Automated analysis device

Abstract

The present application aims to provide an automatic analysis device that smoothly disposes a used reaction container while suppressing a restriction in space. The automatic analysis device of the present application includes: a housing portion that houses a used container; a hollow disposal cylinder that guides the container in a vertical direction to the housing portion; a container gripping mechanism that grips the container by bringing a plurality of gripping pieces close in a horizontal direction and drops the container by separating the plurality of gripping pieces in the horizontal direction; and a control portion that controls the container gripping mechanism, a disposal opening of an upper end of the disposal cylinder being formed by a container guide portion that guides the container and a gripping piece separation portion that forms a space in which the plurality of gripping pieces are separated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an automatic analysis device. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, an automatic analysis device that performs biochemical or immunological analysis on a specimen (sample) such as blood, urine, or the like is known. The analysis is generally performed by causing a specimen and a reagent to react, and optically or electrically detecting a reaction generated between the reagent and the specimen.

[0003] Here, in order to prevent the reaction of the reagent with the specimen from being contaminated by other reagents or specimens, the reaction of the reagent with the specimen is generally performed using a displacement-type reaction container. Then, the used reaction container after the analysis is completed is conveyed by a reaction container conveying mechanism, and is discarded from a prescribed discard port. For example, the content of discarding a sample dispensing needle into a sample dispensing needle / reaction container discard hole is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.

[0004] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0005] PATENT LITERATURE

[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2019-86418 SUMMARY

[0007] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] After the analysis is completed, as shown in Patent Literature 1, the reaction container that is dropped into the reaction container discard hole is stored in a containing portion such as a discard box by a discard cylinder. However, at the time of dropping into the discard hole that is an opening end of the upper end of the discard cylinder, if the reaction container is tilted, the bottom surface of the reaction container comes into contact with the side surface of the discard cylinder, or the stepped portion (flange portion) of the reaction container comes into contact with the upper end of the discard cylinder, and thus it can not be possible to normally discard the reaction container. If the inner diameter of the discard cylinder is enlarged, the reaction container can be smoothly discarded, but is limited by the space inside the automatic analysis device.

[0009] An object of the present application is to provide an automatic analysis device that smoothly discards a used reaction container while suppressing the limitation of the space.

[0010] TECHNICAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0011] To solve the above problems, the automatic analysis device of the present application includes: a housing portion that houses a used container; a hollow disposal cylinder that guides the container in a vertical direction to the housing portion; a container gripping mechanism that grips the container by bringing a plurality of gripping pieces close in a horizontal direction, and drops the container by separating a plurality of gripping pieces in a horizontal direction; and a control portion that controls the container gripping mechanism, a disposal opening of an upper end of the disposal cylinder is formed by a container guide portion that guides the container and a gripping piece separation portion that forms a space in which a plurality of gripping pieces are separated.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present application, there is provided an automatic analysis device that smoothly disposes a used reaction container while suppressing a restriction in space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the automatic analysis device according to Embodiment 1.

[0015] Figure 2 is a front view of a main portion of the automatic analysis device according to Embodiment 1.

[0016] Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 in the A direction.

[0017] Figure 4 is a view showing the structure of the reaction container disposal opening and the first gripping piece and the second gripping piece according to Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 5 is a view showing the operation of the reaction container in a case where there is no protrusion or notch in the reaction container disposal opening as a comparative example.

[0019] Figure 6 is a view showing the operation of the reaction container in Embodiment 1.

[0020] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the disposal operation of the reaction container in Embodiment 1.

[0021] Figure 8 is a view showing the reaction container transport mechanism and the progress of the state of the reaction container in Embodiment 1.

[0022] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the disposal operation of the reaction container in Embodiment 2.

[0023] Figure 10 is a view showing the operation of the reaction container in Embodiment 2.

[0024] Figure 11is a flowchart showing the waste action of the reaction container in Example 3.

[0025] Figure 12 is a diagram showing the progress of the state of the reaction container transfer mechanism and the reaction container in Example 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Embodiments of the present application are described in detail based on the drawings.

[0027] <Example 1>

[0028] First, the use of the automatic analysis device in this embodiment is described. Figure 1 An outline of the overall structure of the automatic analysis device of this embodiment is described. Figure 1 is a plan view showing the overall structure of the automatic analysis device of this embodiment.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1 , the automatic analysis device 100 in this embodiment is a device that causes a specimen to react with a reagent and measures the reaction liquid after the reaction. The automatic analysis device 100 includes a reagent refrigeration storage 1, a reagent container 3, a specimen dispensing nozzle 303, a reaction stage 305, a reaction container transfer mechanism 306, a specimen dispensing needle·reaction container holding member 307, a reagent disk 2, a reagent dispensing nozzle 314, a processing section 315, a detection section 316, a rack transfer line 317, and a control device 319.

[0030] Here, the rack conveyance line 317 is a line for conveying the rack 301 capable of housing a plurality of specimen containers 302 containing specimens to a specimen dispensing position or the like. The specimen dispensing nozzle 303 is a nozzle for aspirating a specimen contained in the specimen container 302 and ejecting it to the reaction container 304. The reaction stage 305 is a stage for performing a reaction between a specimen and a reagent at a constant temperature, the temperature of which is maintained at a prescribed temperature by a heater (not shown) so as to promote the reaction between the specimen and the reagent. A plurality of reaction containers 304 are held in the reaction stage 305 and become a place for mixing and reacting a specimen and a reagent. The reaction container conveyance mechanism 306 conveys the reaction container 304. The specimen dispensing needle • reaction container holding member 307 stores a disposable specimen dispensing needle or the reaction container 304 used for specimen dispensing. The reagent tray 2 is a tray that stores the reagent container 3 and is refrigerated by the reagent refrigerator 1 in order to stably store a reagent. The reagent container 3 is capable of being accessed by a user or a reagent container conveyance mechanism (not shown) or the like by opening the opening and closing lid 5 provided on the lid 4. In addition, the reagent suction use hole 6, which is a through hole used for reagent suction, is provided in a portion of the lid 4. The reagent dispensing nozzle 314 is a nozzle for aspirating a reagent in the reagent container 3 stored in the reagent tray 2 through the reagent suction use hole 6 and ejecting it to the reaction container 304. In each of the reagent containers 3 in the reagent tray 2, various kinds of reagents (first reagents) used for analyzing a specimen are housed. The processing section 315 performs processing before the detection section 316 analyzes a specimen. The detection section 316 performs detection using a liquid in which a reaction in the reaction container 304 is completed. The control device 319 controls various kinds of actions of the above-described members and, based on a detection result by the detection section 316, performs arithmetic processing for finding a concentration of a prescribed component in a specimen. The control section 318 that performs control of the reaction container conveyance mechanism 306 is provided in the control device 319.

[0031] Next, an outline of a flow of the entire analysis in the automatic analysis device of the present embodiment will be described. Before analysis, a user sets consumables such as reagent containers 3, specimen dispensing needles, or reaction containers 304 required for analysis on the reagent tray 2 or the specimen dispensing needle • reaction container holding member 307 in the analysis device, respectively.

[0032] First, the user inserts the rack 301 into the automatic analysis device in a state in which a specimen such as blood, urine, or the like that is an analysis target is injected into the specimen container 302. Here, unused reaction containers 304 or specimen dispensing needles are conveyed to the reaction stage 305 and the specimen dispensing needle mounting position 321 by the first conveyance mechanism 308 of the analysis device.

[0033] Then, the reagent dispensing nozzle 314 is installed in a manner capable of rotating and moving up and down, moves up and down in a state of being rotated to the upper side of the reagent suction port 6 provided on the lid 4 of the reagent cooling chamber 1, and is lowered to pass through the reagent suction port 6. Then, the tip of the reagent dispensing nozzle 314 that has passed through the reagent suction port 6 is inserted into the reagent in the prescribed reagent container 3, and a prescribed amount of the reagent is sucked. Then, the reagent dispensing nozzle 314 is raised and moved to the upper side of the prescribed position of the reaction table 305, and the reagent is ejected into the reaction container 304 provided in the reaction table 305.

[0034] Next, when the support 301 reaches the specimen dispensing position by the support conveyance line 317, the specimen dispensing nozzle 303 is installed with a specimen dispensing needle, and the specimen is dispensed from the specimen container 302 to the reaction container 304, and the reaction of the specimen with the assay reagent is started. The reaction described here is, for example, a process in which a luminescent marker antibody that reacts with only a specific antigen of the specimen is used as an assay reagent, and the specimen is bound to the luminescent marker substance by an antigen-antibody reaction. At this time, the specimen and the assay reagent are stirred by sucking the mixture of the specimen and the assay reagent in the specimen dispensing needle. After this operation is completed, the used specimen dispensing needle is discarded in the specimen dispensing needle discard port 320.

[0035] Sometimes, after the reaction between the specimen and the assay reagent is started by stirring, other reagents are further added at a prescribed timing to perform the reaction. For example, there is a process in which a magnetic bead on which an antibody is bound on the surface is further bound to the antigen. Therefore, the reaction container 304 that has been left in the reaction table 305 for a prescribed time is conveyed to the processing section 315 by the reaction container conveyance mechanism 306. In the processing section 315, the magnetic separation and stirring of the specimen are performed as a pretreatment for detection of the specimen.

[0036] After the pretreatment process is completed, the reaction container 304 is again conveyed to the reaction table 305 by the reaction container conveyance mechanism 306.

[0037] Regardless of the presence or absence of the magnetic separation, the reaction container 304 that has been left in the reaction table 305 for a prescribed time is introduced to the detection section 316 by the second conveyance mechanism 309. In the detection section 316, detection of a signal from the reaction solution is performed, the analysis result is notified to the user, and the result is recorded in the storage device.

[0038] After the detection operation is completed, the reaction container 304 is conveyed to the reaction container discard port 322 and discarded by the second conveyance mechanism 309 and the reaction container conveyance mechanism 306. In the lower portions of the reaction container discard port 322 and the specimen dispensing needle discard port 320, a storage portion 323 that stores the discarded reaction container 304 and the specimen dispensing needle is provided.

[0039] Next, the user Figure 2 andFigure 3 The structure of the reaction container transport mechanism 306 will be described. Figure 2 is a front view of the main part of the automatic analysis device, Figure 3 is Figure 2 is a sectional view of the reaction container transport mechanism 306 along the A direction. The reaction container transport mechanism 306 is disposed in a temperature-controlled chamber 332 temperature-controlled by a temperature-controlling device (not shown) using a Peltier element or the like, and is composed of a container holding mechanism for holding the reaction container 304 and an up-and-down movement mechanism for moving the container holding mechanism in the vertical direction. In addition, the main body case of the reaction container transport mechanism 306 is linked to a belt not shown, and by rotating the belt using a motor not shown, it is possible to move in the horizontal direction along a horizontal rail 324 fixed to the wall surface of the temperature-controlled chamber 332.

[0040] Here, the container holding mechanism includes a first holding piece 325a and a second holding piece 325b which abut against the side surface of the reaction container 304, and a solenoid 326 which brings the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b close to or separates them. The container holding mechanism holds the reaction container 304 by bringing the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b close in the horizontal direction, and makes the reaction container 304 fall by separating the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b in the horizontal direction. The container holding mechanism can not be the solenoid 326, but can be driven by a motor or an air cylinder.

[0041] The up-and-down movement mechanism includes a motor 327, a pinion 328 linked to the shaft of the motor 327, a bracket portion 329 which converts the rotational motion into linear motion by engaging with the pinion 328, a support portion 330 fixed to the bracket portion 329 and supporting the solenoid 326, and a vertical rail 331 which guides the up-and-down movement of the support portion 330. In addition, the motor 327 and the vertical rail 331 are fixed to the main body case of the reaction container transport mechanism 306, and the bracket portion 329 and the support portion 330 relatively move up and down with respect to the main body case. The up-and-down movement mechanism can not be driven by the motor 327, but can be driven by a solenoid or an air cylinder.

[0042] The control section 318 makes the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b rise or fall together with the container holding mechanism by controlling the rotation of the motor 327. In addition, the control section 318 opens the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b by energizing the solenoid 326, or closes the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b using the spring force by de-energizing the solenoid 326.

[0043] In addition, as Figure 2As shown, a hollow waste cylinder 333 extending in the vertical direction and guiding the reaction container 304 toward the housing portion 323 is connected to the bottom surface of the temperature adjustment chamber 332. Therefore, the reaction container 304 dropped from the opening end (reaction container waste port 322) of the upper end of the waste cylinder 333 is guided by the inner surface of the waste cylinder 333 while falling due to gravity, and is housed in the housing portion 323 as a used reaction container 304.

[0044] Next, the structure of the reaction container waste port 322 will be described. Figure 4 The reaction container waste port 322 is provided in the temperature adjustment chamber 332, and is a port through which the reaction container 304 is dropped from the opening end of the upper end of the waste cylinder 333. Figure 4 is a view showing the structure of the reaction container waste port 322 and the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b, (a) is a front view, and (b) is a plan view of B-B' of (a) viewed from above. As shown in (a) of Figure 4 , the opening end of the upper end of the waste cylinder 333 protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the temperature adjustment chamber 332, and has a plurality of protrusions 333c. In addition, as shown in (b) of Figure 4 , in the opening end of the upper end of the waste cylinder 333, cutouts 333a, 333b are respectively formed at positions corresponding to the trajectories (refer to the arrows of (b) of Figure 4 ) at which the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b are separated. That is, the plurality of protrusions 333c in the present embodiment are inevitably generated as remaining portions when the cutouts 333a, 333b are formed in the upper end of the waste cylinder 333, and have the advantage of being able to be integrally molded with the main body of the waste cylinder 333 extending downward and being easy to manufacture. However, it is not excluded that the protrusions 333c are separately configured from the main body of the waste cylinder 333.

[0045] As shown in (a) of Figure 4 , a flange portion having a larger outer diameter than the lower side is formed in the upper side of the reaction container 304, and a step is present at the lower end of the flange portion. Therefore, a claw that can engage the flange portion of the reaction container 304 is provided at the lower end of the first gripping piece 325a. The second gripping piece 325b does not have a claw provided, but has a curved abutting surface, and grips the reaction container 304 in conjunction with the first gripping piece 325a by pressing the abutting surface against the side surface of the flange portion of the reaction container 304. Thus, by providing the claw only on the first gripping piece 325a, the reaction container 304 easily falls when the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b are separated. Here, since the power from the solenoid 326 is transmitted via a link mechanism (not shown), the trajectory of separation of the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b is circular arc-shaped as shown in (b) of Figure 4 .

[0046] Figure 5is a drawing showing the operation of the reaction vessel 304 in the case where there is no protrusion or cutout on the reaction vessel waste port 322, (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view of B-B' of (a) as viewed from above, (c) is a left side view, and (d) is a plan view of B-B' of (c) as viewed from above. As shown in (a) of Figure 5 (a), when the first grip piece 325a and the second grip piece 325b are separated, the lower end of the first grip piece 325a is located at a position higher than the upper end of the waste drum 333, and thus the flange portion of the reaction vessel 304 is also located at a position higher than the upper end of the waste drum 333. Therefore, the balance of the reaction vessel 304 is disrupted when the vessel gripping mechanism is separated, and for example, as shown in (c) of Figure 5 , in the case where the reaction vessel 304 is tilted in a state of being tilted rearward, the side surface of the flange portion of the reaction vessel 304 and the like abuts against the upper end of the waste drum 333, and the bottom surface of the reaction vessel 304 sometimes abuts against the side surface of the waste drum 333. In this case, the reaction vessel 304 does not fall smoothly into the accommodation portion 323, and there is a possibility that the operator needs to perform work.

[0047] Figure 6 is a drawing showing the operation of the reaction vessel 304 in the present embodiment, (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view of B-B' of (a) as viewed from above, (c) is a left side view, and (d) is a plan view of B-B' of (c) as viewed from above. In the present embodiment, as described above, the cutout 333a and the cutout 333b are respectively formed on the separation trajectories of the first grip piece 325a and the second grip piece 325b. Therefore, as shown in (a) of Figure 6 , after the lower ends of the first grip piece 325a and the second grip piece 325b are lowered to a position lower than the upper end of the protrusion 333c, the control section 318 can separate the vessel gripping mechanism. Therefore, the balance of the reaction vessel 304 is disrupted when the vessel gripping mechanism is separated, and for example, as shown in (c) of Figure 6 , even in the case where the reaction vessel 304 is tilted in a state of being tilted rearward, the flange portion of the reaction vessel 304 does not abut against the upper end of the protrusion 333c. Further, if the control section 318 separates the vessel gripping mechanism at a position where the upper end of the reaction vessel 304 is lower than the upper end of the protrusion 333c, even in the case where the reaction vessel 304 is tilted, the upper end side of the reaction vessel 304 only comes into contact with the side surface of the protrusion 333c, and thus the reaction vessel 304 falls down more smoothly.

[0048] Thus, the protrusion 333c of the present embodiment contacts the side surface of the reaction container 304, and functions as a container guide portion that restricts the movement of the reaction container 304 while guiding the reaction container 304 downward. Here, if the protrusion 333c has a slope that is wider in diameter toward the upper side, it is advantageous in that the reaction container 304 is easily inserted. However, if the upper end of the protrusion 333c is made too wide, there is a possibility that the reaction container 304 will hang obliquely, and air in the temperature adjustment chamber 332 will escape, resulting in a decrease in the temperature adjustment effect. Therefore, the inner diameter of the upper end of the protrusion 333c is preferably 100 to 110% of the inner diameter of the lower end of the protrusion 333c.

[0049] On the other hand, the notches 333a, 333b function as a grip piece separation portion that forms a space in which the first grip piece 325a and the second grip piece 325b are separated to allow the reaction container 304 to fall. Here, if the notches 333a, 333b are too long in the circumferential direction, and the protrusion 333c is too short in the circumferential direction, the reaction container 304 is inserted into the notches 333a, 333b, and the reaction container 304 is inclined greatly, so there is a possibility that the reaction container 304 cannot fall smoothly. Therefore, it is preferable that the gap between the separation track of the first grip piece 325a and the second grip piece 325b and the circumferential end of the protrusion 333c be smaller than the outer diameter of the reaction container 304.

[0050] Next, the procedure of the disposal operation of the reaction container 304 of the reaction container conveying mechanism 306 of the present embodiment will be described. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the disposal operation of the reaction container 304 in the present embodiment, Figure 8 is a diagram showing the transition of the state of the reaction container conveying mechanism 306 and the reaction container 304. First, the control portion 318 controls the rotation of a motor not shown, and moves the reaction container conveying mechanism 306 horizontally, thereby conveying the reaction container 304 into the vertical projection of the reaction container disposal port 322 (step S101), to become the state 1 of Figure 8 Next, the control portion 318 controls the rotation of the motor 327 that constitutes the up-and-down movement mechanism, and lowers the container gripping mechanism (step S102), to shift to the state 2 of Figure 8 At this time, as described above, the control portion 318 preferably lowers the first grip piece 325a and the second grip piece 325b until the upper end of the reaction container 304 reaches a position lower than the upper end of the protrusion 333c.

[0051] Then, the control portion 318 separates the first grip piece 325a and the second grip piece 325b by energizing the solenoid 326 of the container gripping mechanism (step S103), as shown in Figure 8The reaction vessel 304 falls down as shown in state 3. While the container holding mechanism is separated, the control section 318 controls the rotation of the motor 327 to raise the container holding mechanism (step S104), and shifts to Figure 8 state 4, in preparation for the transfer of the next reaction vessel 304.

[0052] As described above, in the present embodiment, the disposal port of the upper end of the disposal cylinder 333 is formed by the container guide portion and the holding piece separation portion, and even in the state in which the reaction vessel 304 is most tilted, only the upper end side surface or the bottom surface of the reaction vessel 304 contacts the side surface of the disposal cylinder 333. Therefore, when the used reaction vessel 304 is dropped into the disposal port, it smoothly falls within the disposal cylinder 333. In the present embodiment, a part (the protrusion 333c) of the disposal cylinder 333 protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the temperature-controlled chamber 332, but compared with the case in which the inner diameter of the disposal cylinder 333 is uniformly increased, the restriction on the space within the automatic analysis device is less, and the amount of heat intrusion into the temperature-controlled chamber 332 through the disposal cylinder 333 is also suppressed.

[0053] <Embodiment 2>

[0054] In Embodiment 2, the operation of the reaction vessel transfer mechanism 306 when the reaction vessel 304 is disposed is different from that in Embodiment 1. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the reaction vessel 304 in the present embodiment.

[0055] As shown in Figure 9 , in the present embodiment, as in Embodiment 1, the control section 318 first controls the rotation of the motor (not shown) to horizontally move the reaction vessel transfer mechanism 306, thereby transferring the reaction vessel 304 into the vertical projection of the reaction vessel disposal port 322 (step S201). Next, the control section 318 controls the rotation of the motor 327 that constitutes the up-and-down moving mechanism to lower the container holding mechanism (step S202).

[0056] Then, the control section 318 separates the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b by energizing the solenoid 326 of the container holding mechanism (step S203). At this time, in the present embodiment, the separated first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b block the inner diameter side of the holding piece separation portion (the cutouts 333a, 333b). Specifically, the positions of the inner diameter side ends of the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b at the time of separation are made more inward than the container guide portion (the protrusion 333c). Thus, even in the case in which the reaction vessel 304 is tilted in a manner that it tilts to the left or right where the protrusion 333c is not present, the first holding piece 325a or the second holding piece 325b can guide the reaction vessel 304, and the reaction vessel 304 smoothly falls down.

[0057] In addition, in Embodiment 1, the container holding mechanism is raised while being separated, but in this embodiment, the container holding mechanism is raised after a prescribed time elapses after the container holding mechanism is separated. That is, the control section 318 drives the up-and-down moving mechanism to raise the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b after the up-and-down moving mechanism is stopped for a prescribed time after the first holding piece 325a and the second holding piece 325b are separated (step S204).

[0058] Here, the prescribed time is a time that is calculated in advance using a time during which the upper end of the reaction container 304 is lower than the lower end of the first holding piece 325a until the reaction container 304 falls after the reaction container 304 falls due to the separation of the container holding mechanism. As the timing at which the control section 318 raises the container holding mechanism, it is also possible to use a case in which the reaction container 304 passes a prescribed height is detected by a sensor that is provided separately as a trigger, instead of using the elapse of the prescribed time as a trigger.

[0059] Figure 10 is a diagram that shows the operation of the reaction container 304 in this embodiment, (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view of B-B' of (a) viewed from above, (c) is a left side view, and (d) is a plan view of B-B' of (c) viewed from above. In this embodiment, even after the container holding mechanism is separated, the first holding piece 325a temporarily guides the fall of the reaction container 304. Therefore, as shown in (a) of Figure 10 , the reaction container 304 can smoothly fall even in a case in which the reaction container 304 is tilted in a manner that it tilts to the left.

[0060] <Embodiment 3>

[0061] In Embodiment 3, the operation of the reaction container conveying mechanism 306 when the reaction container 304 is discarded is different from Embodiments 1 and 2. Figure 11 is a flowchart that shows the operation of the reaction container 304 when the reaction container 304 is discarded in this embodiment, Figure 12 is a diagram that shows the transition of the state of the reaction container conveying mechanism 306 and the reaction container 304.

[0062] As shown in Figure 11 , in this embodiment, as in Embodiments 1 and 2, the control section 318 first conveys the reaction container 304 into the vertical projection of the reaction container discard port 322 by horizontally moving the reaction container conveying mechanism 306 (step S301), and sets the state to Figure 12 . Next, the control section 318 controls the motor 327 that constitutes the up-and-down moving mechanism to lower the container holding mechanism (step S302).

[0063] Then, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12the state 2, the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b are separated from each other when the lower end of the reaction container 304 is positioned lower than the lower end of the gripping piece separation portion (notches 333a, 333b) and the lower end of the first gripping piece 325a is positioned higher than the upper end of the gripping piece separation portion (step S303). After the reaction container 304 starts to fall due to the separation of the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b, the control unit 318 continues the descent of the container gripping mechanism (step S304). Also, as Figure 12 the state 3, when the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b reach the position on the inner diameter side of the clogging gripping piece separation portion, the control unit 318 stops the rotation of the motor 327 and stops the descent of the container gripping mechanism (step S305). Next, the control unit 318 immediately after the container gripping mechanism is stopped, turns the container gripping mechanism to the ascending direction, and prepares for the transfer of the next reaction container 304 (step S306).

[0064] In the present embodiment, since the fall of the reaction container 304 is started in the descent of the container gripping mechanism, the time required for discarding the reaction container 304 can be shortened compared to Embodiments 1 and 2. Also, since the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b separated on the way of the descent fall in parallel with the fall of the reaction container 304, even if the reaction container 304 is tilted to the left or right, the first gripping piece 325a or the second gripping piece 325b suppresses further tilting of the reaction container 304. The descending speed of the container gripping mechanism is preferably above the falling speed of the reaction container 304.

[0065] The present application is not limited to the described embodiments, and various modifications are included. For example, as the gripping piece separation portion, in the described embodiments, the notches 333a, 333b are formed, but it can also be configured to have a size above the separation trajectory of the gripping pieces by expanding the portion in the radial direction. Also, in the described embodiments, the first gripping piece 325a and the second gripping piece 325b are asymmetric shapes, but the second gripping piece 325b can also be provided with a claw, forming a shape symmetric to the first gripping piece 325a. Furthermore, it can also be configured such that the number of gripping pieces is not two but three or more. Or, by installing a buffer material on the inner peripheral surface of the disposal cylinder 333, the impact force at the time of dropping the reaction container 304 into the reaction container disposal port 322 is mitigated, the tilting of the reaction container 304 due to the rebound is suppressed, and the reaction container 304 is smoothly dropped. The buffer material can also protrude upward from the temperature adjustment chamber 332 instead of the protrusion 333c of the described embodiment.

[0066] Furthermore, a part of the structure of one embodiment can be replaced with that of another embodiment, and a structure of another embodiment can be added to the structure of one embodiment. In addition, for a part of the structure of each embodiment, addition, deletion, or replacement of another structure can be made.

[0067] Label Explanation

[0068] 1 … reagent refrigeration storage, 2 … reagent tray, 3 … reagent container, 4 … cover, 5 … opening and closing cover, 6 … reagent suction hole, 100 … automatic analysis device, 301 … holder, 302 … sample container, 303 … sample dispensing nozzle, 304 … reaction container, 305 … reaction stage, 306 … reaction container transfer mechanism, 307 … sample dispensing needle • reaction container holding member, 308 … first transfer mechanism, 309 … second transfer mechanism, 314 … reagent dispensing nozzle, 315 … processing section, 316 … detection section, 317 … holder transfer line, 318 … control section, 319 … control device, 320 … sample dispensing needle waste port, 321 … sample dispensing needle mounting position, 322 … reaction container waste port, 323 … housing section, 324 … horizontal rail, 325a … first gripping piece, 325b … second gripping piece, 326 … solenoid, 327 … motor, 328 … pinion, 329 … holder section, 330 … support section, 331 … vertical rail, 332 … temperature-controlled chamber, 333 … waste cartridge, 333a … cutout, 333b … cutout, 333c … protrusion.

Claims

1. An automatic analyzing apparatus characterized by comprising: including: a housing portion that houses a used container; a hollow disposal cylinder that guides the container in a vertical direction to the housing portion; a container gripping mechanism that grips the container by bringing a plurality of gripping pieces close in a horizontal direction, and drops the container by separating the plurality of gripping pieces in the horizontal direction; and a control portion that controls the container gripping mechanism, a disposal opening of an upper end of the disposal cylinder is formed by a container guide portion that guides the container and a gripping piece separation portion that is formed with a space in which the plurality of gripping pieces are separated, has an up-and-down movement mechanism that moves the plurality of gripping pieces in a vertical direction, the control portion, after dropping the container by separating the plurality of gripping pieces when the plurality of gripping pieces are lowered by the up-and-down movement mechanism and a lower end of the container is located at a position lower than a lower end of the gripping piece separation portion and a lowermost end of the plurality of gripping pieces is located at a position higher than an upper end of the gripping piece separation portion, further lowers the plurality of gripping pieces by the up-and-down movement mechanism to block an inner diameter side of the gripping piece separation portion.

2. An automatic analyzing device characterized by comprising: including: a housing portion that houses a used container; a hollow disposal cylinder that guides the container in a vertical direction to the housing portion; a container gripping mechanism that grips the container by bringing a plurality of gripping pieces close in a horizontal direction, and drops the container by separating the plurality of gripping pieces in the horizontal direction; and a control portion that controls the container gripping mechanism, a disposal opening of an upper end of the disposal cylinder is formed by a container guide portion that guides the container and a gripping piece separation portion that is formed with a space in which the plurality of gripping pieces are separated, the control portion drops the container by separating the plurality of gripping pieces when an upper end of the container is located at a position lower than the disposal opening.

3. An automatic analyzing device characterized by comprising: including: a housing portion that houses a used container; a hollow disposal cylinder that guides the container in a vertical direction to the housing portion; a container gripping mechanism that grips the container by bringing a plurality of gripping pieces close in a horizontal direction, and drops the container by separating the plurality of gripping pieces in the horizontal direction; and a control portion that controls the container gripping mechanism, a disposal opening of an upper end of the disposal cylinder is formed by a container guide portion that guides the container and a gripping piece separation portion that is formed with a space in which the plurality of gripping pieces are separated, the gripping piece separation portion is a cutout formed at the upper end of the disposal cylinder.

4. An automatic analyzing device characterized by comprising: including: a housing portion that houses a used container; a hollow disposal cylinder that guides the container in a vertical direction to the housing portion; a container gripping mechanism that grips the container by bringing a plurality of gripping pieces close in a horizontal direction, and drops the container by separating the plurality of gripping pieces in the horizontal direction; and a control portion that controls the container gripping mechanism, a disposal opening of an upper end of the disposal cylinder is formed by a container guide portion that guides the container and a gripping piece separation portion that is formed with a space in which the plurality of gripping pieces are separated, the plurality of gripping pieces block an inner diameter side of the gripping piece separation portion and guide the container when the container is dropped.

5. The automatic analysis device according to claim 4, wherein The inner diameter side end of the plurality of gripping pieces is more on the inner diameter side than the container guide portion when the container is falling.

6. The automatic analysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an up-and-down movement mechanism that moves the plurality of gripping pieces in the vertical direction, the control portion drives the up-and-down movement mechanism to raise the plurality of gripping pieces when the lower end of the container is lower than the lowermost end of the plurality of gripping pieces after separating the plurality of gripping pieces.

7. The automatic analysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an up-and-down movement mechanism that moves the plurality of gripping pieces in the vertical direction, the control portion drives the up-and-down movement mechanism to raise the plurality of gripping pieces after stopping the up-and-down movement mechanism for a prescribed time after separating the plurality of gripping pieces.

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