Support structure for plate material and test body processing device with the same

Abstract

To provide a support structure for a plate material that enables a support nut to be turned with a tool through a through hole to adjust a height of an optical apparatus without making the through hole large even in a state that the through hole bored in the plate material is eccentric with a column so that neither arrangement of the apparatus on the plate material nor an adjustment margin is limited and installation in a limited space in a device is enabled.SOLUTION: A support structure for a plate material comprises: a pedestal; at least one column which is fixed to the pedestal; a plate material which has at least one through hole which has a larger diameter than the column and through which the column passes; and at least one support nut which supports the plate material on the column. The support nut has a plurality of independent recessed parts which are recessed in a direction perpendicular to the plate material, in a region between an outer peripheral surface of the column and an inner peripheral surface of the through hole, when viewed from an axial direction, on a seat face opposed to the plate material, and the plurality of independent recessed parts are distributed in a circumferential direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a support structure for a plate material and a specimen processing apparatus including the same, and for example, to one in which an optical device is fixed.

Background Art

[0002] In biochemical tests and immunological tests, in order to reduce the consumption of consumables and reagents by omitting unnecessary tests, the suitability of the containers used and the quality and quantity of the specimens are determined before analysis. In order to automatically perform this determination using an image processing system in a short time, it is required to illuminate the specimen container with uniform brightness and acquire images of the specimen and the specimen container with sufficient spatial resolution and contrast with little pretreatment. Therefore, optical devices such as cameras and light sources for acquiring images are installed in the apparatus at determined positions and angles.

[0003] However, the inside of the apparatus is generally complicated and there are restrictions on the installation space. At that time, it is desirable that the work of adjusting and fixing the position of the optical device can be easily performed from one direction. Examples of support structures that facilitate this work are described in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a floor plate support device that adjusts the height of a placement panel from a pedestal substrate by fitting a driver into a concave groove formed on the tip surface of a support column and rotating the support column. This floor plate support device includes a support column with a bolt portion standing on a pedestal substrate installed on a floor base, and a support plate that has a receiving seat screwed onto the bolt portion and supports the placement panel. The receiving seat is formed with a nut portion having a thread cut at the lower end, a receiving collar portion that supports the support plate at the center, and a cylindrical portion that is inserted into a through hole of the support plate at the upper end, and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion is open upward. Since a gap is formed between the cylindrical portion and the bolt portion when the nut portion of the receiving seat is fitted onto the bolt portion of the support column, it is said that the movement of the driver for rotating the support column is not hindered.

[0005] Patent Document 2 describes a fixture installation level adjustment jig for adjusting the height of a base by inserting a rotation assist tool from above while placing the base of the device on the jig body and rotating the jig body. This fixture installation level adjustment jig is composed of an anchor bolt erected on the foundation and a jig body that supports the base and has a female screw hole that engages with the anchor bolt. The jig body has a female screw hole in its axis, a flange portion serving as a seating surface, and a convex portion protruding upward from the flange portion. A groove for connecting with the claws of the rotation assist tool is formed on the upper end surface of the convex portion. The convex portion of the jig body screwed onto the anchor bolt is inserted into a hole opened in the base, and the bottom surface of the base is supported by the flange portion. In this state, it is said that the height of the base can be adjusted by passing a hollow rotation assist tool through the anchor bolt, connecting the claws of the rotation assist tool to the groove of the jig body, and rotating the rotation assist tool.

[0006] Patent Document 3 describes a support device for a floor panel that adjusts the height of the floor panel by inserting a rotation tool from above while placing the floor panel and rotating the female screw body. This support device is composed of a support leg with a male screw body erected on the foundation floor surface and a support plate that supports the floor panel and has a female screw body that engages with the male screw body. The inner surface of the upper part of the female screw body is a tool fitting hole that opens upward, and an engagement structure for engaging with the rotation tool is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tool fitting hole. Therefore, in a state where the female screw body is fitted onto the male screw body, a space is formed between the upper part of the female screw body and the male screw body, and the rotation tool can be inserted into that space to rotate the female screw body, so it is said that the tool and the tool fitting hole can be made smaller.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] In Patent Document 1, the support column is not tightened to the pedestal substrate, and it is not possible to turn the nut for tightening the support column to the pedestal substrate through the floor panel. Therefore, when installing equipment on the floor panel itself or on the panel, the position of the equipment may shift.

[0009] In Patent Document 2, in order to insert the convex portion between the hole opened in the base and the anchor bolt, the gap between the hole and the anchor bolt is narrowed by the thickness of the convex portion. As a result, when supporting a plate material on which equipment that requires position adjustment in the front-back, left-right, and up-down directions is mounted with a jig body instead of a base that only adjusts the height, there is a possibility that sufficient adjustment margin in the front-back and left-right directions cannot be ensured. Further, when supporting one plate material with a plurality of anchor bolts, it becomes difficult to align the positions of all the anchor bolts and the holes, so there may be a support position where the convex portion cannot be inserted between the hole and the anchor bolt.

[0010] Conversely, in order to ensure a sufficient adjustment margin and positional tolerance, it is necessary to open a large hole in the base, and accordingly, the diameter of the nut for tightening the anchor bolt from above the base and the plate material has to be increased. Therefore, the arrangement and adjustment margin of the equipment on the base and the plate material may be restricted, or the base and the plate material may become larger and unable to be installed in the device.

[0011] In Patent Document 3, a rotary tool is engaged with the outer peripheral surface of a tool fitting hole. Also, the locus of the tool tip when the female screw body is rotated is a circle. Therefore, when supporting a plate material equipped with a device that requires position adjustment in the front-back, left-right, and up-down directions with a female screw body instead of a floor panel that only adjusts height, or when supporting one floor panel or plate material with a plurality of male screw bodies, if the floor panel or plate material is placed on the female screw body with the through hole formed in the plate material being eccentric with respect to the male screw body, a part of the tool fitting hole will be hidden by the floor panel or plate material, and the tool may not be inserted into the tool fitting hole or may not be rotated, resulting in the possibility that the height of the floor panel or plate cannot be adjusted.

[0012] If the diameter of the through hole is increased, even if the floor panel or plate material is placed on the female screw body with the through hole and the male screw body being eccentric, the tool fitting hole will not be hidden by the floor panel or plate material. However, in this case, the diameters of the panel retainer and nut used to fix the floor panel or plate material also have to be increased. Therefore, there was a possibility that the arrangement and adjustment cost of the device on the plate material would be restricted, or that the plate material would become larger and unable to be installed in the device.

[0013] The present invention is a support structure that supports a plate material on which an optical device is placed with a support nut fitted onto a support column. The purpose is to provide a support structure for a plate material that allows the support nut to be rotated through a through hole with a tool even when the through hole formed in the plate material is eccentric with respect to the support column, without increasing the size of the through hole, so as not to restrict the arrangement and adjustment cost of the device on the plate material and to enable installation in the limited space within the device, and to allow adjustment of the height of the optical device.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0014] An example of the support structure for a plate material according to the present invention is a pedestal, at least one support column fixed to the pedestal, a plate material having at least one through hole with a diameter larger than that of the support column and passing through the support column, At least one support nut for supporting the plate material on the pillar, and comprising, The support nut forms a plurality of independent recesses recessed in a direction perpendicular to the plate material in a region between the outer peripheral surface of the pillar and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole as viewed from the axial direction on the seating surface facing the plate material. The plurality of independent recesses are distributed in the circumferential direction.

[0015] An example of the specimen processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described support structure for the plate material.

Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, even when the through hole formed in the plate material is eccentric with respect to the pillar, the support nut that supports the plate material can be rotated through the through hole with a tool through the plate material in the direction opposite to the plate material. Therefore, it is not necessary to enlarge the through hole, and thus it is not necessary to enlarge the plate material. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a support structure for a plate material that can adjust the height of an optical device without restricting the arrangement and adjustment allowance of the optical device on the plate material, and can be installed in a limited space within the apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] [Example 1] Prior to the support structure for the plate material, first, the structure of the support nut for supporting the plate material and the shape of the tool will be described.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a top view showing the structure of a support nut 18 that supports a plate material 9 in the support structure for the plate material 9 according to Example 1, showing only the vicinity of the through-hole 90. FIG. 1(a) shows the case where the support column 16 is passed concentrically with respect to the through-hole 90. FIG. 1(b) shows the case where the support column 16 is passed most eccentrically with respect to the through-hole 90, and the through-hole 90 and the support column 16 are in contact. The broken line is a hidden line, representing the shape of the support nut hidden under the plate material 9, and the thin line 16a represents the valley of the male thread portion of the support column 16 or the valley of the female thread portion of the support nut 18.

[0021] The support structure of the pedestal according to Example 1 includes a pedestal (not shown in FIG. 1), at least one support column 16, a plate material 9, and at least one support nut 18. The support column 16 is fixed to the pedestal and can be fixed, for example, by screwing. The plate material 9 has at least one through-hole 90. The through-hole 90 has a diameter larger than that of the support column 16 (that is, the inner diameter of the through-hole 90 is larger than the outer diameter of the support column 16) and is configured to pass the support column 16. The support nut 18 supports the plate material 9 on the support column 16.

[0022] In FIG. 1, a support nut 18 is fitted onto a support column 16 fixed to a pedestal (not shown). A plate material 9 having a through hole 90 is placed on the seating surface 181 of the support nut 18. On the seating surface 181 of the support nut 18, three recesses 1811 are formed at intervals of 120 degrees (2π / 3 radians) along the circumferential direction within the distance between the support column 16 and the through hole 90.

[0023] In this way, the support nut 18 forms a plurality of independent recesses 1811 recessed in a direction perpendicular to the plate material 9 (more precisely, the surface of the plate material 9 to be supported) in the region between the outer peripheral surface of the support column 16 and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 90 as viewed from the axial direction on the seating surface 181 facing the plate material 9. In this embodiment, the recesses 1811 are distributed in the circumferential direction.

[0024] Assuming that the radius of the through hole 90 is R and the radius of the male thread portion of the support column 16 is r, when the support column 16 is passed through the through hole 90 concentrically as shown in FIG. 1(a), the gap formed between the through hole 90 and the support column 16 is R - r over the entire circumference of the support column 16. That is, the radial dimension (width) of the seating surface 181 of the support nut 18 visible from between the through hole 90 and the support column 16 is R - r and is independent of the circumferential position of the support column 16.

[0025] On the other hand, when the support column 16 is passed through the through hole 90 with the maximum eccentricity as shown in FIG. 1(b), the gap formed between the through hole 90 and the support column 16 changes depending on the circumferential position of the support column 16. At the contact point between the through hole 90 and the support column 16, there is no gap between the through hole 90 and the support column 16. As it moves clockwise from there, the gap gradually increases, and the gap becomes maximum at a position shifted 180 degrees from the contact point. Thereafter, the gap decreases and becomes zero again at the contact point.

[0026] In FIG. 1(b), the range in which a gap of a radial dimension of R - r or more that can be formed when the through hole 90 and the support column 16 are concentric is shown as the angular range in the circumferential direction of the support column 16 between the through hole 90 and the support column 16. As shown, a gap of a radial dimension of R - r or more, the same as when the through hole 90 and the support column 16 are concentric, can be formed between the through hole 90 and the support column 16 in the range of π - 2·sin -1[(R - r) / 2R] [radian] …(Equation 1) is limited to the range of. However, sin -1 is the inverse function of the sin function. This range is larger than 120 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees.

[0027] In this embodiment, three recesses 1811 are formed, and thereby, the visibility of at least one recess 1811 can be ensured from the gaps within the range of Equation 1. Further, by configuring the recesses 1811 to be distributed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. 1, the visibility of at least one recess 1811 can be ensured from the gaps within the range of Equation 1.

[0028] In this embodiment, three recesses 1811 are formed at intervals of 120 degrees in the distance between the seating surface 181 of the support nut 18 and the support column 16 and the through hole 90. Therefore, regardless of the amount of rotation of the support nut 18, at least one of the recesses 1811 can always be visually recognized from the gap between the through hole 90 and the support column 16. Thus, also in this case, by using the above-described tool 19, the tool 19 can be brought into contact with the side surface 1811s of the recess 1811 having the normal line in the circumferential direction of the support nut 18 through the plate material 9 and the through hole 90 and applying a force, and the support nut 18 can be repeatedly rotated in the same direction.

[0029] Therefore, even when the support column 16 is passed through the through hole 90 with the most eccentricity, without increasing the size of the through hole 90, and thus, without increasing the size of the plate material 9 or the fixing nut (not shown in FIG. 1. Refer to FIGS. 5 and 6 described later) that tightens from above the plate material 9 to fix the plate material 9, the height of the plate material 9 can be adjusted through the plate material 9 in the direction opposite to the support nut 18 that supports the plate material 9.

[0030] Here, the recess 1811 may penetrate the thread portion of the support nut 18. That is, the radially inner end of the recess 1811 may reach the inner circumferential surface of the support nut 18. In this case, even if the support column 16 is eccentric with respect to the through hole 90, at least a part of the recess 1811 can be more easily visually recognized through the plate material 9.

[0031] Further, the concave portion 1811 (more precisely, its radially outer end) may be configured not to reach the outer peripheral surface of the support nut 18. In this case, since the contact area between the seating surface 181 of the support nut 18 and the plate material 9 becomes wider particularly in the radially outer region, the surface pressure applied to the plate material 9 decreases, and the effect of preventing loosening is improved.

[0032] When the concave portion 1811 is not made to penetrate the internal thread portion of the nut, internal threads are cut over the entire height and circumference of the support nut 18, so that an improvement in tightening force or the realization of a thin support structure using a thinner support nut 18 can be achieved.

[0033] Also, the number of the concave portions 1811 is three in this embodiment, but it may be four or more. As the number of the concave portions 1811 increases, it becomes easier to ensure the visibility of the concave portions 1811 from the gap between the through hole 90 and the support column 16 with respect to the tolerance of the through hole 90.

[0034] As described above, it is possible to provide a support structure for the plate material 9 that can install the plate material 9 in the limited space within the apparatus and adjust the position of the device together with the plate material 9, without restricting the arrangement and adjustment margin of the device on the plate material 9.

[0035] Note that the outer peripheral surface of the support nut 18 is not used to turn the support nut 18. Therefore, the outer shape of the support nut 18 does not need to be hexagonal, and for example, a round nut may be used. Alternatively, a grooved nut may be used for the support nut 18, and the grooved surface may be opposed to the plate material 9 and used as a seating surface, and the cost can be reduced by using off-the-shelf products.

[0036] The support structure for the plate may further include a tool 19 for turning the support nut 18. By using a tool 19 with an appropriate shape, through the plate 9, the protrusion 191 of the tool 19 is passed through the through-hole 90 (see Fig. 1(b)), and the protrusion 191 of the tool 19 is brought into contact with the side surface 1811s (see Fig. 1(b)) of the recess 1811 having the circumferential normal of the support nut 18, and a force is applied in the circumferential direction, so that the support nut 18 can be continuously turned in the same direction. That is, each recess 1811 has an inner surface having the circumferential normal of the support nut 18, and the tool 19 is configured to apply a circumferential force to the support nut 18 by having one protrusion 191 that contacts the inner surface of any one of the recesses 1811.

[0037] As an example of an appropriate shape of the tool 19, the shape of the protrusion 191 (or the shape when the tip portion is viewed from the longitudinal direction) is a rectangle such that the length of one side is R - r or less and the length of the other side is the circumferential dimension of the recess 1811 or less, or a circle having a diameter of the circumferential dimension of the recess 1811 or less. Thus, the support nut 18 that supports the plate 9 can be turned through the through-hole with the protrusion 191 of the tool 19 through the plate 9 in the opposite direction to the plate 9 with respect to the plate 9, and the height of the plate 9 can be adjusted.

[0038] Note that Fig. 1(b) schematically shows the correspondence between the protrusion 191 of the tool 19 and the recess 1811, and shows the cross-section of the protrusion 191 of the tool 19, but does not accurately show the exact position, orientation, shape of the tool 19, the contact situation between the tool 19 and the recess 1811, etc.

[0039] Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the shape of the tool 19 for turning the support nut 18 in the support structure of the plate 9 according to the first embodiment, and shows only the vicinity of the through-hole 90. The tool 19 has one elongated protrusion 191 in the region between the outer peripheral surface of the support column 16 and the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 90 when viewed from the longitudinal direction.

[0040] The tool 19 can have a cylindrical shape having a hole with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the support column 16 at the center when viewed from the axial direction. In this way, the tool 19 does not interfere with the support column 16, and the operation becomes easy.

[0041] The protrusion 191 of the tool 19 can be arranged in the region between the outer peripheral surface of the support column 16 and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 90 when viewed from the axial direction. By doing so, the protrusion 191 can be surely arranged in the recess 1811.

[0042] In this way, when the protrusion 191 of the tool 19 is brought into contact with the side surface 1811s (see Fig. 1(b)) of the recess 1811 of the support nut 18, the central axis of the tool 19 is configured to coincide with the central axis of the support nut 18. With this configuration, when turning the tool 19 by grasping its outer shape, the protrusion 191 of the tool 19 and the recess 1811 of the support nut 18 move on the same circumference, making it easier to turn the support nut 18.

[0043] Furthermore, the tool 19 may be formed in a cylindrical shape and configured such that the support column 16 contacts the inner wall of the tool 19. In this case, since the outer shape of the support column 16 serves as the rotation axis of the tool 19, the support nut 18 can be turned more smoothly with the tool 19.

[0044] [Embodiment 2] Fig. 3 is a top view showing the structure of the support nut 18 that supports the plate material 9 in the support structure of the plate material 9 according to Embodiment 2, with the vicinity of the through hole 90 shown. The support nut 18 according to this embodiment has a collar 1812 with a width W wider than the two-sided width w of the support nut 18 on the seating surface 181.

[0045] In the example of Fig. 3, the collar 1812 is circular, and its diameter corresponds to the width W. As a result, the contact area between the seating surface 181 of the support nut 18 and the plate material 9 becomes wider, so the surface pressure applied to the plate material 9 decreases and the effect of preventing loosening is improved. When using a round nut as the support nut 18, the flange side of the round flange nut can be opposed to the plate material 9 and used as the seating surface 181.

[0046] More desirably, the recesses 1811 may be distributed while being biased toward the inner circumferential side of the seating surface of the support nut 18. That is, the recesses 1811 (more precisely, the radially outer ends thereof) may be configured not to reach the outer peripheral surface of the support nut 18. In the example of FIG. 3, the recesses 1811 are provided only within a predetermined radial range from the axis of the support nut 18, and there are no recesses 1811 outside the predetermined radial range. As a result, the contact area between the seating surface of the support nut 18 and the plate material 9 becomes wider, so that the surface pressure applied to the plate material 9 is further reduced and the effect of preventing loosening is further improved.

[0047] [Example 3] In Example 3, an automatic analysis apparatus provided with the plate material support structure according to Example 1 or 2 and using this to install optical devices such as a camera and a light source will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Note that the automatic analysis apparatus is an apparatus that automatically analyzes a specimen and is an example of a specimen processing apparatus. Further, the specimen container imaging apparatus is applicable not only to the automatic analysis apparatus but also to other specimen processing apparatuses (for example, a pretreatment apparatus that performs pretreatment of a specimen such as centrifugation or subdivision).

[0048] Hereinafter, an example of the configuration of the automatic analysis apparatus will be described. However, for parts other than the plate material support structure, those skilled in the art can design them as appropriate, and for example, it is also possible to use a known automatic analysis apparatus provided with a known pedestal.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a top view showing an outline of the configuration of the automatic analysis apparatus according to Example 3. The automatic analysis apparatus 1 includes a specimen supply unit 12 having a specimen rack 2 with a loading port 123 and an unloading port 124, an analysis module 13 that dispenses a fixed amount of the specimen 4 for measurement, a transport unit 14 that transports the specimen 4, and a control unit 10 that controls the automatic analysis apparatus 1.

[0050] In FIG. 4, the control unit 10 is installed inside the specimen supply unit 12, but it can be installed at any position of the automatic analysis apparatus 1. Further, the control unit 10 may be installed outside the automatic analysis apparatus 1 and control the automatic analysis apparatus 1 by communicating with the automatic analysis apparatus 1.

[0051] The specimen 4 is a liquid such as blood or urine, and is placed in the specimen container 3. The specimen container 3 is cylindrical, and a barcode label 31 for specimen identification (see FIGS. 5 and 6 described later) is attached to a part of the side surface. In the automatic analyzer 1, in order to protect the specimen 4 and improve workability, the specimen container 3 containing the specimen 4 is transported in a state of being stored in the specimen rack 2. The arrow D in FIG. 4 indicates the transport direction of the specimen rack 2.

[0052] The specimen rack 2 may be a multi-tier specimen rack capable of storing a plurality of specimen containers 3, or may be a single-tier specimen rack for storing one specimen container 3. The specimen rack 2 according to the present embodiment is, as an example, a five-tier specimen rack. Also, with respect to the front surface 212 and the back surface 213 of the specimen rack 2, the orientations of the barcode labels 31 of the specimen containers 3 are aligned so as to face the back surface 213 of the specimen rack 2.

[0053] The transport unit 14 includes a rack transport path 141 for loading and a rack transport path 142 for unloading. The rack transport path 141 transports the specimen rack 2 from the specimen supply unit 12 to the analysis module 13. The rack transport path 142 transports the specimen rack 2 from the analysis module 13 to the specimen supply unit 12.

[0054] The specimen supply unit 12 includes a loading port 123 and an unloading port 124 of the specimen rack 2, a rack transport path 121 for loading, and a rack transport path 122 for unloading.

[0055] A barcode reading position 126 and an imaging position 7 are provided on the rack transport path 121. A barcode reader 125 is installed on one side of the rack transport path 121, and on the other side, between the rack transport paths 121 and 122, a plate material 9 on which optical devices such as a camera 5, a light source 6, and a planar mirror 8 are mounted is installed.

[0056] In particular, the support structure for the plate material according to this embodiment includes a camera 5 mounted on the plate material 9 and is configured to be able to image the specimen container 3 or the specimen 4 inside it, thereby enabling appropriate analysis of the specimen container 3 or the specimen 4.

[0057] The outer dimensions of the plate material 9 are restricted by the dimensions of the gaps in the rack conveyance paths 121 and 122. The fixing of the plate material 9 is performed after adjusting the vertical, front-back, left-right positions of the optical equipment as a whole so that the focal position coincides with the imaging position 7 of the optical axis O of the camera 5 (see FIGS. 5 and 6 described later), the outer shape of the specimen container 3 is within the imaging range of the camera 5, and the shadow of the specimen rack 2 and the light source 6 do not reflect on the surface of the specimen container 3.

[0058] On the rack conveyance path 121, the back surface 213 of the specimen rack 2 faces the barcode reader 125, and the front surface 212 of the specimen rack 2 faces the camera 5. Also, the barcode reading position 126 and the imaging position 7 may be the same location.

[0059] The control unit 10 controls the specimen supply unit 12, the analysis module 13, the conveyance unit 14, the barcode reader 125, the camera 5, and the light source 6.

[0060] First, the control unit 10 pushes out the specimen racks 2 installed at the specimen rack inlets 123 of the specimen racks 2 one by one onto the rack conveyance path 121 and transfers them to the barcode reading position 126 and the imaging position 7 respectively. At the barcode reading position 126, the barcode reader 125 reads the barcode label 31 attached to the specimen container 3 from the back surface 213 side of the specimen rack 2. At the imaging position 7, while illuminating the specimen container 3 by emitting light from the light source 6, the specimen container 3 and the specimen 4 inside the specimen container 3 are imaged by the camera 5.

[0061] Next, the control unit 10 identifies the specimen 4 contained in the specimen container 3 based on the information obtained from the barcode label 31 read by the barcode reader 125, and also determines the suitability of the specimen container 3 and the suitability of the quality and quantity of the specimen 4 from the image captured by the camera 5.

[0062] The control unit 10 assigns the analysis module 13 at the destination to the specimen rack 2 according to the pre-registered item information, and transfers the specimen rack 2 on the rack conveyance path 141. Then, after the inspection is completed, the specimen rack 2 is stored in the carry-out port 124 via the rack conveyance paths 142 and 122.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an outline of the configuration of the support structure of the plate material 9 according to the present embodiment, showing only the vicinity of the imaging position 7 in the specimen supply unit 12.

[0064] The specimen supply unit 12 includes a stage of the specimen supply unit 12, that is, a pedestal 15, a support column 16 fixed to the pedestal 15, a plate material 9 having a diameter larger than that of the support column 16 and having a through-hole 90 passing through the support column 16, a support nut 18 for supporting the plate material 9 fitted on the support column 16, and a fixing nut 17 that is fitted on the opposite side of the plate material 9 with respect to the support nut 18, that is, the upper side, and tightens and fixes the plate material 9 to the support column 16. Here, if the support column 16 is configured as a hexagonal support column with male threads at both ends, a wrench can be applied to the upper part of the support column 16 to fix it to the pedestal 15, improving workability.

[0065] Optical devices such as a camera 5, a light source 6, and a flat mirror 8, whose positions and angles are adjusted with respect to each other, are mounted on the plate material 9. As described above, the outer dimensions of the plate material 9 are limited by the dimensions of the gaps between the rack conveyance paths 121 and 122 shown in FIG. 4. Also, as described above, the plate material 9 is fixed such that the focal position of the camera 5 coincides with the imaging position 7, the outer shape of the specimen container 3 is within the imaging range of the camera 5, and the shadow of the specimen rack 2 and the light source 6 do not reflect on the surface of the specimen container 3. Therefore, the height of the plate material 9 has to be adjusted and fixed in a state where the through-hole 90 and the support column 16 are eccentric.

[0066] According to this embodiment, even when the through hole 90 formed in the plate material 9 is eccentric with respect to the support column 16, the support nut 18 can be continuously rotated in the same direction through the through hole 90 from the tool 19 through the plate material 9. Therefore, the through hole 90 does not need to be made larger than necessary, and for this reason, the plate material 9 and the fixing nut 17 that tightens from above the plate material 9 to fix the plate material 9 do not need to be made larger than necessary. The support nut 18 that supports the plate material 9 can adjust the height of the plate material 9 through the plate material 9 in the direction opposite to the plate material 9.

[0067] Therefore, it is possible to provide an automatic analyzer having a support structure for the plate material 9 that can be installed in the limited space between the rack conveyance paths 121 and 122 shown in FIG. 4, and can adjust the height of the optical device, without restricting the arrangement and adjustment margin of the optical device on the plate material 9.

[0068] As described above, it is possible to provide a specimen processing apparatus that automatically discriminates the appropriateness of a use container and the quality and quantity of a specimen before analysis using an image processing system, and enables acquisition of an image of a specimen container having sufficient spatial resolution and contrast required for specimen selection.

[0069] [Example 4] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an outline of the configuration of the support structure of the plate material according to Example 4, showing only the vicinity of the imaging position 7 in the specimen supply unit 12, and showing an example using the support nut 18 with a flange 1812 on the seat surface 181 described in Example 2.

[0070] In this embodiment, the plate material 9 includes a plurality of through holes 90. The support structure of the plate material includes a plurality of support columns 16 and a plurality of support nuts 18. The numbers of the through holes 90, the support columns 16, and the support nuts 18 can be, for example, equal numbers. Although two are shown in FIG. 6, there may be those arranged at positions not shown in FIG. 6, and three or more may be provided respectively.

[0071] In this way, a plurality of support nuts 18 are respectively screwed onto a plurality of support columns 16 to support the plate material 9. Generally, as the number of support points increases, it becomes more difficult to align the positions of all the support columns 16 with the through holes 90, so the diameter of the through holes 90 has to be increased. However, in this embodiment, even when the through holes 90 formed in the plate material 9 are eccentric with respect to the support columns 16, the support nuts 18 can be continuously rotated in the same direction through the through holes 90 from the tool through the plate material 9, so the through holes 90 do not have to be made larger than necessary.

[0072] Therefore, it is possible to provide an automatic analysis apparatus having a support structure for the plate material 9 that can install the optical device on the plate material 9 and adjust it without restricting the layout and adjustment space of the optical device, can be installed in the limited space between the rack conveyance paths 121 and 122 shown in FIG. 4, and can adjust the height of the optical device.

[0073] Also, it is rare that the axis of the support column 16 can be aligned and fixed with the position of the center of gravity of the plate material 9 including the optical device. When the position of the center of gravity of the plate material 9 including the optical device does not coincide with the axis of the support column 16, the disturbance generates a moment load and increases the force acting on the support column 16. Therefore, when the plate material 9 is supported by one support column 16, a support column 16 with a large diameter is required, and as a result, the layout of the optical device on the plate material 9 is restricted.

[0074] On the contrary, in this embodiment, by providing a plurality of through holes 90 avoiding the location where the optical device is arranged, the plate material 9 can be supported by support columns 16 with a reasonable thickness without restricting the layout of the optical device.

[0075] In addition, by increasing the number of support points, the natural frequency of the plate material 9 can be efficiently increased, so even when a disturbance is applied, resonance can be avoided and the occurrence of large vibrations of the plate material 9 can be suppressed. That is, the displacement of the optical device can be reduced.

[0076] As described above, it is possible to provide a specimen processing apparatus that automatically discriminates the appropriateness of a use container and the quality and quantity of a specimen before analysis using an image processing system, and enables acquisition of an image of a specimen container having sufficient spatial resolution and contrast required for selecting a specimen.

Explanation of Symbols

[0077] 1…Automatic analyzer 2…Specimen rack 3…Specimen container 4…Specimen 5…Camera 6…Light source 7…Imaging position 8…Plane mirror 9…Sheet material 90…Through hole 10…Control unit 12…Specimen supply unit 13…Analysis module 14…Conveyor unit 15…Pedestal 16…Support column 17…Fixing nut 18…Support nut 181…Seat surface of the support nut 1811…Recess 1811s…Side surface of the recess 1812…Flange of the support nut 19…Tool 191…Projection of the tool 31…Barcode label 121…Rack conveyance path for loading 122…Rack conveyance path for unloading 123…Loading port 124…Unloading port 125…Barcode reader 126…Barcode reading position 141…Rack conveyance path for loading 142…Rack conveyance path for unloading 212…Front surface of the specimen rack 213…Rear surface of the specimen rack D…Arrow indicating the transfer direction of the specimen rack O…Optical axis of the camera R…Radius of the through hole r…Radius of the male thread part of the support column W…Width of the flange of the support nut w…Width between two sides of the support nut

Claims

1. With a pedestal, At least one support post fixed to the base; A plate material having at least one through hole having a diameter larger than that of the support column and through which the support column passes; At least one support nut that supports the plate on the support; Equipped with The support nut has a seat surface facing the plate material, and a plurality of independent recesses are formed in a region between an outer peripheral surface of the support column and an inner peripheral surface of the through hole as viewed in the axial direction, the recesses being recessed in a direction perpendicular to the plate material, A support structure for a plate material, characterized in that the plurality of independent recesses are distributed in a circumferential direction.

2. 2. The support structure for a plate material according to claim 1, wherein the number of the recesses is three or more.

3. 2. The support structure for a plate material according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of independent recesses are distributed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

4. Further comprising a tool for turning the support nut; Each recess has an inner surface having a normal to a circumferential direction of the support nut, 2. The support structure for a plate material according to claim 1, wherein the tool has one protrusion that contacts the inner surface of any one of the recesses and is configured to apply a circumferential force to the support nut.

5. 5. The support structure for a plate material according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion of the tool is arranged within a region between an outer peripheral surface of the support and an inner peripheral surface of the through hole when viewed in the axial direction.

6. 6. The support structure for a plate material according to claim 5, wherein the tool is cylindrical and has a hole in the center, the hole having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the support post.

7. 2. The support structure for a plate material according to claim 1, wherein the support nut has a flange on the seat surface that is wider than a width across flats of the support nut.

8. 2. The support structure for a plate material according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of independent recesses do not reach an outer peripheral surface of the support nut.

9. The plate material includes a plurality of the through holes, The support structure for the plate material includes a plurality of the support posts and a plurality of the support nuts, 2. The support structure for a plate material according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the support nuts are screwed onto a plurality of the struts to support the plate material.

10. The support structure for a plate according to claim 1 , further comprising a camera mounted on the plate.

11. A specimen processing apparatus comprising the plate support structure according to claim 1.

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