JP5154201B2 - Sample dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample dispensing apparatus for printing a barcode label as identification information on a child test tube used for analysis and storage of a sample such as blood or urine collected for examination.

  Conventionally, the sample dispensing device has a dispensing device and a barcode label sticking device, and the barcode in the barcode label sticking device is printed on the child sample container dispensed by the dispensing device. However, a part of the apparatus is in contact with the child sample container and the barcode is applied. Moreover, as a barcode label sticking apparatus, what was described in patent document 1 is known, for example.

JP 2000-266755 A

  In the sample dispensing apparatus, the process of dispensing into the child sample container for analysis and storage and the process of pasting the barcode on the child sample container are performed by separate apparatuses. Since the apparatus for attaching the barcode to the child sample container is in contact with the child sample container to which the barcode is to be attached and the barcode label output from the printer is attached, it takes a long processing time. Further, since the dispensing process and the sticking process are performed by separate apparatuses, there is a possibility of sample loss because the sample may be mixed up or contacted with the sample container.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the time spent for recording identification information including a barcode.

  The present invention relates to a non-contact recording means for recording identification information in a state of being separated from a child sample container in a sample dispensing apparatus that records visible identification information to a child sample container into which a sample is dispensed from a parent sample container. It is provided with.

  According to the present invention, the time spent for recording identification information is shortened.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic example of a configuration in which a sample marker 1 is equipped with a laser marker 2 as a recording means.

  In the sample dispensing apparatus 1, a laser marker 2 as a recording means, a parent sample transport rack 4 on which a parent sample container 3 is mounted, a parent sample transport line on which the parent sample transport rack is transported, and a child sample container 5 are mounted. A child sample transport rack 6 and a child sample transport line for transporting the child sample transport rack are provided.

  Also, a dispensing mechanism that performs dispensing processing using a nozzle chip on the child sample container 5 mounted on the child sample transport rack 6, and a CPU that manages barcode information that is identification information of the parent sample container 3 ( Central Processing Unit) 7, laser marker 2 for printing barcode information (indicating the relationship with the parent sample or specifying the child sample container) on the child sample container 5 on the child sample container 5 based on information transmitted from the CPU 7, laser marker 2 has a BCR (Barcode Reader) 8 that reads the barcode information printed on the child sample container 5 and transmits the information to the CPU 7.

  Further, the identification information is a visible display including symbols, characters, numbers, symbols and the like in addition to the barcode. Unlike the information such as the electronic tag, the identification information is visible, so the inspection operator can confirm the identification information in the process from dispensing to analysis. In this embodiment, the identification information is described below as barcode information.

  In addition to the laser marker, the recording means for printing and recording the barcode can be configured by an ink jet printer, a nearby thermal printer, or an electron beam (drawing formation).

  The laser marker 2 has a recording head. The recording head is provided integrally with or separately from the laser marker main body. The laser marker 2 faces the child sample containers 5 arranged in the child sample transport rack 6 so as to face each other. The laser marker 2 that faces and faces the child sample container 5 records a barcode on the child sample container 5 in a state of being separated from the child sample container 5 (non-contact).

  That is, the laser marker 2 is placed so that the recording head of the laser marker 2 is closely spaced (non-contact). The laser marker body can be placed away from the child sample container 5. When the recording of one child sample container 5 is completed, the bar code is recorded by repeating the recording procedure by moving the child sample transport rack 6 to the right by one.

  In this embodiment, the child sample transport rack 6 is transported on the child sample transport line, but it is also possible to stop the child sample transport rack 6 and transport the recording means. That is, the child sample transport rack and the recording head are movably provided so as to be relatively movable while maintaining the separated state.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the processing function configuration of the sample dispensing apparatus.

  The barcode information of the sample dispensing apparatus 1 is obtained by adding a barcode to the parent sample container 3 or reading the barcode when placing the parent sample container 3 on the parent sample transport rack 4. The barcode is controlled by the CPU 10 and the CPU 7 in the sample dispensing apparatus 1 is controlled. After receiving the information of the parent barcode 11 of the parent sample container 3 from the host CPU 10, a dispensing process is performed from the parent sample container 3 to the child sample container 5.

  Immediately after the dispensing process, the barcode 12 of the same barcode 12 as that of the parent sample container 3 is printed on the child sample container 5 directly from the laser marker 2 in a non-contact manner. The printed barcode 12 is read by the BCR 8 and information is transmitted to the CPU 7 in the sample dispensing apparatus 1. The CPU 7 manages the information of the barcode 12 by transmitting it to the host CPU 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, the function of recording the barcode with the recording means immediately after dispensing the sample into the child sample container is adopted, but recording is performed after all the child sample transport racks are gathered in the child sample transport rack 6. It is also possible to record batch processing.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the appearance of the child sample transport rack 6 on which the child sample container 5 is mounted.

  The child sample transport rack 6 on which the child sample container 5 is mounted has a slit portion, and a space necessary for barcode printing of the child sample container 5 is secured.

  In other words, a recording flying medium radiated from a laser marker (laser light), an ink jet printer (ink), or a thermal printer (heat ray) of the recording means passes through the slit portion and records a barcode.

  As a result, it is possible to print a barcode without contact with a part of the recording means on the child sample container 5 without intervening. By printing the barcode on the child sample container 5 without contact, loss of the sample can be prevented.

  Further, the size of the child sample transport rack 6 is opposite to the number of the child sample containers 5 mounted, and it is possible to cope with one to a plurality.

  In the case where the recording range of the child sample transport rack or the bar code having no slit portion is wide, the child sample container can be lifted so as to be removed from the child sample transport rack and recorded.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the barcode printing operation.

  Dispensing processing from the parent sample container 3 to the child sample container 5 is performed, and a barcode is printed on the child sample container 5 by the laser marker 2 at that position, and a series of operations for reading the barcode with the BCR 8 at the same position after printing is performed. . As a result, the sample can be prevented from being mixed up.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a barcode printing operation while the child sample transport rack 6 in which the child sample container 5 is mounted is moving.

  After the dispensing process is performed from the parent sample container 3 to the child sample container 5 at the dispensing process position 20, the child sample transport rack 6 in which the child sample container 5 is mounted moves to the barcode reading position 22 at a constant speed. The laser marker 2 has a function of printing a barcode on the child sample container 5 when the child sample container 5 passes the barcode printing position 21.

  The barcode of the child sample container 5 mounted on the child sample transport rack 6 moved to the barcode reading position 22 is read by the BCR 8.

  The operation of the laser marker relating to the barcode printing described above may be controlled using a non-contact printer such as an ink jet printer.

  The recording surface on which the barcode is recorded will be described.

  The non-contact record is recorded directly on the surface of the child sample container or on a paper (label) previously attached to the child sample container. It is also possible to record after the surface of the child specimen container is coated beforehand. It is desirable to use a label for cleaned and reused child specimen containers. It is desirable to record directly on the surface of a disposable child specimen container.

  As described above, in the series of operations from dispensing processing to barcode printing by using a laser marker, an ink jet printer, etc. as a recording device, a recording device for printing a barcode is provided in the sample dispensing device. Non-contact printing can be performed on the child sample container, and the processing time can be shortened, the sample can be mistaken, and the sample loss can be improved.

It is a figure which concerns on the Example of this invention, and shows an example of a structure provided with the sample dispensing apparatus and the laser marker. It is a figure which concerns on the Example of this invention, and showed the processing function structure of the sample dispensing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a child sample transport rack according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which concerns on the Example of this invention and showed barcode printing operation | movement. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a barcode printing operation during movement of the child sample transport rack according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sample dispensing apparatus, 2 ... Laser marker, 3 ... Parent sample container, 4 ... Parent sample conveyance rack, 5 ... Child sample container, 6 ... Child sample conveyance rack, 7 ... CPU, 8 ... BCR, 10 ... Upper rank CPU, 11 ... parent barcode, 12 ... barcode, 20 ... dispensing processing position, 21 ... barcode printing position, 22 ... barcode reading position.

Claims (7)

In a sample dispensing device having a dispensing means for dispensing a sample aspirated from a parent sample container into a child sample container,
Non-contact recording means for recording identification information visible on the child sample container in a separated state;
Reading means for reading the identification information recorded by the recording means in a non-contact manner;
With
A specimen dispensing apparatus, wherein the recording means records identification information at a position where the dispensing means performs dispensing processing, and the reading means reads the identification information. The specimen dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The non-contact recording means is any one of a laser marker, an ink jet printer, and a thermal printer. The specimen dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The specimen dispensing apparatus, wherein the identification information includes a barcode, a symbol, a character, a number, a design, and the like. The specimen dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The identification information is recorded directly on the surface of the child sample container or on a label including paper affixed to the child sample container. The specimen dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A child sample transport rack containing the child sample container;
The child sample transport rack has a slit portion through which either laser light emitted from a laser marker of the recording means, ink ejected from an ink jet printer, or heat rays emitted from a thermal printer passes. A specimen dispensing device that is characterized. A parent sample transport line for transporting a parent sample transport rack for storing a plurality of parent sample containers; a child sample transport line for transporting a child sample transport rack for storing a plurality of child sample containers; and In a sample processing apparatus having a dispensing means for dispensing a sample into a child sample container,
Non-contact recording means for recording identification information in a state of being separated from the child sample container;
Reading means for reading the identification information recorded by the recording means in a non-contact manner;
With
A sample processing apparatus, wherein the recording means records identification information at a position where the dispensing means performs a dispensing process, and further the reading means reads the recorded identification information. The specimen processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
It said recording means and said child sample transport rack, the sample processing apparatus, characterized in that is provided so as to relatively move while maintaining the separated state.

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