JP3972189B2 - Dispensing device with detachable cartridge rack structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus having a detachable cartridge rack structure for setting a container such as a reagent cartridge formed in a lower surface area of a dispensing nozzle of a dispensing table.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in the analysis work such as immunity, several samples are simultaneously dispensed using an automatic dispensing apparatus and analyzed by a biochemical analyzer. The setting operation of the cartridge container in this dispensing-analysis step requires the setting of an undispensed container to the dispensing apparatus and the transfer and setting work of collecting the container after dispensing and transferring it to the analyzer.
[0003]
By the way, in the conventional dispensing device, a cartridge rack having a plurality of receiving holes is provided in a table on the lower surface area of the dispensing nozzle, and a dispensing nozzle tip and a cartridge container are manually attached to the receiving holes. However, in such a manual operation, the efficiency of the setting operation before and after dispensing is poor, and the handling of containers and the like becomes complicated. On the other hand, a systemized apparatus is provided by automating the setting operation and the conveying means in these dispensing-analysis processes.
However, automatic systemization may lead to a situation in which the device itself becomes expensive, it becomes excessive quality in universities, hospitals, etc. that require small amount of multi-specimen examination, and it may be unusable. However, the dispenser and the analyzer were not arranged separately, and the dispensed specimens could not be accommodated for temporary storage in a refrigerator.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention was devised to eliminate the above problems, and is a cartridge rack provided on the dispensing table, but the cartridge rack itself is separated from the dispensing device, In addition, it becomes possible to manage the quantity arbitrarily, and for the undispensed container before dispensing, even if it is a packaged cartridge container having a plurality of small containers, the base surface portion is arranged between the frame members. It can be easily set in the guide groove on the upper end, the setting work can be done with a separate dedicated table, and workability can be improved, pre-set dispensing standby state and storage is possible, The dispenser can be set with a simple operation by simply placing a stand-by cartridge rack in the opening of the table and placing both frames on the edges. In addition, the container can be transported and stored after dispensing, in units of removed cartridge racks, and immediately transported to the analyzer or temporarily stored in a cool box. This makes it possible to handle a variety of handling situations, so that it is possible to improve the efficiency of setting and moving cartridge containers caused by dispensing before, during and after dispensing without automating the setting and transporting methods. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus having a detachable cartridge rack structure that can be easily handled and managed such as storage.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The technical means adopted by the present invention in order to solve the above problems is a dispensing apparatus that does not include a cartridge rack transport means in the dispensing process, and is provided in the lower surface area of the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing table . Is a cartridge rack of a dispensing device in which a set plate of a single container is set , and the cartridge rack is configured to be detachable from the dispensing table. The dispensing table has an opening formed on the upper surface thereof. The cartridge rack is provided with a rack mounting portion for mounting the cartridge rack, and the cartridge rack is provided with a set portion of cartridge containers in which a plurality of frame members are partitioned at appropriate intervals , and each of these set portions includes: The upper surface between the frame members guides the base surface of the cartridge container or both side edges of the set plate. A pair of guide grooves are formed Rutotomoni, the cartridge rack, and carry the movement in a state removed from the rack mounting portion, as to obtain the line connecting or disconnecting operation of the cartridge vessel or the set plate to the mounting portion, of the frame The both sides are placed on the edge of the opening and are fitted so as to be freely fitted to the rack mounting portion.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a dispensing apparatus that exemplifies an embodiment of the present invention as a preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of the dispensing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge rack, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the cartridge rack. As shown in these drawings, the dispensing apparatus 1 includes a dispensing head 3 that holds a dispensing nozzle 2 for attaching a nozzle tip 21, and a dispensing table 4. By means of an operating mechanism (not shown) of the dispensing device 1, the dispensing head 3 causes the tip of the dispensing nozzle 2 to be placed on a predetermined nozzle chip 21 set on the dispensing table 4 or an arrangement site of the cartridge container 5. On the other hand, the nozzle chip 21 is inserted and held with high accuracy, and a predetermined amount of chemical solution is dispensed into the cartridge container 5 in a distributed manner so as to be operable in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions.
[0007]
The dispensing table 4 is configured to be accurately positioned with respect to a position to be a starting part of the dispensing nozzle 2 and to be movable in the front-rear direction to a position where the setting operation of the nozzle tip 21 and the cartridge container 5 is easy. The dispensing table 4 has a predetermined number (six locations) of nozzle set holes 42, and a rectangular opening serving as a rack mounting portion 41 into which the cartridge rack 6 is fitted. Yes.
[0008]
The cartridge rack 6 is formed in a tapered surface that is slightly inclined at the front and back surfaces of the lower surface area thereof, and is configured to be detachable, that is, to be fitted to the rack mounting portion 41, and can be partitioned independently from each other. .. Are arranged in six rows for convenience, and the cartridge container 5 is inserted and removed while the cartridge rack 6 is detached from the rack mounting portion 41. Be able to. The illustrated cartridge container 5 is a resin-integrated molded product in which 10 child containers 51, 51,... In which a reagent has been charged in advance are arranged in a row in the lower surface area of the base surface portion 52, The light-shielding film is adhered to the surface of the base surface portion 52 and the reagent is hermetically sealed.
When a single container is used, a set plate 7 in which a plurality of set holes 71 each can be set is formed.
[0009]
In other words, the cartridge rack 6 is assembled by the pipes of the connecting members 62c, with the frame members 62 arranged at appropriate intervals so that each set portion 61 is in an independently partitioned manner in six rows of concave shapes. Yes. Each frame member 62 is composed of both side frames 62a and five middle frames 62b, and is formed by aluminum extrusion molding. The center is cut out to reduce the weight. Between each frame member 62, 62, a pair of opposing guide grooves for inserting the both side edges of the base surface portion 52 of the cartridge container 5 from either the front or rear side at the upper end thereof and slidingly guiding it to the side (front-rear direction). 63 and 63 are formed in each set part 61, and the piece of upper guide groove 63 is notched with a half length width. As a result, the cartridge container 5 as described above can be placed from above and slid as it is, as shown by the arrow in FIG.
[0010]
Reference numeral 64 denotes a gripping portion, and the gripping portion 64 is integrally formed with the frame member 62 disposed in the center, whereby the cartridge rack 6 has a function like a basket as a whole, and the gripping portion 64 By gripping the part 64 with a finger, it is possible to easily carry and move it to a predetermined place and attach / detach it to / from the rack mounting part 41. In addition, although the grip part 64 was provided in one place in the center, of course, you may provide multiple.
[0011]
Reference numeral 65 denotes a stopper as a means for preventing the cartridge container 5 that has been set as the cartridge rack 6 is moved and moved. The stopper 65 is a wire-like bar pin member, and the entire section is formed into a downwardly U-shaped cross section. In the state where both ends are revolved and pivotally attached to pin holes (not shown) provided in the both side frames 62a, 62a, and rotated upward, the child It enters between the containers 51 and 51 and is positioned by elastically engaging with a concave groove (not shown) formed in the pin hole portion to restrict the movement of the cartridge container 5.
[0012]
In the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the cartridge container 5 is set on the cartridge rack 6 of the dispensing table 4 moved to the front side of the lower surface area of the dispensing nozzle 2. The cartridge rack 6 of the present invention is configured to be detachable from the rack mounting portion 41 provided on the dispensing table, and the cartridge rack 6 is detached from the rack mounting portion 41. The cartridge container 5 can be inserted and removed.
For this reason, although it is a cartridge rack provided in the dispensing table 4 of the dispensing apparatus 1, compared with what was integrally provided in the conventional dispensing table, the cartridge rack 6 itself is connected with the dispensing apparatus 1. Can be managed as a separate and separate unit, and the quantity can be handled arbitrarily.
(1) The undispensed container 5 before dispensing can be set in a separate dedicated table (another place) to improve workability, and the pre-set dispensing standby state and its Storage is possible.
(2) Setting to the dispensing device 1 can be performed by a simple operation of simply mounting the cartridge rack 6 in the standby state near the dispensing table 4 on the rack mounting portion 41 of the dispensing table 4 and setting. Can be made extremely easy.
(3) The container 5 after dispensing can be transported and stored in units of the removed cartridge rack 6 and can be handled in a flexible manner such as being immediately transported to the analyzer or temporarily stored in a cold storage. This makes it possible to improve the efficiency of setting and moving cartridge containers caused by dispensing before, during, and after dispensing, without automating the setting work and transporting means, and handling management such as storage is also possible. It can be easy.
[0013]
In addition, the set portion 61 of the cartridge container 5 has an array configuration corresponding to the so-called front-and-rear movement of the dispensing head 3 that is partitioned into six rows with respect to the cartridge rack 6, so that different samples are provided for each row. As a result, not only multiple types of cartridge containers 5 in which a reagent for one sample is packaged but also a single container set using a set plate 7 etc. Dispensing device that can be handled and processed as a unit, for example, the dispensing head 3 is provided with six dispensing nozzles 2 corresponding to each row, and is simultaneously moved while moving forward and backward. In addition, there is an advantage that setting is easy.
[0014]
The rack mounting portion 41 is an opening formed by cutting out the upper surface of the dispensing table 4. If the cartridge rack 6 is inserted into the opening from above, both side frames 62a are opened. Since the cartridge rack 6 is formed with a gripping portion 64, the cartridge rack 6 can be easily attached and detached, and the gripping portion 64 can be easily attached to the cartridge rack 6. It is placed in the center of the rack 6 and can be carried in a well-balanced manner, avoiding or minimizing the risk of unforeseen circumstances such as accidentally slanting and spilling the sample during transport after dispensing. Can do.
In addition, since the gripping portion 64 protrudes upward and is provided at the center portion, when there is only one dispensing nozzle 2, an operation over the dispensing nozzle 2 is required. When a plurality (two or more) are disposed, the gripping portion 64 is disposed just between the dispensing nozzles 2 and 2 so that the dispensing nozzle 2 operates in the left and right regions with the gripping portion 64 interposed therebetween. Thus, there is no additional influence on the operation control of the dispensing nozzle 2.
[0015]
On the other hand, the set portion 61 is provided with a means for preventing upward detachment due to the dispensing operation of the dispensing nozzle 2 (nozzle tip 21) with respect to the cartridge container 5. That is, a light-shielding film is attached in advance to the surface of the base surface portion 52 in the cartridge container 5, and the nozzle chip 21 is inserted through the lifting / lowering operation to move upward. At that time, the tip of the nozzle chip 21 and the light-shielding film are engaged with each other, and the cartridge container 5 may be lifted and detached from the set portion 61. Therefore, in the past, this has been dealt with by providing a separate pressing member or the like as an upward retaining restricting means. However, in the present invention, the pair of guide grooves 63 and 63 function and function as upward retaining restraints. Therefore, it is not particularly necessary to provide a separate restricting means, and the number of parts can be reduced and the apparatus can be simplified.
[0016]
Further, since the cartridge rack 6 is provided with a drop prevention means 65 so that the cartridge container 5 set during carrying and moving is not inadvertently dropped, the cartridge container 5 once set is positioned. The dispensing nozzle 2 can be accurately arranged at the raising / lowering operation position.
The cartridge rack 6 is illustrated as having 6 squares and 6 arrays, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the rack 6 is divided into 6 arrays and 12 sections by dividing it forward and backward, or circularly arranged radially from the center. The shape and arrangement thereof are arbitrary.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, the dispensing table 4 is provided with a rack mounting portion 41 for mounting a cartridge rack 6 having an opening formed on the upper surface thereof, while a frame member 62 is provided at an appropriate interval in the cartridge rack 6. A set portion 61 of the cartridge container 5 or the set plate 7 that is partitioned into a plurality of partitions is provided , and the base surface portion 52 or the set portion of the cartridge container 5 is set at the upper end portion between the frame members 62 in each set portion 61. a pair of guide grooves 63 for guiding the side edges of the plate 7 is formed Rutotomoni, and carry the movement in a state where the cartridge rack 6, removed from the rack mounting portion 41, the cartridge container 5 to the mounting portion 61 or to obtain row insertion and removal operation of the set plate 7, both sides 62a of the frame 62 to the opening Because it is fitted freely configured for the rack mounting portion 41 by allowed to fitted by placing the edge of the serial opening,
Although the cartridge rack 6 is provided on the dispensing table 4, the cartridge rack itself is separated from the dispensing apparatus 1, and the quantity can be arbitrarily handled and managed. For undispensed containers, even the packaged cartridge container 5 having a plurality of small containers 51 can easily set the base surface portion 52 to the guide groove 63 at the upper end between the frame members 62, The set operation can be performed with a separate dedicated table, so that the workability can be improved, and the pre-set dispensing standby state and storage thereof can be performed. fitted rack 6 to the opening of the table 4, to obtain complete the simple operation of attaching and mounting the bilateral frame 62a in its edge, very volumes of settings In addition, the containers after dispensing can be transported and stored in units of the removed cartridge racks, and can be immediately transported to the analyzer or temporarily stored in a refrigerator. Therefore, the efficiency of the setting work and the moving work of the cartridge container 5 before dispensing, at the time of dispensing, and after dispensing is achieved without automating the setting work and the conveying means, Moreover, handling management such as storage can be facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a dispensing device.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge rack.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a cartridge rack.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Dispensing device 2 Dispensing nozzle 21 Nozzle tip 3 Dispensing head 4 Dispensing table 41 Rack mounting part 42 Nozzle set hole 5 Cartridge container 51 Child container 52 Base surface part 6 Cartridge rack 61 Set part 62 Frame member 62a Both side frames 62b Frame 62c Connecting member 63 Guide groove 64 Grasping part 65 Drop-off prevention means (stopper)
7 Set plate 71 Set hole

Claims (9)

In a dispensing apparatus that does not have a cartridge rack transport means in the dispensing process, the dispensing rack is provided in the lower surface area of the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing table, and a cartridge container or a single container set plate is set in the dispensing rack. In order to configure the cartridge rack so as to be detachable from the dispensing table, the dispensing table is provided with a rack mounting portion for mounting a cartridge rack having an opening formed on the upper surface thereof. Is provided with a set portion of the cartridge container or set plate in which frame members are partitioned into a plurality of partitions at appropriate intervals, and each set portion has a base of the cartridge container at an upper end portion between the frame members. A pair of guide grooves are formed to guide the side portions or both side edges of the set plate. Both sides of the frame are connected to the edge of the opening so that the cartridge rack can be moved and removed when the cartridge rack is removed from the rack mounting portion, and the cartridge container or set plate can be inserted into and removed from the set portion. A dispensing apparatus having a detachable cartridge rack structure, wherein the apparatus is configured to be fitted to the rack mounting portion by being placed and fitted. 2. The removable cartridge rack according to claim 1, wherein the rack mounting portion is an opening formed in the dispensing table surface by being cut out, and the cartridge rack is fitted into the opening. Dispensing device with structure . 3. A dispensing apparatus having a detachable cartridge rack structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a grip portion is formed on the cartridge rack . 4. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gripping portion includes a detachable cartridge rack structure that is disposed between the dispensing nozzles in the dispensing apparatus provided with a plurality of the dispensing nozzles. The removable cartridge rack structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the set portion is provided with an upward retaining preventing means that is provided when the dispensing nozzle enters and exits the cartridge container. Dispensing device provided . 6. A dispensing apparatus having a detachable cartridge rack structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide groove is also used as the retaining prevention means. 7. A dispensing apparatus having a detachable cartridge rack structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the set portion is configured to be able to set a cartridge container in which a plurality of child containers are integrally formed. . 8. A dispensing apparatus having a detachable cartridge rack structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the set plate is formed with a set hole into which a single container can be set. 9. The detachable cartridge rack structure according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge rack is provided with a means for preventing the cartridge cartridge or the set plate from falling off when the cartridge container is moved. Dispensing device .

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