JPS6232600Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] "Field of industrial application" This invention relates to a mounting structure for a sample tube holder in a centrifuge.

"Prior art" In order to perform centrifugation on a sample to be separated adopted in a sample tube, the sample tube containing the sample to be separated is housed in a sample tube holder, and this sample tube holder is attached to a rotor. A centrifugal separator is used in which a rotor is rotated by a motor to perform centrifugal separation on a sample to be separated in a sample tube.

In this type of centrifuge, the sample tube containing the sample to be separated is attached to the sample tube holder via the sample tube holder, the sample tube holder is attached to the rotor, and the rotor is rotated. Centrifugation is performed on the sample to be separated.

During centrifugation, for example, when measuring the hestocrit value, the rotor is driven to rotate at a high rotational speed of approximately 12,000 rpm.

Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the sample tube holder is completely firmly attached to the rotor so that the sample tube holder does not separate from the rotor while the rotor is being rotated.

If the sample tube holder is not completely attached to the rotor and becomes loose while the rotor is rotating, the centrifugal force applied to the sample tube holder during operation may cause the sample tube holder to become loose. There is a risk that the tube holder will separate from the rotor, causing a serious accident in which the sample will be scattered.

FIG. 2 shows the mounting structure of the sample tube holder in this type of centrifugal separator. At a position symmetrical to the center of the rotor 11, the peripheral surface of the rotor 11 is extended in the radial direction, and the extension arm 12 -1~1
2-4 is formed.

The ends of each extension arm are extended together,
Holding arms 13-1, 13-2, 13- parallel to each other
3, 13-4...13-7, 13-8 are formed.

A sample tube holder is rotatably engaged between these holding arms arranged parallel to each other.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, holding arms 13-1, 13-
A so-called tube hanging type sample tube holder 15 is shown engaged between the two.

The sample tube holder 15 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material.
As shown in the figure, it is formed into an egg-shaped plate. Opposing surfaces 16-1 and 16-2 are formed at both ends of the sample tube holder 15 in the longitudinal direction, facing each other at right angles to the plate surface of the sample tube holder 15. A sample tube insertion port 17 is formed in the plate surface of the sample tube holder 15 .

The respective contact surfaces 16-1 and 16-2 have mounting holes 18-1 and 18-1 that reach the inner peripheral surface of the sample tube insertion port 17, respectively.
18-2 is formed.

Holding arms 13- in which the sample tube holders 15 face each other
A pin 20 is rotatably engaged between 1 and 13-2 by a screw.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, screw holes 25 are formed through the plate surfaces of the holding arms 13-1 and 13-2, which are opposed to each other. .

Attachment holes 18-1 and 18- at this screw hole 25 position.
The sample tube holder 15 is arranged so that the two positions coincide. The pin 20 engages the sample tube holder 15 between the holding arms 13-1 and 13-2.

The tip of the pin 20 used for engagement is located in the mounting hole 18-
1, 18-2 is formed to have a slightly narrower inner diameter. At the middle part of the pin 20, there is a holding arm 13-
The screw 26 is formed over a length corresponding to the plate thickness portions 1 and 13-2.

Attachment hole 1 of sample tube holder 15 at screw hole 25 position
Pin 2 with the 8-1 and 18-2 positions aligned
0 screws 26 are screwed into the screw holes 25 of the holding arms 13-1 and 13-2. With the screw 26 and the screw hole 25 screwed together, the tip portion of the pin 20 is inserted into the attachment holes 18-1 and 18-2.

Therefore, the sample tube holder 15 has the mounting hole 18-
1 and 18-2 are rotatably attached between the holding arms 13-1 and 13-2 in a state where they are engaged with the tip of the pin 20.

In this way, the sample tube 28 is attached to the sample tube insertion port 17 of the sample tube holder 15 attached between the holding arms 13-1 and 13-2, as shown in FIG.

The sample tube 28 shown in FIG. 2 is a large sample tube,
A relatively large amount of sample to be separated was collected, and cap 3
0 closes the opening. Cap 30 of sample tube 28
In the vicinity of the part where the sample tube 2 is attached,
The outer peripheral surface of 8 projects outward, and an engaging flange 31 is formed over the entire circumference.

Therefore, the sample tube insertion port 17 of the sample tube holder 15
When the sample tube 28 is inserted into the sample tube holder 1, the engagement collar 31 engages with the periphery of the sample tube insertion port 17.
5.

Since the sample tube holder 15 is rotatably attached around the pin 20, when the rotor 11 rotates, the centrifugal force acting on the sample tube 28 causes the sample tube holder 15 to rotate around the pin 20. Move sample tube 2
8 is in a raised state.

Centrifugal force is applied to the sample to be separated collected in the sample tube 28, and the sample to be separated is centrifuged.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" In this conventionally defined structure, the tip of the pin 20 receives the entire load of the sample tube holder 15 to which the sample tube 28 is attached when it is attached. Furthermore, when the rotor is rotated to perform centrifugal separation, the tip of the pin 20 is subjected to a considerably large centrifugal force.

For this reason, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the pin 20 and increase the strength of the pin 20 itself so that the pin 20 does not break due to the application of centrifugal force.

Furthermore, as the sample tube 28 swings up and returns to its original position, the inner periphery of the mounting holes 18-1 and 18-2 of the rotating sample tube holder 15 slides on the outer periphery of the pin 20. There is. If such operations are accumulated, the threaded engagement of the pin 20 with the holding arms 13-1 and 13-2 may loosen after a long period of operation. If the centrifuge is operated without noticing this loosening, there is a risk that the sample tube holder 15 may come off.

In this way, the pin 20 with a large diameter is formed, and this pin 20 can be screwed into the holding arm 13 -
1 and 13-2, and which does not easily loosen due to the rotation of the sample tube holder 15, it is not easy in terms of manufacturing technology.

This idea solves the shortcomings of these conventional methods, and creates a centrifugal separator that has a simple structure, does not put any strain on the fixing screws, and can be significantly miniaturized as a whole. This provides a mounting structure for a sample tube holder.

"Structure of the invention" In this invention, a rotor is attached to a rotating shaft that is rotationally driven within an outer box, and the rotor has opposing holding arms formed by extending the rotor body parallel to each other in the radial direction. is provided. The sample tube holder is rotatably engaged between the holding arms at opposing sides, and the sample tube holder is attached to the rotor.

In this device, engagement shafts are formed protruding from the opposing sides of the sample tube holder, and the engagement shafts extend from the upper surface of at least one of the holding arms diagonally to the lower surface of the holding arm with respect to the extending direction of the holding arm. A groove is formed, and an engagement shaft to which this engagement groove is engaged is formed to have a shaft diameter slightly smaller than the width of the engagement groove.

A pin insertion hole is formed in the protruding end surface of the engagement shaft, and an attachment hole is formed in the holding arm from a position on the outside of the holding arm opposite to the pin insertion hole of the holding arm. A pin is inserted and fixed into this mounting hole. The tip end of the pin fixed to the holding arm is inserted into the pin insertion hole at a substantially central position and is loosely engaged with the pin insertion hole.

"Example" Hereinafter, the attachment structure of the sample tube holder of the centrifuge of this invention will be described in detail based on the example using the drawings.

Engagement shafts are formed protruding from mutually opposing side surfaces of the sample tube holder.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which sample tubes 28 are attached to the sample tube holder 15 in an embodiment of this invention. Engagement shafts 36-1, 36-2
are each formed protrudingly.

A pin insertion hole 37-2 is formed in the protruding end surface of one engagement shaft 36-2. This engagement shaft 36-2
is engaged with an engagement groove formed in the holding arm, which will be described later.

An engagement groove is formed in the lower surface of the holding arm diagonally from the upper surface of at least one of the holding arms with respect to the extending direction of the holding arm.

5A and 5B show the configuration of an embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, the holding arm 13-2 extends from the upper surface 38 of the holding arm 13-2 in the extending direction of the holding arm 13-2. -2 engagement groove 40 toward the lower surface 39
is formed. The width of this engagement groove 40 is determined by the width of the engagement shaft 3.
It is formed slightly larger than the shaft diameter of 6-2.
Further, the end portion of the engagement groove 40 is formed into a semicircular shape having a diameter equal to the width of the engagement groove 40.

A pin insertion hole is formed on the protruding end surface of the engagement shaft that engages with the engagement groove formed on the holding arm, and the pin is inserted and fixed into the holding arm from an outside position of the holding arm opposite to this pin insertion hole. The end of the pin is loosely inserted into the pin insertion hole approximately at the center.

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the outer surface of the holding arm 13-2 is A screw hole 41 is formed that reaches the inner surface of the engagement groove 40 from the bottom.

The sample tube holder 1 is screwed into the screw hole 41.
The pin 42 that engages the pin 5 between the holding arms 13-1 and 13-2 is selected so that the outer diameter of the tip thereof is smaller than the inner diameter of the pin insertion hole 37-2, and the length of this narrow diameter portion is A screw 43 is formed at the intermediate portion of the pin 42, slightly shorter than the depth of the insertion hole 37-2, and having a length approximately equal to the thickness of the holding arm 13-2.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
3-1, an insertion hole 44 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the engagement shaft 36-1 is formed in correspondence with the end position of the engagement groove 40.

While engaging the engagement shaft 36-2 with the engagement groove 40 and moving it toward the end of the engagement groove 40, the engagement shaft 36-2 is engaged with the engagement groove 40.
-1 is engaged with the insertion hole 44.

Since the insertion hole 44 is set to have a slightly wide diameter, the engagement shaft 36-1 is engaged with the insertion hole 44 while the sample tube holder 15 is tilted, and the engagement shaft 36-1 is engaged with the insertion hole 44.
-2 can be moved to the end position of the engagement groove 40.

The pin 42 is inserted into the screw hole 41, and the screw 43 of the pin 42 and the screw hole 41 are screwed together. By this screwing, the pin 42 is fixed to the holding arm 13-2, and the narrow diameter portion at the tip of the pin 42 is located within the pin insertion hole 37-2 of the engagement shaft 36-2.

By screwing the pin 42, the pin 42 is attached to the holding arm 1.
3-2, the pin insertion hole 37-2 is engaged with the tip of this pin 42, and the other engagement shaft 3-2 is fixed to the engagement shaft 3-2.
6-1 is engaged with the insertion hole 44. Therefore, the sample tube holder 15 is rotatably mounted between the holding arms 13-1 and 13-2 at the engagement shafts 36-1 and 36-2.

A sample tube is attached to this sample tube holder 15, and the rotor 11 is rotated to centrifuge the sample to be separated in the sample tube. The load due to the application of centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotor 11 is received by the wide-diameter engagement shafts 36-1 and 36-2, and no load is applied to the pin 42. In this invention, pin 42
is attached only to prevent the sample tube holder 15 from coming off. Therefore, the diameter of the pin 42 can be made thinner, and the engagement shaft 36-
The outer diameter of 1,36-2 can also be made smaller,
The overall size will also be significantly reduced.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the engagement shaft 36-1 is inserted into the insertion hole 44 while the engagement shaft 36-2 is engaged with the holding arm 13-2 along the engagement groove 40. By simply engaging the pin 42 into the screw hole 41, the sample tube holder 15 can be attached to the holding arm 13.
-1, 13-2 is rotatably and stably attached. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the engagement shaft 36-1 is engaged with the wide-diameter circular insertion hole 44 as shown in FIG. 6A, but as shown in FIG. It may also be engaged with the oval insertion hole 44.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the engaging groove 40 is formed only in the holding arm 13-2. However, as shown in Fig. 7, the engaging groove 40 may be formed in the holding arms 13-1 and 13-
Alternatively, an engagement groove 40 may be formed in each of the engagement shafts 36-1, 36-2, and a pin insertion hole may be formed for each of the engagement shafts 36-1, 36-2, and the tip end of a pin fixed to the holding arm may be inserted and engaged into these pin insertion holes.

Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, there is no need to form a large pin as in the conventional example, and the pin 42 is held by engaging the engagement shafts 36-1 and 36-2 in the engagement grooves 40, respectively. The sample tube holder 15 can be stably attached between the holding arms by a simple operation of fixing it to the arm.

In each of the embodiments, the pin 42 is of a type that is fixed to the holding arm by screwing, but the pin 42 is not limited to the screwing type. It may be of a structure that is fixed by being driven into the holding arm.

``Effects of the invention'' As explained in detail above, according to this invention, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the fixing pin, simplifying the manufacturing technology, and making it possible to hold the sample tube engaged between the holding arms of the rotor. It is possible to downsize the shape of the engaging shaft part of the body, and it can be mounted between the holding arms of the sample tube holder in a stable state with simple operation, and the centrifugal force of high rotation speed can be reduced. It becomes possible to provide a mounting structure for a sample tube holder of a centrifuge that can sufficiently withstand the application of .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a sample tube holder to which a sample tube is attached in an embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how a sample tube holder is attached to a holding arm in a centrifuge; FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a conventionally proposed mounting structure for a sample tube holder in a centrifuge; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the sample tube holder in Figure 3, Figure 5A,
B is a plan view and a side view showing the configuration of an embodiment of this invention, FIGS. 6A and B are sectional views each showing an example of the structure of one engagement shaft portion in an embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 7 FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of another embodiment of this invention. 11: Rotor, 12-1 to 12-4: Extension arm,
13-1, 13-8: holding arm, 15: sample tube holder, 16-1, 16-2: contact surface, 17: sample tube insertion port, 18-1, 18-2: mounting hole, 20: Pin, 25: Screw hole, 26, 43: Screw, 28: Sample tube, 31: Engagement collar, 35-1, 35-2: Side, 36-1, 36-2: Engagement shaft, 37-2: Pin insertion hole, 40: Engagement groove, 41: Screw hole, 42:
Pin, 44: insertion hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A rotor is attached to a rotating shaft that is rotationally driven within the outer box, and the rotor has opposing holding arms formed by extending the main body parallel to each other in the radial direction. A mounting structure for a sample tube holding container of a centrifuge, in which a sample tube holding body is rotatably engaged between the holding arms at mutually opposing sides thereof and removably attached to the rotor, Engagement shafts are formed protruding from mutually opposing side surfaces of the sample tube holder, and an engagement groove extends obliquely from the upper surface of at least one of the holding arms to the lower surface of the holding arm with respect to the extending direction of the holding arm. is formed, at least one of the engagement shafts is engaged with the engagement groove, a pin insertion hole is formed in the protruding end surface of the engagement shaft that is engaged with the engagement groove, and a pin insertion hole is formed in the pin insertion hole. A mounting hole is formed in the holding arm oppositely, and a pin is fixed to the holding arm from the outside of the holding arm by passing through the mounting hole, and the tip of the pin is approximately aligned with the pin insertion hole. A mounting structure for a sample tube holder of a centrifuge, characterized in that the sample tube holder is loosely inserted and engaged at a central position.