Conveyance device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technique with which, in a conveyance device for conveying a holder that holds a specimen container, it is possible to stably stop the holder and minimize the size of the space in which the conveyance device is to be installed. A conveyance device according to the present invention comprises a holder stopper mechanism that stops a holder being conveyed on a specimen conveyance line. The holder stopper mechanism is provided with: a first stopper that is formed of a plate-shaped member attached to a rotation shaft so as to be orthogonal to a rotation axis; and a pressing part that is attached to the rotation shaft so as to protrude from the rotation shaft in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis (see fig. 3).

Description

Conveyor

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport device that transports a holder that holds a sample container.

[0002] An automated analyzer for analyzing samples is equipped with a sample transport system (transport device) that transports holders that hold sample containers. The sample containers are held by the sample holders and transported to various locations within the automated analyzer on a sample transport line. For example, one sample holder is configured to hold one sample container.

[0003] When transferring a sample container to or from a holder, the holder must be stopped on the sample transport line. Also, when a holder that has completed transferring sample containers is moved forward on the sample transport line, it may be necessary to transport the holders one by one while separating them so that the next holder does not automatically follow the previous holder.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a mechanism for transporting specimen holders while separating them one by one (a mechanism for separating a single-library transport holder). The document states that "the present invention provides a method for separating connected specimen holders for single-library transport that are continuously transported, and smoothly transporting them downstream one by one or the desired number of specimens, while reducing the number of drive sources." It also describes a technology that states, "The mechanism for separating a single-library transport holder of the present invention can be realized by attaching two fan-shaped thin plates, which are the objects of operation, to the same axis with a specific phase. This makes it possible to efficiently separate multiple connected specimen holders for single-library transport and provide an apparatus with a small number of drive sources." (See Abstract).

[0005] JP 2011-075355 A

[0006] The separation mechanism described in Patent Document 1 has difficulty stably stopping a sample holder being transported on a continuously moving sample transport line. Therefore, it is necessary to use a separate mechanism (holding mechanism) to hold down the sample holder. However, the technology described in this document requires that the separation mechanism and the holding mechanism be configured as separate mechanisms. This requires a drive unit and installation space for each of the separation mechanism and the holding mechanism, which requires a corresponding amount of installation space.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology in a transport device that transports a holder that holds a sample container, which can stably stop the holder and reduce the installation space size of the transport device.

[0008] The transport device of the present invention is equipped with a holder stopper mechanism that stops a holder being transported on a specimen transport line, and the holder stopper mechanism is equipped with a first stopper formed by a plate-shaped member attached to a rotating shaft so as to be perpendicular to the rotation axis, and a retaining portion attached to the rotating shaft so as to protrude from the rotating shaft in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

[0009] According to the transport device of the present invention, in a transport device that transports a holder that holds a specimen container, the holder can be stopped stably and the installation space size of the transport device can be reduced.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view showing the configuration of a sample transport system 1 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a portion of a sample inserting device 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a holder stopper mechanism 10. FIG. 4 is a view showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops two holders 81-82 on the sample transport line 9. FIG. 5 is a view showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops two holders 81-82 on the sample transport line 9, following FIGS. 4 to 5 . FIG. 5 is a view showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops two holders 81-82 on the sample transport line 9, following FIGS. 4 to 5 . FIG. 6 is a view showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops two holders 81-82 on the sample transport line 9, following FIGS. 7 to 8 . FIG. 7 is a view showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops two holders 81-82 on the sample transport line 9, following FIGS. 8 to 9 , this is a diagram showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops the holder 82 on the sample transport line 9. Continuing from Figures 8 to 9 , this is a diagram showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops the holder 82 on the sample transport line 9. Continuing from Figures 8 to 9 , this is a diagram showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops the holder 82 on the sample transport line 9. A perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the holding unit 104. A perspective view showing another example of the configuration of the holding unit 104.

[0011] 1 is a side view showing the configuration of a sample transport system 1 (transport device) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The sample transport system 1 is a device that transports holders that hold sample containers containing samples. Below, an example configuration in which one sample container is held by one holder will be described.

[0012] Sample containers placed in the sample loading tray in the sample loading device 2 are transferred to a holder. The holder is then transported sequentially on the sample transport line to the pre-processing device 3 (centrifugation, uncapping, dispensing) and the sample transfer device 4. The sample transfer device 4 transfers the sample container to a rack used by the analysis device 5. The sample container is then transported to the analysis device 5, where the sample is analyzed. After analysis, the sample containers mounted on the rack are transported to the sample transfer device 4. The sample transfer device 4 transfers the sample container to a holder, which is transported to the sample storage device 6. The sample container is transferred to a storage tray within the sample storage device 6. In the above process, the holder is transported on the sample transport line by the sample transport system 1.

[0013] 2 is a schematic plan view showing a part of the sample inserting device 2. The sample containers are transferred from a sample inserting tray 7 to a holder 8. The holder 8 is transported on a sample transport line 9.

[0014] 3 is a perspective view of the holder stopper mechanism 10. The holder stopper mechanism 10 is a mechanism for stopping the holder 8 being transported on the sample transport line 9. When a sample container is transferred to or from the holder, the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops the holder 8 on the sample transport line 9.

[0015] The holder stopper mechanism 10 includes a rotating shaft 101, a first stopper 103, a second stopper 102, a holding portion 104, and a driving portion 105. The first stopper 103, the second stopper 102, and the holding portion 104 are connected to the rotating shaft 101 and rotate as the rotating shaft 101 rotates. The driving portion 105 is configured by, for example, a motor, and rotates the rotating shaft 101.

[0016] The first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102 are fan-shaped plate members. The first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102 are located at different positions along the rotation direction of the rotating shaft 101. As a result, for example, when the first stopper 103 blocks (stops) a holder 8 on the sample transport line 9, the second stopper 102 is configured to not block (allow) other holders 8 to pass, and when the second stopper 102 blocks (stops) a holder 8 on the sample transport line 9, the first stopper 103 is configured to not block (allow) other holders 8 to pass.

[0017] The retaining portion 104 is a member that protrudes from the rotating shaft 101 in a direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft 101. The retaining portion 104 is disposed in a position where it presses down on the side of the stopped holder 8 when the second stopper 102 blocks the holder 8 on the sample transport line 9.

[0018] 4 and 5 are diagrams showing how the holder stopper mechanism 10 stops two holders 81 and 82 on the sample transport line 9. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the holder stopper mechanism 10 and its surroundings, and FIG. 5 is a top view of the same area. When the drive unit 105 rotates the rotary shaft 101, the first stopper 103 protrudes so as to intersect with the sample transport line 9. As a result, the first stopper 103 comes into contact with the right side (FIG. 5) of the holder 81 flowing on the sample transport line 9, blocking the holder 81. At the same time, the holder 82 flowing on the sample transport line 9 following the holder 81 is also blocked.

[0019] 6 and 7 are diagrams showing the holder stopper mechanism 10 stopping the two holders 81 and 82 on the sample transport line 9, following on from FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder stopper mechanism 10 and its surroundings, and FIG. 7 is a top view of the same area. Following on from FIGS. 4 and 5, the drive unit 105 further rotates the rotating shaft 101. As a result, the first stopper 103 rotates to a position where it does not intersect with the sample transport line 9, and the holder 81 passes the first stopper 103 and continues in the direction of travel.

[0020] As the first stopper 103 rotates, the second stopper 102 also rotates and protrudes to cross the sample transport line 9. As a result, the second stopper 102 comes into contact with the right side surface (FIG. 7) of the holder 81 flowing on the sample transport line 9, blocking the holder 81. At the same time, the holder 82 flowing on the sample transport line 9 following the holder 81 is also blocked.

[0021] 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the holder stopper mechanism 10 stopping the two holders 81 and 82 on the sample transport line 9, following on from FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the holder stopper mechanism 10 and its surroundings, and FIG. 9 is a top view of the same area. Following on from FIGS. 6 and 7, the drive unit 105 further rotates the rotating shaft 101. As a result, the second stopper 102 continues to block the holder 81 flowing on the sample transport line 9, and the pressing portion 104 protrudes to cross the sample transport line 9.

[0022] The pressing portion 104 presses the side surface of the holder 81 (the side surface at a position different from the side surface contacting the second stopper 102) as the rotating shaft 101 rotates. As a result, the holder 81 is pressed against the side wall of the sample transport line 9 (the linear portion extending left and right above the holder 81 in FIG. 9). This pressing action stabilizes the position of the holder 81. The sample insertion device 2 transfers the sample container 11 (shown in FIG. 10) from the sample insertion tray 7 to the holder 81 whose position has been stabilized.

[0023] In order for the retaining portion 104 to stabilize the position of the holder 81, it is desirable to position the retaining portion 104 so that when the first stopper 103 stops the holder 81, the center of the holder 81 in the left-right direction in Figure 9 coincides with the center of the retaining portion 104. It should be noted that the position of the retaining portion 104 in this case is not necessarily the center between the first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102.

[0024] 10 and 11 are diagrams showing the holder stopper mechanism 10 stopping the holder 82 on the sample transport line 9, following on from FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the holder stopper mechanism 10 and its surroundings, and FIG. 11 is a top view of the same area. Following on from FIGS. 8 and 9, the drive unit 105 further rotates the rotating shaft 101. As a result, the second stopper 102 rotates to a position where it does not intersect with the sample transport line 9, and the holder 81 passes the second stopper 102 and continues in the forward direction.

[0025] At the same time that the second stopper 102 rotates to a position where it does not come into contact with the side surface of the holder 81, the first stopper 103 protrudes so as to cross the sample transport line 9. As a result, the first stopper 103 comes into contact with the right side surface (FIG. 11) of the holder 82 flowing on the sample transport line 9, blocking the holder 82.

[0026] As described above, the first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102 alternately block the holders, thereby allowing the holders to pass one by one on the sample transport line 9. Therefore, the sample containers can be stably transferred one by one onto the holders whose positions are stable.

[0027] The first stopper 103, the holding portion 104, and the second stopper 102 are arranged in positions where they protrude in this order to intersect the sample transport line 9 as the rotating shaft 101 rotates. They are also arranged in positions where there is no state where the first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102 do not intersect the sample transport line 9. This arrangement allows the first stopper 103, the holding portion 104, and the second stopper 102 to operate as described in Figures 4 to 11.

[0028] If the holder is cylindrical (i.e., the planar shape is circular), in order for the holder stopper mechanism 10 to block the holders one by one, the distance between the first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102 along the extension direction of the rotating shaft 101 must be less than 1.5 times the diameter of the planar shape of the holder. For example, in FIG. 7 , assume that the second stopper 102 blocks the right end of the holder 81 (the rightmost position in the planar shape of the holder 81 shown in FIG. 7 ). When the second stopper 102 releases the right end of the holder 81, the first stopper 103 must protrude to a position where it can block the holder 82. To do this, the first stopper 103 must be located at least to the right of the bottom end of the holder 82 (the bottommost position in the planar shape of the holder 81 shown in FIG. 7 ). To satisfy this condition, the distance between the first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102 must be less than 1.5 times the diameter of the planar shape of the holder. More specifically, a distance of approximately 1.0 to 1.2 times is desirable. This condition varies depending on the shape of the holder, the shapes of the first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102 (how far they cross the sample transport line 9), etc., but at the very least, when the second stopper 102 releases the holder, the first stopper 103 must be positioned so that it simultaneously blocks the next holder.

[0029] <Embodiment 2> Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the pressing portion 104. A part of the tip of the pressing portion 104 (the shaded portion in Fig. 12) is made of an elastic body. The pressing portion 104 itself can be pressed against the holder by the elastic force of the elastic body, and the holder can be pressed down by the frictional force of the elastic body. The rest is the same as in embodiment 1.

[0030] 13 is a perspective view showing another example of the configuration of the pressing portion 104. The pressing portion 104 can be configured with a base 106, a spring 108, and a pad 107. The holder can be pressed down by pressing the pad 107 against the holder with the elastic force of the spring 108. The rest is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0031] 12 and 13, it is desirable that the tip of the pressing portion 104 has a shape that fits the shape of the side surface of the holder. For example, if the holder is cylindrical, it is desirable that the tip of the pressing portion 104 also curves along the curvature of the side surface of the holder. In other words, it is desirable that the surface of the tip of the pressing portion 104 that comes into contact with the holder and the side surface of the holder have at least similar shapes.

[0032] <Regarding Modifications of the Present Invention> In the above embodiment, by adding a holding portion 104 to the separation mechanism of the single-tube transport holder described in Patent Document 1 and controlling the rotation angle of each stopper, it is possible to provide a holder stopper mechanism (i.e., a mechanism equivalent to the holder stopper mechanism 10 in the present invention) that has the function of blocking the specimen holder and the function of holding the specimen holder.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the holder stopper mechanism 10 may include only one of the first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102. Even in this case, the holder can be stably stopped by the pressing portion 104 and either of the stoppers.

[0034] In the above embodiment, in order for the first stopper 103 and the second stopper 102 to operate as described in FIGS. 4 to 11, it is desirable that the center of the fan-shaped shape of each stopper overlaps with the rotation axis.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the driving unit 105 can be controlled by a control device provided in the sample transport system 1. The control device can be configured by hardware such as a circuit device that implements the function, or by a computing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes software that implements the function.

[0036] 1: Sample transport system 2: Sample input device 3: Pretreatment device 4: Sample transfer device 5: Analysis device 6: Sample storage device 7: Sample input tray 8: Holder 81: Holder 82: Holder 9: Sample transport line 10: Holder stopper mechanism 101: Rotating shaft 102: Second stopper 103: First stopper 104: Pressing part 105: Driving part 106: Base 107: Pad 108: Spring 11: Sample container

Claims

1. A transport device for transporting a holder that holds a specimen container, comprising a holder stopper mechanism for stopping the holder being transported on a specimen transport line, the holder stopper mechanism comprising: a rotating shaft that rotates around a rotation axis; a drive unit that rotates the rotating shaft; a first stopper formed by a plate-like member attached to the rotating shaft so as to be perpendicular to the rotation axis; and a pressing unit attached to the rotating shaft so as to protrude from the rotating shaft in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

2. The transport device described in claim 1, characterized in that the first stopper rotates as the rotating shaft rotates to a position where it intersects with the sample transport line, thereby contacting the side of the holder being transported on the sample transport line and stopping the holder.

3. The transport device described in claim 2, characterized in that the holding portion is positioned so that after the first stopper rotates to a position where it contacts the side of the holder on the sample transport line, as the rotating shaft further rotates, the holding portion is pressed against the side of the holder that is stopped by the first stopper.

4. The transport device described in claim 2, characterized in that the holder stopper mechanism further comprises a second stopper formed by a plate-like member attached to the rotating shaft perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the second stopper is positioned so that when the first stopper rotates to a position where it does not stop the holder being transported on the sample transport line, the second stopper rotates to a position where it intersects the sample transport line and can come into contact with the side of the holder being transported on the sample transport line to stop the holder.

5. The transport device described in claim 4, characterized in that the sample transport line transports a first holder and a second holder that is transported following the first holder as the holders, the first stopper rotates to a position where it stops the first holder on the sample transport line, the holding portion rotates to a position where it presses the holding portion against the first holder after the first stopper rotates to a position where it stops the first holder on the sample transport line, and the second stopper rotates to a position where it stops the second holder on the sample transport line when the first stopper rotates to a position where it does not stop the first holder on the sample transport line.

6. A conveying device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the holding portion is attached to the rotating shaft so that when the first stopper stops the holder, the center of the holder in the direction in which the holder is conveyed coincides with the center of the holding portion in said direction.

7. A conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the surface of the pressing portion that comes into contact with the holder is configured to be similar to the shape of the surface of the holder that comes into contact with the pressing portion.

8. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of said pressing portion is made of an elastic material.

9. A conveying device as described in claim 8, characterized in that the tip of the pressing portion is formed by the elastic body, or the elastic body is a spring, the tip of the pressing portion is formed by a pad that is pressed against the side of the holder, and the spring is arranged so that the elastic force of the spring presses the pad against the side of the holder.

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