JPH0143268B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that sequentially introduces a specimen and a reagent into an array of reaction tubes moving in a constant temperature bath containing a constant temperature liquid, reacts them, and performs measurement.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

As is well known, automatic analyzers dispense a large number of samples (e.g. serum) one by one into reaction tubes, and then
This is a device that performs analysis by injecting a reaction reagent for the chemical component to be analyzed, allowing the reaction to proceed, and measuring the amount of transmitted light by exposing the reacted sample to light (called a colorimetric method). At this time, in order to accelerate the reaction and perform continuous measurements, the reaction tube array is moved through a constant temperature liquid in a constant temperature bath. but,
Since the surface of the reaction tube immersed in the constant temperature liquid is contaminated with deposits such as limescale, a pair of wipers 2 are installed facing each other on the inner wall of the constant temperature bath 1, as shown in FIG. This was installed to prevent contamination of the surface of the reaction tube 3. However, the conventional wiper 2 attached to the inner wall of the thermostatic chamber 1 was short in size, so that when the surface of the reaction tube was in pressure contact from both sides during the transfer of the reaction tube row, There were times when the reactor tubes were located between rows of reaction tubes and the reaction tubes were not pressed against each other at all, and as a result, there were times when no braking force was applied to the movement of the reaction tubes. Therefore, in combination with the intermittent press-contact action of the wiper mentioned above, the uneven transfer speed of the reaction tubes is caused by backlash caused by accumulated errors in the reducer, bearings, etc. of the drive mechanism that transfers the reaction tubes. As a result, smooth and accurate photometry was not possible. Therefore, in order to prevent this uneven transfer speed, it is necessary to use highly accurate parts in the drive mechanism, or to constantly apply a braking force to the final rotating shaft or the outer periphery of the rotating disk. He was taking measures.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that can prevent contamination of the reaction tube surface and at the same time maintain a constant transfer speed of the reaction tube array. be.

[Summary of the invention]

The outline of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a reaction tube array, a drive mechanism for transporting the reaction tube array, and a liquid constant temperature bath for accommodating the reaction tube array, and the dimensions of a wiper attached to the inner wall of the constant temperature bath. This system is characterized by a continuous braking force acting on the transfer of the reaction tube by devising a unique arrangement.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 22 is a pair of wipers installed facing each other on the inner wall of the thermostatic chamber 21, and the pair of wipers 22 are made of a flexible member such as a sponge. Two or more reaction tubes 23 out of the reaction tube array that are transferred at a constant interval within the thermostatic chamber 21
They are pressed together as if straddling and sandwiching them. As shown in FIG. 3, the reaction tube array is fixed to a drive belt 24 by appropriate means and is movable in the direction of arrow A in the figure. Note that 25 is a constant temperature liquid stored in the constant temperature bath 21, and 26 is a solution to be analyzed injected into the reaction tube 23 (FIG. 4).

The operation of this device configured as above will be explained. A row of reaction tubes 23 moves in a constant temperature liquid 25 in a constant temperature bath 21 along with a drive belt 24, but at this time, two or more reaction tubes 23 are always pressed together by a pair of wipers 22. Because of this, a braking force is continuously applied to the transfer of the reaction tube 23, and the unevenness of the transfer speed caused by the backlash caused by the so-called backlash mentioned above is corrected. Contamination can also be prevented.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

For example, as a modification thereof, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of wipers 32 having a shorter dimension than the wiper 22 of the above embodiment are attached to the inner wall of a thermostatic chamber 31 while being shifted from each other in the direction of movement of the reaction tube 33. The pair of wipers 32 are arranged so that they can always press against any one of the reaction tubes 33 in the row of reaction tubes being transferred, and can continuously exert a braking force in the direction of movement. This is how it was done. In short, at least one or more reaction tubes are always held in pressure contact by a pair of wipers attached to the inner wall of the thermostatic chamber, and as a result,
It is sufficient that a continuous braking force can be exerted in the transfer direction of the reaction tube.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention can simultaneously prevent contamination of the reaction tube surface and maintain a constant transfer speed of the reaction tube by skillfully adjusting the dimensions and mounting position of the wiper. Thus, there is no need to provide a separate anti-backlash mechanism means, and a highly accurate device can be provided at low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a conventional wiper and a reaction tube, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 are an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 21, 31... constant temperature bath, 22, 32... wiper, 23, 33... reaction tube, 24... drive belt, 25... constant temperature liquid.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A pair having a reaction tube array, a drive mechanism for transporting the reaction tube array, and a liquid constant temperature bath housing the reaction tube array, and capable of continuously maintaining pressure contact with at least one reaction tube on the inner wall of the constant temperature bath. An automatic analyzer characterized in that a wiper is installed to prevent contamination of the reaction tube surface and to prevent unevenness in the transfer speed of the reaction tube array.