Sample carrier, transport device, and transport method for sample carrier

Abstract

A specimen carrier (100), (100A), (100B), which grips a specimen container containing a specimen and is conveyed by an electromagnetic force, is provided with: a magnetic body (105); and an elastic body (104) that is interposed between the magnetic body (105) and the holder bottom (102), (102A), (102B) of the specimen carrier (100), (100A), (100B), and that supports the magnetic body (105). The magnetic body (105) can move up and down in the vertical direction by means of the elastic body (104). As a result, provided are a sample carrier, a transport device, and a method for transporting a sample carrier, which are capable of reducing vibration of a sample carrier generated when the sample carrier is stopped compared with the prior art.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a specimen carrier for transporting a specimen, a transport device, and a method for transporting a specimen carrier. Background Art

[0002] As an example of a very flexible and high-performance laboratory specimen delivery system and a corresponding operation method, Patent Document 1 describes a system including: a specimen carrier, which is several specimen carriers, each specimen carrier having at least one magnetically active device, preferably having at least one permanent magnet, suitable for transporting a specimen container; a transport plane, which is suitable for transporting the specimen carrier; and electromagnetic actuators, which are several electromagnetic actuators stationary disposed below the transport plane, suitable for moving the specimen carrier on the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the specimen carrier.

[0003] As an example of a specimen carrier and a specimen transport device that can reduce the frictional force generated between the specimen carrier and the transport plane during the transport of the specimen carrier compared to the prior art, Patent Document 2 describes that in the transport device, the specimen carrier has a magnetic body, a holding portion for supporting the specimen container, and a rotating body disposed in contact with the transport surface for transporting the specimen carrier and rotating as the specimen carrier moves, and is transported by an electromagnetic force acting on the magnetic body.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-77971

[0007] Patent Document 2: International Publication No. 2022 / 079976 Summary of the Invention

[0008] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] Due to the advancement of medicine, the importance of specimen analysis has increased. Therefore, in order to improve the analysis processing ability, high-speed transport, mass simultaneous transport, and transport in multiple directions of specimens are desired.

[0010] As part of such technologies, there are the technologies described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above.

[0011] However, in Patent Document 1, the permanent magnet held by the specimen carrier is attracted by the iron core of the electromagnetic actuator, so there is a problem that the vibration when the specimen carrier stops becomes large, and improvement is desired.

[0012] Similarly, in the transport device of Patent Document 2, a rotating body is provided at the bottom of the specimen carrier, so the vibration when stopping becomes more significant, and improvement is desired.

[0013] Therefore, the present invention provides a specimen carrier, a conveying device, and a method for conveying a specimen carrier, which can reduce the vibration of the specimen carrier generated when the specimen carrier stops, as compared with the prior art.

[0014] Solution to the problem

[0015] The present invention includes a plurality of solutions to the above problems. If one example is cited, it is a specimen carrier that holds a specimen container containing a specimen and is conveyed by electromagnetic force, and includes: a magnetic body; and an elastic body that is interposed between the magnetic body and the housing of the specimen carrier and supports the magnetic body, and the magnetic body can move vertically in the up-and-down direction through the elastic body.

[0016] Effect of the invention

[0017] According to the present invention, the vibration of the specimen carrier generated when the specimen carrier stops can be reduced as compared with the prior art. Other problems, structures, and effects will be clarified by the description of the following embodiments. Description of the drawings

[0018] Figure 1 It is a top view showing the overall structure of a specimen analysis system including the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0019] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0020] Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0021] Figure 4 It is a structural diagram of the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0022] Figure 5 It is another structural diagram of the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6 It is still another structural diagram of the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0024] Figure 7 It is a diagram showing an example of a current application mode in the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0025] Figure 8 It is a diagram showing the verification result of the conveying device according to the embodiment. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] Use Figures 1 to 8 Embodiments of the specimen carrier, the conveying device, and the method for conveying a specimen carrier of the present invention will be described.

[0027] It should be noted that in the following embodiments, the constituent elements (including element steps, etc.) are not necessarily essential except in the case of special explicit indication and the case where it is clearly considered essential in principle.

[0028] In addition, in all the drawings used to illustrate the embodiments, the same reference numerals are, in principle, assigned to the same components, and the repeated description thereof is substantially omitted.

[0029] First, use Figure 1 to illustrate the overall structure of the specimen inspection automation system. Figure 1 is a top view showing the overall structure of the specimen analysis system including the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0030] Figure 1 The specimen inspection automation system 1000 shown in the present embodiment is a system including an analysis device for automatically analyzing the components of specimens such as blood and urine.

[0031] The main constituent elements of the specimen inspection automation system 1000 are a plurality of conveying devices 700 ( Figure 2 in Figure 2 ) that convey a specimen carrier 100 carrying a specimen container 150 containing a specimen (refer to Figure 1 ) or an empty specimen carrier 100 without a specimen container 150 to a predetermined destination, a plurality of analysis devices 800 ( Figure 1 in

[0032] ) that are 4 in number, and a control computer 900 that comprehensively manages the specimen inspection automation system 1000.

[0033] Each conveying device 700 slides on the conveying path through the interaction between a magnetic pole 707 (refer to Figure 2 ) and a magnetic body 105 (refer to Figure 2 ) provided on the specimen carrier 100, so as to convey the specimen container 150 containing the specimen carried on the specimen carrier 100 to a destination (analysis device 800, take-out port, etc.). The detailed situation will be described in detail with the Figure 2 subsequent drawings.

[0034] The control computer 900 controls the overall operation of the system including the conveying device 700 and the analysis device 800, and is composed of a computer having a display device such as a liquid crystal display, an input device, a storage device, a CPU, a memory, etc. The control of the operation of each device by the control computer 900 is executed based on various programs recorded in the storage device.

[0035] In addition, the control processing of the operations executed by the control computer 900 can be aggregated into one program, can be divided into multiple programs separately, or can be a combination of them. In addition, part or all of the program can be implemented by dedicated hardware and can also be modularized.

[0036] In addition, in the above Figure 1 the case where four analysis devices 800 are provided is described, but the number of analysis devices is not particularly limited and can be set to one or more. Similarly, the number of conveying devices 700 is not particularly limited and can be set to one or more.

[0037] In addition, in the specimen inspection automation system 1000, various specimen pre-treatment / post-treatment units for performing pre-treatment and post-treatment on specimens can be provided. The detailed structure of the specimen pre-treatment / post-treatment unit is not particularly limited, and the structure of a known pre-treatment device can be adopted.

[0038] Next, Figures 2 to 8 the structure of the conveying device 700 of this embodiment will be described. Figures 2 to 6 is a structural diagram of the conveying device according to the embodiment, Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a current application mode in the conveying device of the embodiment, Figure 8 is a diagram showing the verification result of the conveying device according to the embodiment.

[0039] As Figure 2 shown, the specimen to be inspected in the specimen inspection automation system 1000 is processed in a state where it is collected and stored in the specimen container 150. The specimen container 150 is manually operated by an operator or inserted into the specimen carrier 100 by an automatic insertion unit, conveyed within the system, and various processes such as pre-treatment and analysis are performed.

[0040] As shown in this Figure 2 one or more specimen carriers 100 that hold the specimen container 150 containing the specimen and are conveyed by electromagnetic force are provided in the conveying device 700, and each has a magnetic body 105, a holding portion 101 that supports the specimen container 150, a bottom internal space 103 provided inside the bottom of the bracket 102, an elastic body 104, a magnetic body support member 106, and a rotating body 107.

[0041] As Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the magnetic body 105 is supported in the bottom internal space 103 of the support bottom 102 of each of the plurality of specimen carriers 100 via four elastic bodies 104 and a cross-shaped magnetic body support member 106 so as to be movable in the vertical up-and-down direction. The specimen carrier 100 is conveyed by the electromagnetic force acting on the magnetic body 105.

[0042] The magnetic body 105 is made of, for example, a permanent magnet such as neodymium or ferrite, but can also be made of other magnets or magnetic bodies, and they can be appropriately combined.

[0043] As Figure 2 shown, during stable conveyance, non-conveyance, and conveyance start (acceleration), the magnetic body 105 is supported so as not to contact the conveyance surface 201 of the specimen carrier 100 being conveyed. In order to further shorten the convergence time of the vibration when the specimen carrier 100 stops, and in order to extremely increase the friction, it is effective to reduce the distance between the magnetic body 105 and the conveyance surface 201, and it is more preferable to make them contact. On the other hand, wear caused by contact becomes a problem, and a conveyance force more than necessary is required. Therefore, it is effective to prevent the magnetic body 105 from contacting the conveyance surface 201 except during stopping.

[0044] However, when studying the shape change of the magnetic body 105, the magnetic body 105 preferably uses a magnetic body that can be mass-produced at low cost, and it is not easy to change the shape. Therefore, as described above, during stable conveyance, non-conveyance, and acceleration, it is preferable to support the magnetic body 105 so as not to contact the conveyance surface 201 of the specimen carrier 100 being conveyed.

[0045] On the other hand, as Figure 4 shown, when magnetic force is applied by the electromagnetic force from the magnetic pole 707 near the stop target position, the magnetic body 105 can move in the vertical up-and-down direction through the elastic body 104. Therefore, it is preferable to lower and appropriately contact the conveyance surface 201 of the specimen carrier 100 being conveyed.

[0046] The elastic body 104 is interposed between the magnetic body 105 and the support bottom 102 of the specimen carrier 100 as described above, and supports the magnetic body 105 so as to be movable in the vertical up-and-down direction.

[0047] The elastic body 104 only needs to be able to contract by the force of the magnetic body 105 being attracted to the magnetic pole 707, and the number can be one or more. In Figure 3 an example of four is shown, but it is not limited thereto. However, in order to reduce the possibility that even a part of the magnetic body 105 contacts the conveyance surface 201 at timings other than stopping, it is preferable to support the magnetic body 105 parallel to the conveyance surface 201. Therefore, at least three or more are preferable.

[0048] The elastomer 104 is preferably any one of a helical spring and a leaf spring, but is not particularly limited.

[0049] In addition, the elastomer 104 is preferably a non-magnetic body. Examples of non-magnetic bodies include predetermined SUS and the like. In the case of metals such as SUS, the rigidity is high, so the advantages of high durability and the ability to extend the life of the specimen carrier 100 can be obtained.

[0050] Since the magnetic body 105 is mostly arranged around the central axis of the specimen carrier 100, the elastomer 104 is arranged on its outer periphery. Due to reasons such as space and cost, the number of elastomers 104 arranged is limited, and there is a pity that anisotropy is generated. Here, in this embodiment, the magnetic body 105 approaches the conveying surface by exciting the stop coil. However, at this time, when the elastomer 104 is a magnetic body, the elastomer 104 may also be attracted by the magnetic pole 707, leaving room for further stabilization of the stop of the specimen carrier 100. In contrast, by making the elastomer 104 a non-magnetic body, it is possible to stop more stably.

[0051] As Figure 3 shown, a plurality of rotating bodies 107 are arranged on the bottom surface 108 of the specimen carrier 100 in contact with the conveying surface 201 for conveying the specimen carrier 100, and rotate as the specimen carrier 100 moves.

[0052] The rotating body 107 is made of a non-magnetic body. In addition, the rotating body 107 is configured to be able to rotate in multiple directions, and is constituted by, for example, any one of a ball roller, an omnidirectional wheel, or a caster.

[0053] The number of the rotating bodies 107 is one or more as long as it does not prevent the specimen carrier 100 from standing on its own. However, keeping the central axis of the specimen container 150 perpendicular to the conveying surface 201 is related to further stable conveying. Therefore, when only the rotating body 107 is in contact with the conveying surface 201, it is desirable that the number of the rotating bodies 107 is three or more.

[0054] Regarding the case of arranging a plurality of rotating bodies 107, their respective specifications are not particularly limited. However, in order to keep the central axis of the specimen container 150 perpendicular to the conveying surface 201 and achieve more stable conveying, as Figure 2 shown, it is preferable that the lower end portions of the rotating bodies 107 in contact with the conveying surface 201 have the same specifications in a manner that keeps the central axis of the specimen container 150 perpendicular to the conveying surface 201, or it is preferable to determine dimensions and other specifications in a manner that the imaginary plane formed by the contact points with the conveying surface 201 is perpendicular to the central axis of the specimen container 150.

[0055] In addition, in the specimen carrier 100, the rotating body 107 is not essential, and it is possible to adopt a method in which the bottom surface 108 is in direct contact with the conveying surface 201 for conveying. However, in the present invention, the stop control can be made more accurate than in the past. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a rotating body 107 having great advantages other than during stopping on the bottom surface.

[0056] Next, Figure 5 and Figure 6 will be used to describe other methods of the specimen carrier.

[0057] Figure 5 In the specimen carrier 100A shown, there is no magnetic body support member 106, and the magnetic body 105 is suspended by the elastic body 104 from the top surface of the bottom inner space 103A at the bottom of the support base 102A.

[0058] Figure 6 Similarly, in the specimen carrier 100B shown Figure 5 there is no magnetic body support member 106, and the magnetic body 105 is held by the elastic body 104 on the side surface of the bottom inner space 103B of the support base 102B.

[0059] In these Figure 5 and Figure 6 when an electromagnetic force from the magnetic pole 707 is applied to impart a magnetic force when approaching the stop target position, the magnetic body 105 can move vertically in the vertical direction through the elastic body 104. Therefore, it is preferable to move downward and appropriately contact the conveying surface 201 for conveying the specimen carrier 100.

[0060] Return Figure 2 , the specimen carrier 100 having the magnetic body 105 moves in a manner of sliding on the conveying surface 201. To generate this conveying force, a plurality of magnetic poles 707 each composed of a cylindrical iron core 705 and a coil 706 wound around the outer periphery of the iron core 705 are provided below the conveying surface 201. Each of these magnetic poles 707 constitutes one of a plurality of detection points for detecting the position of the magnetic body 105. In addition, these magnetic poles 707 and the conveying surface 201 constitute a conveying path for conveying the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B by imparting a magnetic force to the magnetic body 105.

[0061] The conveying surface 201 is composed of a flat surface with low friction, and the specimen carrier 100 slides on its upper surface.

[0062] In the conveying device 700 of the present embodiment, the plurality of magnetic poles 707 provided inside thereof are responsible for detecting the position of the magnetic body 105 and for conveying the magnetic body 105, that is, conveying the specimen.

[0063] A drive unit 708 is connected to the magnetic pole 707. By applying a predetermined voltage to the magnetic pole 707, a predetermined current flows through the coil 706. The magnetic pole 707 to which the voltage is applied by the drive unit 708 acts as an electromagnet and attracts the magnetic body 105 of the specimen carrier 100 located on the conveying surface 201. After attracting the specimen carrier 100 by the magnetic pole 707, the voltage application from the drive unit 708 to the magnetic pole 707 is stopped, and the voltage is applied from the drive unit 708 to a different magnetic pole 707 adjacent to the magnetic pole 707 in the same manner as above, thereby attracting the magnetic body 105 of the specimen carrier 100 to the adjacent magnetic pole 707.

[0064] By repeating this step in all the magnetic poles 707 constituting the conveying path, the specimen accommodated in the specimen container 150 mounted on the specimen carrier 100 provided with the magnetic body 105 is conveyed to the destination.

[0065] The arithmetic unit 709 uses various information such as the position information, speed information, and weight information of the specimen carrier 100, calculates the current flowing through each coil 706, and outputs a command signal to each drive unit 708. Based on this command signal, the drive unit 708 applies a voltage to the corresponding coil 706.

[0066] In the arithmetic unit 709 of the present embodiment, particularly as Figure 7 shown, a larger magnetic force is generated during the stop control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B compared to the acceleration control and stable conveyance control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B.

[0067] As Figure 7 shown, conventionally, in order to move from the stopped state, the maximum current is applied to the coil 706 during the acceleration control. In contrast, in the present embodiment, in order to stop smoothly, it is preferable to apply the maximum current to the coil 706 during the stop control.

[0068] In addition, as Figure 7 shown, the arithmetic unit 709 preferably generates a magnetic force that deforms the elastic body 104 (exceeding the threshold at which the elastic body 104 supporting the magnetic body 105 starts to contract) during the stop control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B so that the magnetic body 105 contacts the conveying path.

[0069] In contrast, the arithmetic unit 709 preferably generates a magnetic force that does not deform the elastic body 104 (the elastic body 104 supporting the magnetic body 105 does not contract and is below the threshold) during the acceleration control and stable conveyance control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B.

[0070] In Figure 8The verification results are shown. There is an elastic body 104 between the magnetic body 105 and the support bottoms 102, 102A, 102B of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, 100B, which supports the magnetic body 105. The magnetic body 105 can move up and down in the vertical direction through the elastic body 104. Thus, compared with the prior art, the stop time of the vibration when the specimen carriers 100, 100A, 100B stop can be shortened to about 1 / 3. Therefore, it can be quickly transferred through the subsequent conveying action, and the liquid sloshing of the specimen in the specimen container 150 can be greatly reduced compared with the prior art.

[0071] Return Figure 2 , the detection unit 710 only needs to be able to detect the position of the specimen container 150, and its structure is not particularly limited. For example, as a Hall sensor, a length measuring device, etc. that detect the magnetic flux of the magnetic body 105 of the specimen container 150, it can be configured to directly measure the position of the specimen container 150. Furthermore, by detecting the current flowing through the coil 706 of the magnetic pole 707 and its flowing mode to obtain the position of the magnetic body 105, the position of the specimen container 150 can be indirectly obtained.

[0072] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0073] The specimen carriers 100, 100A, 100B that hold and accommodate the specimen of this embodiment described above and are conveyed by electromagnetic force include a magnetic body 105 and an elastic body 104 between the magnetic body 105 and the support bottoms 102, 102A, 102B of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, 100B, which supports the magnetic body 105. The magnetic body 105 can move up and down in the vertical direction through the elastic body 104.

[0074] In this way, the magnetic body 105 is vertically lowered relative to the conveying surface through the elastic body 104. Therefore, the relative distance between the magnetic body 105 and the magnetic pole 707 can be made closer, and the magnetic force affecting the magnetic body 105 can be enhanced. Therefore, the force to stop it can be enhanced, preferably the friction between the specimen carriers 100, 100A, 100B and the conveying surface 201 can be increased. Therefore, compared with the prior art, it can stop more smoothly and the vibration during stopping can be reduced. Therefore, due to the reduction of the vibration during stopping, the convergence time, that is, the time when the next action of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, 100B can start, can be shortened. Thus, the distance that the specimen carriers 100, 100A, 100B can convey per unit time can be increased. Although it also depends on the descending distance of the magnetic body 105, the material and surface shape of the magnetic body 105, and the material and surface shape of the conveying surface 201, by lowering the magnetic body 105, the convergence time can be about one-half of that without processing.

[0075] In addition, the elastic body 104 is either a coil spring or a leaf spring, so it can be simply supplied, and thus the production of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B becomes easy.

[0076] Furthermore, the elastic body 104 is a non-magnetic body, whereby it can stop more stably.

[0077] In addition, the elastic body 104 supports the magnetic body 105 in such a manner as not to contact the conveying surface 201 of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B being conveyed, whereby wear caused by the contact between the magnetic body 105 and the conveying surface 201 can be prevented, and the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B can be used for a long time.

[0078] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the stopping of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B can be made more precise than in the case of lightning strikes. Therefore, a rotating body 107 is also provided which is arranged in contact with the conveying surface 201 during conveyance and rotates as the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B move. Thus, it is more suitable for the case where the rotating body 107 is provided to facilitate conveyance during acceleration control and stable conveyance. That is, by providing the rotating body 107, the applied current value during acceleration control and stable conveyance can be reduced compared to the case where it is not provided, and thus power saving etc. can be achieved.

[0079] In addition, a larger magnetic force is generated during the stop control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B than during the acceleration control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B, or a larger magnetic force is generated during the stop control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B than during the stable conveyance control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B. Thereby, the magnetic body 105 can be lowered at a timing when there is a requirement to bring the magnetic body 105 close to the conveying surface 201, and the lowering of the magnetic body 105 can be suppressed at a timing when there is no such requirement. The contact opportunity between the magnetic body 105 and the conveying surface 201 can be minimized, and wear can be further suppressed.

[0080] Furthermore, the conveying path generates a magnetic force of such a magnitude as to deform the elastic body 104 during the stop control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B so that the magnetic body 105 contacts the conveying path. Thereby, the magnetic body 105 can be lowered only at the minimum necessary timing, stop control can be reliably performed, and the contact opportunity between the magnetic body 105 and the conveying surface 201 can be minimized, and wear can be further suppressed.

[0081] In addition, by generating a magnetic force that does not deform the elastic body 104 during the acceleration control and the stable conveyance control of the specimen carriers 100, 100A, and 100B, it is also possible to lower the magnetic body 105 only at the necessary minimum timing, minimize the contact opportunities between the magnetic body 105 and the conveyance surface 201, and further suppress wear.

[0082] <Other>

[0083] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified and applied. The above-described embodiments are examples described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to having all the structures described.

[0084] Reference Signs

[0085] 100, 100A, 100B - specimen carriers, 101 - gripping portion, 102, 102A, 102B - support base (housing), 103, 103A, 103B - internal space of the base, 104 - elastic body, 105 - magnetic body, 106 - magnetic body support member, 107 - rotating body, 108 - bottom surface, 150 - specimen container, 201 - conveyance surface, 700 - conveyance device, 705 - iron core, 706 - coil, 707 - magnetic pole, 708 - drive unit, 709 - arithmetic unit, 710 - detection unit, 800 - analysis device, 900 - control computer, 1000 - automated specimen inspection system.

Claims

1. A specimen carrier that holds and houses a specimen container containing a specimen and is conveyed by electromagnetic force, wherein the specimen carrier is characterized by comprising: a magnetic body; and an elastic body that is interposed between the magnetic body and the housing of the specimen carrier and supports the magnetic body, wherein the magnetic body can move vertically in the up-and-down direction through the elastic body.

2. The specimen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is either a helical spring or a leaf spring.

3. The specimen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is a non-magnetic body.

4. The specimen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body supports the magnetic body in such a manner as not to contact the conveying surface for conveying the specimen carrier.

5. The specimen carrier according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises a rotating body that is disposed in contact with the conveying surface for conveying the specimen carrier and rotates as the specimen carrier moves.

6. A conveying device, characterized in that, comprising: a specimen carrier that comprises a magnetic body; and a conveying path that conveys the specimen carrier by applying a magnetic force to the magnetic body, wherein the specimen carrier has an elastic body that is interposed between the magnetic body and the housing of the specimen carrier and supports the magnetic body in such a manner as to be able to move vertically in the up-and-down direction.

7. The conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the conveying path generates a greater magnetic force during the stop control of the specimen carrier than during the acceleration control of the specimen carrier.

8. The conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the conveying path generates a greater magnetic force during the stop control of the specimen carrier than during the stable conveying control of the specimen carrier.

9. The conveying device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the conveying path generates a magnetic force of a magnitude that deforms the elastic body during the stop control of the specimen carrier so that the magnetic body contacts the conveying path.

10. The conveying device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the conveying path generates a magnetic force of a magnitude that does not deform the elastic body during the acceleration control of the specimen carrier and during the stable conveying control.

11. A conveying method, which is a conveying method for a specimen carrier having a magnetic body, wherein the conveying method is characterized in that the magnetic body of the specimen carrier is supported by an elastic body in such a manner as to be able to move vertically in the up-and-down direction, and the specimen carrier is conveyed by applying a magnetic force to the magnetic body.

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