Circulator and sample analyzer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a circulation device, a circulation method, and a sample analyzer. The circulation device includes a mounting frame and an input mechanism, an output mechanism, a recovery mechanism, and a transfer mechanism arranged on the mounting frame, wherein: the input mechanism is used to supply a carrier box containing reaction containers; the output mechanism is used to output the carrier box containing reaction containers from the input mechanism; the recovery mechanism is used to recover the carrier box from the output mechanism after the reaction containers have been unloaded; and the transfer mechanism includes a transfer component corresponding to the input mechanism, the output mechanism, and the recovery mechanism, and the transfer component is used to transport the carrier box containing reaction containers from the input mechanism to the output mechanism, and to transport the carrier box after the reaction containers have been unloaded from the output mechanism to the recovery mechanism. This can make the circulation device structure more compact.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular to a circulation device and a sample analyzer comprising the circulation device. Background Art

[0002] A circulation device is typically used to transport a carrier box containing reaction vessels to an output mechanism, where a robot arm can remove the reaction vessels from the carrier box. Once all reaction vessels have been removed from the carrier box, the empty carrier box is transported to the recycling device's recovery mechanism for reuse. However, in conventional circulation devices, the paths for the carrier box to move to the output mechanism and back are relatively complex, making the entire circulation device bulky and affecting its structural compactness. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A technical problem solved by the present invention is how to make the circulation device more compact in structure.

[0004] A circulation device comprises a mounting frame and an input mechanism, an output mechanism, a recovery mechanism and a transfer mechanism arranged on the mounting frame, wherein:

[0005] An input mechanism for supplying a carrier box containing reaction containers;

[0006] an output mechanism, configured to output the carrier box containing the reaction containers from the input mechanism;

[0007] a recovery mechanism, configured to recover the carrier box from which the reaction container has been unloaded from the output mechanism;

[0008] The transfer mechanism includes a transfer component corresponding to the input mechanism, the output mechanism and the recovery mechanism. The transfer component is used to transport the carrier box containing the reaction container from the input mechanism to the output mechanism, and to transport the carrier box from which the reaction container has been unloaded from the output mechanism to the recovery mechanism.

[0009] In one embodiment, the path for transporting the carrier box from the input mechanism to the output mechanism and from the output mechanism to the recovery mechanism are both the same path.

[0010] In one embodiment, the mounting frame includes a base and a support base, the support base is slidably connected to the base, the input mechanism and the recovery mechanism are both arranged on the support base, and the output mechanism is fixed on the base.

[0011] In one embodiment, the transfer mechanism is arranged on the support seat.

[0012] In one embodiment, a accommodating cavity, an input hole and a recovery hole are provided on the support seat, the input hole and the recovery hole are both connected to the accommodating cavity, the transfer component is partially accommodated in the accommodating cavity, the input mechanism is provided at the position of the input hole, and the recovery mechanism is provided at the position of the recovery hole.

[0013] In one embodiment, it further includes a push-pull synchronous belt, which is arranged on the base and connected to the support seat.

[0014] In one embodiment, the transfer assembly includes two conveyor belt units spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to gravity, and the carrying box is carried on the conveyor belt units.

[0015] In one embodiment, the transfer assembly further includes a rotating shaft and a driver, the two conveyor belt units are respectively mounted on opposite ends of the rotating shaft, and the driver is located between the two conveyor belt units and drives the rotating shaft to rotate.

[0016] In one embodiment, the transfer mechanism also includes a transfer body corresponding one-to-one to the conveyor belt unit, and the transfer body includes a load-bearing plate and a fixed plate and a limit plate respectively connected to the opposite ends of the load-bearing plate, the fixed plate and the limit plate are separated on opposite sides of the load-bearing plate in the thickness direction, the load-bearing plate is inserted into the gap between the tight side and the loose side of the conveyor belt unit, and the fixed plate and the load-bearing plate are separated on both sides of the conveyor belt unit.

[0017] In one embodiment, the input mechanism includes an input bracket for carrying the carrier box, and the output mechanism includes an output bracket for carrying the carrier box. The widths of both the input bracket and the output bracket are smaller than the gap between the two conveyor belt units.

[0018] In one embodiment, the input bracket and the output bracket both move relative to the mounting frame in the direction of gravity, and the carrying box moves on the transfer assembly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

[0019] In one embodiment, the input mechanism further includes a support plate rotatably arranged on the mounting frame, wherein the support plate can rotate around a central axis perpendicular to the direction of gravity and has an avoidance position and a support position, wherein the support plate is separated from the supporting box at the avoidance position and the support plate supports the supporting box at the support position.

[0020] In one embodiment, the input mechanism further includes a motor disposed on the mounting bracket, and the motor drives the support plate to rotate.

[0021] In one embodiment, the recovery mechanism includes a recovery bracket for carrying the carrying box, and the width of the recovery bracket is greater than the gap between the two conveyor belt units.

[0022] In one embodiment, the recovery bracket moves relative to the mounting frame in the direction of gravity, and the carrying box moves on the transfer assembly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

[0023] In one embodiment, the recovery bracket includes a sliding portion and a flipping portion that are rotatably connected, the sliding portion can slide relative to the mounting frame, the flipping portion can rotate around a central axis perpendicular to the direction of gravity and have a carrying position, and the flipping portion can carry the carrying box at the carrying position; during the process of the sliding portion moving close to the conveyor belt unit, the carrying box can push the flipping portion to rotate away from the carrying position.

[0024] In one embodiment, the recovery bracket further includes an elastic portion, which is connected between the sliding portion and the flipping portion, and the elastic portion stores energy during the movement of the flipping portion away from the carrying position, and releases energy to allow the flipping portion to move closer to the carrying position.

[0025] In one embodiment, there are two sliding parts, the spacing direction of the two sliding parts is the same as the spacing direction of the two conveyor belt units, and the spacing distance between the two sliding parts is greater than the gap between the two conveyor belt units.

[0026] In one embodiment, the input mechanism, the output mechanism and the recovery mechanism are all located on the upper side of the transfer component.

[0027] A sample analyzer comprises the circulation device described in any one of the above.

[0028] A technical effect of one embodiment of the present invention is that the transfer component transports the carrier box containing the reaction containers from the input mechanism to the output mechanism, thereby achieving the output of the carrier box. After the reaction containers on the carrier box are unloaded on the output mechanism, the transfer component transports the carrier box with the unloaded reaction containers from the output mechanism to the recovery mechanism, thereby achieving the recovery of the carrier box. Therefore, during the process of outputting and recovering the carrier box, the carrier box is achieved through the same transfer component, thereby eliminating the need for other transfer components. This can not only simplify the structure of the entire circulation device, but also make the entire circulation device small in size and more compact in structure, reducing the instrument space occupied by the circulation device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the carrier box;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a circulation device provided in one embodiment;

[0031] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the partial structure of the circulation device shown;

[0032] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the partial structure of the circulation device including the mounting frame and the transfer mechanism;

[0033] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure from another perspective;

[0034] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the partial structure of the circulation device including the base, push-pull synchronous belt and push-pull motor;

[0035] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the local structure of the circulation device including the input mechanism;

[0036] Figure 8 for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the circulation device in which the support plate is in a supporting position to support the carrier box;

[0037] Figure 9 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the output mechanism in the circulation device shown;

[0038] Figure 10 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the local structure of the circulation device including the recovery mechanism;

[0039] Figure 11 for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the circulation device in which the support plate is in a carrying position to support the carrying box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of the present disclosure.

[0041] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly attached to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. The terms "inner," "outer," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation methods.

[0042] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The circulation device 10 provided in one embodiment of the present invention is used to load and recycle a carrier box 20. The carrier box 20 is roughly in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. A plurality of accommodating holes 21 are provided in the carrier box 20. The accommodating holes 21 can be arranged in a matrix of multiple rows and columns. The reaction containers 30 cooperate with the accommodating holes 21, so that multiple reaction containers 30 can be simultaneously placed in one carrier box 20. Obviously, the reaction containers 30 and the accommodating holes 21 can form a one-to-one correspondence. The carrier box 20 has a bottom surface 22, a top surface 23 and a side surface 24. The bottom surface 22 and the top surface 23 are two end surfaces arranged horizontally in the thickness direction of the carrier box 20. The side surface 24 is connected between the top surface 23 and the bottom surface 22 and is arranged vertically. The accommodating holes 21 are provided on the top surface 23. The carrier box 20 also includes an ear cap 25 provided on the side surface 24. The ear cap 25 protrudes a certain length relative to the side surface 24. There can be two ear caps 25, each located at either end of the lengthwise or widthwise direction of the carrier box 20. Each ear cap 25 has an upper surface 25a, a lower surface 25b, and side surfaces 25c. Side surfaces 25c are vertically connected between the upper and lower surfaces 25a, 25b. The upper surface 25a is horizontally disposed near the top surface 23, while the lower surface 25b is horizontally disposed near the bottom surface 22. Multiple carrier boxes 20 can be stacked together along their thickness. For two adjacent stacked carrier boxes 20, the top surface 23 of one carrier box 20 abuts the bottom surface 22 of another carrier box 20.

[0043] See also Figure 2 and Figure 3 The circulation device 10 includes a mounting frame 100, a transfer mechanism 200, an input mechanism 300, an output mechanism 400, and a recovery mechanism 500. The transfer mechanism 200, the input mechanism 300, the output mechanism 400, and the recovery mechanism 500 are all arranged on the mounting frame 100.

[0044] See also Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 6In some embodiments, the mounting frame 100 includes a base 110 and a support base 120. A guide rail 111 may be provided on the base 110. The support base 120 is slidably connected to the guide rail 111. The guide rail 111 extends in the horizontal direction. The direction of gravity can be understood as the vertical direction. Obviously, the horizontal direction is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. Therefore, the support base 120 can slide back and forth in the horizontal direction relative to the base 110, so that the support base 120 plays a function similar to a "drawer". The circulation device 10 may also include a push-pull synchronous belt 131 and a push-pull motor 132. The push-pull motor 132 is used to drive the push-pull synchronous belt 131 to move, so that the tight side or loose side of the push-pull synchronous belt 131 performs linear motion in the horizontal direction. The support base 120 can be fixed on the tight side or loose side of the push-pull synchronous belt 131, so that the push-pull synchronous belt 131 drives the support base 120 to perform reciprocating linear motion in the horizontal direction relative to the base 110.

[0045] In some embodiments, the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500 can simultaneously slide relative to the output mechanism 400. For example, the output mechanism 400 is fixed to the base 110, the support base 120 is slidably connected to the base 110, and the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500 are both disposed on the support base 120. This prevents the input mechanism 300, the recovery mechanism 500, and the output mechanism 400 from being simultaneously supported on the support base 120 and sliding synchronously, thereby reducing the weight borne by the support base 120 and the sliding distance of the support base 120 relative to the base 110, thereby ultimately improving the sensitivity of the support base 120 during sliding and the accuracy of the sliding trajectory.

[0046] See also Figure 2 and Figure 3The output mechanism 400 is fixed to the base 110, while the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500 are both fixed to the support base 120. Horizontally, the input mechanism 300 can be positioned between the output mechanism 400 and the recovery mechanism 500. When the support base 120 slides relative to the base 110, the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500 can simultaneously slide toward or away from the output mechanism 400. In other words, the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500 can slide synchronously relative to the base 110, while the output mechanism 400 cannot slide relative to the base 110. Since the support base 120 only carries the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500, the output mechanism 400 is no longer arranged on the support base 120. This can reduce the weight borne by the support base 120 on the one hand, thereby reducing the weight borne by the guide rail 111 on the base 110. On the other hand, it can reduce the sliding distance of the support base 120 relative to the guide rail 111, thereby preventing the guide rail 111 from bending, deforming or even being damaged due to excessive load and excessive relative sliding distance, ensuring that the support base 120 can slide smoothly relative to the base 110 through the guide rail 111, and improving the sensitivity of the support base 120 during sliding and the accuracy of the sliding trajectory.

[0047] See also Figure 3 、 Figure 4 and Figure 5 The support seat 120 is provided with a accommodating chamber 121, an input hole 122 and a recovery hole 123. The accommodating chamber 121 is located below the input hole 122 and the recovery hole 123. Both the input hole 122 and the recovery hole 123 are interconnected with the accommodating chamber 121. The input mechanism 300 is arranged at the position of the input hole 122, the recovery mechanism 500 is arranged at the position of the recovery hole 123, and the transfer mechanism 200 is partially accommodated in the accommodating chamber 121.

[0048] In some embodiments, the transfer mechanism 200 can be set on the support seat 120, so that the transfer mechanism 200 can follow the support seat 120 to move relative to the base 110. Therefore, when the support seat 120 moves, the transfer mechanism 200, the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500 can follow the support seat 120 to slide closer to or away from the output mechanism 400, avoiding the problem of the input hole 122 and the recovery hole 123 being misaligned with the transfer mechanism 200 after the position of the support seat 120 after the movement is completed deviates from the position before the movement, and ensures that after the support seat 120 moves, the input mechanism 300 can still accurately transfer the carrier box 20 to the transfer mechanism 200 through its corresponding input hole 122, and the recovery mechanism 500 can accurately recover the carrier box 20 on the transfer mechanism 200 through its corresponding recovery hole 123.

[0049] The transfer mechanism 200 includes a transfer assembly 210 and a transfer body 240. The transfer assembly includes a rotating shaft 220, an actuator 230, and a conveyor belt unit 211. There are two conveyor belt units 211, spaced apart in a horizontal plane along the sliding direction of the vertical support base 120. Each conveyor belt unit 211 may include a synchronous belt, and the tight or loose edge of the conveyor belt unit 211 can move linearly along the sliding direction of the support base 120. A portion of the conveyor belt unit 211 is housed within the accommodating chamber 121, while another portion is located outside the accommodating chamber 121. The portion of the conveyor belt unit 211 located within the accommodating chamber 121 corresponds to the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500, while the portion of the conveyor belt unit 211 located outside the accommodating chamber 121 corresponds to the output mechanism 400. The input mechanism 300, the output mechanism 400, and the recovery mechanism 500 are all located on the upper side of the conveyor belt unit 211.

[0050] The rotating shaft 220 is rotatably set on the support base 120, and the two conveyor belt units 211 are respectively mounted on the opposite ends of the rotating shaft 220. The driver 230 is set on the support base 120. The driver 230 can be a belt transmission. When the driver 230 drives the rotating shaft 220 to rotate, the rotating shaft 220 will simultaneously drive the two conveyor belt units 211 to move synchronously. When the carrier box 20 is carried on the tight side or loose side of the two conveyor belt units 211, the carrier box 20 can follow the two conveyor belt units 211 to move synchronously, thereby realizing the transportation of the carrier box 20 by the entire transfer assembly 210.

[0051] The number of transport bodies 240 is equal to the number of conveyor belt units 211, forming a one-to-one correspondence. The transport body 240 includes a load-bearing plate 241, a fixed plate 242, and a limit plate 243. The load-bearing plate 241, the fixed plate 242, and the limit plate 243 are connected by a bend. Specifically, the load-bearing plate 241 is arranged generally horizontally, while the fixed plate 242 and the limit plate 243 can be arranged generally vertically. The fixed plate 242 and the limit plate 243 are respectively connected to opposite ends of the load-bearing plate 241, and the fixed plate 242 and the limit plate 243 are separated on opposite sides of the load-bearing plate 241 in the thickness direction. The fixing plate 242 is fixedly connected to the support base 120, thereby fixing the entire transport body 240 on the support base 120. When the transport body 240 is fixed, the carrying plate 241 is inserted into the gap between the tight edge and the loose edge of the conveyor belt unit 211. The fixing plate 242 and the limiting plate 243 are separated on opposite sides of the conveyor belt unit 211, so that the limiting plate 243 is located next to the tight edge of the conveyor belt unit 211, while the fixing plate 242 is located next to the loose edge of the conveyor belt unit 211. When the conveyor belt unit 211 transports the carrier box 20, the carrying plate 241 can share part of the weight of the carrier box 20. The carrying plate 241 can also prevent the conveyor belt unit 211 from bending and deforming under the pressure of the carrier box 20. At the same time, the limiting plate 243 can prevent the carrier box 20 from separating from the conveyor belt unit 211, and the limiting plate 243 plays a good role in limiting the movement trajectory of the carrier box 20. Therefore, by providing the transport body 240 , it can be ensured that the conveyor belt unit 211 can smoothly transport the carrier box 20 along a set straight track.

[0052] See also Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 7 and Figure 8In some embodiments, the input mechanism 300 includes an input frame 310, an input bracket 320, an input power source 330, a support plate 340, and a motor 350. The input frame 310 can be a roughly rectangular frame-shaped structure. The input frame 310 encloses an input cavity 311, and the input cavity 311 extends in the vertical direction. The input frame 310 is fixed to the position of the input hole 122 on the support base 120, so that the input cavity 311 is connected to the accommodating cavity 121 through the input hole 122. The input bracket 320 is located in the input cavity 311, and the input bracket 320 is slidably connected to the input frame 310, so that the input bracket 320 can reciprocate in the vertical direction relative to the input frame 310. The input power source 330 may include an input timing belt 331 and an input motor 332. The input bracket 320 may be fixed to the tight or loose side of the input timing belt 331. The input motor 332 is fixed to the input frame 310 and is used to drive the input timing belt 331 to move, causing the tight or loose side of the input timing belt 331 to move linearly in the vertical direction, thereby causing the input timing belt 331 to drive the input bracket 320 to move up and down. The input bracket 320 is used to carry the carrier 20 containing the reaction vessels 30. The input bracket 320 can carry multiple carriers 20, which can be stacked vertically in the input cavity 311. The width of the input bracket 320 is smaller than the diameter of the input hole 122 and the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211, so that the input bracket 320 can pass through the gap between the input hole 122 and the two conveyor belt units 211 in the vertical direction. Since the width of the input bracket 320 is smaller than the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211, when the input bracket 320 moves downward with the carrier cassette 20, if the input bracket 320 moves below the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211, the conveyor belt units 211 will interfere with the carrier cassette 20, preventing it from continuing to move downward with the input bracket 320. This eliminates the need for additional auxiliary components, allowing the carrier cassette 20 to be automatically carried on the two conveyor belt units 211, thereby simplifying the structure of the circulation device 10 and making the circulation device 10 smaller.

[0053] The support plate 340 can be rotatably mounted on the support base 120 via a bearing, so that the support plate 340 can rotate around a central axis extending along the sliding direction of the support base 120, and the maximum rotation angle of the support plate 340 can be 90°. The motor 350 is mounted on the support base 120, and the motor 350 can drive the support plate 340 to rotate. When the support plate 340 is in a horizontal state, the support plate 340 is in a supporting position, and the support plate 340 can extend into the input cavity 311 and apply an upward supporting force to the lower surface 25b of the ear cap 25 on the carrier box 20, thereby supporting the carrier box 20 and preventing the carrier box 20 located above the support plate 340 from moving in a direction close to the conveyor belt unit 211. When the support plate 340 rotates upward from a horizontal state to a vertical state, the support plate 340 is in an avoidance position, and the support plate 340 no longer supports the ear cap 25 of the carrier box 20, thereby eliminating the interference of the support plate 340 on the carrier box 20, allowing the carrier box 20 to follow the input bracket 320 and move downward toward the base 110 until the carrier box 20 located at the bottom layer of the input bracket 320 is placed on the conveyor belt unit 211.

[0054] The input bracket 320 has multiple positions relative to the input frame 310, such as a top position, a middle position, a support position, an initial position, and a bottom position. In the vertical direction, the distances of the top position, the middle position, the support position, the initial position, and the bottom position relative to the base 110 decrease in sequence. This can also be simply understood as the top position, the middle position, the support position, the initial position, and the bottom position decreasing in height relative to the base 110 in the vertical direction. The height of the conveyor belt unit 211 is higher than the height of the bottom position. The input mechanism 300 may also include four input optical couplers 360. The first optical coupler may be located near the top of the input frame 310 and corresponding to the top position, the second optical coupler may be located in the middle of the input frame 310 and corresponding to the middle position, the third optical coupler may be located on the support plate 340 and corresponding to the support position, and the fourth optical coupler may be located on the support base 120 and corresponding to the initial position. By providing optical couplers, it is possible to detect whether the input bracket 320 or the carrier box 20 is present in the top position, the middle position, the support position, and the initial position.

[0055] During operation, the support plate 340 first rotates upward to the avoidance position, and the input synchronous belt 331 drives the input bracket 320 to slide upward to the top position. At this time, multiple carrier boxes 20 containing reaction vessels 30 can be placed into the input cavity 311, so that the multiple carrier boxes 20 are stacked on the input bracket 320. The input bracket 320 applies an upward supporting force to the bottom surface 22 of the carrier box 20 located at the bottom layer, thereby lifting and supporting the multiple carrier boxes 20. Then, the input bracket 320 drives the carrier boxes 20 downward toward the base 110, so that the input bracket 320 enters the accommodating cavity 121 through the input hole 122 and moves to the bottom position through the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211. When the bottommost carrier box 20 moves downward from the support position, the support plate 340 rotates downward from the avoidance position to the support position, causing the support plate 340 to apply an upward supporting force to the lower surface 25b of the ear cap 25 of the carrier box 20 closest to the bottommost carrier box 20, thereby supporting the other multiple carrier boxes 20 located above the bottommost carrier box 20, preventing the other multiple carrier boxes 20 from moving downward with the input bracket 320, and ensuring that only the bottommost carrier box 20 moves downward with the input bracket 320. When the input bracket 320 moves to the bottom position, the bottommost carrier box 20 will be supported by the two conveyor belt units 211. When the conveyor belt units 211 move, they can transport the carrier boxes 20 containing the reaction containers 30 from the input mechanism 300. After the bottommost carrier cassette 20 is driven away by the conveyor unit 211, the above-described working method can be used to convey the carrier cassette 20 directly supported by the support plate 340 onto the conveyor unit 211, until all the carrier cassettes 20 on the input bracket 320 are sequentially conveyed onto the conveyor unit 211. Obviously, before conveying the next carrier cassette 20 onto the conveyor unit 211, the input bracket 320 needs to move all the carrier cassettes 20 on the bracket upward by a set distance to provide clearance space for the support plate 340 to move from the supporting position to the clearance position, so that the next carrier cassette 20 can eliminate the interference of the support plate 340 and be smoothly carried on the conveyor unit 211.

[0056] See also Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 9In some embodiments, the output mechanism 400 includes an output frame 410, an output bracket 420, an output power source 430, and an elastic member 440. The output frame 410 can be a generally rectangular parallelepiped frame structure, and the output frame 410 encloses an output cavity 411, which extends in the vertical direction. The output frame 410 can be located above the portion of the conveyor belt unit 211 exposed outside the accommodating cavity 121, and the output bracket 420 is located in the output cavity 411. The output bracket 420 is slidably connected to the output frame 410, so that the output bracket 420 can reciprocate in the vertical direction relative to the output frame 410. The output power source 430 may include an output timing belt 431, an output motor 432, and an idler pulley 433. The output bracket 420 may be fixed to the tight or loose side of the output timing belt 431. The output motor 432 is fixed to the output frame 410 and is used to drive the output timing belt 431 to move, causing the tight or loose side of the output timing belt 431 to move linearly in the vertical direction, thereby causing the output timing belt 431 to drive the output bracket 420 to move up and down. The output bracket 420 can apply an upward supporting force to the bottom surface 22 of the carrier 20, so that the output bracket 420 is used to support the carrier 20 containing the reaction vessels 30, and the output bracket 420 can drive the carrier 20 to move upward in the output cavity 411. The width of the output bracket 420 is smaller than the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211, allowing the input bracket 320 to pass through the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211 in the vertical direction. The number of idler wheels 433 can be multiple, for example three, etc. The idler wheels 433 are set on the output frame 410, and the output synchronous belt 431 is wound around the idler wheels 433. By setting the idler wheels 433, the sliding safety of the output bracket 420 can be improved, and the output bracket 420 can be prevented from accelerating downward under the action of gravity and load when the power is off.

[0057] The output bracket 420 has multiple positions relative to the output frame 410, such as the top position, the initial position, and the bottom position. In the vertical direction, the distances of the top position, the initial position, and the bottom position relative to the base 110 decrease in sequence. This can also be simply understood as the top position, the initial position, and the bottom position decreasing in sequence in height relative to the base 110 in the vertical direction. The height of the conveyor belt unit 211 is higher than the height of the bottom position. The output mechanism 400 can also include output optical couplers 450. The number of output optical couplers 450 can be three. The first optical coupler can be set near the top of the output frame 410 and corresponds to the top position. The second optical coupler can be set near the bottom of the output frame 410 and corresponds to the initial position. The third optical coupler is set on the output frame 410 and is closer to the base 110 than the second optical coupler. The third optical coupler corresponds to the bottom position. By setting the optical coupler, it is possible to detect whether the output bracket 420 or the carrier box 20 exists at the top position, the initial position, and the bottom position.

[0058] The output mechanism 400 may further include an elastic member 440, which is disposed at the top of the output frame 410. Obviously, the top of the output frame 410 is located away from the conveyor belt unit 211. When the output bracket 420 drives the carrier cassette 20 upward in the output cavity 411 to the top of the output frame 410, the elastic member 440 can abut against the carrier cassette 20, thereby securing the carrier cassette 20 to the output frame 410. Once the carrier cassette 20 is secured, the reaction vessels 30 in the carrier cassette 20 can be removed by a robotic arm.

[0059] During operation, first, when the conveyor belt unit 211 transports the carrier cassette 20 carrying the reaction vessels 30 from the input mechanism 300 to the bottom of the output frame 410, the output bracket 420 at the bottom position moves upward, passes through the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211, and enters the output cavity 411, thereby driving the carrier cassette 20 off the conveyor belt unit 211 and into the output cavity 411. When the output bracket 420 moves the carrier cassette 20 to the top of the output frame 410, the elastic member 440 secures the carrier cassette 20 to the output frame 410, allowing the robot arm to remove the reaction vessels 30 from the carrier cassette 20. Then, when all the reaction containers 30 in the carrier box 20 are removed, the elastic member 440 is separated from the carrier box 20. At this time, the output bracket 420 applies a supporting force to the bottom surface 22 of the carrier box 20 from which the reaction containers 30 have been unloaded to drive the carrier box 20 to move downward. When the output bracket 420 moves to the bottom position, the carrier box 20 from which the reaction containers 30 have been unloaded will be carried on the two conveyor belt units 211 so that the conveyor belt units 211 can transport the carrier box 20.

[0060] See also Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 10 and Figure 11In some embodiments, the recovery mechanism 500 includes a recovery frame 510, a recovery bracket 520, and a recovery power source 530. The recovery frame 510 can be a roughly rectangular frame structure, and the recovery frame 510 encloses a recovery chamber 511, which extends in the vertical direction. The recovery frame 510 is fixed on the support seat 120 at the location of the recovery hole 123, so that the recovery chamber 511 is connected to the accommodating chamber 121 through the recovery hole 123. The recovery bracket 520 is located in the recovery chamber 511, and the recovery bracket 520 is slidably connected to the recovery frame 510, so that the recovery bracket 520 can reciprocate in the vertical direction relative to the recovery frame 510. The recovery power source 530 may include a recovery timing belt 531 and a recovery motor 532. The recovery bracket 520 may be fixed to the tight or loose edge of the recovery timing belt 531. The recovery motor 532 is fixed to the recovery frame 510 and is used to drive the recovery timing belt 531 to move, causing the tight or loose edge of the recovery timing belt 531 to move linearly in the vertical direction, thereby causing the recovery timing belt 531 to drive the recovery bracket 520 to move up and down. The recovery bracket 520 is used to carry the carrier cassette 20 that has been unloaded from the reaction vessel 30. The recovery bracket 520 can carry multiple carrier cassettes 20, which can be stacked vertically in the recovery chamber 511. The width of the recovery bracket 520 is smaller than the diameter of the recovery hole 123 and larger than the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211, so that the recovery bracket 520 can pass through the recovery hole 123 in the vertical direction, but can prevent the recovery bracket 520 from entering the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211.

[0061] In some embodiments, the recovery bracket 520 includes a sliding portion 521, a flipping portion 522, and an elastic portion 523. The sliding portion 521 is slidably connected to the recovery frame 510, and the sliding portion 521 is fixedly connected to the recovery timing belt 531. There are two sliding portions 521, and the spacing direction of the two sliding portions 521 is the same as the spacing direction of the two conveyor belt units 211, and the spacing distance between the two sliding portions 521 is greater than the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211, so that the width of the recovery bracket 520 is greater than the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211. The flipping portion 522 is rotatably connected to the sliding portion 521, and the flipping portion 522 can rotate around a central axis extending parallel to the sliding direction of the support seat 120, so that the flipping portion 522 has a passage position and a load-bearing position, and the maximum angle of rotation of the flipping portion 522 can be 90°. The elastic portion 523 may be a spring connected between the sliding portion 521 and the flip portion 522. When the flip portion 522 moves from the carrying position to the pass position, the flip portion 522 rotates against the elastic force of the elastic portion 523, causing the elastic portion 523 to store energy. When the elastic portion 523 releases energy, the flip portion 522 automatically moves from the pass position to the carrying position. When the flip portion 522 is in the carrying position, it is horizontal and applies a supporting force to the lower surface 25b of the ear cap 25 on the carrier cassette 20, allowing the recovery bracket 520 to support the carrier cassette 20 via the flip portion 522. When the flip portion 522 is in the pass position, it allows the carrier cassette 20 to move toward the conveyor belt unit 211. The flip portion 522 is vertical, eliminating interference with the ear cap 25 and allowing the flip portion 522 to pass over the ear cap 25. The recycling bracket 520 has multiple positions relative to the recycling frame 510, such as the top position, the initial position, and the bottom position. In the vertical direction, the distances of the top position, the initial position, and the bottom position relative to the base 110 decrease in sequence. It can also be simply understood that the heights of the top position, the initial position, and the bottom position relative to the base 110 decrease in sequence in the vertical direction. The height of the conveyor unit 211 is higher than the height of the bottom position. The recycling mechanism 500 can also include recycling optical couplers 540. The number of recycling optical couplers 540 can be three. The first optical coupler can be set near the top of the recycling frame 510 and corresponds to the top position. The second optical coupler can be set near the bottom of the recycling frame 510 and corresponds to the initial position. The third optical coupler is set on the recycling frame 510 and is closer to the base 110 than the second optical coupler. The third optical coupler corresponds to the bottom position. By setting the optical coupler, it is possible to detect whether the recycling bracket 520 or the carrier box 20 exists at the top position, the initial position, and the bottom position.

[0062] During operation, when the conveyor unit 211 transports the carrier 20, which has been unloaded from the reaction container 30 on the output mechanism 400, to the bottom of the recovery frame 510, and there is no carrier 20 in the recovery chamber 511, the recovery bracket 520 is first located above the carrier 20. At this time, the recovery bracket 520 moves downward, and the upper surface 25a of the ear cap 25 of the carrier 20 located on the conveyor unit 211 applies an upward supporting force to the flip portion 522, causing the flip portion 522 to rotate from the carrying position. During the rotation of the flip portion 522, the recovery bracket 520 continues to move downward, and the interference force generated by the ear cap 25 on the entire recovery bracket 520 gradually decreases. When the flip portion 522 rotates to the pass position, the interference force generated by the ear cap 25 is close to zero. Therefore, during the rotation of the flip portion 522 from the carrying position to the pass position, the ear cap 25 is prevented from interfering with the downward movement of the recovery bracket 520. After the recovery bracket 520 moves downward a set distance, the flip portion 522 passes over the side 25c of the ear cap 25. At the moment of passing over the side 25c, the ear cap 25 ceases applying pressure to the flip portion 522, and the elastic portion 523 releases energy, causing the flip portion 522 to rotate downward from a vertical position to a horizontal position, that is, from a passable position to a carrying position. This position allows the flip portion 522 to be positioned below the lower surface 25b of the ear cap 25. Given that the flip portion 522 is positioned below the lower surface 25b of the ear cap 25, the recovery bracket 520 can be driven upward, exerting a supporting force on the lower surface 25b of the ear cap 25, thereby supporting and lifting the carrier 20 and ensuring that the recovery bracket 520 drives the carrier 20 upward. The carrier 20 on the recovery bracket 520 does not need to be removed immediately; instead, a reasonable number of carriers 20 can be stacked on the recovery bracket 520 and subsequently removed all at once.

[0063] In the case where the recovery bracket 520 already carries a carrier box 20, and there is a carrier box 20 on the conveyor belt unit 211 below the recovery frame 510, it is necessary to transfer the carrier boxes 20 on the conveyor belt unit 211 to the recovery bracket 520. During operation, first, the recovery bracket 520 carrying the carrier boxes 20 moves downward so that the carrier boxes 20 on the bottom layer of the recovery bracket 520 are stacked on the carrier boxes 20 on the conveyor belt unit 211. At this time, on the one hand, the conveyor belt unit 211 and the carrying plate 241 of the transport body 240 can play a supporting role for all the carrier boxes 20. On the other hand, there is a certain gap between the ear caps 25 of the bottom layer of the carrier boxes 20 on the recovery bracket 520 and the carrier boxes 20 on the conveyor belt unit 211 in the vertical direction. Obviously, when the recovery bracket 520 moves downward within the gap, all the carrier boxes 20 are stationary. The upper surface 25a of the ear cap 25 of the carrier box 20 located on the conveyor belt unit 211 exerts an upward supporting force on the flip portion 522, causing the flip portion 522 to rotate from the carrying position. During the rotation of the flip portion 522, the recovery bracket 520 continues to move downward, and the interference force exerted by the ear cap 25 on the entire recovery bracket 520 gradually decreases. When the flip portion 522 rotates to the pass position, the interference force exerted by the ear cap 25 is close to zero. Therefore, during the rotation of the flip portion 522 from the carrying position to the pass position, the ear cap 25 is prevented from interfering with the downward movement of the recovery bracket 520. After the recovery bracket 520 moves downward a set distance, the flip portion 522 passes over the side 25c of the ear cap 25. At the moment of passing over the side 25c, the ear cap 25 stops applying pressure to the flip portion 522, and the elastic portion 523 releases energy to rotate the flip portion 522 downward from a vertical state to a horizontal state, that is, from a pass position to a carrying position, so that the flip portion 522 is located below the lower surface 25b of the ear cap 25. Since the flip portion 522 is located below the lower surface 25b of the ear cap 25, it can be ensured that the recovery bracket 520 drives the carrier box 20 upward. When the carrier box 20 is again on the conveyor belt unit 211 below the recovery frame 510, it can be transferred to the recovery bracket 520 using the above method.

[0064] Since the spacing between the two sliding portions 521 is aligned with the spacing between the two conveyor belt units 211, and the spacing between the two sliding portions 521 is greater than the gap between the two conveyor belt units 211, the two sliding portions 521 can be prevented from being spaced apart along the direction of movement of the carrier cassette 20 on the conveyor belt unit 211. This prevents components such as the recovery timing belt 531 from occupying space outside the recovery frame 510, thereby preventing them from interfering with user operations. Furthermore, it prevents the sliding portions 521 from interfering with or obstructing the movement of the carrier cassette 20, allowing the conveyor belt unit 211 to smoothly transport the carrier cassette 20 from the output mechanism 400 to the recovery mechanism 500.

[0065] See Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the working principle of the entire circulation device 10 is described below:

[0066] In the first step, the input bracket 320, the output bracket 420 and the recovery bracket 520 are all in the initial position (see Figure 7 and Figure 8 ), and the push-pull synchronous belt 131 drives the support base 120 to move away from the output mechanism 400. It can be figuratively understood that the support base 120 is pulled out like a drawer, so that the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500 are pulled out following the movement of the support base 120 away from the output mechanism 400. At this time, the interference of the components above the input mechanism 300 and the recovery mechanism 500 can be eliminated, so that the carrier box 20 carrying the reaction container 30 can be placed in the input mechanism 300, or taken out from the recovery mechanism 500 to unload the carrier box 20 with the reaction container 30.

[0067] In the second step, the support plate 340 in the input mechanism 300 is moved upward to a clear position, and the input carriage 320 is moved upward to the top position. Multiple carrier cassettes 20 containing reaction vessels 30 are then sequentially stacked onto the input carriage 320. Apparently, each time a carrier cassette 20 is stacked onto the input carriage 320, the input carriage 320 is moved downward by approximately the height of the carrier cassette 20, so that all the carrier cassettes 20 stacked on the input carriage 320 are positioned within the input cavity 311. The push-pull synchronous belt 131 then drives the support base 120 toward the output mechanism 400, pushing the support base 120 back into position like a drawer, positioning the conveyor belt unit 211, which is exposed outside the accommodating cavity 121, below the output cavity 411. Referring to the operating principle of the input mechanism 300 described above, the input mechanism 300 transfers one carrier cassette 20 containing a reaction vessel 30 onto the conveyor belt unit 211 at a time.

[0068] In the third step, the output bracket 420 moves from its initial position to the bottom position, and the conveyor belt unit 211 moves, thereby transporting the carrier cassettes 20 containing reaction vessels 30 from the input mechanism 300 to the bottom of the output chamber 411. The output bracket 420 moves upward from the bottom position, lifting the carrier cassettes 20 containing reaction vessels 30 on the conveyor belt unit 211 and moving it upward within the output chamber 411. Referring to the operating principle of the output mechanism 400 described above, after all reaction vessels 30 in the carrier cassettes 20 have been removed, the output bracket 420 moves downward to carry the unloaded carrier cassettes 20 onto the two conveyor belt units 211.

[0069] In the fourth step, the conveyor belt unit 211 moves the carrier cassettes 20, from which the reaction vessels 30 have been unloaded, from the output mechanism 400 to the bottom of the recovery chamber 511. Referring to the operating principle of the recovery mechanism 500 described above, multiple carrier cassettes 20 with unloaded reaction vessels 30 are stored in the recovery chamber 511. When the recovery chamber 511 has reached a predetermined number of carrier cassettes 20, the push-pull timing belt 131 drives the support base 120 away from the output mechanism 400, allowing the support base 120 to be withdrawn. This prevents interference with other components located above the recovery mechanism 500 and ensures that the carrier cassettes 20 with unloaded reaction vessels 30 are removed from the recovery chamber 511 for recycling. During the process of the conveyor belt unit 211 moving the carrier cassettes 20 from below the output chamber 411 to below the recovery chamber 511, the input bracket 320 can be in its initial position, thus preventing the input bracket 320 from interfering with the moving carrier cassettes 20.

[0070] By cyclically operating the above-described steps from step 1 to step 4, the conveyor unit 211 can transport the carrier cassette 20 containing the reaction vessels 30 from the input mechanism 300 to the output mechanism 400, thereby achieving the output of the carrier cassette 20. This process is denoted as the carrier cassette output process. After the reaction vessels 30 on the carrier cassette 20 are unloaded from the output mechanism 400, the conveyor unit 211 transports the unloaded carrier cassette 20 from the output mechanism 400 to the recovery mechanism 500, thereby achieving the recovery of the carrier cassette 20. This process is denoted as the carrier cassette recovery process. Therefore, during both the carrier cassette output and the carrier cassette recovery processes, the carrier cassette 20 is transported by the same conveyor unit 211, eliminating the need for separate conveyor mechanisms for these two processes, thereby eliminating the need for additional conveyor mechanisms. This simplifies the structure of the entire circulation device 10, makes the entire circulation device 10 smaller and more compact, and reduces the space occupied by the circulation device 10 within the instrument.

[0071] Obviously, since the tight or loose edge of the conveyor belt unit 211 moves along a straight line, the path along which the conveyor belt unit 211 carries the carrier box 20 from the input mechanism 300 to the output mechanism 400, and from the output mechanism 400 to the recovery mechanism 500, is the same, and this path can be a straight line. This ensures that the carrier box 20 always moves along the same path, improving the efficiency and stability of the carrier box 20's transportation, while greatly simplifying the structure of the transfer mechanism 200 and the entire circulation device 10. In other embodiments, when the input mechanism 300, the output mechanism 400, and the recovery mechanism 500 are not located on the same straight line, the path can also be a curved line or arc, such as a triangle, a circle, or an ellipse.

[0072] The present invention further provides a sample analyzer, which includes the circulation device 10. By including the circulation device 10, the entire sample analyzer can be made simpler and more compact in structure.

[0073] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0074] The above-described embodiments merely illustrate several implementations of the present invention, and while their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to make numerous variations and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent for this invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A circulation device, characterized in that: It includes a mounting frame and an input mechanism, an output mechanism, a recovery mechanism and a transfer mechanism arranged on the mounting frame, wherein: An input mechanism for supplying a carrier box containing reaction containers; an output mechanism, configured to output the carrier box containing the reaction containers from the input mechanism; a recovery mechanism, configured to recover the carrier box from which the reaction container has been unloaded from the output mechanism; a transfer mechanism comprising transfer components corresponding to the input mechanism, the output mechanism, and the recovery mechanism, the transfer components being used to transfer the carrier box containing the reaction containers from the input mechanism to the output mechanism, and to transfer the carrier box from which the reaction containers have been unloaded from the output mechanism to the recovery mechanism; the paths for transferring the carrier box from the input mechanism to the output mechanism and from the output mechanism to the recovery mechanism are both the same; The input mechanism, the output mechanism, and the recovery mechanism are all capable of causing the carrier box to move in the direction of gravity, and the transfer mechanism is capable of causing the carrier box to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity. The transfer assembly comprises two conveyor belt units spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the carrying box is carried on the conveyor belt units; The mounting frame includes a base and a support base, the support base is slidably connected to the base, the input mechanism and the recovery mechanism are both arranged on the support base, and the output mechanism is fixed on the base; The support seat is provided with a receiving cavity, an input hole and a recovery hole. The input hole and the recovery hole are both connected to the receiving cavity. The transfer component is partially accommodated in the receiving cavity. The input mechanism is provided at the location of the input hole. The recovery mechanism is provided at the location of the recovery hole. The conveyor belt unit is configured to transport the carrier box containing the reaction containers from the input mechanism to the output mechanism. When the reaction containers on the carrier box are unloaded on the output mechanism, the conveyor belt unit transports the carrier box with the unloaded reaction containers from the output mechanism to the recovery mechanism.

2. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The path is a straight line, a circle or an ellipse.

3. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that A guide rail is provided on the base, and the support seat is slidably connected to the guide rail.

4. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The transfer mechanism is arranged on the support seat.

5. The circulation device according to claim 3, characterized in that The guide rail extends in a horizontal direction.

6. The circulation device according to claim 3, characterized in that It also includes a push-pull synchronous belt, which is arranged on the base and connected to the support seat.

7. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The path is a triangle.

8. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The transfer assembly further includes a rotating shaft and a driver. The two conveyor belt units are respectively sleeved on opposite ends of the rotating shaft. The driver is located between the two conveyor belt units and drives the rotating shaft to rotate.

9. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The transfer mechanism also includes a transfer body corresponding to the conveyor belt unit one by one, and the transfer body includes a load-bearing plate and a fixed plate and a limit plate respectively connected to the opposite ends of the load-bearing plate, the fixed plate and the limit plate are separated on opposite sides of the load-bearing plate in the thickness direction, the load-bearing plate is inserted in the gap between the tight side and the loose side of the conveyor belt unit, and the fixed plate and the load-bearing plate are separated on both sides of the conveyor belt unit.

10. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The input mechanism includes an input bracket for carrying the carrier box, and the output mechanism includes an output bracket for carrying the carrier box. The widths of the input bracket and the output bracket are both smaller than the gap between the two conveyor belt units.

11. The circulation device according to claim 10, characterized in that The input bracket and the output bracket both move relative to the mounting frame in the direction of gravity, and the carrying box moves on the transfer assembly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

12. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The input mechanism also includes a support plate rotatably arranged on the mounting frame, the support plate being able to rotate around a central axis perpendicular to the direction of gravity and having an avoidance position and a support position, the support plate being separated from the carrying box at the avoidance position, and the support plate supporting the carrying box at the support position.

13. The circulation device according to claim 12, characterized in that The input mechanism further includes a motor disposed on the mounting bracket, and the motor drives the support plate to rotate.

14. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The recovery mechanism includes a recovery bracket for carrying the carrying box, and the width of the recovery bracket is greater than the gap between the two conveyor belt units.

15. The circulation device according to claim 14, characterized in that The recovery bracket moves relative to the mounting frame along the direction of gravity, and the carrying box moves on the transfer assembly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

16. The circulation device according to claim 14, characterized in that The recovery bracket includes a sliding part and a flipping part that are rotatably connected. The sliding part can slide relative to the mounting frame, and the flipping part can rotate around a central axis perpendicular to the direction of gravity to have a carrying position. The flipping part can carry the carrying box at the carrying position; when the sliding part moves close to the conveyor belt unit, the carrying box can push the flipping part to rotate away from the carrying position.

17. The circulation device according to claim 16, characterized in that The recovery bracket further includes an elastic portion connected between the sliding portion and the flip portion, wherein the elastic portion stores energy during the process of the flip portion moving away from the carrying position and releases energy to move the flip portion closer to the carrying position.

18. The circulation device according to claim 16, characterized in that There are two sliding parts, the spacing direction of the two sliding parts is the same as the spacing direction of the two conveyor belt units, and the spacing distance between the two sliding parts is greater than the gap between the two conveyor belt units.

19. The circulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The input mechanism, the output mechanism and the recovery mechanism are all located on the upper side of the transfer component.

20. A sample analyzer, characterized in that: A circulation device comprising the circulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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