cuvette supply device. 図７は、キュベット供給装置の側面図である。FIG. 7 is a side view of the cuvette supply device. 図８は、キュベットの模式的な縦断面図である。FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a cuvette. 図９は、排出部材の斜視図である。FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the discharge member. 図１０は、排出部材の斜視図である。FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the discharge member. 図１１は、排出部材からカバー部材を取り除いた状態を示す図である。FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the cover member is removed from the discharge member. 図１２は、カバー部材を説明する図である。FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the cover member. 図１３は、送り出し部を説明する図である。FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the sending unit. 図１４は、送り出し部を収容するハウジングを説明する図である。FIG. 14: is a figure explaining the housing which accommodates a sending part.
　以下、実施形態に係るキュベット供給装置１０及びキュベット供給装置１０が適用される一例の複合分析装置１０００について、図面を用いて説明する。 Hereinafter, a cuvette supply device 10 according to the embodiment and an example of a composite analyzer 1000 to which the cuvette supply device 10 is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
　図１は、実施形態に係る複合分析装置１０００である。複合分析装置１０００は、生体サンプル中の成分を分析する装置であり、例えば、ＬＰＩＡ（Latex Photometric Immuno assay：ラテックス近赤外比濁法）や、血液の凝固時間測定等を行うことができる。また、複合分析装置１０００は、測定ユニット収容部１、タンク等収容部２、モニタ３、ステータス出力部４等を備える。測定ユニット収容部１は、各種の測定ユニットを収容する。タンク等収容部２には、純水、洗浄水及び排水をそれぞれ貯留するタンクや、使用済みのキュベットを廃棄するための廃棄ボックス、測定ユニット収容部１が行う処理を制御するコンピュータ等を収容する。 FIG. 1 shows a composite analyzer 1000 according to the embodiment. The composite analyzer 1000 is a device for analyzing components in a biological sample, and can perform, for example, LPIA (Latex Photometric Immunoassay) or latex coagulation time measurement. In addition, the composite analyzer 1000 includes a measurement unit housing unit 1, a tank housing unit 2, a monitor 3, a status output unit 4, and the like. The measurement unit housing portion 1 houses various measurement units. The tank etc. accommodating section 2 accommodates a tank for storing pure water, cleaning water and waste water, a disposal box for discarding used cuvettes, a computer for controlling the processing performed by the measuring unit accommodating section 1, etc. .
　モニタ３は、コンピュータと接続され、測定の進捗状況や結果等を出力する。また、モニタ３は、例えばタッチパネルのように、使用者による入力操作が可能な入出力装置であってもよい。ステータス出力部４は、コンピュータ等と接続され、測定ユニット収容部１が実行する処理において異常が発生した場合に使用者に通知するため警告灯を点滅させたり点灯させたりする。 The monitor 3 is connected to a computer and outputs the measurement progress status and results. Further, the monitor 3 may be an input / output device that allows a user to perform an input operation, such as a touch panel. The status output unit 4 is connected to a computer or the like, and blinks or lights a warning light to notify the user when an abnormality occurs in the processing executed by the measurement unit housing unit 1.
　図２は、複合分析装置１０００の測定ユニット収容部１の内部の構成の一例を示す平面図である。測定ユニット収容部１は、サンプルラックの搬送スペース１０１と、キュベット供給装置１０と、サンプルノズルユニット１０３と、試薬テーブル１０４と、試薬蓋開閉ユニット１０５と、試薬ノズルユニット１０６と、凝固テーブル１０７と、ＬＰＩＡテーブル１０８と、キュベットチャックユニット１０９と、レール１１０と、キュベット廃棄口１１１とを備える。 FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the internal configuration of the measurement unit housing section 1 of the composite analyzer 1000. The measurement unit housing unit 1 includes a sample rack transport space 101, a cuvette supply device 10, a sample nozzle unit 103, a reagent table 104, a reagent lid opening / closing unit 105, a reagent nozzle unit 106, and a coagulation table 107. An LPIA table 108, a cuvette chuck unit 109, a rail 110, and a cuvette disposal port 111 are provided.
　キュベット供給装置１０は、所定形状のキュベットを、複合分析装置１０００で使用するために供給する。なお、キュベットは、順に１つずつキュベット供給部１０２１から供給される。 The cuvette supply device 10 supplies a cuvette having a predetermined shape for use in the composite analyzer 1000. The cuvettes are sequentially supplied one by one from the cuvette supply unit 1021.
　サンプルノズルユニット１０３は、ポンプと接続されたノズルを備え、コンピュータによる制御に基づいて、所定の可動範囲を移動し、採血管からサンプルを採取すると共にＬＰＩＡテーブル１０８のキュベットへ吐出するユニットである。 The sample nozzle unit 103 is a unit that includes a nozzle connected to a pump, moves within a predetermined movable range under the control of a computer, collects a sample from a blood collection tube, and discharges the cuvette of the LPIA table 108.
　試薬テーブル１０４は、試薬を収容する試薬瓶を複数保持し、コンピュータによる制御に基づいて回転するディスク状の保持部である。保持される試薬瓶は、所定の採取位置１０４１において試薬ノズルユニット１０６で採取される。 The reagent table 104 is a disk-shaped holding unit that holds a plurality of reagent bottles containing reagents and rotates under the control of a computer. The held reagent bottle is sampled by the reagent nozzle unit 106 at a predetermined sampling position 1041.
　試薬蓋開閉ユニット１０５は、コンピュータによる制御に基づいて、所定の可動範囲を移動し、試薬瓶の蓋を開閉するためのユニットである。 The reagent lid opening / closing unit 105 is a unit for moving a predetermined movable range and opening / closing the lid of the reagent bottle under the control of a computer.
　試薬ノズルユニット１０６は、ポンプと接続されたノズルを備え、コンピュータによる制御に基づいて所定の稼働範囲を移動し、試薬瓶から試薬を採取すると共にキュベットへ吐出するユニットである。 The reagent nozzle unit 106 is a unit that includes a nozzle connected to a pump, moves within a predetermined operating range under the control of a computer, collects a reagent from a reagent bottle, and discharges it into a cuvette.
　凝固テーブル１０７は、キュベットの内容物の凝固の程度を測定するため、複数のキュベットを並べて保持するための複数の孔を備える保持部である。なお、保持されるキュベットを挟んで光源と受光部とが配置され、内容物の吸光度又は透過率に基づいて凝固の程度を測定する。なお、凝固テーブル１０７は、所定の着脱位置１０７１においてキュベットチャックユニット１０９によってキュベットの着脱が行われる。 The coagulation table 107 is a holding unit having a plurality of holes for arranging and holding a plurality of cuvettes in order to measure the degree of coagulation of the contents of the cuvette. A light source and a light receiving unit are arranged with the cuvette held therebetween, and the degree of coagulation is measured based on the absorbance or transmittance of the contents. The cuvette of the solidification table 107 is attached / detached by the cuvette chuck unit 109 at a predetermined attachment / detachment position 1071.
 ＬＰＩＡテーブル１０８は、ＬＰＩＡにより検体中の抗原量を測定するため、複数のキュベットを平面視において円形に並べて保持すると共に、コンピュータによる制御に基づいて回転する、ディスク状の保持部である。保持されるキュベットは、所定の着脱位置１０８１においてキュベットチャックユニット１０９によって着脱されると共に、所定の分注位置１０８２において試薬が分注される。 The LPIA table 108 is a disk-shaped holding unit that holds a plurality of cuvettes arranged in a circle in a plan view and rotates under the control of a computer in order to measure the amount of antigen in a sample by the LPIA. The held cuvette is attached / detached by the cuvette chuck unit 109 at a predetermined attachment / detachment position 1081, and a reagent is dispensed at a predetermined dispensing position 1082.
 キュベットチャックユニット１０９は、コンピュータによる制御に基づいて、所定の可動範囲を移動し、キュベットを把持して移動させる。また、キュベットチャックユニット１０９は、凝固テーブル１０７やＬＰＩＡテーブル１０８の着脱位置、キュベット供給部１０２１、キュベット廃棄口１１１等でキュベットを把持したり投下したりする。試薬ノズルユニット１０６及びキュベットチャックユニット１０９はそれぞれレール１１０に接続され、レール１１０に沿って移動することができる。 The cuvette chuck unit 109 moves within a predetermined movable range under the control of the computer to grip and move the cuvette. Further, the cuvette chuck unit 109 holds or drops the cuvette at the attachment / detachment position of the solidification table 107 or the LPIA table 108, the cuvette supply unit 1021, the cuvette discarding port 111, and the like. The reagent nozzle unit 106 and the cuvette chuck unit 109 are respectively connected to the rail 110 and can move along the rail 110.
 キュベット廃棄口１１１は、タンク等収容部２に格納される廃棄ボックスに連通する開口部であり、例えば、ラテックス凝集測定や凝固時間測定の実施後、使用済みのキュベットはキュベットチャックユニット１０９によってキュベット廃棄口１１１までへ搬送され、キュベット廃棄口１１１に投下されることで、廃棄ボックスに廃棄される。 The cuvette disposal port 111 is an opening communicating with a disposal box stored in the storage part 2 such as a tank. For example, after the latex coagulation measurement and the coagulation time measurement, the used cuvette is discarded by the cuvette chuck unit 109. It is conveyed to the mouth 111 and is dropped into the cuvette discarding port 111 to be discarded in the discard box.
　次に、本実施形態におけるキュベット供給装置１０について説明する。図３及び図４は、キュベット供給装置１０の斜視図である。図５は、キュベット供給装置１０の上面図である。図６は、キュベット供給装置１０の側面図である。図７は、キュベット供給装置１０の側面図である。なお、図６は、図５に示すＸ方向の矢視側面を示す。図７は、図５に示すＹ方向の矢視側面を示す。 Next, the cuvette supply device 10 in this embodiment will be described. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the cuvette supply device 10. FIG. 5 is a top view of the cuvette supply device 10. FIG. 6 is a side view of the cuvette supply device 10. FIG. 7 is a side view of the cuvette supply device 10. Note that FIG. 6 shows a side surface in the X direction shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a side view as viewed in the Y direction shown in FIG.
　キュベット供給装置１０は、ユーザによって無造作に投入された複数のキュベットを凝固テーブル１０７やＬＰＩＡテーブル１０８に１つずつ供給するために設けられている。図８は、キュベット２００の模式的な縦断面図である。 The cuvette supply device 10 is provided to supply a plurality of cuvettes randomly input by the user to the coagulation table 107 and the LPIA table 108, respectively. FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the cuvette 200.
　キュベット２００は、大略四角柱状のキュベット本体２１０の上端部２２０付近に、一対の把持用突出片２３０，２３０を備え、更にその下方に一対の載置用突出片２４０，２４０を備えている。このようなキュベット２００は、凝固テーブル１０７やＬＰＩＡテーブル１０８に設けられた保持孔に、キュベット本体２１０の下部側を挿入させることによって載置される。把持用突出片２３０は、複合分析装置１０００におけるキュベットチャ
ックユニット１０９が、キュベット２００を移送する際に把持するための部位である。 The cuvette 200 is provided with a pair of gripping projecting pieces 230, 230 near the upper end portion 220 of a cuvette main body 210 having a substantially rectangular prism shape, and further with a pair of mounting projecting pieces 240, 240 below the cuvette body 210. Such a cuvette 200 is placed by inserting the lower side of the cuvette body 210 into the holding hole provided in the solidification table 107 or the LPIA table 108. The gripping protruding piece 230 is a portion for the cuvette chuck unit 109 in the composite analyzer 1000 to grip when transferring the cuvette 200.
　キュベット供給装置１０は、キュベット２００を貯留する容器であるホッパー２０を有する。ホッパー２０は、キュベット２００を投入する投入口を上部に有する第１貯留部３０と、第１貯留部３０の下方に設けられる第２貯留部４０を有している。第１貯留部３０と第２貯留部４０の間には仕切り底３１が設けられており、この仕切り底３１によって第１貯留部３０と第２貯留部４０が仕切られている。第２貯留部４０は、第１貯留部３０に比べて小さな容積を有している。第１貯留部３０は、上部が開放されることで投入口２１が形成されており、投入口２１からキュベット２００を第１貯留部３０に投入することができる。投入口２１から第１貯留部３０に投入された多数のキュベット２００は、第１貯留部３０の仕切り底３１に堆積した状態で貯留される。本実施形態においては、第１貯留部３０の仕切り底３１が底部に相当する。 The cuvette supply device 10 has a hopper 20 which is a container for storing the cuvette 200. The hopper 20 has a first storage part 30 having a charging port for charging the cuvette 200 in an upper part and a second storage part 40 provided below the first storage part 30. A partition bottom 31 is provided between the first storage unit 30 and the second storage unit 40, and the partition bottom 31 partitions the first storage unit 30 and the second storage unit 40. The second storage section 40 has a smaller volume than the first storage section 30. The first storage part 30 has an input port 21 formed by opening the upper part, and the cuvette 200 can be input into the first storage part 30 from the input port 21. The large number of cuvettes 200 that have been loaded into the first storage part 30 from the input port 21 are stored in a state of being accumulated on the partition bottom 31 of the first storage part 30. In the present embodiment, the partition bottom 31 of the first storage part 30 corresponds to the bottom part.
　仕切り底３１は窪み形状（凹形状）を有している。図４に示す符号３１１は、仕切り底３１の傾斜部であり、符号３１２は、仕切り底３１の平坦底部である。仕切り底３１の傾斜部３１１は、平坦底部３１２に対して傾斜している。これにより、第１貯留部３０の仕切り底３１に堆積しているキュベット２００が、平坦底部３１２に集まり易くなる。なお、キュベット供給装置１０は、ホッパー２０の高さ方向が概ね鉛直上下方向に一致し、仕切り底３１の平坦底部３１２が概ね水平方向に一致するように複合分析装置１０００に設置される。 The partition bottom 31 has a hollow shape (concave shape). Reference numeral 311 shown in FIG. 4 is an inclined portion of the partition bottom 31, and reference numeral 312 is a flat bottom portion of the partition bottom 31. The inclined portion 311 of the partition bottom 31 is inclined with respect to the flat bottom portion 312. As a result, the cuvettes 200 accumulated on the partition bottom 31 of the first storage section 30 are easily collected on the flat bottom section 312. The cuvette supply device 10 is installed in the composite analyzer 1000 such that the height direction of the hopper 20 substantially coincides with the vertical direction and the flat bottom portion 312 of the partition bottom 31 substantially coincides with the horizontal direction.
　ここで、図４に示すように、仕切り底３１の平坦底部３１２には、第１貯留部３０に貯留されているキュベット２００を第１貯留部３０から排出し、第２貯留部４０に落下させるための開口部である排出開口部３２が設けられている。排出開口部３２は、円形の横断面を有し、仕切り底３１の平坦底部３１２を貫通している。したがって、ホッパー２０における第２貯留部４０は、仕切り底３１の平坦底部３１２に形成された排出開口部３２を通じて第１貯留部３０から落下したキュベット２００が貯留されることになる。 Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the cuvette 200 stored in the first storage portion 30 is discharged from the first storage portion 30 and dropped into the second storage portion 40 in the flat bottom portion 312 of the partition bottom 31. A discharge opening 32, which is an opening for the discharge, is provided. The discharge opening 32 has a circular cross section and penetrates the flat bottom portion 312 of the partition bottom 31. Therefore, the second storage section 40 in the hopper 20 stores the cuvette 200 that has dropped from the first storage section 30 through the discharge opening 32 formed in the flat bottom portion 312 of the partition bottom 31.
　第１貯留部３０には、第１貯留部３０に貯留されているキュベット２００を排出開口部３２から第２貯留部４０に落下させるための排出部材５０が配設されている。排出部材５０は、平面視において、第１貯留部３０における平坦底部３１２の排出開口部３２に対応する位置に配置されている。詳しくは後述するが、排出部材５０は、排出開口部３２を通じて第１貯留部３０から第２貯留部４０へと一度に多数のキュベット２００が落下することを制限しつつ、第１貯留部３０に貯留されているキュベット２００を第２貯留部４０に移送する。 The first storage unit 30 is provided with a discharge member 50 for dropping the cuvette 200 stored in the first storage unit 30 from the discharge opening 32 into the second storage unit 40. The discharge member 50 is arranged at a position corresponding to the discharge opening portion 32 of the flat bottom portion 312 in the first storage portion 30 in a plan view. As will be described later in detail, the discharge member 50 restricts the first cuvette 200 from dropping from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 at a time through the discharge opening portion 32, while restricting the cuvette 200 to the first storage part 30. The cuvette 200 stored is transferred to the second storage section 40.
　図９及び図１０は、排出部材５０の斜視図である。図１０は、図９に示すＡ矢視方向から排出部材５０を眺めたときの斜視図である。排出部材５０は、モータによって回転駆動される回転ロッド５１、回転ロッド５１の周囲に設けられる螺旋羽根５２、カバー部材５３等を有する。図１１は、排出部材５０からカバー部材５３を取り除いた状態を示す図である。図１２は、カバー部材５３を説明する図である。 9 and 10 are perspective views of the discharge member 50. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the discharge member 50 viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. The discharge member 50 includes a rotating rod 51 that is rotationally driven by a motor, a spiral blade 52 provided around the rotating rod 51, a cover member 53, and the like. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the cover member 53 is removed from the discharge member 50. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the cover member 53.
　回転ロッド５１は、円形断面を有する軸部材である。回転ロッド５１における一端側には、他の部位よりも一段縮径した縮径部５１１が設けられている。縮径部５１１には、一対の平坦なベルト掛け部５１２が設けられている。排出部材５０のベルト掛け部５１２は、第１貯留部３０への排出部材５０の設置が完了した状態において、図３～図５に示す環状の無端ベルト６０が掛けられる部位である。図３に示すように、排出部材５０は、回転ロッド５１の縮径部５１１側が鉛直方向上部に配置されるように配置される。以下、回転ロッド５１のうち、縮径部５１１が形成されている方の端部を上端とし、反対側の端部を下端として定義する。本実施形態においては、回転ロッド５１の下端側に螺旋羽根５２及びカバー部材５３が設けられている。 The rotating rod 51 is a shaft member having a circular cross section. On the one end side of the rotating rod 51, a diameter-reduced portion 511 having a diameter one step smaller than that of other portions is provided. The reduced diameter portion 511 is provided with a pair of flat belt hanging portions 512. The belt hooking portion 512 of the discharging member 50 is a portion on which the annular endless belt 60 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is hung when the discharging member 50 is completely installed in the first storage portion 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge member 50 is arranged such that the diameter reducing portion 511 side of the rotating rod 51 is arranged vertically upward. Hereinafter, the end of the rotating rod 51 where the reduced diameter portion 511 is formed is defined as the upper end, and the opposite end is defined as the lower end. In the present embodiment, the spiral blade 52 and the cover member 53 are provided on the lower end side of the rotating rod 51.
　螺旋羽根５２は、回転ロッド５１の周囲（外周面）に設けられた螺旋形状の羽根部材であり、その上面にキュベット２０載せて移送することの可能な移送スロープ面５２１が形成されている。ここで、符号５２２は螺旋羽根５２の外周縁である。また、図１０に示す符号５２３は螺旋羽根５２の下端縁である。また、図１０に示すように、螺旋羽根５２は、回転ロッド５１の周囲（外周面）を１．５周程度周回するように設けられている。但し、回転ロッド５１の周囲（外周面）を周回する螺旋羽根５２の周回数、軸方向の範囲等は適宜変更することができる。 The spiral blade 52 is a spiral blade member provided around the rotating rod 51 (outer peripheral surface), and has a transfer slope surface 521 on the upper surface of which the cuvette 20 can be placed and transferred. Here, reference numeral 522 is the outer peripheral edge of the spiral blade 52. Further, reference numeral 523 shown in FIG. 10 is a lower end edge of the spiral blade 52. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the spiral blade 52 is provided so as to orbit the periphery (outer peripheral surface) of the rotating rod 51 by about 1.5 turns. However, the number of revolutions of the spiral blade 52 that circulates around the rotation rod 51 (outer peripheral surface), the range in the axial direction, and the like can be appropriately changed.
　次に、カバー部材５３について説明する。カバー部材５３は、螺旋羽根５２の外周縁５２２に沿って螺旋羽根５２の外周（側面）を覆う外周カバー５４と、外周カバー５４の下端５４ａ側を部分的に覆う底部カバー５５を有する。外周カバー５４の下端５４ａにおける内周側には、底部カバー５５が設けられていない領域に開口部であるキュベット排出口５６が形成されている。なお、外周カバー５４の下端のうち、キュベット排出口５６に対応する部分（キュベット排出口５６に面する部分）は、外周カバー５４の端面に切欠きが形成されることで切欠き凹部５７が設けられている。なお、図１１に示すように、カバー部材５３におけるキュベット排出口５６は、平面視において概略半円形状を有している。但し、カバー部材５３におけるキュベット排出口５６の形状、大きさ等は特に限定されない。 Next, the cover member 53 will be described. The cover member 53 includes an outer peripheral cover 54 that covers the outer periphery (side surface) of the spiral blade 52 along the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52, and a bottom cover 55 that partially covers the lower end 54 a side of the outer peripheral cover 54. On the inner peripheral side of the lower end 54a of the outer peripheral cover 54, a cuvette discharge port 56 that is an opening is formed in a region where the bottom cover 55 is not provided. In the lower end of the outer peripheral cover 54, a portion corresponding to the cuvette discharge port 56 (a portion facing the cuvette discharge port 56) is provided with a cutout concave portion 57 by forming a cutout in the end surface of the outer peripheral cover 54. Has been. Note that, as shown in FIG. 11, the cuvette discharge port 56 in the cover member 53 has a substantially semicircular shape in a plan view. However, the shape, size, etc. of the cuvette discharge port 56 in the cover member 53 are not particularly limited.
　また、図９及び図１０に示すように、本実施形態における排出部材５０の外周カバー５４は、螺旋羽根５２の下端縁から螺旋羽根５２が回転ロッド５１の周囲を略一周するまでの領域（以下、「外周カバー設置領域」という）に亘って、螺旋羽根５２の外周（側面）を覆うように設けられている。そして、外周カバー５４は、外周カバー設置領域においては、少なくとも螺旋羽根５２の外周縁５２２より下方の領域を覆うように設けられている。具体的には、外周カバー５４のうち、図９に示す仮想境界線Ｂよりも螺旋羽根５２の下端縁５２３側を覆う先端カバー領域５４１は、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１よりも上方に突出するように設けられている。外周カバー５４における先端カバー領域５４１のうち、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１よりも上方に突出する部分を先端カバー上部領域５４１ａと呼び、移送スロープ面５２１の下方を覆う領域を先端カバー下部領域５４１ｂと呼ぶ。なお、外周カバー５４における先端カバー領域５４１以外の部分は、図９に示すように、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１よりも下方だけを覆っている。 In addition, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the outer peripheral cover 54 of the discharge member 50 in the present embodiment has a region from the lower end edge of the spiral blade 52 to the spiral blade 52 making one round around the rotation rod 51 (hereinafter , "Outer peripheral cover installation area"), so as to cover the outer periphery (side surface) of the spiral blade 52. The outer peripheral cover 54 is provided so as to cover at least an area below the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52 in the outer peripheral cover installation area. Specifically, in the outer peripheral cover 54, a tip end cover region 541 that covers the lower edge 523 side of the spiral blade 52 beyond the virtual boundary line B shown in FIG. 9 projects above the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52. It is provided to do. Of the tip cover area 541 in the outer peripheral cover 54, a portion of the spiral blade 52 that protrudes above the transfer slope surface 521 is referred to as a tip cover upper area 541a, and an area that covers a lower part of the transfer slope surface 521 is a tip cover lower area 541b. Call. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, a portion of the outer peripheral cover 54 other than the tip end cover region 541 covers only a portion below the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52.
　次に、ホッパー２０における排出部材５０の設置態様について説明する。図３～図５に示すように、第１貯留部３０における一対の対向する側壁３１ａ，３３ｂの上部間には、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１の上端側を支持する第１支持部材３４が横架されている。第１支持部材３４は、水平に配置される底板３４１と、底板３４１の左右縁から上方に立設する一対の支持壁３４２，３４２を有している。また、底板３４１には、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１を挿通するための貫通孔が設けられている。底板３４１の貫通孔は、第１貯留部３０における平坦底部３１２の排出開口部３２と同軸に配置されている。 Next, the installation mode of the discharge member 50 in the hopper 20 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a first support member 34 that supports the upper end side of the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 is laterally provided between the upper portions of the pair of opposing side walls 31 a and 33 b in the first storage portion 30. It is hung. The first support member 34 has a horizontally arranged bottom plate 341 and a pair of support walls 342 and 342 that stand upright from the left and right edges of the bottom plate 341. Further, the bottom plate 341 is provided with a through hole for inserting the rotating rod 51 of the discharging member 50. The through hole of the bottom plate 341 is arranged coaxially with the discharge opening 32 of the flat bottom portion 312 of the first storage portion 30.
　また、図３～図５に示すように、回転ロッド５１の上端には円盤部材５８が設けられている。円盤部材５８は、回転ロッド５１における縮径部５１１の上端面にネジなどによって接合されている。円盤部材５８の直径は、第１支持部材３４における一対の支持壁３４２，３４２の幅よりも大きく、一対の支持壁３４２，３４２の上端面に円盤部材５８を引っ掛けることによって、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１の上端側が支持されている。また、図３に示すように、回転ロッド５１の下端側には、第２貯留部４０の内壁面に固定されている第２支持部材４１が取り付けられている。回転ロッド５１は、第２支持部材４１に対して軸廻りに回転自在に接続されている。以上のように、回転ロッド５１は、回転自在にその上下端を第１支持部材３４及び第２支持部材４１によって安定した状態で支持されている。また、回転ロッド５１は、ホッパー２０の上下方向に沿った鉛直姿勢で保持されており、且つ、回転ロッド５１の中心軸位置は排出開口部３２の中心位置と平面視において一致している。 Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a disc member 58 is provided on the upper end of the rotating rod 51. The disk member 58 is joined to the upper end surface of the reduced diameter portion 511 of the rotating rod 51 by a screw or the like. The diameter of the disc member 58 is larger than the width of the pair of support walls 342 and 342 of the first support member 34, and the disc member 58 is hooked on the upper end surfaces of the pair of support walls 342 and 342 to rotate the ejection member 50. The upper end side of the rod 51 is supported. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a second support member 41 fixed to the inner wall surface of the second storage section 40 is attached to the lower end side of the rotating rod 51. The rotary rod 51 is connected to the second support member 41 so as to be rotatable around its axis. As described above, the rotating rod 51 is rotatably supported at its upper and lower ends in a stable state by the first supporting member 34 and the second supporting member 41. Further, the rotating rod 51 is held in a vertical posture along the vertical direction of the hopper 20, and the central axis position of the rotating rod 51 coincides with the central position of the discharge opening 32 in plan view.
　更に、キュベット供給装置１０は、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１を回転駆動する第１モータ６１を備えている。第１モータ６１は駆動軸６２を有しており、駆動軸６２と回転ロッド５１の縮径部５１１に無端ベルト６０が掛けられている。第１モータ６１は、駆動軸６２を正方向と逆方向の何れにも回転させることができる。これにより、第１モータ６１のモータ駆動によって、排出部材５０の回転ロッド５１は、正方向と逆方向の何れにも回転することができる。 Further, the cuvette supply device 10 includes a first motor 61 that rotationally drives the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50. The first motor 61 has a drive shaft 62, and the endless belt 60 is wound around the drive shaft 62 and the reduced diameter portion 511 of the rotating rod 51. The first motor 61 can rotate the drive shaft 62 in either the forward direction or the reverse direction. As a result, the rotation rod 51 of the ejection member 50 can be rotated in either the forward direction or the reverse direction by driving the first motor 61.
　ここで、第１貯留部３０における平坦底部３１２の排出開口部３２の内径は、排出部材５０における外周カバー５４の外径よりも若干大きな寸法に設計されており、排出部材５０における螺旋羽根５２及びカバー部材５３の一部（下部領域）が排出開口部３２を通じて第２貯留部４０内に挿入されている。但し、排出部材５０は、外周カバー５４の下端５４ａ位置が第１貯留部３０における平坦底部３１２と略一致していてもよい。 Here, the inner diameter of the discharge opening 32 of the flat bottom portion 312 of the first storage portion 30 is designed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral cover 54 of the discharge member 50, and the spiral blade 52 of the discharge member 50 and A part (lower region) of the cover member 53 is inserted into the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32. However, in the discharge member 50, the position of the lower end 54a of the outer peripheral cover 54 may be substantially aligned with the flat bottom portion 312 of the first storage portion 30.
　次に、キュベット供給装置１０の送り出し部７０について説明する。図３に示すように、送り出し部７０は、第２貯留部４０の内部に収容されている。送り出し部７０は、モータによって回転駆動されることで、第２貯留部４０に貯留されているキュベット２００を１つずつピックアップし、ピックアップしたキュベット２００を外部に送り出し、整列部９０に受け渡すための機構である。 Next, the delivery unit 70 of the cuvette supply device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the delivery section 70 is housed inside the second storage section 40. The delivery unit 70 is driven to rotate by a motor to pick up the cuvettes 200 stored in the second storage unit 40 one by one, deliver the picked-up cuvettes 200 to the outside, and transfer them to the alignment unit 90. It is a mechanism.
　図１３は、送り出し部７０を説明する図である。送り出し部７０は、一対の円盤部材７２，７２と、これらを一体に連結する連結部７１を有している。連結部７１は、一対の円盤部材７２，７２の中心を連結する円柱部材である。一対の円盤部材７２，７２は同一構造を有し、互いに平行に配置されている。一対の円盤部材７２，７２同士の間隔（離間寸法）は、キュベット２００におけるキュベット本体２１０の幅寸法Ｄ１（図８を参照）よりも大きく、且つ、一対の載置用突出片２４０，２４０同士の先端部間寸法Ｄ２よりも小さい（図８を参照）。 FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the sending unit 70. The sending-out part 70 has a pair of disc members 72, 72 and a connecting part 71 that integrally connects these members. The connecting portion 71 is a columnar member that connects the centers of the pair of disc members 72, 72. The pair of disk members 72, 72 have the same structure and are arranged in parallel with each other. The interval (separation dimension) between the pair of disk members 72, 72 is larger than the width dimension D1 (see FIG. 8) of the cuvette body 210 in the cuvette 200, and the pair of mounting projections 240, 240 are It is smaller than the dimension D2 between the tips (see FIG. 8).
　図１３に示すように、一対の円盤部材７２，７２には、円弧の一部を切り欠いた切欠き部７３が同一の位置に設けられている。そして、一対の円盤部材７２，７２に形成された切欠き部７３の端部には、送り出し部７０が回転駆動された際に、第２貯留部４０に貯留されているキュベット２００をピックアップするためのピックアップ部７４が形成されている。 As shown in FIG. 13, the pair of disk members 72, 72 are provided with a notch portion 73 in which a part of an arc is cut out at the same position. Then, at the end of the cutout portion 73 formed in the pair of disc members 72, 72, the cuvette 200 stored in the second storage portion 40 is picked up when the delivery portion 70 is rotationally driven. Pickup portion 74 is formed.
　図３に示すように、第２貯留部４０には、送り出し部７０を収容するハウジング７５が設けられている。図１４は、送り出し部７０を収容するハウジング７５を説明する図である。ハウジング７５は、第２貯留部４０の内部側に面して開口する円柱形状の収容凹部７６を有しており、一対の円盤部材７２，７２が鉛直平面に沿った姿勢で収容凹部７６に収容されている。図１４に示す符号７７は、送り出し部７０の回転軸である。送り出し部７０の回転軸７７は水平方向に沿った姿勢で保持されている。 As shown in FIG. 3, the second storage section 40 is provided with a housing 75 that houses the delivery section 70. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a housing 75 that houses the sending-out unit 70. The housing 75 has a cylindrical accommodation recess 76 facing the inside of the second storage section 40 and opening, and the pair of disk members 72, 72 are accommodated in the accommodation recess 76 in a posture along a vertical plane. Has been done. Reference numeral 77 shown in FIG. 14 is a rotating shaft of the sending unit 70. The rotating shaft 77 of the feeding unit 70 is held in a posture along the horizontal direction.
　本実施形態においては、収容凹部７６の直径は、円盤部材７２，７２の直径より僅かに大きな寸法に設定されている。図１４に示す符号７８は、収容凹部７６に収容される一対の円盤部材７２，７２における切欠き部７３と、収容凹部７６の内周面との間に形成された空洞部である。本実施形態では、図４に示す第２モータ８０によって、送り出し部７０が回転軸７７を中心として矢印Ｃ方向に回転駆動される。また、ハウジング７５における空洞部７８は、送り出し部７０の切欠き部７３に対応する位置に形成されるため、送り出し部７０が回転駆動されることに伴い、空洞部７８の位置も移動する。 In this embodiment, the diameter of the accommodating recess 76 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the disk members 72, 72. A reference numeral 78 shown in FIG. 14 is a hollow portion formed between the notch portion 73 of the pair of disk members 72, 72 accommodated in the accommodation recess 76 and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodation recess 76. In the present embodiment, the delivery unit 70 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow C about the rotation shaft 77 by the second motor 80 shown in FIG. Further, since the hollow portion 78 in the housing 75 is formed at a position corresponding to the cutout portion 73 of the feeding portion 70, the position of the hollow portion 78 also moves as the feeding portion 70 is rotationally driven.
　なお、ハウジング７５の下端縁は、第２貯留部４０の底部４２（図３を参照）と高さが等しくなっている。また、図３に示すように、第２貯留部４０の壁面は、第１貯留部３０の仕切り底３１に形成された排出開口部３２から落下してくるキュベット２００が、送り出し部７０に向かってガイドされるように形成されている。具合的には、第２貯留部４０における左右方向の幅は、ハウジング７５の幅と等しい。また、ハウジング７５に収容された送り出し部７０（円盤部材７２，７２）の向かい側に位置する壁面は傾斜壁４３となっており、第２貯留部４０の幅が下方に向かって徐々に狭められている。 The height of the lower edge of the housing 75 is equal to that of the bottom portion 42 (see FIG. 3) of the second storage portion 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, on the wall surface of the second storage section 40, the cuvette 200 falling from the discharge opening 32 formed in the partition bottom 31 of the first storage section 30 is directed toward the delivery section 70. It is formed so as to be guided. Specifically, the width of the second storage portion 40 in the left-right direction is equal to the width of the housing 75. Further, the wall surface located opposite to the delivery portion 70 (disk members 72, 72) housed in the housing 75 is the inclined wall 43, and the width of the second storage portion 40 is gradually narrowed downward. There is.
　また、図１４に示す符号４４は、第２貯留部４０内に配置されるガイド部材である。ガイド部材４４は、上面に傾斜ガイド面４４ａを有しており、仕切り底３１の排出開口部３２から落下するキュベット２００を、傾斜ガイド面４４ａによって、送り出し部７０に向かって好適にガイドすることができる。なお、ガイド部材４４は、送り出し部７０における手前側の円盤部材７２（第２貯留部４０の内部空間側に面する方の円盤部材７２）に対向する円盤対向面（図示せず）を有している。本実施形態では、ガイド部材４４の円盤対向面とこれに対向配置される円盤部材７２との間の隙間にキュベット２００が入り込まないように、円盤部材７２と円盤対向面との間のクリアランス寸法が設定されている。 Reference numeral 44 shown in FIG. 14 is a guide member arranged in the second storage section 40. The guide member 44 has an inclined guide surface 44a on its upper surface, and can appropriately guide the cuvette 200 falling from the discharge opening 32 of the partition bottom 31 toward the delivery portion 70 by the inclined guide surface 44a. it can. The guide member 44 has a disc facing surface (not shown) that faces the front side disc member 72 (the disc member 72 facing the inner space side of the second storage part 40) of the delivery part 70. ing. In the present embodiment, the clearance dimension between the disk member 72 and the disk facing surface is set so that the cuvette 200 does not enter the gap between the disk facing surface of the guide member 44 and the disk member 72 that is arranged to face the disk facing surface. It is set.
　ここで、送り出し部７０によってキュベット２００を１つずつピックアップして外部に送り出し、キュベット２００を整列部９０に受け渡す際には、第２モータ８０が送り出し部７０を図１４の矢印Ｃ方向に回転駆動する。そうすると、ハウジング７５における空洞部７８に存在するキュベット２００が、回転駆動する送り出し部７０のピックアップ部７４によって拾い上げられる。上記のように、一対の円盤部材７２，７２同士の間隔（離間寸法）は、キュベット２００におけるキュベット本体２１０の幅寸法Ｄ１よりも大きく、且つ、一対の載置用突出片２４０，２４０同士の先端部間寸法Ｄ２よりも小さい。そのため、キュベット本体２１０は一対の円盤部材７２，７２同士の隙間に入り込みつつ、キュベット２００の一対の載置用突出片２４０，２４０が一対の円盤部材７２，７２の縁部に引っ掛かることで、ピックアップ部７４によってキュベット２００を１つずつピックアップできる。そして、送り出し部７０は、ピックアップ部７４によってキュベット２００をピックアップした状態で回転し、ハウジング７５の側方に形成された排出口７９（図１４を参照）までキュベット２００を移送することで、排出口７９からキュベット２００を外部に送り出すことができる。 Here, when the delivery unit 70 picks up the cuvettes 200 one by one and sends them out to the outside, and when the cuvettes 200 are delivered to the alignment unit 90, the second motor 80 rotates the delivery unit 70 in the direction of arrow C in FIG. To drive. Then, the cuvette 200 existing in the hollow portion 78 of the housing 75 is picked up by the pickup portion 74 of the feed-out portion 70 that is rotationally driven. As described above, the interval (separation dimension) between the pair of disk members 72, 72 is larger than the width dimension D1 of the cuvette body 210 in the cuvette 200, and the tips of the pair of mounting protrusions 240, 240 are located. It is smaller than the dimension D2 between parts. Therefore, the cuvette main body 210 enters the gap between the pair of disk members 72, 72, and the pair of mounting projection pieces 240, 240 of the cuvette 200 are caught by the edge portions of the pair of disk members 72, 72, thereby picking up. The parts 74 can pick up the cuvettes 200 one by one. The delivery unit 70 rotates while picking up the cuvette 200 by the pickup unit 74, and transfers the cuvette 200 to a discharge port 79 (see FIG. 14) formed on the side of the housing 75, thereby discharging the cuvette 200. The cuvette 200 can be sent to the outside from 79.
　送り出し部７０によって排出口７９まで送り出されたキュベット２００は、整列部９０に受け渡される。整列部９０は、平行に配置された一対の搬送レール９１，９１を備える。一対の搬送レール９１，９１同士の間隔（離間寸法）は、キュベット２００におけるキュベット本体２１０の幅寸法Ｄ１よりも大きく、且つ、一対の載置用突出片２４０，２４０同士の先端部間寸法Ｄ２よりも小さい。また、整列部９０（一対の搬送レール９１，９１）の一端は排出口７９に連設されており、排出口７９側から先端側に向かって斜め下方に傾斜している。また、整列部９０（一対の搬送レール９１，９１）の先端（終端）には平坦な平坦部が形成されており、平坦部は水平に延在している。本実施形態においては、整列部９０（一対の搬送レール９１，９１）の先端（終端）に位置する平坦部によってキュベット供給部１０２１が形成されている。これにより、キュベットチャックユニット１０９が、キュベット供給部１０２１に配置されているキュベット２００を安定して把持することができ、キュベットチャックユニット１０９によってキュベット２００を掴み損ねること等のエラーがより一層起こり難くなる。 The cuvette 200 sent to the discharge port 79 by the sending unit 70 is delivered to the aligning unit 90. The alignment unit 90 includes a pair of transport rails 91, 91 arranged in parallel. The interval (separation dimension) between the pair of transport rails 91, 91 is larger than the width dimension D1 of the cuvette main body 210 in the cuvette 200, and is larger than the dimension D2 between the tip portions of the pair of mounting projection pieces 240, 240. Is also small. Further, one end of the alignment portion 90 (a pair of transport rails 91, 91) is connected to the discharge port 79, and is inclined obliquely downward from the discharge port 79 side toward the tip side. In addition, a flat flat portion is formed at the tip (end) of the alignment portion 90 (a pair of transport rails 91, 91), and the flat portion extends horizontally. In the present embodiment, the cuvette supply part 1021 is formed by the flat part located at the tip (end) of the alignment part 90 (a pair of transport rails 91, 91). As a result, the cuvette chuck unit 109 can stably grip the cuvette 200 arranged in the cuvette supply unit 1021, and an error such as the cuvette chuck unit 109 failing to grip the cuvette 200 is further unlikely to occur. .
　以上のように構成される整列部９０は、送り出し部７０の回転駆動によって第２貯留部４０から１つずつ送り出されるキュベット２００を排出口７９で受け取る。そして、一対の搬送レール９１，９１間の隙間にキュベット本体２１０を入り込ませつつ、一対の載置用突出片２４０，２４０を一対の搬送レール９１，９１によって支持することで、斜めに傾斜する一対の搬送レール９１，９１に沿ってキュベット２００を滑り落とし、キュベット供給部１０２１までキュベット２００を一つずつ移送することができる。 The aligning unit 90 configured as described above receives the cuvettes 200 sent out one by one from the second storage unit 40 by the rotation driving of the sending unit 70 at the discharge port 79. Then, the cuvette main body 210 is inserted into the gap between the pair of transport rails 91, and the pair of mounting projections 240, 240 are supported by the pair of transport rails 91, 91, so that the pair of slanting slants is formed. The cuvette 200 can be slid down along the transport rails 91, 91, and the cuvette 200 can be transferred to the cuvette supply unit 1021 one by one.
　なお、整列部９０には、キュベット２００を一列に整列して所定の数だけ配置することができる。整列部９０に整列されたキュベット２００の数が所定の数以上になると、センサ９２（図６を参照）がこれを検知する。整列部９０がキュベット２００によって満杯になっていることをセンサ９２が検知すると、複合分析装置１０００のコンピュータの制御部は、第２モータ８０に送り出し部７０の回転駆動を停止させる。これに対して、センサ９２が整列部９０に整列されたキュベット２００の満杯状態を検知しなくなると、コンピュータの制御部は、第２モータ８０に送り出し部７０を回転駆動させ、送り出し部７０によってキュベット２００を一つ送り出す。 Note that the cuvettes 200 can be aligned in a line and arranged in a predetermined number in the alignment section 90. When the number of the cuvettes 200 aligned in the alignment section 90 exceeds a predetermined number, the sensor 92 (see FIG. 6) detects this. When the sensor 92 detects that the alignment unit 90 is filled with the cuvette 200, the control unit of the computer of the composite analyzer 1000 causes the second motor 80 to stop the rotational drive of the delivery unit 70. On the other hand, when the sensor 92 no longer detects the full state of the cuvettes 200 aligned in the alignment unit 90, the control unit of the computer causes the second motor 80 to rotate the delivery unit 70, and the delivery unit 70 causes the cuvettes to rotate. Send out one 200.
　また、本実施形態においては、整列部９０に整列されているキュベット２００の数が一定数以下であるかどうかを上記センサ９２によって検知してもよい。この場合、整列部９０に整列されているキュベット２００の数が一定数より多い場合には、送り出し部７０によるキュベット２００の送り出し動作を停止させておき、キュベット２００の数が一定数まで減少したことを検知したときにだけ、送り出し部７０によるキュベット２００の送り出し動作を間欠的に行うようにしてもよい。 Further, in the present embodiment, the sensor 92 may detect whether or not the number of the cuvettes 200 aligned in the alignment section 90 is less than or equal to a certain number. In this case, when the number of the cuvettes 200 aligned in the alignment unit 90 is larger than a certain number, the delivery operation of the cuvettes 200 by the delivery unit 70 is stopped and the number of the cuvettes 200 is reduced to the certain number. The feeding operation of the cuvette 200 by the feeding section 70 may be intermittently performed only when the above is detected.
　ところで、キュベット供給装置１０の送り出し部７０は、キュベット２００を１つずつピックアップして外部に送り出す機構のため、仮に、第２貯留部４０に多数のキュベット２００が存在してしまうと、送り出し部７０の切欠き部７３にキュベット２００が引っ掛かったり、詰まってしまい、円滑なキュベット２００の送り出し動作を行うことが困難となる虞がある。 By the way, the delivery unit 70 of the cuvette supply device 10 is a mechanism for picking up the cuvettes 200 one by one and delivering them to the outside. Therefore, if a large number of the cuvettes 200 exist in the second storage unit 40, the delivery unit 70 will be provided. The cuvette 200 may be caught or clogged in the notch portion 73, and it may be difficult to smoothly perform the feeding operation of the cuvette 200.
　これに対して、本実施形態におけるキュベット供給装置１０においては、排出開口部３２を通じて第１貯留部３０から第２貯留部４０へと排出されるキュベット２００の数をコントロールする。ここで、第２貯留部４０の側壁における底部４２の高さ近傍には、第２貯留部４０の底部４２に貯留されているキュベット２００を検知するためのセンサ４５が設けられている。例えば、センサ４５によって、第２貯留部のキュベット２００が検知されなくなると、コンピュータの制御部は、第１モータ６１に排出部材５０の回転ロッド５１を所定角度だけ正方向に回転させる。例えば、第１モータ６１は、回転ロッド５１を正方向に３６０°（１回転）させるようにしてもよい。 On the other hand, in the cuvette supply device 10 according to the present embodiment, the number of cuvettes 200 discharged from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32 is controlled. Here, a sensor 45 for detecting the cuvette 200 stored in the bottom portion 42 of the second storage portion 40 is provided near the height of the bottom portion 42 on the side wall of the second storage portion 40. For example, when the sensor 45 no longer detects the cuvette 200 in the second storage unit, the control unit of the computer causes the first motor 61 to rotate the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 in the positive direction by a predetermined angle. For example, the first motor 61 may rotate the rotating rod 51 in the positive direction by 360 ° (one rotation).
　排出部材５０の回転ロッド５１が正方向に回転すると、排出部材５０の螺旋羽根５２が回転ロッド５１と一体に回転することで、第１貯留部３０に貯留（堆積）しているキュベット２００のうち、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１に乗っているキュベット２００が、回転ロッド５１が回転している間だけ下方に向けて移送される。その結果、キュベット２００を少数（例えば、１～２個程度）だけ、排出開口部３２（キュベット排出口５６）を通じて第１貯留部３０から第２貯留部４０に落下させることができる。これによれば、排出開口部３２を通じて第１貯留部３０から第２貯留部４０にキュベット２００を供給する際、一度に大量のキュベット２００が第２貯留部４０に供給されないため、第２貯留部４０における送り出し部７０の切欠き部７３にキュベット２００が引っ掛かったり、詰まってしまうことを好適に抑制できる。なお、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１を回転駆動する際、１回当たりにおける回転ロッド５１の回転量（回転角度）は、排出開口部３２から１度に排出させるキュベット２００の数に応じて適切な制御量に設定することができる。なお、コンピュータの制御は、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１を所定の回転量だけ正方向に回転させることで第１貯留部３０のキュベット２００を第２貯留部４０に落下させた後、回転ロッド５１を所定の回転量（例えば、０．５回転）だけ逆方向に回転させてもよい。このように、排出部材５０によるキュベット２００の排出動作御、回転ロッド５１を逆回転させることで、第１貯留部３０におけるキュベット２００が偏った状態で貯留されることを抑制できる。 When the rotating rod 51 of the discharging member 50 rotates in the forward direction, the spiral blade 52 of the discharging member 50 rotates integrally with the rotating rod 51, so that the cuvette 200 stored (deposited) in the first storage portion 30 The cuvette 200 on the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 is transferred downward only while the rotating rod 51 is rotating. As a result, a small number (for example, about 1 to 2) of the cuvettes 200 can be dropped from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56). According to this, when supplying the cuvette 200 from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening part 32, a large amount of the cuvettes 200 are not supplied to the second storage part 40 at a time, and thus the second storage part. It is possible to favorably prevent the cuvette 200 from being caught or clogged with the cutout portion 73 of the delivery portion 70 in 40. When the rotary rod 51 of the discharging member 50 is rotationally driven, the rotation amount (rotation angle) of the rotary rod 51 per time is appropriate according to the number of the cuvettes 200 to be discharged from the discharging opening 32 at one time. It can be set to a controlled variable. Note that the computer is controlled by rotating the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 in the forward direction by a predetermined rotation amount to drop the cuvette 200 of the first storing portion 30 into the second storing portion 40, and then rotating the rotating rod 51. May be rotated in the opposite direction by a predetermined rotation amount (for example, 0.5 rotations). As described above, by controlling the discharging operation of the cuvette 200 by the discharging member 50 and rotating the rotating rod 51 in the reverse direction, it is possible to prevent the cuvette 200 in the first storing section 30 from being stored in a biased state.
　また、本実施形態における排出部材５０によれば、回転ロッド５１が停止している間には、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１にキュベット２００が乗っていたとしても下方に移送されない。そのため、回転ロッド５１の停止期間中に、排出開口部３２（キュベット排出口５６）を通じて第１貯留部３０から第２貯留部４０へとキュベット２００が落下することを抑制できる。 Further, according to the discharging member 50 in the present embodiment, while the rotating rod 51 is stopped, even if the cuvette 200 is on the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52, it is not transferred downward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cuvette 200 from dropping from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56) during the stop period of the rotating rod 51.
　更に、本実施形態においては、排出部材５０の回転ロッド５１が間欠的に回転駆動されるため、回転ロッド５１における一度の回転駆動によって排出開口部３２（キュベット排出口５６）から第２貯留部４０に落下するキュベットの数を適切な数に調節することが可能となる。 Further, in the present embodiment, since the rotating rod 51 of the discharging member 50 is intermittently driven to rotate, one rotation driving of the rotating rod 51 causes the discharging opening 32 (the cuvette discharging port 56) to move to the second storage portion 40. It is possible to adjust the number of cuvettes that drop into a suitable number.
　更に、本実施形態における排出部材５０は、螺旋羽根５２の外周縁５２２に沿って螺旋羽根５２の外周（側面）を覆う外周カバー５４を備えている。そして、外周カバー５４は、外周カバー設置領域において、螺旋羽根５２の外周縁５２２より下方の領域を覆っているため、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１に載ることなく当該螺旋羽根５２の下面を潜って排出開口部３２（キュベット排出口５６）から第２貯留部４０に落下することを抑制できる。これによれば、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１を正方向に回転駆動させた際、第１貯留部３０から第２貯留部４０に多量のキュベット２００が排出されてしまうことを、より確実に抑制できる。 Further, the discharge member 50 in the present embodiment includes an outer peripheral cover 54 that covers the outer periphery (side surface) of the spiral blade 52 along the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52. Since the outer peripheral cover 54 covers the area below the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52 in the outer peripheral cover installation area, the outer peripheral cover 54 does not ride on the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 and dives under the lower surface of the spiral blade 52. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56) from falling into the second storage section 40. According to this, when the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 is rotationally driven in the forward direction, it is possible to more reliably prevent a large amount of the cuvette 200 from being discharged from the first storage part 30 to the second storage part 40. it can.
　特に、本実施形態においては、外周カバー５４における先端カバー領域５４１は、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１の下方領域だけでなく、上方領域も螺旋羽根５２の側面を覆うように構成されている。これによれば、螺旋羽根５２の下端縁５２３側において、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１に載ることなく当該螺旋羽根５２の下面を潜って排出開口部３２（キュベット排出口５６）から第２貯留部４０に落下することを先端カバー下部領域５４１ｂによって好適に抑制できる。更に、螺旋羽根５２における下端縁５２３を含む先端領域は、カバー部材５３のキュベット排出口５６や排出開口部３２と近接しているが、本実施形態における外周カバー５４は先端カバー上部領域５４１ａが移送スロープ面５２１の上方に突出している。そのため、本実施形態における排出部材５０によれば、螺旋羽根５２における下端縁５２３を含む先端領域の近傍に位置するキュベット２００が、螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１の上側を乗り越えて直接的に排出開口部３２やキュベット排出口５６から第２貯留部４０に落下することを抑制できる。 Particularly, in the present embodiment, the tip end cover region 541 of the outer peripheral cover 54 is configured so that not only the region below the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 but also the upper region covers the side surface of the spiral blade 52. According to this, on the lower end edge 523 side of the spiral blade 52, the lower surface of the spiral blade 52 is not placed on the transfer slope surface 521, and the lower surface of the spiral blade 52 is diverted to the second storage from the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56). The tip cover lower region 541b can favorably prevent the portion 40 from falling. Further, the tip end region of the spiral blade 52 including the lower end edge 523 is close to the cuvette discharge port 56 and the discharge opening 32 of the cover member 53, but the tip end cover upper region 541a is transferred to the outer peripheral cover 54 in the present embodiment. It projects above the slope surface 521. Therefore, according to the discharging member 50 in the present embodiment, the cuvette 200 located in the vicinity of the tip region including the lower end edge 523 of the spiral blade 52 passes over the upper side of the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 and is directly discharged. It is possible to suppress falling from the opening 32 and the cuvette discharge port 56 to the second storage unit 40.
　また、本実施形態における排出部材５０の外周カバー５４は、螺旋羽根５２の下端縁５２３から当該螺旋羽根５２が回転ロッド５１の周囲を略一周するまでの領域に亘って形成するようにした。ここで、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１の回転駆動時にキュベット２００が螺旋羽根５２の移送スロープ面５２１に載ることなく螺旋羽根５２の下面を潜って排出開口部３２（キュベット排出口５６）から排出されてしまうリスクは、螺旋羽根５２の下端縁５２３から当該螺旋羽根５２が回転ロッド５１の周囲を略一周するまでの領域（区間）が高いと考えられる。そこで、そのような領域（区間）に対して外周カバー５４を配置することで、排出開口部３２（キュベット排出口５６）から一度に沢山のキュベット２００が落下することを抑制できるという効果をより顕著に得ることができる。 Further, the outer peripheral cover 54 of the discharge member 50 in this embodiment is formed over the region from the lower end edge 523 of the spiral blade 52 to the circumference of the rotary rod 51 by the spiral blade 52. Here, when the rotating rod 51 of the discharging member 50 is driven to rotate, the cuvette 200 does not rest on the transfer slope surface 521 of the spiral blade 52 and is discharged from the discharge opening 32 (the cuvette discharge port 56) under the lower surface of the spiral blade 52. It is considered that the risk of becoming high is high in the region (section) from the lower edge 523 of the spiral blade 52 to the circumference of the rotary rod 51 by the spiral blade 52. Therefore, by arranging the outer peripheral cover 54 in such an area (section), it is possible to more effectively suppress the drop of a large number of cuvettes 200 from the discharge opening portion 32 (cuvette discharge port 56) at one time. Can be obtained.
　また、排出部材５０におけるカバー部材５３の底部カバー５５は、キュベット排出口５６を除いて、螺旋羽根５２の下面側に空洞部が形成されないように外周カバー５４の下端５４ａ位置から螺旋羽根５２の下面までの領域を占有するように（埋めるように）形成されている（図９を参照）。これにより、螺旋羽根５２の下端縁５２３近傍において、螺旋羽根５２の下面と底部カバー５５との間にキュベット２００が引っ掛ったりすることを好適に抑制できる。 In addition, the bottom cover 55 of the cover member 53 of the discharge member 50, except for the cuvette discharge port 56, extends from the position of the lower end 54a of the outer peripheral cover 54 to the lower surface of the spiral blade 52 so that no cavity is formed on the lower surface side of the spiral blade 52. Are formed so as to occupy (fill) the areas up to (see FIG. 9). Accordingly, it is possible to preferably prevent the cuvette 200 from being caught between the lower surface of the spiral blade 52 and the bottom cover 55 near the lower end edge 523 of the spiral blade 52.
　また、本実施形態においては、排出部材５０における回転ロッド５１の中心軸位置を、仕切り底３１に形成される排出開口部３２の中心位置と平面視において一致させるようにした。これによれば、排出部材５０における螺旋羽根５２の螺旋径と排出開口部３２における内径の寸法差を小さくしても、回転ロッド５１の回転駆動時に螺旋羽根５２の外周縁５２２が排出開口部３２の周縁に衝突することを抑制できる。 Further, in the present embodiment, the central axis position of the rotating rod 51 of the discharge member 50 is made to coincide with the central position of the discharge opening 32 formed in the partition bottom 31 in plan view. According to this, even if the dimensional difference between the spiral diameter of the spiral blade 52 of the discharge member 50 and the inner diameter of the discharge opening 32 is reduced, the outer peripheral edge 522 of the spiral blade 52 is driven to rotate when the rotating rod 51 is driven to rotate. It is possible to suppress the collision with the peripheral edge of the.
　また、排出部材５０は、螺旋羽根５２及びカバー部材５３の一部（下部領域）が排出開口部３２を通じて第２貯留部４０内に挿入されるように設置されている。これによれば、回転ロッド５１の回転駆動時において、第１貯留部３０から排出開口部３２を通じて第２貯留部４０へと一度に排出されるキュベット２００の数をより精度良く制御することができる。 Further, the discharge member 50 is installed such that a part (lower region) of the spiral blade 52 and the cover member 53 is inserted into the second storage part 40 through the discharge opening 32. According to this, it is possible to more accurately control the number of cuvettes 200 discharged at a time from the first storage portion 30 to the second storage portion 40 through the discharge opening portion 32 when the rotating rod 51 is driven to rotate. .
　以上のように、本実施形態におけるキュベット供給装置１０によれば、多数のキュベット２００が貯留される第１貯留部３０から、キュベット２００を１つずつ外部に送り出す送り出し部７０が収容される第２貯留部４０に対して多量のキュベット２００が一度に移送されることを抑制し、キュベット２００を一度に適切な数だけ第２貯留部４０に移送することができるため、送り出し部７０におけるキュベット２００の外部への円滑な送り出し動作が阻害されることがない。これにより、複合分析装置１０００の各種分析で使用するキュベット２００を、キュベット供給装置によって円滑に供給することができる。 As described above, according to the cuvette supply device 10 in the present embodiment, the second storage unit 70 that stores the cuvettes 200 one by one from the first storage unit 30 that stores a large number of the cuvettes 200 is stored. It is possible to prevent a large amount of cuvettes 200 from being transferred to the storage part 40 at one time, and to transfer an appropriate number of cuvettes 200 to the second storage part 40 at a time. The smooth feeding operation to the outside is not hindered. Accordingly, the cuvette 200 used in various analyzes of the composite analyzer 1000 can be smoothly supplied by the cuvette supply device.
１０・・・キュベット供給装置
２０・・・ホッパー
３０・・・第１貯留部
３１・・・仕切り底
３２・・・排出開口部
４０・・・第２貯留部
５０・・・排出部材
５１・・・回転ロッド
５２・・・螺旋羽根
５３・・・カバー部材
５４・・・外周カバー
５５・・・底部カバー
５６・・・キュベット排出口
７０・・・送り出し部
９０・・・整列部 10 ... Cuvette supply device 20 ... Hopper 30 ... First storage part 31 ... Partition bottom 32 ... Discharge opening 40 ... Second storage part 50 ... Discharge member 51 ... -Rotating rod 52-Spiral blade 53-Cover member 54-Outer peripheral cover 55-Bottom cover 56-Cuvette discharge port 70-Sending part 90-Aligning part

Claims (7)

  1. 　投入口から投入されたキュベットを底部に堆積させて貯留する第１貯留部と、
    　前記第１貯留部の下方に設けられ、前記底部によって前記第１貯留部と仕切られると共に当該底部に形成された開口部を通じて前記第１貯留部から落下したキュベットを貯留する第２貯留部と、
    　前記第２貯留部に設けられ、当該第２貯留部に貯留されているキュベットを１つずつ外部に送り出す送り出し部と、
    　前記第１貯留部に貯留されているキュベットを前記開口部から前記第２貯留部に落下させる排出部材と、
    　を備え、
    　前記排出部材は、
    　　回転駆動される回転ロッドと、
    　　前記回転ロッドの周囲に設けられると共に上面にキュベットの移送スロープ面が形成された、前記開口部に配置される螺旋羽根と、
    　を有し、前記回転ロッドが回転駆動されている間、前記螺旋羽根が前記回転ロッドと一体に回転することで前記移送スロープ面に載せたキュベットを下方に向けて移送すると共に前記開口部から前記第２貯留部に落下させる、
    　キュベット供給装置。     A first storage part for accumulating and storing the cuvette that has been input from the input port on the bottom part;
    A second storage part provided below the first storage part, which is partitioned from the first storage part by the bottom part and stores the cuvettes dropped from the first storage part through an opening formed in the bottom part;
    A sending-out unit provided in the second storage unit for sending out the cuvettes stored in the second storage unit one by one to the outside;
    A discharge member for dropping the cuvette stored in the first storage portion to the second storage portion through the opening,
    With
    The discharge member is
    A rotating rod that is driven to rotate,
    A spiral blade disposed in the opening, which is provided around the rotating rod and has a transfer slope surface of the cuvette formed on the upper surface thereof;
    While the rotary rod is being driven to rotate, the spiral blade rotates integrally with the rotary rod to transfer the cuvette placed on the transfer slope surface downward, and from the opening. Drop it into the second reservoir,
    Cuvette feeder.
  2. 　前記排出部材は、前記回転ロッドが間欠的に回転駆動されることで、当該回転ロッドにおける一度の回転駆動によって前記開口部から前記第２貯留部に落下するキュベットの数が調節される、
    　請求項１に記載のキュベット供給装置。     In the discharge member, the number of cuvettes that drop from the opening to the second storage unit is adjusted by rotating the rotating rod intermittently so that the rotating rod rotates once.
    The cuvette supply device according to claim 1.
  3. 　前記回転ロッドの中心軸位置と前記開口部の中心位置が平面視において一致している、
    　請求項１又は２に記載のキュベット供給装置。     The central axis position of the rotating rod and the central position of the opening match in plan view,
    The cuvette supply device according to claim 1 or 2.
  4. 　前記排出部材は、前記螺旋羽根の下部領域が前記開口部を通じて前記第２貯留部に挿入された状態で配置されている、
    　請求項１から３の何れか一項に記載のキュベット供給装置。     The discharge member is arranged such that a lower region of the spiral blade is inserted into the second storage unit through the opening.
    The cuvette supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
  5. 　前記排出部材は、前記螺旋羽根の下端縁から当該螺旋羽根の外周縁に沿って所定範囲の領域に亘って形成され、前記螺旋羽根の前記移送スロープ面に載ることなく当該螺旋羽根の下面を潜って前記開口部から前記第２貯留部に落下することを抑制する外周カバーを、
     更に有する、
     請求項１から４の何れか一項に記載のキュベット供給装置。     The discharge member is formed from a lower end edge of the spiral blade over an area of a predetermined range along an outer peripheral edge of the spiral blade, and does not ride on the transfer slope surface of the spiral blade to bury the lower surface of the spiral blade. An outer peripheral cover that suppresses falling from the opening to the second storage portion,
    Have more,
    The cuvette supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
  6. 　前記外周カバーは、前記螺旋羽根の下端縁から当該螺旋羽根が前記回転ロッドの周囲を略一周するまでの領域に亘って形成されている、
    　請求項５に記載のキュベット供給装置。     The outer peripheral cover is formed over an area from the lower end edge of the spiral blade to the circumference of the rotary rod by the spiral blade.
    The cuvette supply device according to claim 5.
  7. 　前記排出部材は、前記外周カバーの下部領域が前記開口部を通じて前記第２貯留部に挿入された状態で配置されている、
    　請求項５又は６に記載のキュベット供給装置。
          The discharge member is arranged such that a lower region of the outer peripheral cover is inserted into the second storage part through the opening.
    The cuvette supply device according to claim 5 or 6.
PCT/JP2019/040046 2018-10-10 2019-10-10 Cuvette supply device WO2020075812A1 (en)

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Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61258170A (en) * 1985-05-11 1986-11-15 Olympus Optical Co Ltd Carrier housing container used for immunological analysis
JPH08151124A (en) * 1994-11-29 1996-06-11 Tsukasa Kogyo Kk Pulse feeder
JP3157650U (en) * 2009-12-09 2010-02-25 株式会社島津製作所 Cuvette alignment device
JP2012189606A (en) * 2007-02-08 2012-10-04 Biokit S A Apparatus and method for supplying sample holding container
JP2014194349A (en) * 2013-03-28 2014-10-09 Sysmex Corp Analysis apparatus
EP3366615A1 (en) * 2014-09-22 2018-08-29 Stratec Biomedical AG Device for transportation, separation and orientation of cuvettes

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61258170A (en) * 1985-05-11 1986-11-15 Olympus Optical Co Ltd Carrier housing container used for immunological analysis
JPH08151124A (en) * 1994-11-29 1996-06-11 Tsukasa Kogyo Kk Pulse feeder
JP2012189606A (en) * 2007-02-08 2012-10-04 Biokit S A Apparatus and method for supplying sample holding container
JP3157650U (en) * 2009-12-09 2010-02-25 株式会社島津製作所 Cuvette alignment device
JP2014194349A (en) * 2013-03-28 2014-10-09 Sysmex Corp Analysis apparatus
EP3366615A1 (en) * 2014-09-22 2018-08-29 Stratec Biomedical AG Device for transportation, separation and orientation of cuvettes

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