JPH043625Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The present invention is a method for temporarily sealing the opening of a test tube containing a liquid to be tested (hereinafter referred to as a specimen), such as blood or serum, while the specimen is being stored. This relates to a test tube opening sealing device for keeping the test tube closed.

[Conventional technology]

In general, in clinical tests involving samples such as blood or serum, re-examination is often requested for specific test items in which an abnormality has been found, for example. In such a case, if a retest is performed using a newly collected specimen from the patient, the analysis result may be fundamentally different from the previous analysis result, even if the collection date is a few days apart. It will bring. For this reason, retesting after collecting a new sample is
It is considered undesirable. Therefore, the remainder of the specimen collected during the initial test is usually stored for a certain period of time even after the test is completed, and when a retest is requested, the retest is performed using the saved specimen. It is normal to do so.

Recently, however, due to improvements in the performance of analyzers and the like, it has become possible to use a smaller amount of specimen for analysis. Additionally, there is an increasing demand to reduce the physical burden on patients (particularly infants) as much as possible. For these reasons, the amount of specimens collected has been decreasing year by year. Along with this, the amount of preserved specimens has naturally been reduced due to the reasons mentioned above. Therefore, sufficient care should be taken to prevent the amount of stored specimens from decreasing due to evaporation of water, etc. Incidentally, if a sample such as blood or serum is left in a container without a lid, the water will evaporate and the amount will gradually decrease, just like in other test liquids. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the evaporation of water in the stored specimen and to avoid a decrease in the stored amount as much as possible.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a means for closing the opening of a test tube that has been conventionally employed in order to prevent evaporation of water in a stored specimen and avoid a decrease in the amount stored. As shown in the figure, this closing means is a means for covering a plurality of test tubes 2 stored in a test tube rack 1 with a common closing sheet 3, thereby preventing water evaporation of the specimen.

[The problem that the idea aims to solve]

Since the above-mentioned conventional test tube opening closing means simply covers a plurality of test tubes 2 with a single common closing sheet 3, the condition is different depending on the individual closing of the openings in each test tube. tends to be incomplete. As a result, it was not possible to reliably prevent a decrease in the amount of stored specimens due to evaporation of water.

Note that instead of the above-mentioned means, it is conceivable to seal the opening of each test tube 2 individually with a sealing film or the like, for example. If this means is used, the opening of each test tube 2 will be individually hermetically sealed, so that it is possible to more reliably prevent a decrease in the amount of storage than the means shown in FIG. However, with the above method, it is necessary to manually seal each test tube 2 one by one, which is time-consuming and inefficient. Furthermore, since it is done manually, variations in the sealing state tend to occur, resulting in a lack of reliability. Furthermore, since the worker has to touch the test tube 2 directly with his/her hands, there is also a problem in hygiene management.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to not only hermetically seal the opening of each test tube individually, but also to achieve efficient, uniform, and highly reliable sealing, which is also very effective in terms of hygiene management. An object of the present invention is to provide a preferred test tube opening sealing device.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the purpose, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, a transport means for transporting a test tube containing a sample along a transport path, and a first position and a second position on the transport path.
a transport mechanism including a stop means for temporarily stopping the transport mechanism at the first position;
A film tensioning mechanism that pulls out and stretches a sealing film horizontally above the opening of a test tube stopped at a position, and a sealing film piece from the sealing film stretched by this film tensioning mechanism. a film abutting mechanism that cuts out a piece of film, lowers the film piece while holding its periphery, and brings the central part of the film piece into contact with the opening of the test tube; and the film abutting mechanism brings the central part of the film piece into contact with the opening of the test tube The sealing film piece is placed in the opening of the test tube by squeezing the test tube with a cylindrical body that fits into the test tube so that the peripheral portion of the abutted film piece is aligned with the outer peripheral surface of the test tube. A film covering mechanism is used to cover the test tube, and after the film covering mechanism has covered the sealing film piece, the film piece is applied to the outer circumferential surface of the test tube that has been transported by the transport means and stopped at the second position by the stop means. A film welding mechanism for welding the peripheral parts is provided.

[Effect]

By taking such measures, the following effects are achieved. Since the openings of test tubes that are sequentially transported along the transport path are sealed one by one with a piece of sealing film, the openings of each test tube that is transported are individually sealed. Can be hermetically sealed. The film tensioning mechanism, film abutting mechanism, film covering mechanism, film welding mechanism, etc. all perform automatic sealing, making it possible to perform efficient, uniform, and highly reliable sealing. . In addition, since no manual labor is required, it is very favorable from the point of view of hygiene management.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing the configuration of the entire device. In the figure, 10 is a gutter-shaped housing, and a conveyance path 12 is laid along the center line on the bottom plate 11 of this housing 10.
The conveyance path 12 has a substantially H-shaped cross section and has opposing guide edges 12a and 12b at both upper ends. Guide edges 12a, 1 of this conveyance path 12
A cylindrical test tube holder 13 having an annular groove 2b engaged with the cylindrical test tube holder 2b is conveyed and driven on the conveyance path 12 by a conveyance means (not shown). Thus, the test tube 14 containing the sample is placed in the test tube holder 1.
3 and is held vertically and transported on the transport path 12. As described above, the test tubes 14 transported together with the test tube holder 13 are temporarily stopped at the first position A and the second position B on the transport path 12 by stopping means (not shown). At a first position on the conveyance path 12, a film tensioning mechanism 15 is provided.
is provided. This film tensioning mechanism 15
is a mechanism for horizontally pulling out and stretching a band-shaped sealing film 16 above the opening 14a of the test tube 14 stopped at the first position A. That is, this film tensioning mechanism 15 consists of a film supply device 18 and a film drawer 19, and is pulled out from a film roll 16a and guided by a guide roller 17.
The end portion of the band-shaped sealing film 16 facing the supply port of the film feeder 18 via the film feeder 18 is pulled out by a film drawer 19.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of the film tensioning mechanism 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the film feeder 18 has a pair of cutout grooves 18 at its film feed port.
a, 18b, and this pair of notch grooves 18
The ends of the film 16 are exposed to a and 18b. The film drawer 19 has a pair of clamping pieces 19a and 19b at one end that can be opened and closed, and can be moved back and forth in the directions of arrows M and N by a drive mechanism (not shown). Thus, the pair of notch grooves 18a, 18 of the film feeder 18
The end of the film 16 facing b is held by the pair of holding pieces 19a and 19b of the film drawer 19 as shown by the broken line, and the film 16 is pulled in the direction of the arrow N, as described above. It is designed to be able to be stretched in any condition.

Let's return to Figure 1. The sealing film 16 stretched by the film stretching mechanism 15 is delivered to the film abutting mechanism 20. The film abutting mechanism 20 includes a holding plate 21 that has a notch in the center and is located above the stretched film 16;
It is mainly composed of a receiving plate 22 which also has a notch in the center and is located below the film 16. The holding plate 21 is provided so as to move up and down along the support column 23, and the receiving plate 22 is provided so as to move up and down along the support support 24. In this way, the film 16 is held between the two plates 21 and 22 from above and below, and can be moved up and down. A cutting blade 25 is attached to one end of the holding plate 21. This cutting blade 25 is for cutting out a film piece 16b in an amount used for sealing the opening of one test tube 14 from the stretched sealing film 16.

That is, as shown by the broken line in FIG. This is to cut in the width direction at a position near the opening to obtain independent film pieces 16b.

The film abutting mechanism 20 thus descends as shown in FIG. 3b while holding the periphery of the cut out film piece 16b from above and below, and
The center portion of the test tube 14 is brought into contact with the opening 14a of the test tube 14. Then, the peripheral portion of the film piece 16b whose central portion is brought into contact with the opening 14a of the test tube 14 is narrowed down by the film covering mechanism 30 so as to be in a state that it follows the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 14.

The film covering mechanism 30 is installed on the upper surface of the presser plate 21. That is, a support body 31 formed in an inverted L shape is erected on the upper surface of the presser plate 21, and an air cylinder mechanism 32 is suspended and supported by this support body 31. A cylindrical body 34 having an opening at its lower end surface is connected to the piston shaft 33 of the air cylinder mechanism 32.

In this way, the film covering mechanism 30 is a cylindrical cylinder that descends as the presser plate 21 descends, and as the air cylinder mechanism 32 subsequently operates, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3b. body 34
By fitting the film piece 16b into the upper end of the test tube, the peripheral part 16c of the film piece 16b is narrowed down so as to be aligned with the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 14.

Figures 3a and 3b show the film tensioning mechanism 1 described above.
5, film contact mechanism 20, film covering mechanism 3
0 is a diagram collectively showing the functions of 0. Therefore, the functions of the above-mentioned mechanisms will be collectively explained below with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b.

As shown in FIG. 3a, first, the film drawer 19 of the film tensioning mechanism 15 is activated, and the end of the sealing film 16 is pulled out from the film supply device 18 by pinching it. At this time, the test tube 14 has been transported along the transport path 12 and has stopped at the first position. Therefore, the drawn-out sealing film 16 is stretched horizontally above the opening of the test tube 14.

Next, the film abutting mechanism 20 operates, and the presser plate 2
1 and the receiving plate 22 sandwich the periphery of the horizontally stretched sealing film 16 from both upper and lower surfaces, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 3a. At this time, the sealing film 16 is cut in the width direction by the cutting blade 25 attached to the holding plate 21 at a position near the supply port of the film supply device 18. Almost at the same time, the film drawer 19 becomes open as shown by the broken line, and the end of the sealing film 16 is opened. In this way, an amount of film used to seal the opening 14a of one test tube 14 is cut out, and becomes an independent film 16b. This film piece 16b is attached to the film contact mechanism 2.
0, the peripheral portion is held.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3b, the film abutting mechanism 20 moves downward while holding the peripheral portion of the film piece 16b. When the above-mentioned lowering operation is performed to a predetermined level, the central portion of the film piece 16b comes into contact with the opening of the test tube 14. At this position, the lowering operation of the holding plate 21 of the film contacting mechanism 20 is stopped, but the receiving plate 22 is further lowered a little further to a position 22'. Thus, the film piece 16b is released from the state in which it is held by both plates 21 and 22 of the film abutting mechanism 20. Almost at the same time, the air cylinder mechanism 32 of the film covering mechanism 30 starts operating. Then, the cylindrical body 34 moves downward and fits into the upper end portion of the test tube 14 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3b. By this fitting operation, the peripheral portion 16c of the film piece 16b whose central portion is in contact with the opening 14a of the test tube 14 is narrowed down, and the test tube 1
It will be in a state where it is along the outer peripheral surface of No. 4. Thereafter, the film covering mechanism 30, the film contacting mechanism 20, and the film tensioning mechanism 15 return to their original states and are in a state of waiting for the arrival of the next test tube 14.

Let's return to Figure 1. The test tube 14 whose opening is covered with the sealing film piece 16b as described above is transported along the transport path 12 by the transport means and stopped at the second position B by the stop means. The surrounding area of the film piece 16b that is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 14 stopped at the second position B is as follows:
The film is welded to the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 14 by the film welding mechanism 40 .

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the structure of the film welding mechanism 40. As shown in the figure, this film welding mechanism 4
0 has welding chucks 44 and 45 each having a built-in heat generating means such as a heater H at the lower ends of a pair of support plates 42 and 43, which are provided so as to be opened and closed by the vertical movement of a drive rod 41. It is set up.
Thus, when the film welding mechanism 40 operates, the semicircular arc-shaped clamping portions 44a, 4 of the welding chucks 44, 45
5a is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the test tube 14 which is stopped at the second position B. For this reason, the peripheral portion 1 of the sealing film piece 16b attached to the outer peripheral surface
6c is heat-welded to the outer peripheral surface. In this way, the opening 14a of the test tube 14 is hermetically sealed. The test tube 14, which has been hermetically sealed, is transported to the outside of the apparatus along the transport path 12 by the transport means.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention, a film tensioning mechanism, a film contacting mechanism, a film covering mechanism, and a film welding mechanism are provided for the opening of the test tube, which is controlled to be transported so as to stop at the first and second positions, respectively. The structure is such that the sealing film is automatically covered and hermetically sealed by a series of mechanisms, so it goes without saying that the opening of each test tube can be individually hermetically sealed. It is possible to provide a test tube opening sealing device that can perform efficient, uniform, and highly reliable sealing, and is also very preferable from the standpoint of sanitary control.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are views showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the device, and FIG.
The figure is a plan view showing the structure of the film tensioning mechanism.
Figures a and b are diagrams showing the functions of the film tensioning mechanism, film contacting mechanism, and film covering mechanism, and Figure 4 is a front view showing the structure of the film welding mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional test tube opening closing means. 12... Conveyance path, 13... Test tube holder, 1
4... Test tube, 14a... Opening, 15... Film tensioning mechanism, 20... Film contacting mechanism, 30
...Film covering mechanism, 40...Film welding mechanism, A...First position, B...Second position.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A transport mechanism including a transport means for transporting a test tube containing a sample along a transport path and a stop means for temporarily stopping the test tube at a first position and a second position on the transport path, and a stop means for the transport mechanism. A film stretching mechanism that horizontally pulls out and stretches a sealing film above the opening of a test tube stopped at a first position; a film contact mechanism that cuts out a film piece, lowers the film piece while holding its periphery, and brings the central part of the film piece into contact with the opening of the test tube; and the film contact mechanism brings the central part into contact with the opening of the test tube. A sealing film is applied to the opening of the test tube by narrowing it down with a cylindrical body that fits into the test tube so that the peripheral part of the film piece that is in contact with the test tube is aligned with the outer peripheral surface of the test tube. a film covering mechanism for covering the piece;
After coating the sealing film piece by the film covering mechanism, film welding involves welding the peripheral portion of the film piece to the outer peripheral surface of the test tube that is transported by the transport means and stopped at the second position by the stop means. A test tube opening sealing device characterized by comprising a mechanism.