Specimen container carrier and conveyance device

Abstract

A specimen container carrier 11 comprises a first structure 30 and a second structure 40 that come into contact with a conveyance surface 21 on which the specimen container carrier 11 slides. The first structure 30 has a ring-shaped magnetic body 32. The second structure 40 has a holding part 42 for a specimen container 10. The first structure 30 and the second structure 40 have a space 50 formed therebetween. The first structure 30 and the second structure 40 are connected so as to be movable relative to each other in the vertical direction. The coefficient of friction of the first structure 30 is lower than that of the second structure 40.

Description

Specimen container carrier and transport device

[0001] The present invention relates to a specimen container carrier and a transport device used to transport specimens in a specimen testing automation system that performs the processing necessary for analyzing biological samples (hereinafter referred to as "specimens") such as blood, plasma, serum, urine, and other body fluids.

[0002] As an example of a laboratory sample delivery system and corresponding operating method that is highly flexible and provides high transport performance, Patent Document 1 describes a system comprising several sample carriers, each of which has at least one magnetically active device, preferably at least one permanent magnet, and is adapted to transport sample containers; a transport plane adapted to transport the sample carriers; and several electromagnetic actuators arranged stationary below the transport plane, the electromagnetic actuators being adapted to move the sample carriers above the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the sample carriers.

[0003] JP 2017-77971 A

[0004] In recent years, automation of specimen testing for diagnostic purposes has been progressing in the medical field. Specimen testing automation systems perform various analyses on specimens.

[0005] A sample transport device is required to transport samples flexibly and with high throughput. One transport method that satisfies this requirement is to transport a sample container carrier that can carry a single sample container filled with sample using electromagnetic force.

[0006] In this method, multiple electromagnets fixed below the transport surface on which the sample container carrier slides generate a magnetic field, attracting and sliding the magnetic material incorporated in the sample container carrier. Furthermore, by arranging the electromagnets in a grid pattern, the sample container carrier can be transported in two dimensions. This makes it possible to avoid congestion and malfunctions of the sample container carrier, achieving flexible and high-throughput transport.

[0007] The magnetic field is generated by supplying current to the electromagnet. The transport speed of the sample container carrier is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the supplied current. To transport samples without scattering, it is necessary to supply a current of an appropriate magnitude that does not significantly accelerate or decelerate the sample container carrier.

[0008] When a sample container carrier is transported, the magnetic material inside the sample container carrier is subjected to an electromagnetic force in a diagonally downward direction, generating a frictional force between the magnetic material and the transport surface. During acceleration and transport at a constant speed, a kinetic frictional force with the transport surface occurs in the opposite direction to the sample container carrier's direction of travel, hindering its transport. On the other hand, during deceleration, the kinetic frictional force contributes to the deceleration of the sample container carrier.

[0009] If the kinetic friction force increases or decreases with the increase or decrease in the electromagnetic force to adjust the transport speed of the sample container carrier, the thrust force and the brake will also increase or decrease, making it difficult to adjust the speed and ensuring stable transport without scattering the samples.To make speed adjustment easy, it is necessary for the kinetic friction force to be constant regardless of the increase or decrease in the electromagnetic force.

[0010] Patent Document 1 describes a method for transporting a specimen container carrier, which has a magnetic body incorporated in a structure that makes surface contact with the transport surface, by electromagnetic force. However, this method has the problem that the electromagnetic force is received by a part that has a large coefficient of kinetic friction with the transport surface, and therefore the kinetic friction force generated in the specimen container carrier increases or decreases significantly as the amount of supplied current increases or decreases for the purpose of speed adjustment.

[0011] The present invention provides a specimen container carrier and a transport device that are both easy to move and easy to stop, and in which speed adjustment is easier than before.

[0012] The present invention includes multiple means for solving the above-mentioned problems, and one example thereof is a specimen container carrier that grips a specimen container containing a specimen and is transported by electromagnetic force, the specimen container carrier having a first structure and a second structure that contact a transport surface on which the specimen container carrier slides, the first structure having a magnetic body, the second structure having a gripping portion for the specimen container, a space being formed between the first structure and the second structure, the first structure and the second structure being connected so as to be movable relative to each other in the vertical direction, and the coefficient of friction of the first structure being smaller than the coefficient of friction of the second structure.

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a specimen container carrier and a transport device that are both easy to move and easy to stop, and that allow for easy speed adjustment. Other problems, configurations, and effects will become clear from the description of the following embodiments.

[0014] Schematic diagram of a sample testing automation system including a sample transport system of Example 1. Schematic diagram of a transport device constituting the sample transport system of Example 1. Cross-sectional side view of a sample container carrier of Example 1. Bottom view of a sample container carrier of Example 1. Diagram showing a simulation model of electromagnetic force. Diagram showing simulation results of electromagnetic force. Diagram showing kinetic friction force when the structure of the sample container carrier is not divided. Diagram showing kinetic friction force of a sample container carrier of Example 1. Diagram showing velocity distribution in a sample container carrier of Example 1. Diagram showing velocity distribution in a sample container carrier of a reference example. Cross-sectional side view of another configuration of a sample container carrier of Example 1. Bottom view of another configuration of a sample container carrier of Example 1. Cross-sectional side view of a sample container carrier of Example 2. Cross-sectional side view of a sample container carrier of Example 3.

[0015] The following describes an embodiment of the specimen container carrier and transport device of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in this specification, identical or similar reference numerals are used to designate identical or corresponding components, and repeated explanations of these components may be omitted.

[0016] First Embodiment A specimen container carrier and a transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. FIG.

[0017] First, the overall configuration of the sample testing automation system will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the sample testing automation system.

[0018] The sample testing automation system 300 according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises a sample pretreatment device 100, an automatic analyzer 200, a sample transport device 150, and a system control device 111.

[0019] The specimen pre-processing device 100 is a device for performing various pre-processing and post-processing steps required for specimen analysis by the automatic analyzer 200. The specimen pre-processing device 100 has one or more processing units that perform various processes, such as specimen reception, centrifugation, acquisition of specimen information such as liquid volume, uncapping of specimen containers, and dispensing of specimens into multiple specimen containers.

[0020] The automatic analyzer 200 is a module for actually performing the analysis of a sample.

[0021] The specimen pretreatment device 100 and the automatic analyzer 200 may have various known configurations, and the number of such devices may be one or more as required.

[0022] The sample transport device 150 is connected to the sample pre-treatment device 100, the automatic analysis device 200, etc., and is a device for transporting sample container carriers 11 between and within these devices, and is composed of one or more transport modules 20 that transport samples using electromagnetic force.

[0023] Within the specimen testing automation system 300, the specimen to be tested is injected into a specimen container 10 shown in Figure 2, and the specimen container 10 is inserted into a specimen container carrier 11 and transported within the specimen testing automation system 300, where various processes are performed in the specimen pre-treatment device 100 and the automatic analyzer 200.

[0024] The specimens that have undergone pre-processing are transported by the specimen transport device 150 to the automatic analyzer 200. The automatic analyzer 200 performs various analytical processes on the specimens. After the analytical processes have been completed, the specimens are transported by the specimen transport device 150 to a specimen storage unit provided in the specimen pre-processing device 100 for storage, or are transported to a required location depending on the test content of each specimen.

[0025] Next, an example of the configuration of the transfer module 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of the transfer module 20.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, each transport module 20 that constitutes the sample transport device 150 has a transport surface 21 along which the sample container carrier 11 that holds the sample container 10 containing the sample slides, and a plurality of electromagnets 22 that are arranged below the transport surface 21 and transport the sample container carrier 11 by electromagnetic force.

[0027] The conveying surface 21 provided on the conveying module 20 in FIG. 2 is a smooth surface, and electromagnets 22 and sensors 23 are arranged at equal intervals on the back side (below) of the conveying surface 21.

[0028] The electromagnet 22 is composed of a core made of a magnetic material and a winding wound around the outer periphery of the core. The sensor 23 is used to detect the position of the sample container carrier 11 on the transport surface 21. Examples of the sensor 23 include a magnetic sensor that uses the magnetic material in the sample container carrier 11, and an optical sensor. In some cases, the sensor 23 is not installed and the electromagnet 22 itself performs that function.

[0029] The specimen container carrier 11 carries one specimen container 10 and has a magnetic body built in. Therefore, by supplying a current to the electromagnet 22 to generate a magnetic field on the transport surface 21, the magnetic body in the specimen container carrier 11 can be attracted or repelled. As a result, the specimen container carrier 11 can slide in two dimensions along the arrangement of the electromagnets 22 on the transport surface 21, and the specimen can be transported to a desired position. In other words, the specimen container carrier 11 grips the specimen container 10 containing the specimen and transports it by electromagnetic force.

[0030] As described above, the sample transport device 150 has a plurality of transport modules 20 arranged side by side to form a transport path.

[0031] The characteristic configuration and effects of the specimen container carrier of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the specimen container carrier of Example 1, and Figure 4 is a bottom view of the specimen container carrier of Example 1.

[0032] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the specimen container carrier 11 of this embodiment 1 is broadly divided into two structures: a first structure 30 and a second structure 40, both of which come into contact with the transport surface 21 along which the specimen container carrier 11 slides during transport.

[0033] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the specimen container carrier 11 of this embodiment 1 is characterized in that a space 50 is formed between the first structure 30 and the second structure 40, and the first structure 30 and the second structure 40 are connected so as to be movable relative to each other in the vertical direction.

[0034] The first structure 30 has a ball bearing 31 provided on at least one of the transport surfaces 21 as a portion that comes into contact with the transport surface 21 with a small coefficient of friction, and a ring-shaped magnetic body 32. The specimen container carrier 11 is transported by the electromagnetic force acting between the ring-shaped magnetic body 32 and the electromagnet 22 below the transport surface 21.

[0035] The ring-shaped magnetic body 32 is made of a permanent magnet such as neodymium or ferrite, but may also be made of other magnets or magnetic materials, or may be made of a suitable combination of these.

[0036] The second structure 40 has a bottom 41 that contacts the transport surface 21 and a gripping portion 42 that grips the specimen container 10. The bottom 41 and the gripping portion 42 are preferably both made of a non-magnetic material, so that the electromagnetic force and magnetic force act only on the first structure 30.

[0037] The bottom 41 of the second structure 40 is in surface contact with the conveying surface 21. In contrast, as described above, the first structure 30 is in approximate point contact with the conveying surface 21 via the ball bearing 31, and therefore the coefficient of friction of the first structure 30 with respect to the conveying surface 21 is smaller than the coefficient of friction of the second structure 40.

[0038] The following explains the verification results of the effects.

[0039] When the specimen container carrier 11 is positioned above the electromagnet 22 and is subjected to magnetic force, and when it is subjected to electromagnetic force during transport, the first structure 30 described above is subjected to a downward force, and the ball bearing 31 comes into contact with the transport surface 21. The coefficient of dynamic friction between the ball bearing 31 and the transport surface 21 is approximately 0.05 or less, and the change in dynamic friction force accompanying changes in the electromagnetic force during transport is very small.

[0040] During this time, the bottom of the second structure 40 is always in contact with the transport surface 21, and a certain dynamic friction force is exerted due to the gravity of the second structure 40 of the specimen container carrier 11, the specimen containers 10 and the specimens.

[0041] In the case where the structure of the sample container carrier is not divided into the first structure 30 and the second structure 40 as in this embodiment, and an electromagnetic force acts on the bottom portion, which has a large coefficient of friction, supplying a large current to the electromagnet also increases the kinetic friction force acting in a direction that hinders the movement of the sample container carrier. This raises concerns that this may hinder the movement of the sample container carrier and adversely affect speed control. To avoid this, it is necessary to finely adjust the amount of current supplied to adjust the speed without scattering the samples. However, changes in kinetic friction force due to changes in the amount of current supplied make it difficult to control the speed of the sample container carrier.

[0042] In contrast to this, by dividing the structure as in the first embodiment, only the thrust force that advances the specimen container carrier 11 increases or decreases when the amount of current supply is increased or decreased, making it easier to adjust the speed.

[0043] 5 to 8, the electromagnetic forces acting on the specimen container carrier 11 when transporting specimen carriers with and without structural separation were simulated using the electromagnetic field analysis software JMAG, and the results of comparing the acting dynamic friction forces are shown.

[0044] Figure 5 shows a JMAG analysis model. The above-mentioned first structure 30, ring-shaped magnetic body 32, and electromagnet 22 were modeled. Using this model, the electromagnetic force in the vertical direction was simulated when the position of the first structure 30 was moved from 0 [mm] to 20 [mm].

[0045] The amounts of current supplied are 0.2 [A] and 0.6 [A]. 0.2 [A] is a guideline for the amount of current supplied to generate electromagnetic force as thrust when the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1 decelerates. 0.6 [A] is the amount of current when accelerating.

[0046] Figure 6 shows the electromagnetic force generated in the vertical direction. The upward vertical direction is defined as positive. The electromagnetic force decreases as the specimen container carrier 11 moves away from the electromagnet 22 to which current is supplied. In the case of a specimen container carrier in which the structures are not separated but are integrated, the electromagnetic force is received by the part of the main part of the specimen carrier corresponding to the second structure 40, which has a large frictional force, and a kinetic friction force is generated. On the other hand, in the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1, the electromagnetic force is received only by the first structure 30. The masses of the specimen container carriers 11 were set to be the same, and the kinetic friction forces generated in each were calculated and compared.

[0047] Fig. 7 shows the kinetic friction force generated when an electromagnetic force is applied to a conventional structure in which the specimen container carrier is not divided into separate structures and is composed only of components of the second structure 40 with a large coefficient of kinetic friction, and Fig. 8 shows the kinetic friction force generated in the first structure 30 of the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1. The kinetic friction force was calculated by multiplying the sum of the following vertical forces by the kinetic friction coefficient. The values ​​of each kinetic friction coefficient were used for the components used in the specimen container carrier 11 in the actual transport experiment.

[0048] The vertical force is the electromagnetic force in Figure 6 and gravity due to the mass 55 [g] of the specimen container carrier 11. The coefficient of dynamic friction is 0.2 for a conventional specimen container carrier without separating the structure, and 0.03 for the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1.

[0049] 7 and 8, it can be seen that the difference in the dynamic frictional force generated in the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1 due to the amount of current supply is smaller than that of the conventional specimen container carrier without a separate structure.

[0050] It can also be seen that the difference in kinetic friction force depending on the position of the sample container carrier 11 is small. This means that the kinetic friction force generated when transporting with a constant current supply is constant, making it easy to adjust the speed. For example, when decelerating the sample container carrier 11, the constant kinetic friction force acting between the bottom of the second structure 40 and the transport surface 21 mentioned above acts as an auxiliary brake.

[0051] As specific components of each structure, the combinations of parts and friction coefficients of the specimen container carriers actually used in the transport experiments are shown below. The following parts were used for each structure of the specimen container carrier shaped as shown in Figure 3 and the transport surface described above.

[0052] The first structure had one ball bearing as a contact part and a dynamic friction coefficient of 0.01 to 0.05. The second structure had a bottom part made of resin and a dynamic friction coefficient of 0.2 to 0.3. The conveying surface was made of glass.

[0053] Since the friction coefficient of the above-mentioned first structure 30, which is subjected to electromagnetic force, is small, it is expected that the current supplied during transportation will be reduced.Therefore, for the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1, the same bottom as above-mentioned was used, and the above-mentioned space 50 was filled to create a specimen container carrier 11 with an unseparated structure, and the magnitude of the current that can be transported was compared with that of Example 1.

[0054] Specifically, a current of a fixed magnitude was supplied to the electromagnet 22 for only 50 [msec], and the minimum current required to transport the specimen container carrier 11 to a position 20 [mm] from the starting point was compared.

[0055] As a result, the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1, in which the electromagnetic force is applied only to the first structure 30, was able to transport specimens at 300 mA, whereas the specimen container carrier 11, in which the space was filled so that the electromagnetic force also acts on the second structure 40, required 700 mA.

[0056] Furthermore, in addition to the constant dynamic friction force of the second structure 40 described above, if an electromagnetic force in the opposite direction to the direction of travel is applied to the specimen container carrier 11 to brake it during deceleration, in addition to the thrust force, the stopping position specifications can be met with a supply of approximately 100 mA.

[0057] For example, in order to minimize dynamic friction, when a specimen container carrier 11 was created and transported in which only the transport surface 21 and ball bearing 31 were in contact, it was not possible to stop it at the target position with a brake of 100 mA, and it was stopped with a brake of 300 mA.

[0058] FIG. 9 shows the speed distribution when the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1 is transported 10 times, and FIG. 10 shows the speed distribution when the specimen container carrier that contacts the transport surface 21 only by the ball bearing is transported 5 times.

[0059] In Figure 10, it can be seen that the sample container carrier 11 moves back and forth before and after the stopping position, whereas in the sample container carrier 11 of Example 1, as shown in Figure 9, it can be stopped uniquely due to the constant friction force of the second structure 40.

[0060] The number of the above-mentioned ball bearings 31 is not limited to one, provided that it does not cause any problems due to the dimensional constraints of the sample container carrier 11. A modified example will be described below with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional side view of a modified example of the sample container carrier of Example 1, and Figure 12 shows a bottom view.

[0061] For example, as in the specimen container carrier 11A shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a cylindrical magnetic body 33 may be used and a plurality of ball bearings 31 may be arranged.

[0062] The cylindrical magnetic body 33 is also made of a permanent magnet such as neodymium or ferrite, similar to the ring-shaped magnetic body 32. It may also be made of other magnets or magnetic materials, or may be made by appropriately combining these.

[0063] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0064] The specimen container carrier 11, 11A of the above-described embodiment 1 of the present invention has a first structure 30, 30A and a second structure 40 that come into contact with the transport surface 21 on which the specimen container carrier 11, 11A slides, the first structure 30, 30A has a ring-shaped magnetic body 32 or a cylindrical magnetic body 33, the second structure 40 has a gripping portion 42 for the specimen container 10, a space 50 is formed between the first structure 30, 30A and the second structure 40, the first structure 30, 30A and the second structure 40 are connected so as to be movable relative to each other in the vertical direction, and the friction coefficient of the first structure 30, 30A is smaller than the friction coefficient of the second structure 40.

[0065] As a result, the increase or decrease in kinetic frictional force that accompanies an increase or decrease in the amount of current supplied for the purpose of adjusting the speed of the sample container carrier 11 can be made smaller than in the conventional structure, so that only changes in electromagnetic force are involved in changes in thrust, making speed adjustment easier. In addition, since a certain amount of kinetic frictional force serves as a brake when the sample container carrier 11 decelerates, a sample container carrier 11 can be provided that is both easier to move and easier to stop than in the conventional structure, and that allows for easier speed adjustment.

[0066] Furthermore, since the first structure 30, 30A having the ring-shaped magnetic body 32 or the cylindrical magnetic body 33 is in contact with the transport surface 21 on which the specimen container carrier 11, 11A slides, the relative distance between the ring-shaped magnetic body 32 or the cylindrical magnetic body 33 and the electromagnet 22 is prevented from changing frequently, and fluctuations in the electromagnetic force acting on the ring-shaped magnetic body 32 or the cylindrical magnetic body 33 are prevented, thereby achieving more stable transport.

[0067] Furthermore, since the second structure 40 is made of a non-magnetic material and electromagnetic and magnetic forces act only on the first structure 30, the above-mentioned second structure 40, which is not subjected to electromagnetic forces, can generate a constant frictional force. This not only reduces the increase or decrease in dynamic frictional force during transport, but also stabilizes the brake due to the constant frictional force, making it easier to adjust the speed of the specimen container carrier 11.

[0068] Furthermore, since the first structure 30 is provided with a ball bearing 31 on the conveying surface 21 side, the first structure 30 that receives the electromagnetic force can be in contact with the conveying surface 21 using a part with a small coefficient of friction such as the ball bearing 31, and therefore the change in dynamic friction force due to the change in electromagnetic force can be made extremely small.

[0069] Second Embodiment A specimen container carrier 11 and a transport device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0070] In the specimen container carrier 11B of this embodiment shown in Figure 13, instead of the ball bearing 31 in the specimen container carrier 11, 11A of the first embodiment described above, which is a component that contacts the transport surface 21 with a low coefficient of friction in the first structure 30, 30A, the contact area of ​​the first structure 30B with the transport surface 21 is smaller than the contact area of ​​the second structure 40 with the transport surface 21, so that the friction coefficient of the first structure 30B with respect to the transport surface 21 is smaller than that of the second structure 40. In this case, it is desirable that the friction coefficient of the material constituting the first structure 30B is approximately the same as that of the second structure 40, but this can be adjusted by adjusting the contact area. For example, as shown in Figure 13, if the friction coefficient is approximately two decimal places or less and is sufficiently smaller than that of the bottom of the second structure 40 described above, a pin 34 that makes point contact with the transport surface 21 in the first structure 30B can be provided as in the specimen container carrier 11B of this embodiment, thereby providing a component with a lower friction coefficient than that of the second structure 40.

[0071] The other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the specimen container carriers 11, 11A and the transport device equipped therewith in the first embodiment, and therefore details thereof will be omitted.

[0072] Even in the specimen container carrier 11B and the transport device in Example 2 of the present invention, in which the contact area of ​​the first structure 30B with the transport surface 21 is smaller than the contact area of ​​the second structure 40 with the transport surface 21, effects substantially similar to those of the specimen container carriers 11, 11A and the transport devices equipped therewith in Example 1 described above can be obtained.

[0073] Third Embodiment A specimen container carrier 11 and a transport device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0074] The specimen container carrier 11C of this embodiment shown in Figure 14 has the same structure as the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1, but further includes an elastic body, such as a compression spring 51, connecting the first structure 30 and the second structure 40 in the space 50 between the first structure 30 and the second structure 40.

[0075] The spring constant of the compression spring 51 is set to a value large enough to bring the ball bearing 31 into contact with the transport surface 21 due to the magnetic force acting between the electromagnet 22 arranged below the transport surface 21 and the ring-shaped magnetic body 32 inside the specimen container carrier 11. It is desirable that this compression spring 51 be in a state where it is compressed when the first structure 30 receives a downward force, and generates an elastic force in the rebound direction.

[0076] When connected by the compression spring 51, a downward elastic force acts on the second structure 40, but the ball bearing 31 is always in contact with the conveying surface 21 during conveyance, and the spring stroke is constant, so the elastic force does not increase or decrease due to the electromagnetic force. Therefore, a constant dynamic friction force is generated between the second structure 40 and the conveying surface 21, as in Example 1, etc.

[0077] In contrast to this, in this embodiment, which has an elastic body such as a compression spring 51, when the electromagnet 22 is not present directly below the specimen container carrier 11C, it is possible to float the first structure 30 above the contact surface of the second structure 40. This has the following advantages.

[0078] This has advantages when transporting specimens using a transport method other than that using electromagnetic force, such as a belt line where there is no magnetic material under the specimen container carrier 11, within the same specimen testing automation system 300. First, because the ball bearings 31 do not come into contact with the belt, the transport distance of the specimen container carrier 11 does not affect the product life of the first structure 30 and the contact surface. Second, when the specimen container carrier 11 is stopped, the ball bearings 31 can prevent the specimen container carrier 11 from unintentionally slipping.

[0079] The other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the specimen container carriers 11, 11A and the transport device equipped therewith in the first embodiment, and therefore details thereof will be omitted.

[0080] The specimen container carrier 11C and transport device of the third embodiment of the present invention also provide substantially the same effects as the specimen container carriers 11 and 11A of the first embodiment and the specimen container carrier 11B of the second embodiment and the transport device equipped with them.

[0081] Furthermore, by providing a compression spring 51 in the space 50 that connects the first structure 30 and the second structure 40, it is possible to carry out transport that is suitable for transport methods other than those that use electromagnetic force.

[0082] In addition, the structure in this embodiment in which the first structure 30 and the second structure 40 are connected by an elastic body can be applied not only to the specimen container carrier 11 of Example 1, but also to the specimen container carrier 11A of a modified example of Example 1 and the specimen container carrier 11B of Example 2.

[0083] Fourth Embodiment A specimen container carrier 11 and a transport device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0084] In the specimen container carrier of this embodiment, unlike the specimen container carriers 11, 11A described in embodiment 1, the specimen container carrier 11B described in embodiment 2, and the specimen container carrier 11C of embodiment 3, the coefficient of friction of the second structure 40 on the outer periphery does not need to be smaller than the coefficient of friction of the first structure 30, 30A, 30B on the inner periphery, which is divided into two.As long as the coefficient of friction of the first structure 30, 30A, 30B on which the electromagnetic force acts is smaller than the coefficient of friction of the second structure 40, which is preferably made of a non-magnetic material, the first structure on which the electromagnetic force acts is located on the outer periphery of the second structure 40, which is preferably made of a non-magnetic material.

[0085] The other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the specimen container carrier 11, 11A, 11B, 11C of any one of the first, second, and third embodiments and the transport device equipped with them, and therefore details are omitted here.

[0086] The specimen container carrier and transport device of the fourth embodiment of the present invention also provides substantially the same effects as the specimen container carrier 11, 11A, 11B, 11C of any one of the first, second, and third embodiments and the transport device including them.

[0087] <Others> The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and includes various modifications. The above-described examples have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations.

[0088] It is also possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of one embodiment to the configuration of another embodiment.It is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment.

[0089] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Sample container 11, 11A, 11B, 11C...Sample container carrier 20...Transport module (transport device) 21...Transport surface 22...Electromagnet (magnetic pole) 23...Sensor 30, 30A, 30B...First structure 31...Ball bearing (rotating body) 32...Ring-shaped magnetic body 33...Cylindrical magnetic body 34...Pin 40...Second structure 41...Bottom 42...Gripping portion 50...Space 51...Compression spring (elastic body) 100...Sample pre-processing device 111...System control device 150...Sample transport device 200...Automatic analyzer 300...Sample testing automation system

Claims

1. A specimen container carrier which grips a specimen container containing a specimen and is transported by electromagnetic force, comprising a first structure and a second structure which contact a transport surface along which the specimen container carrier slides, the first structure having a magnetic body, the second structure having a gripping portion for the specimen container, a space being formed between the first structure and the second structure, the first structure and the second structure being connected so as to be movable relatively in the vertical direction, and the coefficient of friction of the first structure being smaller than the coefficient of friction of the second structure.

2. A specimen container carrier according to claim 1, wherein the second structure is made of a non-magnetic material, and electromagnetic and magnetic forces act only on the first structure.

3. A specimen container carrier as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastic body provided in said space and connecting said first structure and said second structure.

4. A specimen container carrier according to claim 1, wherein the first structure has a rotor provided on the transport surface side.

5. A specimen container carrier according to claim 1, wherein the contact area of ​​the first structure with the transport surface is smaller than the contact area of ​​the second structure with the transport surface.

6. A transport device having a transport surface along which a specimen container carrier that grips a specimen container containing a specimen slides, and a magnetic pole that is arranged below the transport surface and transports the specimen container carrier by electromagnetic force, wherein the specimen container carrier has a first structure and a second structure that contact the transport surface, the first structure has a magnetic body, the second structure has a gripping portion for the specimen container, a space is formed between the first structure and the second structure, the first structure and the second structure are connected so as to be movable relatively in the vertical direction, and the coefficient of friction of the first structure is smaller than the coefficient of friction of the second structure.