Sample Transport System

Abstract

To provide a specimen conveyance system in which a distance between left and right side rails for guiding a sample rack can be easily changed according to a width of a sample rack.SOLUTION: A specimen conveyance system 10 includes left and right fixing nuts 42A and 42B provided on left and right side rail support parts 33A and 33B that support left and right side rails 21L and 21R that serve as a guide when a specimen rack 14 is conveyed by a belt 16A, the left and right side rails 21L and 21R are fixed by screwing left and right fastening bolts 44A and 44B to the left and right fixing nuts 42A and 42B, and the left and right side rails 21L and 21R are attached to the left and right side rail support parts 33A and 33B so as to be movable within a certain range in a belt width direction, the left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B can be screwed with the left and right fastening bolts 44A and 44B positioned by left and right stoppers 51A and 51B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sample transport system in which a sample rack loaded with a plurality of sample containers containing samples such as blood, urine, immune serum, etc. is transported by a belt along a transport line such as a clinical sample testing analysis line, and in particular to a sample transport system having a belt line along which the sample rack is placed on the belt and transported along the transport line, and in which the width between both side rails of a rack guide for guiding the sample rack along the transport line can be switched depending on the width of the sample rack. [Background technology]

[0002] Since there are a variety of sample rack widths, conventionally, rack guides for guiding the sample racks have been prepared according to the width of the sample rack.

[0003] Furthermore, in the field of container transport, Patent Document 1 discloses a device that uses an actuator to adjust the width of the side rails that make up the rack guide in accordance with the width of the container. However, in the field of specimen transport systems, there is no need to frequently switch between side rails, so this is over-specified.

[0004] Additionally, Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose technologies for adjusting the width of the article conveying path, but these have problems such as a complex structure, inaccurate positioning of the side rails, and time-consuming adjustment and switching. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 6,578,702 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 03-031115 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 02-139410 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a sample transport system that has a simple structure and can quickly adjust the width between side rails to correspond to the width of the sample rack transported by the belt line device, without having to prepare multiple side rails that are similar but have different shapes or sizes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a belt line device that transports sample racks, each having a specimen container placed thereon, along a belt line; rack guides including left and right side rails that are arranged so that both side surfaces of the sample rack placed on the belt in the belt width direction can slide against each other and that guide the sample rack along the belt line; a horizontal central belt support section that contacts the bottom surface of the belt and guides the belt movably in the transport direction; a left side rail support section that extends integrally from the central belt support section to the left in the width direction and detachably supports the left side rail on its upper surface; and a right side rail support section that extends integrally from the central belt support section to the right in the width direction and detachably supports the right side rail on its upper surface; left fixing means that fixes the left side rail with a left fastening bolt that penetrates the left side rail and screws into a left fixing nut provided on the left side rail support section; and a right fastening bolt that penetrates the right side rail and screws into a right fixing nut provided on the right side rail support section. and side rail fixing means including right fixing means for fixing the right side rail with a bolt, wherein the left side rail, together with the left fastening bolt, is movable within a certain range in the belt width direction relative to the left side rail support part, and the right side rail, together with the right fastening bolt, is movable within a certain range in the belt width direction relative to the right side rail support part, and a left stopper is provided that abuts against the left side rail support part at least two points in the belt width direction to position it in the belt width direction, and a right stopper is provided that abuts against the right side rail support part at least two points in the belt width direction to position it in the belt width direction, and the left fixing nut is capable of threading onto the left fastening bolt at at least two positions positioned by the left stopper on the left side rail, and the right fixing nut is capable of threading onto the right fastening bolt at at least two positions positioned by the right stopper on the right side rail. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the distance between the left and right side rails of the belt line device in the sample transport system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is set to the narrowest position; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the specimen transport system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area surrounded by the dashed-dotted circle III in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the specimen transport system according to the first embodiment in a state where the distance between the left and right side rails is set to the widest. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area enclosed by the dashed-dotted circle V in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 1 and 4.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating a state between the left and right side rails in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area surrounded by the dashed-dotted circle VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area surrounded by the dashed-dotted circle VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating a belt line device in a sample transport system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area surrounded by the dashed-dotted circle X in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, showing a state in which the width of the left and right side rails is wider than that in FIG. 9 in the second embodiment. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the portion surrounded by the dashed-dotted circle XII in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating a belt line device in a sample transport system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion surrounded by the dashed-dotted circle XIV in FIG. 13. [Figure 15]FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 14, showing a state in which the width between the left and right side rails is narrower than that in FIG. 13, in the third embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the left or right fixing nut in each of the above embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Example 1] A sample transport system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0010] The specimen transport system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention transports a sample rack 14 placed on a belt 16A in a belt line device 16 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 1, and when the sample rack 14 is transported by the belt 16A, it is guided by a rack guide 20 consisting of a left side rail 21L and a right side rail 21R.

[0011] The inner width of the left and right side rails 21L and 21R is configured to be adjustable in accordance with the width of the sample rack 14.

[0012] To explain in more detail, both sides of the belt width direction of the sample rack 14 placed on the belt 16A are arranged so that they can slide against each other, and the left and right side rails 21L, 21R are attached and supported on the belt frame 30 in a state where the distance between them can be adjusted.

[0013] The upper surface of the belt frame 30 is configured to include a horizontal central belt support portion 32 that contacts the bottom surface of the belt 16A and guides it movably in the conveying direction, a left side rail support portion 33A that extends integrally from the central belt support portion 32 to the left in the width direction and detachably supports the left side rail 21L on its upper surface, and a right side rail support portion 33B that extends integrally from the central belt support portion 32 to the right in the width direction and detachably supports the right side rail 21R on its upper surface.

[0014] The upper surfaces of the left and right side rail support portions 33A, 33B are horizontal and smooth left and right horizontal support surfaces 34A, 34B, respectively.

[0015] The left side rail 21L and the right side rail 21R are fixed to the left and right horizontal support surfaces 34A and 34B, which are the upper surfaces of the belt frame 30, by side rail fixing means 40 including left fixing means 40A and right fixing means 40B, respectively.

[0016] In detail, the left side rail 21L is configured to be fastened to the left horizontal support surface 34A by a left fastening bolt 44A that passes through it vertically and screws into a left fixing nut 42A in the left side rail support portion 33A, and the right side rail 21R is configured to be fastened to the right horizontal support surface 34B by a right fastening bolt 44B that passes through it vertically and screws into a right fixing nut 42B in the right side rail support portion 33B.

[0017] The left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B are inserted into left and right slots 35A, 35B formed in the left and right side rail support portions 33A, 33B parallel to the belt line.

[0018] The left side rail 21L, together with the left fastening bolt 44A, is provided so as to be movable within a certain range in the belt width direction relative to the left horizontal support surface 34A of the left side rail support portion 33A.

[0019] The right side rail 21R, together with the right fastening bolt 44B, is provided so as to be movable within a certain range in the belt width direction relative to the right horizontal support surface 34B of the right side rail support portion 33B.

[0020] Stoppers 50 are provided to position the left and right side rails 21L, 21R in the belt width direction relative to the left side rail support portion 33A and the right side rail support portion 33B.

[0021] In Example 1, the stopper 50 consists of a left stopper 51A and a right stopper 51B, the left stopper 51A consists of a left positioning step 52A and a left positioning protrusion 53A, and the right stopper 51B consists of a right positioning step 52B and a right positioning protrusion 53B.

[0022] As shown by the dashed double-dashed lines at the bottom of Figure 1, each screw hole 43A, 43B is formed offset in the width direction by the distance indicated by the symbol O / S with respect to the width direction center line of the left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B.

[0023] As a result, the left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B can be inverted so that the screw holes 43A, 43B are offset to the opposite side with respect to the center line of the nuts in the width direction.

[0024] In detail, when the left and right side rails 21L, 21R are positioned, the left fixing nut 42A can be threaded onto the left fastening bolt 44A at least two positions positioned by the left stopper 51A of the left side rail 21L, and the right fixing nut 42B can be threaded onto the right fastening bolt 44B at least two positions positioned by the right stopper 51B of the right side rail 21R.

[0025] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 22 denotes a base frame that supports a belt frame 30 at its upper end, and the belt frame 30 is fastened and fixed by mounting bolts 23 .

[0026] The belt frame 30 is formed from, for example, an extruded aluminum member, and the central belt support portion 32, left side rail support portion 33A, and right side rail support portion 33B are formed as a continuous, integrated unit in a vertical cross section perpendicular to the conveying line.

[0027] The left fixing means 40A is provided on the left horizontal support surface 34A with a cross section parallel to the belt line. Concave A left slot 35A is formed in a groove shape, and a belt is inserted into the left slot 35A. line direction (direction in which the belt stretches) and a left fastening bolt 44A that passes through the left side rail support portion 33A and screws into the left fastening nut 42A in the left slot 35A to fasten and fix the left side rail 21L to the left side rail support portion 33A.

[0028] The right fixing means 40B has a cross section parallel to the belt line on the right horizontal support surface 34B. Concave A right slot 35B is formed in a groove shape, and a belt is inserted into the right slot 35B. line and a right fastening bolt 44B that passes through the right side rail support portion 33B and screws into the right fastening nut 42B in the right slot 35B to fasten and fix the right side rail 21R to the right side rail support portion 33B.

[0029] The left slot 35A has a left opening 36A having a groove width that allows the position of the left fastening bolt 44A in the belt width direction to be changed at least between the positions where the left fastening bolt 44A is screwed into the left fixing nut 42A.

[0030] In addition, the right slot 35B has a right opening 36B having a groove width that allows the position of the right fastening bolt 44B in the belt width direction to be changed at least between the positions where the right fastening bolt 44B is threadedly engaged with the right fixing nut 42B.

[0031] In this embodiment 1, the left stopper 51A includes a left positioning step 52A and a left positioning protrusion 53A, and the left positioning step 52A is formed at the left end of the central belt support portion 32 in the belt width direction at least 0.5 mm higher than the left horizontal support surface 34A adjacent to it on the outer side in the belt width direction, and is configured to abut against the corner of the inner lower end of the left side rail 21L in the belt width direction for positioning.

[0032] The left positioning protrusion 53A is configured to be able to abut against the left inner end face of the left opening 36A on the inner side in the belt width direction at a location facing the left opening 36A of the left slot 35A on the lower surface of the left side rail 21L.

[0033] The right stopper 51B includes both a right positioning step 52B and a right positioning protrusion 53B. The right positioning step 52B is formed at the right end of the central belt support portion 32 in the belt width direction at least 0.5 mm higher than the right horizontal support surface 34B adjacent to it on the outer side in the belt width direction, and is configured to abut against the corner of the inner lower end of the right side rail 21R in the belt width direction for positioning.

[0034] The right positioning protrusion 53B is configured to be able to abut against the right inner end face of the right opening 36B on the inner side in the belt width direction at a location facing the right opening 36B of the right slot 35B on the lower surface of the right side rail 21R.

[0035] The left fixing nut 42A and the right fixing nut 42B can be freely inserted and removed from left slots 35A and right slots 35B in the belt line direction provided in the left side rail support portion 33A and the right side rail support portion 33B, respectively. The screw holes 43A, 43B into which the left fastening bolt 44A and the right fastening bolt 44B are threaded are eccentric in the belt width direction from the center of the nut in a plan view, and when inverted, they are shifted in the belt width direction by a distance twice the amount of eccentricity relative to the left side rail support portion 33A and the right side rail support portion 33B.

[0036] Next, a process for changing the width between the left side rail 21L and the right side rail 21R in the rack guide 20 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0037] The specimen transport system 10 in this Example 1 is applied to, for example, two parallel belt line devices 16, as shown in Figure 2, and transports a sample rack 14 carrying multiple specimen containers 12 between a left side rail 21L and a right side rail 21R by a belt 16A.

[0038] Here, if the sample rack 14 is, for example, sample rack 14W, as shown in Figure 4, which is wider than the sample rack 14 shown in Figure 1, the distance between the left side rail 21L and the right side rail 21R needs to be widened to match the width of the sample rack 14W.

[0039] When transporting the sample rack 14W, as shown enlarged in Figure 5, on the left side rail 21L side, the left positioning protrusion 53A is set to abut against the left end of the left opening 36A in Figure 5, and the inner end of the belt width direction of the left side rail 21L is set to be separated from the left positioning step 52A.

[0040] On the right side rail 21R side, the right positioning protrusion 53B on the underside thereof abuts against the inner end of the right opening 36B in the belt width direction, and the inner end of the belt width direction is screwed onto the left and right fastening bolts 44A, 44B and the left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B so that the right positioning step 52B is spaced apart, thereby 21L, 21R are fastened and fixed to the left and right horizontal support surfaces 34A and 34B.

[0041] At this time, the axes of the left and right fastening bolts 44A, 44B are moved outward in the belt width direction from the state shown in Figure 1, and the left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B are inverted from the state shown in Figure 1 so that the screw holes 43A, 43B are located outward in the belt width direction from the central axes of the left and right slots 35A, 35B.

[0042] Furthermore, the bolt shafts of the left and right fastening bolts 44A, 44B are movable within the left and right openings 36A, 36B, and therefore can be securely screwed into the left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B.

[0043] There is no need to change the separately prepared left and right side rails 21L, 21R or other side rails that are already provided. The width change can be performed by loosening the left and right fastening bolts 44A, 44B to allow the left and right side rails 21L, 21R to slide in the belt width direction, then moving the left and right side rails 21L, 21R, and then pulling the left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B out of the left and right slots 35A, 35B, inverting them, and inserting them back into the left and right slots 35A, 35B. Finally, the left and right fastening bolts 44A, 44B are screwed into the inverted and returned left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B to secure them.

[0044] Next, with reference to Figures 6 to 8, we will explain the case where the width between the left and right side rails 21L, 21R is set to an intermediate width between the widths between the left and right side rails 21L, 21R shown in Figures 1 and 4, and the sample rack 14M is guided.

[0045] In the case shown in FIG. 6, only the left side rail 21L is moved, and the right side rail 21R is fixed as in the case shown in FIG.

[0046] 7, the left side rail 21L is moved to the left until the left positioning protrusion 53A abuts against the left edge of the left opening 36A, and then fixed in this position. Therefore, in the fixed state, the left side rail 21L is spaced apart from the left positioning step 52A.

[0047] As shown in the lower part of FIG. 6, the left and right fixing nuts 42A, 42B are both used in a state where they are offset to the left from the center in the width direction of the nuts.

[0048] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the left stopper 51A is composed of a left positioning step 52A and a left positioning protrusion 53A, and the right stopper 51B is composed of a right positioning step 52B and a right positioning protrusion 53B, but the present invention is not limited to this, and there may be combinations such as only a positioning step or only a positioning protrusion, or even combinations such as one of the left and right stoppers 51A, 51B having only a positioning step and the other having only a positioning protrusion.

[0049] [Example 2] Second Embodiment Next, a sample transport system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0050] In Example 2 and Example 3 described below, the specimen transport system is indicated by the symbols 10A and 10B, the rack guides by the symbols 20A and 20B, the left side rails by the symbols 21LA and 21LB, the right side rails by the symbols 21RA and 21RB, and the belt frames by the symbols 30A and 30B. However, since the other configurations are the same as or slightly different from Example 1, the same symbols as Example 1 will be used.

[0051] FIG. 9 shows a state in which the distance between the left and right side rails is narrow, and FIG. 11 shows a state in which the distance between the side rails is widened.

[0052] In this second embodiment, the left and right stoppers 51A, 51B are configured only by a left positioning step 52A and a right positioning step 52B, and the left and right positioning protrusions 53A, 53B are not provided.

[0053] In addition, to position the left and right side rails 21LA, 21RA outward in the belt width direction, left and right outer positioning steps 54A, 54B are provided at both widthwise outer end positions of the left and right horizontal support surfaces 34A, 34B of the left and right side rail support portions 33A, 33B.

[0054] In this embodiment 2, the width adjustment range of the left and right side rails 21LA, 21RA in the belt width direction is determined on the inside of the belt width direction by the left and right positioning steps 52A, 52B, and on the outside of the belt width direction by the left and right outer positioning steps 54A, 54B.

[0055] [Example 3] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0056] In this embodiment 3, no positioning step is used, and the left stopper is formed by two positioning protrusions on each side, specifically, on the left side, a left inner positioning protrusion 55A and a left outer positioning protrusion 56A, and on the right side, a right stopper is formed by a right inner positioning protrusion 55B and a right outer positioning protrusion 56B.

[0057] Therefore, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, on the outside of the belt width direction, the left inner positioning protrusion 55A and the left outer positioning protrusion 56A determine the widthwise movement range of the left side rail 21LB, and the right inner positioning protrusion 55B and the right outer positioning protrusion 56B determine the belt widthwise movement range of the right side rail 21RB.

[0058] Fig. 14 shows a state in which the left side rail 21LB is positioned on the outer side in the belt width direction, and Fig. 15 shows a state in which the left side rail 21LB is positioned on the inner side in the belt width direction.

[0059] In all of the above-mentioned Examples 1 to 3, the left fixing nut 42A and the right fixing nut 42B are approximately square in plan view, and one is provided for each corresponding fastening bolt, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in Figure 16, the left and right fixing nuts may be composed of a left band-shaped nut plate 46A and a right band-shaped nut plate 46B, and these band-shaped plates may be provided with the same number of screw holes 43A (43B) as the number of fastening bolts 44A (44B) at a set pitch for the bolts.

[0060] In this case, the left and right strip-shaped nut plates 46A and 46B are inserted and removed from the left and right slots 35A and 35B, but because they are one piece, the screw holes can be positioned with a single operation, without having to be individually aligned and inserted as with square fixing nuts. The lengths of the left and right strip-shaped nut plates 46A and 46B should be adjusted to match the length of the transport module indicated by the symbol M in Figure 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10, 10A, 10B...Sample transport system 12...Specimen container 14, 14M, 14W...Sample rack 16...Belt line device 16A...Belt 20, 20A, 20B...Rack guide 21L, 21LA, 21LB...Left side rail 21R, 21RA, 21RB...Right side rail 22...Base frame 23...Mounting bolt 3 0, 30A, 30B...Belt frame 32...Central belt support part 33A...Left side rail support 33B...Right side rail support 34A…Left horizontal support surface 34B…Right horizontal support surface 35A...Left slot 35B...Right slot 36A…Left opening 36B…Right opening 40...Side rail fixing means 40A…Left fixing means 40B…Right fixing means 42A...Left fixing nut 42B...Right fixing nut 43A, 43B...Threaded holes 44A...Left fastening bolt 44B...Right fastening bolt 46A...Left belt nut plate 46B...Right band nut plate 50...Stopper 51A...Left stopper 51B...Right stopper 52A...Left positioning step 52B...Right positioning step 53A...Left positioning protrusion 53B...Right positioning protrusion 54A...Left outer positioning step 54B...Right outer positioning step 55A...Left inner positioning protrusion 55B...Right inner positioning protrusion 56A…Left outer positioning protrusion 56B…Right outer positioning protrusion M: Transfer module O / S...Offset

Claims

1. a belt line device that places a sample rack on which a specimen container is placed and transports the sample rack along a belt line; a rack guide including a left side rail and a right side rail, which are arranged so that both side surfaces in the belt width direction of the sample rack placed on the belt can slide against each other and guide the sample rack along the belt line; a belt frame including: a horizontal central belt support portion that contacts the bottom surface of the belt and guides the belt movably in the conveying direction; a left side rail support portion that extends integrally from the central belt support portion to the left in the width direction and detachably supports the left side rail on its upper surface; and a right side rail support portion that extends integrally from the central belt support portion to the right in the width direction and detachably supports the right side rail on its upper surface; a left fixing means for fixing the left side rail with a left fastening bolt that passes through the left side rail and screws into a left fixing nut provided on the left side rail support section, and a right fixing means for fixing the right side rail with a right fastening bolt that passes through the right side rail and screws into a right fixing nut provided on the right side rail support section, The left side rail is provided so as to be movable within a certain range in the belt width direction relative to the left side rail support portion together with the left fastening bolt, and the right side rail is provided so as to be movable within a certain range in the belt width direction relative to the right side rail support portion together with the right fastening bolt, a left stopper that abuts against the left side rail support portion at at least two locations in the belt width direction to position the left side rail support portion in the belt width direction; a right stopper that abuts against the right side rail support portion at at least two points in the belt width direction to position the belt width direction; The left fixing nut can be threadedly engaged with the left fastening bolt at at least two positions determined by the left stopper of the left side rail, and the right fixing nut can be threadedly engaged with the right fastening bolt at at least two positions determined by the right stopper of the right side rail. A specimen transport system characterized by the above.

2. In claim 1, the belt frame is formed from an extruded member, and the central belt support portion, the left side rail support portion, and the right side rail support portion are formed as a continuous, integral unit in a vertical cross section perpendicular to the belt line; the left side rail support portion includes a left horizontal support surface that horizontally supports the left side rail, and the right side rail support portion includes a right horizontal support surface that horizontally supports the right side rail, the left fixing means comprises a left slot formed in the left horizontal support surface of the left side-rail support part and parallel to the belt line, with a cross-sectionally recessed groove shape; a left fixing nut arranged in the left slot so as to be insertable and removable in the belt line direction; and a left fastening bolt that passes through the left side-rail support part and screws into the left fixing nut in the left slot to fasten the left side rail to the left side-rail support part; the right fixing means comprises a right slot formed in the right horizontal support surface of the right side-rail support portion and parallel to the belt line, with a cross-sectionally recessed groove shape; a right fixing nut disposed in the right slot so as to be insertable and removable in the belt line direction; and a right fastening bolt that passes through the right side-rail support portion and screws into the right fixing nut in the right slot to fasten the right side rail to the right side-rail support portion; The left slot has a groove width that allows the position of the left fastening bolt in the belt width direction to be changed at least between positions where the left fastening bolt is screwed into the left fixing nut. With a left opening to the right slot has a right opening having a groove width that allows the position of the right fastening bolt in the belt width direction to be changed at least between positions where the right fastening bolt is screwed into the right fixing nut, the left stopper includes at least one of a left positioning step and a left positioning protrusion, the left positioning step being formed at the left end of the central belt support portion in the belt width direction at least 0.5 mm higher than the left horizontal support surface adjacent to the left end on the outer side in the belt width direction and configured to be abutted against a corner of the lower end of the left side rail on the inner side in the belt width direction, and the left positioning protrusion being configured to be able to abut against a left inner end surface of the left opening on the inner side in the belt width direction at a portion of the lower surface of the left side rail facing the left opening of the left slot, The right stopper includes at least one of a right positioning step and a right positioning protrusion, and the right positioning step is formed at the right end in the belt width direction of the central belt support part so as to be at least 0.5 mm higher than the right horizontal support surface adjacent to the right end on the outer side in the belt width direction, and is configured so as to be abutted against a corner of the lower end of the right side rail on the inner side in the belt width direction for positioning, and the right positioning protrusion is configured so as to be able to abut against a right inner end face of the right opening on the inner side in the belt width direction at a portion of the lower surface of the right side rail facing the right opening of the right slot. A specimen transport system characterized by:

3. In claim 1 or 2, a left fixing nut and a right fixing nut that are freely inserted and removed from slots in the belt line direction provided in the left side rail support portion and the right side rail support portion, the screw holes into which the left fastening bolt and the right fastening bolt screw into are eccentric in the belt width direction from the center of the nuts in a plan view, and when inverted, the nuts are shifted in the belt width direction by a distance twice the amount of eccentricity relative to the left side rail support portion and the right side rail support portion.

4. In any one of claims 1 to 3, the left and right side rails, the left and right side rail support portions, and the belt line are all the same length and are combined to form one conveying module; The specimen transport system is characterized in that the left fixing nut and the right fixing nut are configured by forming a plurality of screw holes at regular intervals in the belt line direction in a left strip-shaped nut plate and a right strip-shaped nut plate having the same length as the transport module, into which the left fastening bolt and the right fastening bolt can be screwed, respectively.

Images