JPH04329361A - Plate conveying device for judging coagulation pattern - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly and quickly perform the mounting or carrying-in/out work of a plate in the automatic judgment of a coagulation pattern. CONSTITUTION:A guide means 2 guiding the movement of a plate 1 mounted with a sample along its conveyance path, a conveying force exciting means 3 exciting the conveying force to the plate 1 fitted along the guide means 2, and a plate stopping system 5 provided with a stopper section 5A stopping the conveyed plate 1 at the coagulation pattern judging position 4 are provided. A plate conveying/mounting means 11 carrying out the plate 1 from the preset position while the horizontal state is maintained, lowering it from above, and mounting it on one side of the guide means 2 is provided one side of the guide means 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plate transfer device for determining agglomeration patterns, and more particularly to a plate transfer device for determining agglomeration patterns in which aggregation pattern determination points are provided at predetermined locations on a plate conveyance path.

0002

[Prior Art] In the medical field, as a method for detecting and analyzing various components and viruses in blood, discrimination methods based on blood aggregation patterns have traditionally been used relatively often. Standards are set. This determination of the presence or absence of aggregation is often performed visually with the naked eye. Specifically, the presence or absence of aggregation can be determined by measuring the distribution of particles in a reaction vessel (well) using a predetermined brightness as the standard, and determining the area of the area below the standard brightness, or by using a standard aggregation pattern or a standard non-aggregation pattern. It often relies on comprehensive judgment by human eyes, such as by making comparisons or even by creating serial serial dilutions of specimen samples.

[0003] On the other hand, this visual judgment has disadvantages such as requiring a high level of skill and causing individual differences in judgment. For this reason, in recent years, automation of determination using a one-dimensional light receiving element (one-dimensional CCD sensor) has been progressing.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the automation in the above conventional example is performed by manually placing a plate with a sample for aggregation pattern determination on the aggregation pattern determination location. many. For this reason, not only does it take a lot of time and effort to place the plate and carry it in, but there is also the inconvenience that some of the agglomeration patterns on the plate are damaged due to the vibrations that occur during the plate placement process. The work has to be done carefully in order to eliminate this, and this has resulted in the inconvenience of poor work efficiency even if automation of judgment has been achieved.

[0005]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention improves the inconveniences of the conventional examples, and in particular, makes it possible to smoothly and quickly carry out plate mounting or loading/unloading work in the automation of agglomeration pattern determination, and thereby improve the agglomeration pattern. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plate transfer device for determining agglomeration patterns that can continuously process a large number of attached plates in a short period of time.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A guide means for guiding the movement of a plate to which a sample for determining an agglomeration pattern is attached along its transport path, and a guide means installed along the guide means to apply a transport force to the plate. a transfer force biasing means for biasing;
The plate stop mechanism includes a stopper section that is disposed at an agglomeration pattern determination location previously provided on the conveyance path and stops the transferred plate at the aggregation pattern determination location. Furthermore, a plate transfer/mounting means is provided on one side of the guide means, which transports the plate from a predetermined location while maintaining its horizontal state, lowers the plate from above, and places it on one side of the guide means. It has the following structure. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned purpose.

[0007]

[Operation] The plate fed onto the guide means is urged by the transfer force urging means and sent to an agglomeration pattern determination location previously provided on the conveyance path. In this case, when the plate placed on the guide means and conveyed approaches the agglomeration pattern determination location, the plate stop mechanism is immediately activated.
The plate being sent is stopped at the agglomeration pattern determination location with high precision by the action of the stopper section. The plate transfer and placement means functions to place the plate on the guide means by lowering the plate relatively gently from above.

[0008]

[First Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. First, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a guide means 2 that guides the transfer of the plate 1 to which a sample for aggregation pattern determination is attached along the conveyance path, and a plate 1 that is installed along the guide means 2. transfer force urging means 3 for applying transfer force from one side to the other side;
and agglomeration pattern determination point 4 provided in advance on the conveyance path.
The plate stop mechanism 5 is provided with a stopper portion 5A for stopping the plate 1 installed and transferred at the agglomeration pattern determination location 4.

[0009] Furthermore, a main control section (not shown) is provided which regulates each operation of the plate stop mechanism 5 and the transfer force urging means 3 as necessary. Reference numeral 10 indicates an aggregation pattern determining means for determining the agglutination pattern of the sample on the plate 1. This agglomeration pattern determination means 10 is installed at the aggregation pattern determination location 4 so as to be detachable from the direction orthogonal to the above-mentioned conveyance path.

At the left end of the guide means 2 in FIG.
A box-shaped plate stocker 6 in which a plurality of plates 1 are stacked and stored is removably installed. At the right end of the guide means 2 in FIG. 1, another identically formed plate stocker 7 is also removably installed. This plate stocker 7 is for storing plates 1 for which aggregation pattern determination has been completed, while the above-mentioned plate stocker 6 is for storing plates 1 for which aggregation pattern determination has not yet been performed.

A lift mechanism 8 for one stocker is provided at the left end of one of the plate stockers 6 in FIG. 1 for sequentially selecting plates 1 for transfer from within the plate stocker 6 one by one. Further, the right end portion of the other plate stocker 7 in FIG. 1 is equipped with a lift mechanism 9 for the other stocker for sequentially stacking the plates 1 from below after completion of the agglomeration pattern determination.

Furthermore, a belt conveyor mechanism 11 having a belt conveyor section 11A configured to be movable up and down is installed in the lower part of one of the plate stockers 6 in FIG. This belt conveyor mechanism 11 is arranged such that its belt conveyor section 11A extends from the plate stocker 6 to the lower part of the guide means 2. During operation, the plate 1 is first raised and pushed up from below at the lowest position in the plate stocker 6, and the plate 1 is moved to the belt conveyor section 11A.
Then, the plate 1 is transferred to the upper part of the guide means 2, and then the belt conveyor section 11A is lowered to relatively slowly place the plate 1 on the guide means 2 mentioned above. It looks like this.

Furthermore, the lower part of the other plate stocker 7 in FIG. 1 is also equipped with a belt conveyor mechanism 12 having a belt conveyor section 12A configured to be vertically movable. As shown in FIG. 1, this belt conveyor mechanism 12 is arranged such that its belt conveyor section 12A extends from the plate stocker 7 to the lower part of the guide means 2. During operation, the plate 1 is placed on the belt conveyor part 12A by rising and pushing up the plate 1 on the guide means 2 from below, and then transferred to the plate stocker 7,
Thereafter, the plate 1 is placed in the plate stocker 7 by lowering the belt conveyor section 12A.

To explain this in more detail, in this embodiment, the plate 1 is a plastic plate having a plurality of reaction vessels (wells) arranged in a checkerboard pattern and formed by bending a relatively thin member. It is used. The plate 1 is generally formed into a rectangular shape. Further, the guide means 2 for guiding the transfer of the plate 1 is
It consists of two guide members 2A and 2B each having an L-shaped cutout in the cross section on opposing surfaces and a protrusion on the lower end thereof.The protrusion on the opposing surface side supports the plate 1 and It is now possible to guide the transfer. The guide means 2 is installed so that its upstream and downstream sides abut against plate stockers 6 and 7, respectively. Codes 2A1 and 3A2 refer to guide members 2A and 2B.
The supporting legs are shown (in FIG. 1, the legs 2A1, 3
A2 overlaps).

[0015] The upper part of the guide means 2 is equipped with a transfer force biasing means 3 for applying a transfer force to the plate 1 described above. This transfer force biasing means 3 consists of two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32 arranged in an upper part located slightly outside the guide means 2 and installed parallel to the guide means 2, and these two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32. Guide rail support members 31A, 31B separately support both ends of the two cylindrical guide rails 31, 32, and first and The second transfer mechanism sections 33 and 34, the first and second transfer mechanism sections 33,
The structure includes first and second transfer force transmission mechanism sections 35 and 36 that transmit transfer forces to the transfer force 34 separately. Here, in FIG. 1, two cylindrical guide rails 31,
32 overlap. In addition, the guide rail support member 31
A, 32A, furthermore, guide rail support members 31B, 3
2B overlap each other.

The first transfer mechanism section 33 has a function of transferring the plate 1 sent out from the plate stocker 6 to the agglomeration pattern determination point 4 located in the center of the guide means 2. Further, the second transfer mechanism section 34 has a function of transferring the judged plate 1 from the pattern judgment location 4 to the plate stocker 7 and also transferring the plate 1 to a position where it can be stored in the plate stocker 7. There is.

The transfer force urging means 3 will now be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first transfer mechanism section 33, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, is disposed so as to be perpendicular to the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32. a pressing shaft 331 , and pressing shaft support members 332 , 333 that fixedly support both ends of the pressing shaft 331 and guide the pressing shaft 331 so that it can reciprocate on the two cylindrical guide rails 31 , 32 . , the pressing shaft 331
A rotation prevention member 334 is suspended and fixed at the center of
Pressing plate mounting member 335 rotatably equipped on 1
, 336 and the press plate mounting members 335 , 336
While pressing the plate 1 supported by the plate 1 (Fig. 1
or A direction in FIG. 3) Plate pressing plate 3 for transporting to the agglomeration pattern determination location 4 located in the center of the guide means 2
37. Reference numeral 338 designates a buffer member that functions when the plate pressing plate 337 returns to its original position and absorbs the impact caused by the returning operation of the plate pressing plate 337.

The first transfer mechanism section 33 forming a part of the transfer force urging means 3 includes a first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35 disposed and equipped along one of the cylindrical guide rails 31. are connected. This first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35 is
Transfer wire 351 arranged along one cylindrical guide rail 31 and FIG. 1 of one cylindrical guide rail 31
A wire drive pulley 352 is installed at the right end of the transfer wire 351 and feeds out the wire as much as it has been wound up, and a wire drive pulley 352 is installed at the left end of one cylindrical guide rail 31 in FIG. The wire driven pulley 353 supports the traveling of the transfer wire 351 by winding the transfer wire 351 by half a turn.

Both ends of the transfer wire 351 are connected to the lower end of the aforementioned pressing shaft support member 332 via buffer coil springs 354 and 355, respectively. Further, the wire drive pulley 352 is attached to the drive shaft of a wire drive motor 356. This wire drive motor 356 and wire drive pulley 352 are
It is installed at the right end in FIG. 1 of the guide member 2A mentioned above via a U-shaped member 357. Further, the wire driven pulley 353 is installed at the left end of the guide member 2A in FIG. 1 via an L-shaped member 358.

As a result, when the wire drive motor 356 rotates forward, the first transfer mechanism 33 is moved in the direction of arrow A by the transfer wire 351 of the first transfer force transmission mechanism 35, and the plate is moved in the direction of the arrow A. 1 is transferred from the left direction to the right direction in FIG. On the other hand, when returning the first transfer mechanism section 33 to its original position, the wire drive motor 356 is rotated in the opposite direction. As a result, the first transfer mechanism section 33 moves in the direction B in FIGS. 1 to 3. When the next plate 1 is to be placed in the direction B, the plate 1 is rotated to the position shown by arrow C in FIG.
It is now possible to move on the top in direction B.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the second transfer mechanism section 34, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, runs perpendicularly on the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32. A pressing shaft 341 arranged in such a manner that the pressing shaft 341
Press shaft support members 342 and 343 fixedly support both ends of the press shaft 341 and guide the press shaft 341 so as to be able to reciprocate on the two cylindrical guide rails 31 and 32; Detent member 34
4, press plate mounting members 345 and 346 disposed at both ends of this rotation prevention member 344 and rotatably mounted on the press shaft 341, and this press plate mounting member 345.
, 346, which presses the aforementioned plate 1 (direction A in FIGS. 1 to 3) and transfers it to the aggregation pattern determination location 4 located in the center of the guide means 2. Reference numeral 348 designates a buffer member that functions when the plate pressing plate 347 returns to its original position and absorbs the impact caused by the returning operation of the plate pressing plate 347.

The first transfer mechanism section 34 forming a part of the transfer force urging means 3 includes a second transfer force transmission mechanism section 36 disposed and equipped along the other cylindrical guide rail 32. are connected. This second transfer force transmission mechanism section 36 is
Similar to the first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35 described above, it has a transfer wire 361, and this transfer wire 361
is connected to the lower end of the above-mentioned pressing shaft support member 342 via buffer coil springs 364 and 365, so that it is formed exactly the same as the above-mentioned first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35 and functions exactly the same. It has become. This results in
The plate 1 whose agglomeration pattern has been determined can be transferred to the right in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Next, the plate stopping mechanism 5 provided with the stopper portion 5A for stopping the plate 1 at the agglomeration pattern determination location 4 will be explained. This plate stop mechanism 5 is
It is mainly composed of a solenoid or the like, and a stopper part 5A is connected and equipped to the iron core thereof. Furthermore, the plate stop mechanism 5 is equipped with a plate detection sensor (not shown) at a predetermined location on the conveyance path of the plate 1 to detect the arrival of the plate 1. Then, the plate stop mechanism 5 is operated based on the output signal of the plate detection sensor and a command from the main control section, and the stopper section 5A is caused to protrude or retreat.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a plate stocker 6 in which a plurality of plates 1 are stored. This plate stocker 6 is detachably mounted on its supporting members 61 and 62. The plate stocker 6 has a structure in which a plurality of plates 1 can be stacked and stored as described above. code 6
A indicates the stocker body, and symbol 6B indicates the stocker body 6A.
This figure shows the built-in lid that can be opened and closed freely. Stocker body 6
At the lower end of one of the opposing sides of A, there is a cutout part 6A1 for locking a plurality of plates 1 on the second and higher stages from the bottom so as to sandwich them from the side ends and temporarily moving them upward. 6
A2 is provided respectively.

[0025] Also, the stocker main body 6A and its lid part 6
Each bottom portion in FIG. 5 of B is the cutout portion 6A1 described above.
, 6A2 It has been largely excised except for a part on the side. The entire belt portion of the belt conveyor section 11A moves up and down while maintaining its horizontal state via this cut out portion, that is, the bottom side cut out portion 6A3, and thereby the plate 1 located at the lowest end is arrow D in Figure 6.
It is designed to be carried outside as shown in the figure. The plate stocker 7 is also formed exactly the same as the plate stocker 6 and can function in the same manner. Code 6C
indicates a handle.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show the loading side of the stocker (FIG. 1).
One of the stocker lift mechanisms 8 and the stocker carry-in mechanism 18 are shown (the stocker carry-in mechanism 18 is omitted in FIG. 1).

One of the stocker lift mechanisms 8 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 includes a pair of arm portions 8A, which are arranged in parallel and equipped with claw portions 8A1, 8A2 or 8B1, 8B2 at two locations on opposing surfaces. 8B and these arm parts 8
An arm drive support section 8C that drives A and 8B toward or away from each other as necessary while maintaining their parallel state, and an arm drive support section 8C that drives the entire arm drive support section 8C upward or downward as necessary. It is equipped with an arm vertical transfer support section 8D that allows the arm to move, and a rotational drive support section 8E that supports the arm drive support section 8C and the arm up and down transfer support section 8D as a whole and allows them to reciprocate by 180 degrees as necessary. ing.

Claw portions 8A1, 8A2 or 8B1, 8
B2 is the cutout portion 6A1 of the plate stocker 6 mentioned above.
, 6A2 are provided at one end of the arm portions 8A and 8B, respectively, at intervals corresponding to the positions of the arms 8A and 8B.

The arm driving support section 8C also includes two round rod-shaped racks 8C1 and 8C2 (Fig. 7
, see FIG. 8), a pinion 8C3 disposed between the racks 8C1 and 8C2 and driving the racks 8C1 and 8C2 in the opposite direction (see FIG. 8),
Arm support case 8C4 that houses C1, 8C2 and pinion 8C3, and this arm support case 8C
4. A plate holding motor 8C5 is provided on the plate and drives the pinion 8C3 in forward or reverse rotation as required.

Here, one end of the round bar-shaped rack 8C1 is fixed to the arm portion 8B, and the other end is loosely inserted into the arm portion 8A. In addition, a round bar-shaped rack 8C2
One end thereof is fixed to the arm portion 8A, and the other end is loosely inserted into the arm portion 8B. Therefore, the plate holding motor 8C5 is started and the pinion 8C3 is
When rotated in a predetermined direction, the arm parts 8A, 8B
They are biased by the racks 8C1 and 8C2 and move toward or away from each other.

[0031] Reference symbols 8C6 and 8C7 indicate arm portions 8A.
, 8B (omitted in FIG. 7) is shown. This guide bar 8C6, 8C7
is slidably supported by the arm support case 8C4 mentioned above. Due to the arm support action of the guide bars 8C6 and 8C7, the racks 8C1 and 8C2
This enables smooth meshing between the pinion 8C3 and the transmission of power.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the arm vertical transfer support section 8D includes a lift box 8 that fixedly supports the arm support case 8C4 of the arm drive support section 8C.
D1, and a ball screw mechanism section 8D2 that urges the lift box 8D1 to move upward or downward.
, two guide rods 8D3 and 8D4 that guide the vertical movement of the lift box 8D1, and a ball screw mechanism section 8D2.
It also includes a holding plate 8D5 that holds the two guide rods 8D3 and 8D4, and a lift main body case 8D6 with one side open that accommodates and supports these components. Reference numeral 8D7 indicates a lift drive motor that drives the ball screw mechanism section 8D2. As a result, one of the stocker lift mechanisms 8 including the arm vertical transfer support part 8D and the arm drive support part 8C described above holds the plate 1 in the plate stocker 6 and moves it inside the plate stocker 6. It is possible to raise the plate stocker 6 by a predetermined distance, and in some cases, it is possible to hold the entire plate stocker 6 and transport it in the vertical direction.

Next, the stocker loading mechanism 18 shown at the left end of FIG. 7 will be explained. This stocker loading mechanism 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes a carry-in belt mechanism section 1 for loading and carrying the stocker 6.
8A, and guide members 18B and 18C provided at both ends of the carry-in belt mechanism section 18A. When the stocker 6 is sent to a predetermined position, it is immediately detected by a predetermined sensor, and is moved from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. It is designed to be carried to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The large broken line arrows in FIG. 7 indicate the rotation direction P and the return direction Q of the arm vertical transfer support section 8D rotated by the rotary drive support section 8E, the arm drive support section 8C, and the stocker 6 described above.

The other stocker lift mechanism 9 (see FIG. 1) is also formed exactly the same as the stocker lift mechanism 8 shown in FIG. 7 described above, and can function in the same manner. Further, a stocker unloading mechanism formed exactly the same as the stocker loading mechanism 18 disclosed at the left end of FIG. 7 may be installed at the right end of the stocker lift mechanism 9 of FIG. 1. In this case, the operations are almost the same except for the difference between the loading and unloading operations of the stocker.

Next, the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 and 12 will be explained. These belt conveyor mechanisms 11 and 12 are
They are each formed identically and are installed at symmetrical positions in FIG.

One of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 includes a belt conveyor section 11A on which the plate 1 is placed and conveyed.
, a conveyor drive motor 11B that drives this belt conveyor section 11A, and a conveyor support stand 1 that supports this belt conveyor section 11A and conveyor drive motor 11B.
1C, and a vertical movement biasing mechanism 11D that supports the conveyor support stand 11C and moves the entire conveyor support stand 11C in the vertical direction while maintaining its almost horizontal state.

Here, the vertical motion biasing mechanism 11D is shown in FIG.
As shown in 0, two swing link parts 111 and 112 configured to swing, and one swing link part 111
It is equipped with an eccentric cam 113 mounted in contact with the lower end of the cam, and a cam drive motor 114 that rotationally drives the eccentric cam 113 at a predetermined timing. Here, one swing link part 111 is installed at the center of gravity of the belt conveyor mechanism 11. For this reason, the cam drive motor 114
When the eccentric cam 113 is activated and the eccentric cam 113 is rotated, the belt conveyor mechanism 11 can be raised or lowered while maintaining almost the entire parallel state. The other swinging link part 111 performs the auxiliary operation of the one swinging link part 111 described above, and the belt conveyor mechanism 11
It functions to effectively prevent rolling and pitching of the ball.

The maximum width of this one belt conveyor mechanism 11 (ie, the width of the conveyor support stand 11C) is set narrower than the width between the two guide members 2A and 2B of the guide means 2 described above. Furthermore, the width of the bottom cutout 6A3 formed on the bottom of the plate stocker 6 described above is as follows:
The width is set larger than the maximum width of one of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11. Therefore, when this one belt conveyor mechanism 11 is raised, it smoothly moves in parallel upwardly within the plate stocker 6 from the bottom side cutout 6A3, and at the same time moves the plate 1 located at the lower part of the plate stocker 6. It is scooped up from below and placed on the belt conveyor section 11A, and then transferred along arrow G to the guide means 2 side.

During this time, the other plates 1 in the plate stocker 6 are temporarily lifted by one of the stocker lift mechanisms 8, as shown in FIG. This state continues until the plate 1 is removed from the plate stocker 6 and one of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 is lowered. Then, along with the entire downward movement of the one belt conveyor mechanism 11, the entire plate 1 is placed parallel and gently onto the guide means 2. Therefore, the plate 1 is placed quietly on the guide means 2 without any vibration.

The other belt conveyor mechanism 12, which is formed identically to this one belt conveyor mechanism 11 and is installed in a symmetrical position as shown in FIG. The plate 1 is placed on the bottom surface of the other plate stocker 7 from above the guide means 2. In this case as well, the other stocker lift mechanism 9 functions effectively, and the determined plate 1 is temporarily lifted by the other stocker lift mechanism 9 until it is stored in the other plate stocker 7. . In such a state, the other belt conveyor mechanism 12
continues until it falls.

Next, the overall operation of the above embodiment will be explained. First, the plate stocker 6 carried in by the stocker carry-in mechanism 18 is scooped up and lifted up by the stocker lift mechanism 8.
It is disposed close to the upstream side of one end of the rotated rear guide means 2 .

Next, the plates 1 in the plate stocker 6 are lifted up by the stocker lift mechanism 8, except for the plate 1 located at the lower level. At the same time, one of the belt conveyor mechanisms 11 starts running its belt conveyor section 11A and enters an upward movement. Then, while lifting the lower plate 1 in the plate stocker 6, the belt conveyor section 1
1A and then transferred onto the guide means 2.

In this case, the plate 1 is relatively gently placed on the guide means 2 while maintaining its horizontal state. When the plate 1 is placed on the guide means 2, the first transfer mechanism section 33, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, urges the first transfer force transmission mechanism section 35. is moved once from the right direction to the left side in Fig. 1 on plate 1,
It is stopped on the upstream side of plate 1. Subsequently, the first transfer force transmission mechanism 35 operates to send the plate 1 through the first transfer mechanism 33 to the right in FIG.

At this agglomeration pattern determination location 4, a plurality of aggregation patterns on the plate 1 are read by the aggregation pattern determination means 10, and the quality of the aggregation patterns is determined according to a predetermined reference pattern. When the reading operation of this agglomeration pattern is completed, the second transfer mechanism section 34, which constitutes a part of the transfer force urging means 3, is urged by the first transfer force transmission mechanism section 36 and once moves over the plate 1. It moves from the right side of plate 1 to the left side and is stopped on the upstream side of plate 1.

Subsequently, the second transfer force transmission mechanism 36 is activated, and the plate 1 is transferred to the right in FIG. 1, ie, to the right end on the guide means 2 via the second transfer mechanism 34. Immediately after the plate 1 is transferred to the right end on the guide means 2, the other belt conveyor mechanism 12 starts running its belt conveyor section 12A and begins an upward movement. Then, the plate 1 on the guide means 2 is lifted up and placed on the belt conveyor section 12A, then transferred into the plate stocker 7, and lowered again to store the plate 1 at the lowest position in the plate stocker 7.

During the process of storing the plate 1 in the plate stocker 7, the other plates 1 in the plate stocker 7 are temporarily moved somewhat upward by the stocker lift mechanism 9. Then, as soon as the plate 1 sent by the other belt conveyor mechanism 12 is stored at the lowest position in the plate stocker 7, the other plate 1 is lowered onto the lowest plate 1, thereby making one plate 1 transfer and determination process is completed. Thereafter, the transfer of the second and third plates 1 and the determination process are repeated in accordance with this.

[0047]

As the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, the plate being transported along the guide means by the transport force urging means is moved to the agglomeration pattern determination location by the action of the plate stop mechanism. It is possible to repeatedly stop the plate with high precision, which reduces the preparation time for measurement, and therefore allows a large number of plates to be evaluated in a relatively short time. Since the mounting means is arranged on one side of the guide means, that is, on the plate mounting side, it is possible to relatively gently carry and place the plate with the sample for aggregation pattern determination on the guide means. Then,
Therefore, it is possible to provide an unprecedented and superior plate transfer device for agglomeration pattern determination that can effectively eliminate accidents such as loss of agglomeration patterns due to vibration or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Fig. 1] Front view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first transfer mechanism that forms part of the transfer force biasing means in FIG. 1;

[Fig. 3] Explanatory diagram showing the operation of Fig. 2

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second transfer mechanism that forms part of the transfer force biasing means in FIG. 1;

[Fig. 5] Explanatory diagram showing the plate stocker in Fig. 1

[Fig. 6] Cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 5

[Fig. 7] A perspective view showing an example of loading the plate stocker in Fig. 1.

8 is a partially omitted perspective view showing the arm drive support part of one of the stocker lift mechanisms in FIGS. 1 and 7; FIG.

9 is a partially omitted perspective view showing the arm vertical transfer support part of one of the stocker lift mechanisms in FIGS. 1 and 7; FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the plate transfer and mounting means in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Plate 2 Guide means 2A, 2B Guide member 3 Transfer force urging means 4 Agglomeration pattern determination location 5 Plate stopping mechanism 5A Stopper section 11 One belt conveyor mechanism 11A as plate transfer and placement means Belt conveyor sections 111, 112 Swinging Link mechanism 113 cam mechanism section

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Guide means for guiding the movement of a plate to which a sample for aggregation pattern determination is attached along its transport path, and a transport device installed along the guide means and applying a transport force to the plate. a plate stopping mechanism provided with a force urging means and a stopper section disposed at an agglomeration pattern determination location provided in advance on the conveyance path to stop the transferred plate at the aggregation pattern determination location; A plate transfer/mounting means is provided on one side of the guide means for carrying out the plate from a predetermined location while maintaining the plate in a horizontal state, lowering the plate from above, and placing the plate on one side of the guide means. Plate transfer device for aggregation pattern determination. 2. A guide means for guiding the movement of a plate to which a sample for aggregation pattern determination is attached along its transport path, and a transport device installed along the guide means and applying a transport force to the plate. a plate stopping mechanism provided with a force urging means and a stopper section disposed at an agglomeration pattern determination location provided in advance on the conveyance path to stop the transferred plate at the aggregation pattern determination location; A plate transfer/mounting means is provided on one side of the guide means for transporting the plate from a predetermined location while maintaining the horizontal state, lowering the plate from above, and placing the plate on one side of the guide means. A plate transfer device for determining an agglomeration pattern, characterized in that the other side of the device is equipped with a plate transfer/export device for transferring the plate sent along the guide device to another location. 3. The guide means is constituted by two guide members installed at a predetermined interval, and the plate transfer/export means is constituted by a vertically movable belt conveyor mechanism. 3. The plate transfer device for aggregation pattern determination according to claim 2, wherein an upstream portion of the guide member is disposed at a downstream portion between the two guide members. 4. The guide means is constituted by two guide members installed at a predetermined interval, and the plate moving and mounting means is constituted by a belt conveyor mechanism that can move up and down, and the belt conveyor 4. The plate transfer device for aggregation pattern determination according to claim 1, wherein a downstream portion of the mechanism is disposed at an upstream portion between the two guide members. 5. The belt conveyor mechanism includes a belt conveyor section, a swing link mechanism section that supports the belt conveyor section so that it can move up and down while maintaining its horizontal state, and a swing link mechanism section that supports the belt conveyor section so that it can move up and down while maintaining its horizontal state. 5. The plate transfer device for aggregation pattern determination according to claim 3, further comprising a cam mechanism for urging the operation of the plate. 6. The swing link mechanism section includes a first swing link and a second swing link, and the first swing link is provided below the center of gravity of the belt conveyor section. The plate transfer device for aggregation pattern determination according to claim 5. 7. The plate transfer device for aggregation pattern determination according to claim 6, wherein the cam mechanism is disposed below the center of gravity of the belt conveyor.