JPH02687Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] "Industrial application field" This invention relates to a device for carrying in and out of lightweight trays, and is particularly useful for dispensing liquids such as serum, and further performing sedimentation reactions and other various tests by diluting and mixing. The present invention relates to a lightweight tray loading/unloading device suitable for fully automating an automatic mixing/diluting device.

``Prior art'' Generally, a sample such as serum is dispensed, and then a sedimentation reaction and other various tests are performed by diluting and mixing.
Automatic mixing and diluting devices are known that can save labor and improve test accuracy in serological and microbiological tests. Conventionally, this type of automatic mixing and diluting device collects a sample such as serum on a lightweight tray (so-called microtray) placed on a carrier that can freely move back and forth, and then collects a sample such as serum using a diluter, then dispenses a diluted solution, and then Various tests such as sedimentation reactions are now performed by dispensing test solutions.

``Problems to be solved by the invention'' However, it is difficult to mount a lightweight tray (so-called microtray) onto a carrier, remove the microtray after dispensing, etc., and store and store the microtray. The operator had to do it by hand, which required manpower and was cumbersome.

In order to solve this problem, a system has been proposed in which the microtray is automatically mounted on the carrier and the microtray is automatically removed from the carrier after operations such as dispensing have been completed.
The mechanism for automatically loading and unloading the microtray is extremely complicated, leading to high equipment costs.
In addition, there were various problems such as complicated operation.

The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to automatically attach and detach a lightweight tray onto a carrier, and this attachment and detachment mechanism is extremely simple, and the operation of the attachment and detachment mechanism is extremely easy to control. The present invention aims to provide a lightweight tray loading/unloading device suitable for automation.

"Means and effects for solving the problem" The present invention was made to achieve the above object, and a number of lightweight trays with flanges are stacked and stored in a cylindrical delivery stocker. If you lower it towards the carrier,
The engaging pawl of the carrier enters the escape groove of the unloading stocker, while the engaging pawl of the unloading stocker engages with the shoulder edge of the engaging hole of the carrier and expands, causing the lightweight inside the unloading stocker to expand. The tray falls onto the carrier. At this time, the flange of the lowest lightweight tray collides with the engaging claw of the carrier, rotates the engaging claw of the carrier, and then engages with the engaging claw of the carrier, and then the unloading stocker is moved. If you raise it,
Only the lowest lightweight tray is placed on the carrier, and the engagement claw of the carry-out stocker closes due to elastic force as it disengages from the edge of the shoulder hole of the carrier's engagement hole, and the next lightweight stocker is placed on the carrier. This engages the flange of the tray, whereby the lightweight trays loaded above the next stage rise together with the unloading stocker. When the carrier transports the lightweight tray to a position directly below the loading stocker, the loading stocker descends toward the lightweight tray on the carrier. When the carry-in stocker descends, the lower edge of the carry-in stocker collides with the engagement claw of the carrier, disengaging the engagement claw of the carrier from the flange of the lightweight tray on the carrier, and at the same time, the engagement claw of the carry-in stocker engages the flange of the lightweight tray on the carrier. When the carry-in stocker is raised, the lightweight tray on the carrier is held within the carry-in stocker through engagement with the engagement pawl of the carry-in stocker, and is raised together with the carry-in stocker.

``Example'' An example in which the lightweight tray loading and unloading device according to the present invention is implemented in an automatic mixing and diluting device, so-called automatic titer, will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is an automatic mixing and diluting device. On both sides of the front outer wall of this automatic mixing and diluting device 1,
A pair of left and right guide rails 2 having a U-shaped cross section are provided, and a carry-out stocker 3 and a carry-in stocker 4 are respectively mounted so as to be movable up and down guided by the guide rails 2. Between the carry-out stocker 3 and the carry-in stocker 4, a die reducer arm 6 equipped with a die reducer 5 of a well-known configuration is detachably attached. It has a carrier 8 on which a so-called micro tray 7 is mounted and moves back and forth. The operations of the carry-out stocker 3, carry-in stocker 4, carrier 8, dye reuter 5, and dye reuter arm 6 are automatically controlled in relation to each other by operating a push button switch 9.

Vertical movement plates 10 and 11, which are loosely inserted between the grooves of the guide rail 2, are attached to both adjacent outer surfaces of the carry-out stocker 3 and carry-in stocker 4 at an appropriate distance from the wall surfaces thereof, and these vertical movement plates 10 and 11 have a driven shaft 12, which is placed on a driving shaft 13 protruding from the main body of the automatic mixing and diluting device 1 as shown in FIG. 13 moves up and down, the carry-out stocker 3 and the carry-in stocker 4 move up and down. Each unloading stocker 3,
As shown in FIG. 3, micro trays 7 can be stacked and stored in the carry-in stocker 4, and leaf springs 16 and 17 are supported by claw holders 14 and 15 on the outer surface of the lower part of the micro trays 7. Spring 1
On the inner surface of the lower end of 6, 17, there is an engagement claw 1 facing inward from the lower end of the carry-out stocker 3 and the carry-in stocker 4.
8, 19 are attached, and leaf springs 16, 1
7 is urged in the closing direction by springs 20 and 21.

By the way, the leaf spring 16 of the unloading stocker 3
As shown in FIG. 4, the width _l1 between the engagement claw 18 and the plate spring 17 of the carry-in stocker 4 and the engagement claw 19 is longer than that of the engagement claw 18, and the lower end of the carry-out stocker 3 on both sides of the engagement claw 18 In addition, carrier 8 as described below
An escape groove 22 into which an engaging claw is inserted is cut out. Conversely, the width _l2 of the leaf spring 17 and the engaging claw 19 of the carry-in stocker 4 is narrower than that of the leaf spring 16 and the engaging claw 18 of the carry-out stocker 3, as shown in FIG. Moreover, the escape groove 2 of the carry-out stocker 3
Nothing like 2 has been formed. On the other hand, the microtray 7 has a standardized and well-known structure, and is provided with holes 23 arranged in 8 rows horizontally and 12 vertically as shown in FIG. 23 is designed to drip and store a specimen or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the carrier 8 is formed into a plate shape, and a pair of convex engagement holes 25 and 26 are bored at appropriate intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. and each engagement hole 25, 2
Claw holders 28 and 29 are respectively fixed on both sides of the elongated hole 27 with screws or the like. Claw holder 2
Engagement claws 30, 31 are rotatably supported on the claws 8, 29, and the ends of the engagement claws 30, 31 always protrude outward from the claw holders 28, 29 due to their own weight. On the other hand, the width l ₃ of the elongated hole portion 27 of the engagement holes 25 and 26 is larger than the width l ₁ of the elongated hole portion 27 so that the engagement claw 18 of the carry-out stocker 3 can be fitted therein. The width _l4 is formed to be larger than the width _l2 so that the engaging claw 19 of the carry-in stocker 4 can be inserted therein. It is preferable to form the hole edges 33 located at the shoulders of the engagement holes 25 and 26 into a tapered shape that slopes toward the elongated hole portion 27. When formed in this way, the expansion operation of the engagement claw 18 of the carry-out stocker 3 is facilitated. It is smooth and the micro tray 7 can be carried out from the carry-out stocker 3 very well. Further, a fixing pin 34 is implanted on the upper surface of the carrier 8 inside each of the engaging claws 30, 31, and is inserted into a hole between the holes 23 from the bottom surface of the micro tray 7 to position the micro tray 7.

In the above configuration, when vertically feeding the micro tray 7, that is, performing 12 consecutive hole feedings, the first
As shown in the figure, the vertically movable plate 10 is installed between the grooves of the guide rail 2, and in this state, the micro tray 7 is fed out from the carry-out stocker 3 onto the carrier 8 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It is fixed by the engaging claw 30 of the carrier 8. In addition, when the micro tray 7 is to be fed horizontally, that is, to be fed through eight consecutive holes, the vertically movable plate 11 is moved along the guide rail 2.
In this state, the micro tray 7 is fed out from the carry-out stocker 3 onto the carrier 8 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8, and is fixed to the engaging claw 31 of the carrier 8. Ru.

Next, the loading and unloading operation of the micro tray 7 will be explained. The only difference is the shape of the engagement holes 25, 26 and the engagement claws 30, 31, and the operations are exactly the same. That is, in the case of vertical feeding, the engaging holes 25 and the engaging claws 3 are provided in the engaging claws 18 and 19.
0 corresponds, and in the case of horizontal feed, the engaging claws 18, 1
In other words, the engagement hole 26 and the engagement claw 31 correspond to the movement of loading and unloading.
5 and the engaging claw 30 are for vertical feeding, and the engaging hole 26 and the engaging claw 31 are for horizontal feeding.

First, to explain the unloading operation, the lower edge of the lowest micro-tray 7 in the unloading stocker 3 engages with its engaging claw 18, and the required number of micro-trays 7 are stacked above the micro-tray 7. It is stored in
It is assumed that the carrier 8 is located below and is stationary. From this state, when the carry-out stocker 3 is lowered downward by the driving oil 13 _, as shown in _FIG . , the engaging claw 18 comes into contact with the shoulder hole edges 33 of the engaging holes 25 and 26 and starts to expand. When the unloading stocker 3 is lowered, the engaging claws 30 and 31 of the carrier 8 fit into the relief groove 22, so the engaging claws 30 and 31 may rotate depending on the lower edge of the unloading stocker 3. There isn't. When the engaging claw 18 expands more than a predetermined amount as the carry-out stocker 3 descends, the engaging claw 18 disengages from the micro tray 7 at the lowest stage, and all the items stored inside are disengaged. The micro tray 7 falls. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the flange 24 and the upper edges of the engaging claws 30, 31 of the micro tray 7 on the lowest stage abut against each other, causing the engaging claws 30, 31 to rotate.
When the lowermost microtray 7 is placed on the carrier 8, the abutment is released and the engagement claws 30, 31
moves back due to its own weight. Then, the engaging claws 30, 31
and the flange 2 of the micro tray 7 at the bottom
4 upper edges engage to immovably fix the microtray 7 onto the carrier 8. The micro tray 7 placed on the carrier 8 is attached to the fixing pin 34.
Of course, it is always positioned at a predetermined location. Furthermore, even if the unloading stocker 3 is lowered to the limit position, the engaging claw 18
It goes without saying that the engaging claw 18 is in an expanded state when the shoulder hole edge 33 is in contact with the shoulder hole edge 33. When the carry-out stocker 3 descends to the limit position and the lowest microphone tray 7 is placed and fixed on the carrier 8, the carry-out stocker 3 starts to rise, and as it rises, it engages as shown in FIG. The pawl 18 moves back to its original position due to the elastic urging force of the leaf spring 16 and the spring 20 and engages with the lower edge of the next stage microtray 7, thereby completing the unloading of the lowest stage microtray 7.

Carrier 8 on which the micro tray 7 is placed and fixed
moves below the dye-reuter arm 6, and operations such as dilution, mixing, and dispensing are automatically performed in the dye-reuter 5, and when these operations are completed, it moves below the carry-in stocker 4. .

Next, the carry-in stocker 4 starts to descend due to the operation of the driving shaft 13, and as it descends, the lower edge of the carry-in stocker 4 comes into contact with the engaging claws 30, 31 of the carrier 8, as shown in FIG. Claw 30,
31 and attach the tip to the claw holder 28, 2.
9, thereby disengaging the engagement claws 30, 31 from the micro tray 7 on the carrier 8, and causing the engagement claw 19 of the carry-in stocker 4 to come into contact with the flange 24 of the micro tray 7. Performs an expansion operation. When the carry-in stocker 4 descends to the limit position, the engaging claw 19 and the flange 24 come out of contact as shown in FIG _{. 4} ), the engaging claw 19 engages with the lower edge of the microtray 7 at the same time as it is inserted into the small hole 32. Therefore, when the carry-in stocker 4 starts to rise, the first
As shown in FIG. 4, the microtray 7 is detached from the carrier 8 and raised while being housed in the carry-in stocker 4. As the carry-in stocker 4 rises, its lower edge and the engaging claws 30, 31 of the carrier are disengaged, so the engagement claws 30, 31 move back to their original positions due to their own weight, and the microcarrier into the carry-in stocker 4 is released. The loading operation of the tray 7 is completed.

Next, the carrier 8 moves to the bottom of the carry-out stocker 3 again, and the above-mentioned operation is repeated, whereby the micro trays 7 in the carry-out stocker 3 are carried out one by one, and further operations such as dispensing are carried out. The microtrays 7 that have been processed are sequentially stacked and stored in the carry-in stocker 4.

It goes without saying that the device for loading and unloading lightweight trays according to the present invention can be applied to various devices such as an automatic pipettor, in addition to the automatic mixing and diluting device, so-called automatic titer.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the lightweight tray loading/unloading device according to the present invention, each stocker is simply moved up and down when a lightweight tray is loaded/unloaded from the carry-out stocker to the carrier and from the carrier to the carry-in stocker. The system is extremely simple in structure, extremely reliable in operation, and easy to control, making it extremely suitable for fully automating an automatic mixing and diluting device. It has great effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an example in which the lightweight tray loading and unloading device according to the present invention is applied to an automatic mixing and diluting device, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire device, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of essential parts showing the vertical movement mechanism of each stocker. , Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of each stocker, Fig. 4 is a front view showing the main parts of the carry-out stocker, Fig. 5 is a front view showing the main parts of the carry-in stocker, and Fig. 6 shows the lightweight tray. 7 is a plan view of the carrier, FIG. 8 is a front view of the carrier, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of essential parts for explaining the operation of the delivery mechanism.
10 and 11 are sectional views of essential parts for explaining the operation of the carrying-out mechanism, and FIGS. 12 to 14 are sectional views of essential parts for explaining the operation of the carrying-in mechanism. 1... Automatic mixing and diluting device, 3... Carrying out stocker, 4... Carrying in stocker, 7... Micro tray, 8... Carrier, 9, 10... Vertical movement plate, 18, 19, 30, 31... Person in charge Matching claws, 22...
...Escape groove, 25, 26...Convex engagement hole, 33...
...Shoulder foramen rim.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It has a cylindrical shape that can stack and store lightweight trays with flanges attached to the lower edge, and has an ejection stocker and a carry-in stocker that move up and down.The lower edge of the ejection stocker has an elastic force in the closing direction at the opposite position. The lower edge of the carrying-out stocker is provided with relief grooves located on both sides of the engaging claws, while the opposite position of the lower edge of the carrying-in stocker is provided with an engaging claw that can be expanded freely. Each is provided with an expandable engaging claw that is narrower in width than the engaging claw of the stocker and capable of engaging with the flange of the lightweight tray and has elastic force in the closing direction, on which the lightweight tray is placed. The carrier has a carrier that runs below between the carry-out stocker and the carry-in stocker, and the carrier is provided with a convex engagement hole, and the engagement hole is connected to a convex long hole portion and a small hole portion. The engaging claw of the carry-out stocker engages with the edge of the shoulder hole at the boundary of the carrier in the expanding direction, and the engaging claw of the carry-in stocker is inserted into the carrier without engaging with the small hole of the engagement hole. The carrier is rotatable by colliding with the flange of the lightweight tray and the lower edge of the carry-in stocker, and after colliding with the flange of the lowest lightweight tray, it moves back to move the lightweight tray to the lowest tray. A lightweight tray loading/unloading device characterized by rotatably supporting an engaging claw which can be engaged with a flange of a tray and can be freely inserted into a relief groove of a loading stocker.