Open-close lid device and automatic analysis device provided with the same

Abstract

The present application provides an opening and closing lid device, which is provided with: an opening and closing lid (16) that opens and closes a lid opening portion that is provided in a region cover (23) that covers a first region of a pre-treatment device; a support arm (35) that connects an inner portion of the first region via the lid opening portion to a support shaft (37) and is rotatably supported on the support shaft (37); and an opening and retaining mechanism (30) that, when a front end of the opening and closing lid (16) is located at a position higher than a predetermined reference height, retains the support arm (35) in a manner such that the opening and closing lid (16) is retained in a fully open position, and, when the front end of the opening and closing lid (16) is located at a position lower than the reference height, releases the retention of the support arm (35) to allow the opening and closing lid (16) to move to a fully closed position due to gravity, whereby the opening and closing lid (16) is retained with the front end higher than the support shaft (37) side in the fully open position and is retained with the support shaft (37) side higher than the front end in the fully closed position, can be stably maintained in an open position, and can be moved to the fully closed position by a force applied from above.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lid opening and closing device and an automatic analysis device having the lid opening and closing device. Background Technology

[0002] Automated analysis devices are used to perform qualitative or quantitative analysis of specific components contained in biological samples such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. They are essential in facilities such as hospitals and medical examination facilities that need to process many patient samples in a short period of time.

[0003] In such automated analytical devices, to suppress the influence of the external environment on the analytical results, pretreatment processes such as dispensing and stirring of reaction solutions and reagents are performed within a light-shielded and temperature-adjusted enclosure. Furthermore, to maintain high-precision measurement results, regular maintenance operations, such as cleaning and component replacement, are required within the enclosure, depending on usage conditions.

[0004] During maintenance work, the cover is opened and positioned above the shroud of the equipment involved in the pre-treatment process, extending to its front surface. Maintenance personnel insert their fingers or cleaning tools through the gap between the cover and the shroud to perform the maintenance. Once the maintenance work is complete and the cover is closed, the area between the cover and the shroud is sealed, and the area inside the shroud returns to a state of light protection and temperature regulation. The cover, which is open during operation, must have a unit that allows it to remain fully open to prevent accidental closure during work.

[0005] As a prior art for maintaining the open state of a door, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an X-ray inspection device, characterized in that an X-ray source and a sensor are provided inside a main body with an openable and closable cover. The sensor detects X-rays irradiated from the X-ray source and passing through the inspected object inside the main body, thereby inspecting the inspected object. The device includes: a connecting member having a first base plate portion, a second base plate portion, and a rotating portion; the first base plate portion is mounted on the main body, the second base plate portion is mounted on the cover, and the rotating portion connects the first and second base plate portions in a manner that allows them to rotate relative to each other; the connecting member connects the cover to the main body in a manner that allows it to be opened and closed; and an opening angle setting member, which is mounted on at least one of the first and second base plate portions of the connecting member, and abuts against one side of the other of the first and second base plate portions when the cover is rotated by a predetermined angle from a position where the main body is closed in the opening direction.

[0006] Existing technical documents

[0007] Patent documents

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-200166 Summary of the Invention

[0009] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0010] In the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the mask uses a force-applying unit to apply a force substantially the same as the force applied in the closing direction due to its own weight, thereby fixing the mask in the open position. That is, if a small force is applied in the closing direction of the mask, the mask will move to the closed position due to its own weight. Therefore, for example, if maintenance personnel or others contact the mask and apply a force in the closing direction, it will hinder operations performed to access the interior of the mask. Furthermore, while increasing the opening of the mask can stably maintain it in the open position, it is possible that maintenance personnel or others may apply force to the mask from above, potentially placing excessive load on the rotating and limiting parts.

[0011] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an opening and closing cover device and an automatic analysis device using the opening and closing cover device, which can stably maintain the opening and closing cover in the open position and can move the opening and closing cover to the fully closed position according to the force applied from above.

[0012] Solution for solving the problem

[0013] This application includes several solutions to the aforementioned problems. One example is an opening and closing device configured to cover a first area of ​​a working surface on a frame, together with an area cover. The frame houses at least a portion of the functional parts of an analytical device. The device includes: an opening and closing cover that can be freely opened and closed to cover an opening in the area cover for accessing the interior from the outside of the first area; a support arm that connects the first area side surface of the opening and closing cover to a support shaft disposed inside the first area via the opening, and rotatably supports the opening and closing cover on the support shaft; and an opening... The retaining mechanism holds the support arm in a fully open position when one end of the opening / closing cover on the side away from the support shaft moves to a position higher than a predetermined reference height, and releases the holding of the support arm when the end of the opening / closing cover is pressed down to a position lower than the reference height, causing the opening / closing cover to move to a fully closed position due to its own weight. The opening / closing cover is held such that in the fully open position, one end on the side away from the support shaft is higher than the other end on the support shaft side, and in the fully closed position, the other end is higher than the first end.

[0014] Invention Effects

[0015] According to the present invention, the open / closed cover can be stably maintained in the open position, and the open / closed cover can be moved to the fully closed position according to the force applied from above. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 It is a top view that roughly represents the overall structure of the automatic analysis device.

[0017] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional diagram that roughly represents the overall structure of the automatic analysis device.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a left-side view that roughly represents the overall structure of the automatic analysis device.

[0019] Figure 4 The diagram shows the pre-processing unit of the automatic analysis device extracted and enlarged, and is a front view with a partial perspective view of the vicinity of the rotation center of the opening and closing cover.

[0020] Figure 5 It is a top view showing the preprocessing unit of the automatic analysis device extracted and enlarged.

[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The BB-line sectional view in the figure is an enlarged sectional view showing the boundary between the open / closed cover and the area cover at the fully closed position.

[0022] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view showing the hinge section pulled out, and a diagram showing the cover in the fully closed position.

[0023] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view showing the hinge section being pulled out, and a diagram showing the opening and closing of the cover as it rotates from the fully closed position to the fully open position.

[0024] Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional view showing the hinge section pulled out, and a diagram showing the cover in the fully open position.

[0025] Figure 10 It is a cross-sectional view showing the hinge section pulled out, and a diagram showing the cover in the fully open position.

[0026] Figure 11 This is a bottom perspective view showing the pre-processing section being pulled out, and it is a diagram showing the case where the cover is in the fully closed position.

[0027] Figure 12 This is a bottom perspective view showing the pretreatment section being pulled out, and it is a diagram showing the case where the cover is in the fully open position.

[0028] Figure 13This is a front view showing the pre-processing device of this embodiment being pulled out, and a diagram showing the case where the opening and closing cover is in the fully open position.

[0029] Figure 14 This is a front view showing the structure of the pretreatment device as a comparative example, and a diagram showing the case where the opening and closing cover is in the fully closed position.

[0030] Figure 15 This is a front view showing the structure of the pre-processing device as a comparative example, and a diagram showing the case where the opening and closing cover is in the fully open position. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Reference Figures 1 to 15 An embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0032] Figures 1-3 This is a diagram that roughly illustrates the overall structure of the automatic analysis device according to this embodiment. Figure 1 It is a top view. Figure 2 It's a 3D image. Figure 3 This is the left-side view. Additionally, in the following description, the front of the automatic analysis device is defined as... Figure 1 Below and to the right of the middle are defined as Figure 1 The right and top of the middle are defined as Figure 1 The paper in the foreground direction.

[0033] exist Figures 1-3 The automatic analysis device 1 includes a reagent tray 2, a safety cover 4, a sample transport mechanism 5, a sample dispensing mechanism 6, a pipette tip holder 7, a transport mechanism 8, an incubator 9, a stirring mechanism 9a, a sample dispensing pipette tip buffer 11, a waste hole 12, a pretreatment device 13, a reagent dispensing probe 15, a cleaning mechanism 17, a detection device 19, a frame 21, and a reagent cold storage 24 (reagent storage).

[0034] The frame 21, for example, has a generally cuboid shape, with a front panel 56, left and right side panels 57, a back panel 58, and a top panel (i.e., the working surface 22) covering the perimeter of a highly rigid frame 55, which is fastened together with steel plates by welding or riveting. It houses the sample transport mechanism 5, the cleaning mechanism 17, the reagent refrigerator 24, and other components of the analytical apparatus such as substrates and flow paths (not shown). The front panel 56, left and right side panels 57, and back panel 58 are configured to be removable for maintenance.

[0035] The safety cover 4 is configured to be axially supported on the upper back of the frame 21 in a manner that allows it to rotate (open and close) around a cover support shaft 26 arranged in the left-right direction. Figure 1 and Figure 3 In the image, a solid line indicates that safety shield 4 is closed. Figure 3The dashed line indicates that safety shield 4 is open. Figure 2 The diagram shows the safety cover 4 in the open state (solid line) and the safety cover 4 in the closed state (dashed line). The safety cover 4 is equipped with an interlock (not shown), driven by a solenoid or similar device. During operation of the automatic analysis device 1, a latch is applied by energizing the solenoid, fixing the safety cover 4 in the closed state. That is, at this time, the safety cover 4 cannot be opened by the operator. Conversely, when the automatic analysis device 1 stops, the energization to the solenoid is released, and the safety cover 4 can be opened.

[0036] The sample conveying mechanism 5 is composed of, for example, a belt conveyor or a rack and pinion processor, which moves the sample 5a within the automatic analysis device 1 and conveys it to the movable area of ​​the sample dispensing mechanism 6.

[0037] The pipette tip holder 7 is configured to be detachable from the automated analyzer 1 and is positioned by the operator on the upper surface of the automated analyzer 1 while carrying multiple unused sample dispensing pipette tips 10 and multiple unused reaction containers 14.

[0038] The transport mechanism 8 is configured to move in the planar direction (front-back, left-right) and the Z-axis direction (up-down), and is configured to move above the pipette tip holder 7, a part of the incubator 9, the sample dispensing tip buffer 11, and the waste port 12. For example, a three-axis robot can be used as the transport mechanism 8. The transport mechanism 8 picks up the reaction vessel 14 one by one from the pipette tip holder 7 and moves them towards the incubator 9. Additionally, the transport mechanism 8 picks up the sample dispensing tips 10 one by one from the pipette tip holder 7 and moves them to the sample dispensing tip buffer 11.

[0039] The sample dispensing tip buffer 11 is a buffer that temporarily holds unused sample dispensing tips 10 transported from the tip holder 7 by the transport mechanism 8. The sample dispensing tip buffer 11 is configured to hold multiple sample dispensing tips 10.

[0040] The incubator 9 has a generally disc-shaped design and is configured to rotate. The incubator 9 can hold multiple reaction vessels 14 circumferentially, and by rotating the incubator 9, each reaction vessel 14 can be moved to a predetermined position.

[0041] The sample dispensing mechanism 6 moves to the upper part of the sample dispensing tip buffer 11, installs any one of the sample dispensing tips 10, moves to the upper part of the sample 5a, and draws the sample 5a into the interior of the sample dispensing tip 10. Then, it moves to the upper part of the reaction vessel 14 on the incubator 9, dispensing the sample 5a from the interior of the sample dispensing tip 10 into the reaction vessel 14. Afterwards, the sample dispensing mechanism 6 moves to the upper part of the waste hole 12, detaches the sample dispensing tip 10, and falls into the waste hole 12.

[0042] The reagent refrigerator 24 has a generally cylindrical shape and houses the reagent tray 2 inside. A reagent container filling port 20 is provided on the upper surface of the reagent refrigerator 24 for assembling and disassembling the reagent container 3 relative to the reagent tray 2. Additionally, a closable reagent container filling port cover (not shown) is provided on the reagent container filling port 20. The reagent refrigerator 24 has a heat insulation function for maintaining a constant temperature of the reagents in the reagent containers 3 stored inside.

[0043] The reagent tray 2 is configured to rotate about a central axis extending vertically, and has multiple slots for holding reagent containers 3 circumferentially. These slots are configured to hold the reagent containers 3 with the length direction of the reagent container 3 being the radial direction of the reagent tray 2. Therefore, multiple reagent containers 3 are held radially on the reagent tray 2. By rotating the reagent tray 2, each reagent container 3 is moved to a predetermined position. For example, by rotating the reagent tray 2, the reagent container 3 containing the target reagent can be moved to the reagent dispensing position 15a.

[0044] The reagent dispensing probe 15 is configured to move in the front-back, left-right (horizontal) and up-down directions via an actuator or the like. The reagent dispensing probe 15 draws a predetermined amount of reagent from the reagent container 3 located at the reagent dispensing position 15a through a reagent dispensing pipette (not shown) and dispenses it into the reaction vessel 14 held in the incubator 9.

[0045] The reaction vessel 14, in which the predetermined reagents and sample 5a are dispensed, is controlled by the incubator 9 at a predetermined temperature. In addition, the reaction is accelerated by the stirring mechanism 9a as needed for a predetermined time.

[0046] The reaction solution, which is promoted by the incubator 9, is transferred to the pretreatment unit 13 via a transfer device (not shown), along with the reaction vessel 14. This involves a series of actions, such as stirring the reaction solution, supplying the reaction solution to the detection device 19, and disposing of the reaction solution and reaction vessel 14 after analysis. Alternatively, depending on the type of analysis, one reaction vessel 14 can be used for multiple analyses. In this case, after discarding the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 14 after analysis, the reaction vessel 14 is cleaned.

[0047] Examples of physical properties of the reaction solution detected by the detection device 19 include, but are not limited to, luminous intensity, scattered light intensity, transmitted light intensity, current value, and voltage value. Furthermore, the detection device 19 is not limited to a device for measuring the reaction solution supplied from the reaction vessel 14; it can also be a structure in which the measurement is performed while the reaction solution is held within the reaction vessel 14.

[0048] The automatic analysis device 1 is connected to the host computer 200, and the host computer 200 controls a series of actions of the above-mentioned structure of the automatic analysis device 1.

[0049] The automatic analysis device 1 combines or repeats the above actions under the control of the main computer 200, thereby enabling efficient analysis of multiple analytical items for multiple samples.

[0050] Here, the opening and closing cover device, configured together with the area cover 23 (outer cover), covers the area (first area) of the pretreatment device 13 on the work surface 22 provided on the frame 21, and the safety cover 4 covering the work area (second area) on the work surface 22, are described in further detail.

[0051] A handle 27 is provided at the front of the safety cover 4, allowing a finger to be inserted when opening the safety cover 4 from the closed position. The safety cover 4 is supported on the upper back of the frame 21 with a cover support shaft 26 arranged in the left-right direction as the central axis, and is configured to rotate between the fully open and closed positions (can be opened and closed). When the safety cover 4 is opened and comes into contact with a stop member (not shown), it is supported by a support mechanism (not shown) in a way that prevents it from closing due to its own weight, so the safety cover 4 is held in the fully open position. Therefore, the operator can insert their arm and upper body through the gap between the working surface 22 and the front of the safety cover 4 to perform operations on the working surface 22, including cleaning the interior of the pretreatment device 13 and replacing consumables. In addition, when working on the pretreatment device 13, the operator opens the opening cover 16 (described later) provided at the opening of the area cover 23 to access the interior.

[0052] Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is a magnified diagram of the pretreatment device used in the automatic analysis unit. Figure 4 The main view uses the area near the center of rotation of the opening and closing cover as a partial perspective view. Figure 5 It is a top view. Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The BB-line sectional view in the figure is an enlarged sectional view showing the boundary between the open / closed cover and the area cover at the fully closed position.

[0053] The pretreatment device 13 is formed within the internal region (first region) of a box-shaped area cover 23 placed on the working surface 22 (i.e., formed in a convex shape from the working surface upwards). The pretreatment device 13 performs a series of analytical treatments on the sample, which are then carried out in the subsequent detection device 19 for accurate determination of physical properties. Internally, it includes a sample container transport mechanism, a sample container stirring mechanism, a waste disposal section for the sample after the measurement is completed, and a disposal section for the reaction vessel.

[0054] The pretreatment apparatus 13 includes, for example, a temperature adjustment device (not shown) such as a heater and a cooling element, which can maintain the interior of the area cover 23 at a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, an opening is provided on the area cover 23, which forms the outer surface of the pretreatment apparatus 13, extending from a portion of the upper surface to the front surface of the area cover 23. An upward-opening cover 16 is provided at the opening. By opening and closing the cover 16 (in the fully open position), the operator can access the interior of the pretreatment apparatus 13 and perform periodic or as-needed internal cleaning, component replacement, etc.

[0055] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a hinge portion 25 is formed inside the area cover 23, which is further formed into a convex shape on the upper right side of the pretreatment device 13. The hinge portion 25 connects the inner side (first area side) of the pretreatment device 13 and the support shaft 37 disposed inside the area cover 23 via the opening provided in the area cover 23. The hinge portion 25 has an arm portion 35 (support arm) that rotatably supports the opening and closing cover 16 relative to the support shaft 37.

[0056] The upper surface of the opening / closing cover 16 has the following shape: for example, the portion covering the upper surface of the pretreatment device 13 on the left side (the side away from the support shaft 37) is a planar shape along the horizontal plane, forming a stepped shape that rises upward toward the right side (the side of the support shaft 37), and is connected to the uppermost hinge portion upper surface 33 via an inclined surface 32 that rises to the right along the hinge portion 25. The right end of the opening / closing cover 16, i.e., the rear end 34 of the opening / closing cover, is located in the inclined surface 32 near the hinge portion upper surface 33.

[0057] The opening / closing cover 16 is fixed from the inside of the pretreatment device 13 to a mounting portion 36 located at one end of the arm 35. Furthermore, a support shaft 37 is formed at the other end of the arm 35, rotatably supported by a support bearing portion 38 located near the upper right end of the hinge portion 25 mounted on the upper part of the pretreatment device 13. That is, the arm 35 and the opening / closing cover 16 rotate integrally around the support shaft 37 (support bearing portion 38).

[0058] If we take the end of the cover 16 furthest from the support shaft 37 (the left end) as the front end of the cover 16 (front end 40), then when the cover 16 is in the fully closed position, the support shaft 37 near the right end of the cover 16 is higher than the front end 40 on the left. That is, the straight line connecting the support shaft 37 and the front end 40 of the cover 16 becomes a straight line descending to the left, and the angle α0 between the horizontal plane including the support shaft 37 and the straight line is the angle of depression when viewed from the side of the support shaft 37 to the side of the front end 40 (see below). Figure 7 ).

[0059] like Figure 4As shown, the shape of the boundary between the opening / closing cover 16 and the pretreatment device 13, i.e., the opening / closing cover boundary portion 28, when viewed from the front, has the following characteristics: Side A, which slopes downwards from the left side of the support shaft 37 at an almost vertical angle; Side B, which forms a gentle angle relative to the horizontal compared to Side A, and is continuously connected to the lower end of Side A and extends downwards to the left; Side C, which is continuously connected to the lower end of Side B and extends to the left near the lower surface of the pretreatment device 13; and Side D, which extends upwards to the left from the left end of Side C to the front end portion 40 of the opening / closing cover. Side D may have a bend or similar feature, but it must be formed such that it is located at least on the inner periphery of the arc 41 passing through the front end portion 40 of the opening / closing cover centered on the support shaft 37, so that when the opening / closing cover 16 is opened or closed, Side D of the opening / closing cover 16 does not interfere with Side D of the area cover 23 or the front end portion 40 of the opening / closing cover. Thus, when viewed from the front, the lower edge of the open / closed cover 16 has a roughly U-shaped form, with the right side longer than the left side.

[0060] like Figure 5 As shown, the planar shape of the opening and closing cover 16 when viewed from above is such that it avoids the movement paths of the detection device 19 and the sample dispensing mechanism 6, which are located around the pretreatment device 13. In addition, the opening and closing cover 16 has a gripper 39 that is convex to the front side at the part closest to the front surface, so that it can be easily opened and closed by the operator by pinching it with their fingers.

[0061] like Figure 6 As shown, a sponge rubber airtight member 29 is attached to the outer periphery of the opening / closing cover 16, i.e., the opening / closing cover boundary 28, without gaps around the entire periphery. When the opening / closing cover 16 is closed (i.e., fully closed), the interior of the pretreatment device 13 is sealed to prevent the intrusion of external gas and the outflow of internal gas. As a result, the internal temperature of the pretreatment device 13 is maintained at a constant temperature, and the intrusion of external light is also blocked. In addition, in the opening / closing cover boundary 28, if a downward rib 44a is provided along the outer side of the airtight member 29 on the outer periphery of the opening / closing cover 16, and an upward rib 44b is provided along the inner side of the airtight member 29 at the edge of the opening of the area cover 23 to form a covering part (ribs 44a, 44b), the so-called labyrinth effect can further hinder the inflow of air and can also more reliably block external light.

[0062] By maintaining the internal temperature of the pretreatment device 13 at a predetermined temperature and preventing the intrusion of external light, the accuracy of the physical properties measured in the detection device 19 is improved. Therefore, it is required that after cleaning the inside of the pretreatment device 13, the opening and closing cover 16 be reliably closed and the safety cover 4 be closed. More preferably, even if the opening and closing cover 16 is opened but not closed, a structure that closes the opening and closing cover 16 in conjunction with closing the safety cover 4 is preferred.

[0063] Figures 7-10 This is a cross-sectional view showing the hinge section after it has been pulled out. Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the lid in the fully closed position. Figure 8 This diagram shows the opening and closing of the cover as it rotates from the fully closed position to the fully open position. Figure 9 and Figure 10 This diagram shows the case where the cover is fully open.

[0064] like Figures 7-10 As shown, the arm 35 is roughly V-shaped in the main view. The left end of the V-shape forms a mounting portion 36 for example, threaded fastening of the cover 16, while the right end forms a pivot 37 that serves as the rotation center for the opening and closing action, integral with the cover 16. The lower corner 42 of the V-shape of the arm 35, together with the force-applying member 46 (described later), constitutes a locking mechanism 30 that holds the cover 16 in the fully open state. The portion from the pivot 37 to the corner 42 is referred to as the first arm 35a, and the portion from the corner 42 to the mounting portion 36 is referred to as the second arm 35b. The first arm 35a is roughly straight from the pivot 37 to the corner 42 in the main view, while the second arm 35b curves upwards, becoming roughly part of a cylindrical surface centered on the pivot 37.

[0065] From the fully closed state to the fully open state, the second arm 35b is configured in a so-called pull-out hinge form, located within the area of ​​the opening of the cover 16 in the area cover 23. When the cover 16 is closed (moved to the fully closed position), the second arm 35b, including the mounting part 36, enters the inside of the opening. Therefore, the cover boundary 28 of the cover 16 and the area cover 23 can form a continuous closed curve throughout the entire circumference of the cover. Thus, by using the airtight member 29 provided along the boundary, it is possible to maintain an airtight seal when the cover 16 is closed while preventing the intrusion of external light.

[0066] Figure 11 as well as Figure 12 This is a three-dimensional view showing the preprocessing unit extracted from the image. Figure 11 This diagram shows the case where the lid is fully closed. Figure 12 This diagram shows the case where the cover is fully open.

[0067] like Figure 11 as well as Figure 12 As shown, a lower surface cover 45 is provided on the hinge portion 25, suspended and fixed from its upper surface, and configured to cover the lower, front, and rear surfaces of the arm portion 35 when the opening / closing cover 16 is closed. The left side of the lower surface cover 45 curves upward along the second arm portion 35b, roughly forming part of a cylindrical surface centered on the support shaft 37. Alternatively, a support bearing portion 38 may be integrally provided on the lower surface cover 45. For example, even if foreign matter such as abrasive powder is generated from the rotating shaft (support shaft 37 and support bearing portion 38) due to the opening and closing action of the opening / closing cover 16, this foreign matter falls onto the lower surface cover 45, thus preventing foreign matter from falling into the specimen or reagent located in the pretreatment device 13.

[0068] like Figures 7-10 As shown, a force-applying member 46, which bends along the lower surface cover 45, is provided between the left side of the lower surface cover 45 and the second arm portion 35b. One end of the force-applying member 46 is fixed to the bottom surface 47 of the lower surface cover, for example, by a threaded fastener or a snap-fit. The other end, which bends upwards along the lower surface cover 45, is a cantilevered curved beam with a protrusion, i.e., a claw portion 48, facing the support shaft 37. The upper surface of the claw portion 48 is formed as a planar locking surface 49 generally facing the support shaft 37, and an inclined surface 50 forms downwards from the claw portion 48. Figure 7 As shown, when the opening / closing cover 16 is in the fully closed position, the claw portion 48 of the force-applying member 46 is in a structure that does not contact the second arm portion 35b.

[0069] In this embodiment, the lower surface cover 45, the force-applying component 46, the arm 35, and the opening / closing cover 16 can also be made of resin. For example, the opening / closing cover 16 can be made of acrylonitrile butadiene (ABS) resin, and the lower surface cover 45, the force-applying component 46, and the arm 35 can be made of polyacetal (POM) resin, which has the effect of reducing the number of components and achieving simplification and cost reduction.

[0070] From Figure 7 The fully closed position of the cover 16 shown is via Figure 8 Move to the position shown Figure 9In the fully open position, when the operator lifts the gripper 39 to open the cover 16, and the front end 40 of the cover 16 reaches a height H3 relative to the support shaft 37, the corner 42 of the V-shaped arm 35 contacts the inclined surface 50 of the force-applying member 46, causing the claw 48 to move away from the support shaft 37, thus elastically deforming the force-applying member 46. Furthermore, when the height of the front end 40 of the cover reaches an unlocking height H4 (>H3), the corner 42 passes over the claw 48 of the force-applying member 46, and the claw 48 is reset by the elastic force of the force-applying member 46 in a direction close to the support shaft 37. At this time, the corner 42 of the arm 35 is located higher than the locking surface 49 of the force-applying member 46. In this state, when the operator removes their hand from the gripper 39 of the cover 16, the corner 42 of the arm 35 rests on the locking surface 49. The force applied by the force-applying component 46 to the arm 35 is configured such that, compared to the torque required for the cover 16 to close due to its own weight, the supporting torque generated by the reaction force produced by the locking surface 49 of the force-applying component 46 at the diagonal 42 is greater. Therefore, the cover 16 remains fully open (fully open position). That is, the unlocking height H4 refers to the height of the front end 40 of the cover 16 when it remains fully open due to the action of the locking mechanism 30 formed by the corner 42 of the arm 35 and the force-applying component 46. Figure 3 and Figure 9 As shown, the height of the front end 40 of the fully open cover from the ground is H1.

[0071] like Figure 9 As shown, if the center of gravity of the opening / closing cover 16 is set as CG, the horizontal distance from the support shaft 37 to the center of gravity CG is set as R1, the weight of the opening / closing cover 16 is set as m, the acceleration due to gravity is set as g, and the distance from the support shaft 37 to the corner 42 is set as R2, then the closing torque generated by the weight is mg×R1. The reaction force F1 generated at the corner 42 can be obtained by dividing the closing torque generated by the weight by the radius of rotation R2. Therefore, it is expressed as F1=mg×R1 / R2.

[0072] At this time, the straight line connecting the support shaft 37 and the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover 16 becomes a straight line rising to the left, including the angle α1 formed by the plane of the support shaft 37 and the straight line, which becomes an elevation angle when viewed from the side of the support shaft 37 to the side of the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover. In addition, the height from the ground to the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover is H1.

[0073] That is, if the height of the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover is less than H3, the locking surface 49 of the force-applying member 46 has no supporting torque on the corner 42 of the arm 35. Therefore, the opening and closing cover 16 is closed by its own weight without being locked. If the height of the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover is greater than H4, the corner 42 is held by the locking surface 49, and the opening and closing cover 16 is locked in the fully open state (fully open position).

[0074] Furthermore, in the fully open state, for example, if the front end 40 of the opening / closing cover 16 is lowered to a height of H3 or below by pressing down from above, the fully open lock of the locking mechanism 30 is released, and the opening / closing cover 16 closes due to its own weight and rotates to the fully closed position. Hereinafter, the height H3 will be referred to as the unlocking / release height.

[0075] If a force F2 is applied downward to the front end 40 of the cover when it is fully open, the closing torque applied to the cover 16 is the product of force F2 and the horizontal distance R3 from the support shaft 37 to the front end 40 of the cover, in addition to the torque of its own weight, thus becoming (mg×R1)+(F2×R3).

[0076] Although the corner 42 is subjected to a reaction force F1 from the locking surface 49 to keep the opening and closing cover 16 in the fully open state, there is a limit to the reaction force F1 generated by the force-applying component 46. When the maximum allowable value F1max is applied, the force-applying component 46 flexes away from the support shaft 37, and the corner 42 disengages from the locking surface 49 and closes due to its own weight from the fully open state.

[0077] That is, when a downward closing force F2 is applied to the front end 40 of the cover in the fully open state, and the relationship becomes [(mg×R1)+(F2×R3)]>(F1max×R2), the fully open lock is released, and the cover 16 closes due to its own weight, returning to the fully closed position (refer to...). Figure 7 ).

[0078] That is, the rigidity of the force-applying component 46, the size of the claw portion 48 and the locking surface 49 are determined so that when the opening and closing cover 16 is fully open, it can support the closing torque caused by its own weight and maintain the fully open state, and when a downward closing force is applied to the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover, it can disengage from the lock and close due to its own weight.

[0079] In addition, such as Figure 10As shown, when the safety cover 4 is closed in the fully open state of the cover 16, and the front end 40 of the cover abuts against the inner side of the safety cover 4, in addition to the downward reaction force F2 generated during the contact, a frictional force (μ×F2) is applied in the right direction, which is orthogonal to the reaction force F2 and hinders the closing action of the cover 16. Furthermore, the coefficient μ used in the frictional force calculation is the friction coefficient of the contact portion. The product of the height R4 of the front end 40 of the cover from the support shaft and the frictional force (μ×F2), i.e., (R4×μ×F2), is the frictional torque around the support shaft 37 generated by the frictional force, which acts in a clockwise direction, i.e., the direction that hinders the closing action of the cover 16. Here, the opening angle α1 of the cover 16 is taken as the angle formed by the straight line connecting the support shaft 37 and the front end 40 of the cover and the horizontal. If the opening angle α1 increases, i.e., the opening angle of the cover 16 increases, the horizontal distance R3 between the front end 40 of the cover and the support shaft 37 decreases, thus reducing the closing torque. On the other hand, the height R4 between the front end 40 of the cover and the support shaft 37 increases, thus increasing the frictional torque. Therefore, if the opening angle α1 of the cover 16 increases to a degree beyond what is desired, and the coefficient of friction μ between the front end 40 of the cover and the inner surface of the safety cover 4 it abuts increases, the frictional torque is greater than the closing torque, and the cover 16 becomes a so-called support rod, creating a condition where it will not close even when pressed from above. Therefore, to avoid such a state, the opening angle α1 of the cover 16 is configured not to be too large, for example, the opening angle α1 is about 45° or less. In addition, the contact surface between the front end 40 of the cover and the inner surface of the safety cover 4 it abuts is formed of a smooth part with a low coefficient of friction, such as a stainless steel plate, and is formed in a shape without bumps or steps.

[0080] like Figure 3 As shown, the height H1 of the front end 40 of the opening / closing cover 16 when fully open is set to be greater than the height H2 of the upper surface when the safety cover 4 is closed. That is, when the safety cover 4 is closed while the opening / closing cover 16 is in the fully open position, the inner side of the upper surface of the safety cover 4 abuts against the front end 40 of the opening / closing cover 16, forcibly pressing the front end 40 of the opening / closing cover downward to a height below H3. The force-applying member 46 flexes, the corner 42 of the arm 35 disengages from the locking surface 49 of the claw 48, and the opening / closing cover 16 closes due to its own weight. That is, even if the operator forgets to close the opening / closing cover 16, if the safety cover 4 is closed, the opening / closing cover 16 will close reliably. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 16 of the pretreatment device 13 is airtight around the airtight member 29, allowing for temperature adjustment and light shielding inside the pretreatment device 13, thus providing a highly reliable automatic analysis device.

[0081] The effects of this embodiment, as described above, will be explained with reference to comparative examples.

[0082] Figure 13This is a front view showing the pre-processing device of this embodiment with the cover fully open. Additionally, Figure 14 and Figure 15 This is a front view showing the structure of the preprocessing apparatus, which is a comparative example with respect to this embodiment. Figure 14 This indicates the case where the cover is set to the fully closed position. Figure 15 This indicates the case where the cover is set to the fully open position.

[0083] like Figure 13 As shown, in this embodiment, the pretreatment device 13 has the support shaft 37 positioned near the upper end (i.e., inside the upper convex shape) of the area cover 23, which is further formed into an upward convex shape on the upper part of the pretreatment device 13, and the opening / closing cover 16 in the fully closed position is positioned downward to the left. On the other hand, as Figure 14 and Figure 15 As shown, in the comparative example, the pretreatment device 13A does not have an upper protrusion on the area cover 23, the support shaft 37A is positioned near the upper right end of the pretreatment device 13A, and the opening and closing cover 16A in the fully closed position is positioned at the same height as the upper surface 31 of the pretreatment section.

[0084] like Figure 13 As shown, in the pretreatment apparatus 13 of this embodiment, when the opening / closing cover 16 is in the fully open position, the approximate shape of the opening formed between the lower edge of the opening / closing cover 16 and the pretreatment apparatus 13 is defined as the opening region 51, which is indicated by a shaded line. The opening region 51 is an opening for the operator to perform internal cleaning of the pretreatment apparatus, etc. In the pretreatment apparatus 13 of this embodiment, the support shaft 37 is located at a position higher than the pretreatment apparatus 13 (a position higher than the upper surface 31 of the pretreatment section), and the opening / closing cover 16 has an approximate U-shape in a frontal view, with the right side longer than the left side. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 16 is in the fully open position, the vertical height dimension H5 of the opening region 51 is approximately constant throughout the entire horizontal range of the opening region 51, including the area near the support shaft 37. In addition, sufficient opening space is obtained when performing internal cleaning operations.

[0085] On the other hand, such as Figure 14 as well as Figure 15As shown, in the comparative example pretreatment device 13A, the upper protrusion of the area cover 23 is not provided, and the support shaft 37A is positioned near the upper right end of the pretreatment device 13A. Therefore, the straight line connecting the front end 40 of the opening / closing cover and the support shaft 37A rises to the left in the fully closed position of the opening / closing cover 16A, and also maintains the leftward upward state in the fully open position. In this comparative example pretreatment device 13A, in order to make the height of the front end 40 of the opening / closing cover 16A higher than the release height of the fully open lock, since the height of the support shaft 37A is relatively low, it is necessary to increase the opening angle α2 of the opening / closing cover 16 (for example, α2 > α1). As a result, the horizontal distance R3' from the front end 40 of the opening / closing cover to the support shaft 37A is smaller than the horizontal distance R3 when the support shaft is in a higher position (i.e., R3' < R3).

[0086] However, as explained earlier, if the opening angle α2 is increased and the horizontal distance R3' from the front end 40 of the cover to the support shaft 37A is decreased, the closing torque when the closing force F2 applied from above to the front end 40 of the cover decreases. On the other hand, the height R4' from the front end 40 of the cover to the support shaft increases, and the frictional torque R4'×μ×F2 generated by friction increases. Therefore, compared with the closing torque, the frictional torque increases, and the cover 16A becomes a so-called support rod, which easily leads to a condition where it will not close even when pressed from above, and the closing reliability of the cover 16A is significantly reduced.

[0087] Furthermore, when the opening / closing cover 16A of the pretreatment device 13A in the comparative example is set to the fully open position, the opening area 51A ( Figure 15 In the diagram (shown in shaded area), the opening height H6 near the support shaft 37A is small, resulting in insufficient opening during internal cleaning operations.

[0088] In contrast, in this embodiment, the hinge portion 25 is mounted on the upper part of the pretreatment device 13, and the position of the support shaft 37 is positioned above the pretreatment device 13. As a result, the opening and closing cover 16 descends to the left in the fully closed position and rises to the left in the fully open position. Therefore, a sufficient opening area 51 for the operator can be obtained in the fully open position, and the opening and closing cover can be reliably closed (i.e., rotated to the fully closed position) when the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover is pressed from above in the fully open position. Thus, the opening and closing cover 16 is highly reliable and easy to use.

[0089] <Postscript>

[0090] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes various modifications and combinations without departing from its spirit. Additionally, the present invention is not limited to having all the structures described in the above embodiments, but also includes structures in which a portion of the structure has been omitted.

[0091] For example, in this embodiment, the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover is located to the left of the support shaft 37, so the opening and closing cover 16 is configured to descend to the left in the fully closed position and rise to the left in the fully open position. However, for example, if the front end 40 of the opening and closing cover is located to the right of the support shaft 37, the opening and closing cover 16 descends to the right in the fully closed position and rises to the right in the fully open position.

[0092] Symbol Explanation

[0093] 1—Automatic analysis device; 2—Reagent tray; 3—Reagent container; 4—Safety cover; 5—Sample transport mechanism; 5a—Sample; 6—Sample dispensing mechanism; 7—Pipette holder; 8—Transport mechanism; 9—Incubator; 9a—Stirring mechanism; 10—Sample dispensing pipette tip; 11—Sample dispensing pipette tip buffer; 12—Waste hole; 13, 13A—Pretreatment device; 14—Reaction vessel; 15—Reagent dispensing probe; 15a—Reagent dispensing position; 16, 16A—Opening and closing cover; 17—Cleaning mechanism; 19—Detection device; 20—Reagent container filling port; 21—Frame; 22—Working surface; 23—Area cover; 24—Reagent cold storage; 25—Hinge; 26—Cover support shaft; 27—Pull Hand; 28—Boundary of opening / closing cover; 29—Airtight component; 30—Locking mechanism; 31—Upper surface of pre-processing section; 32—Inclined surface; 33—Upper surface of hinge section; 34—Rear end of opening / closing cover; 35—Arm; 35a—First arm; 35b—Second arm; 36—Mounting section; 37, 37A—Support shaft; 39—Hand grip; 40—Front end of opening / closing cover; 42—Corner; 44a, 44b—Rib; 45—Lower surface cover; 46—Force-applying component; 47—Bottom surface of lower surface cover; 48—Claw; 49—Locking surface; 50—Inclined surface; 51, 51A—Opening area; 55—Frame; 56—Front panel; 57—Left and right side panels; 58—Back panel; 200—Main computer.

Claims

1. A cover opening and closing device configured to cover a first area of ​​a working surface disposed on a frame, together with a zone cover, the frame housing at least a portion of the functional parts of an analytical device. The opening and closing cover device is characterized by having: An openable and closed cover that can be freely opened and closed to cover the opening of the area cover for accessing the interior from the outside of the first area; A support arm that connects the first region side surface of the opening and closing cover and a support shaft disposed inside the first region via the opening, and rotatably supports the opening and closing cover on the support shaft. An open retaining mechanism, comprising a corner portion and a force-applying portion, the corner portion being located at the lower end of the support arm; and A lower surface cover, configured to detachably cover the support shaft and the open retaining mechanism from below. When viewed along the axial direction of the support arm, the support arm is approximately V-shaped. One end of the force-applying part is fixed to the bottom surface of the lower surface cover, and the other end bends upward along the lower surface cover in the shape of a cantilevered curved beam. The force-applying part is provided with a claw portion, which is a protrusion facing the support arm. The upper surface of the claw is formed as a planar locking surface generally facing the support arm, and an inclined surface is formed from the claw downwards. The open / closed cover retaining mechanism is configured to hold the support arm in a fully open position when one end of the open / closed cover on the side away from the support shaft moves to a position higher than a preset reference height, and to release the support arm when one end of the open / closed cover is pressed down to a position lower than the reference height, allowing the open / closed cover to move to a fully closed position due to its own weight. The force-applying part is configured to apply a retaining force to the corner portion when the cover is in the fully open position, the retaining force preventing movement towards the fully closed position caused by the weight of the cover itself. The opening and closing cover is held by the opening retaining mechanism such that, in the fully open position, one end on the side away from the support shaft is higher than the other end on the support shaft side, and is held such that, in the fully closed position, the other end is higher than the first end.

2. The opening and closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The other end of the opening and closing cover is located above the support shaft in both the fully open and fully closed positions.

3. The opening and closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, When one end of the open / closed cover is pressed downward with a force greater than a preset force in the fully open position, the open holding mechanism releases the force applied by the force-applying part to the corner, causing the open / closed cover to move to the fully closed position due to its own weight.

4. The opening and closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It has an airtight component disposed at the boundary between the open / closed cover and the area cover in the fully closed position, which inhibits the inflow and outflow of air between the interior and exterior of the first area and inhibits the intrusion of light into the interior of the first area.

5. An automatic analysis device, characterized in that, have: A sample container conveying mechanism that holds and conveys a sample container containing a sample of the analyte. A reagent container holding mechanism that holds and holds a reagent container containing a reagent for reacting with the sample; A reaction mechanism that houses a reaction vessel for reacting the sample with the reagent; A sample dispensing mechanism that dispenses the sample from the sample container into the reaction container; A reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses the reagent from the reagent container into the reaction vessel; A pretreatment device for pretreating the reaction solution of the sample and the reagent dispensed into the reaction vessel; A measuring device for measuring the reaction solution in which pretreatment has been performed in the pretreatment device; A region cover configured to cover a first region containing the pretreatment device; as well as The opening and closing device according to claim 1.

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