JPH0359384B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container transfer device, and more particularly to a container transfer device suitable for use when a container is placed on a turntable such as a sampler for supplying liquid to an analytical device. .

First, a conventional method for detecting a liquid container will be described.

Conventional container detection methods that utilize light generally lack stability because the light that passes through the container changes depending on the state of the liquid contained in the container, resulting in an output electrical signal that takes a complex output waveform. For this reason, mechanical detection methods have always been used. For example, a micro switch is set at a specific position where a sample container passes, and the status of the switch is determined.By identifying the container, standard samples, emergency samples, etc. are identified by one of three irregularities formed on the top of the container. A method was used in which a hat was installed and information from the hat was read as a 3-bit digital signal using three microswitches.
This method lacks long-term reliability due to the lifespan of the contacts of the microswitch, and it is troublesome to manufacture a special hat that fits onto the top of the sample container.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container transfer device that does not have a mechanical contact portion and can reliably detect the presence or absence of a container regardless of the state of liquid contained in the container.

There is a need to clearly detect the presence or absence of a container regardless of the state of the liquid contained in the container. However, when a container detection method using a photodetector is adopted, if the container is empty, the container is translucent or transparent, allowing light to pass through it, resulting in a erroneous judgment that there is no container inside. .
The detection function of the present invention solves the above problem and makes it possible to clearly determine whether a container is present even when the container is empty.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a general configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 shows a circuit configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 shows a circuit configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
A detailed circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention is shown in the fourth figure.
FIG. 5 shows a waveform diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The operating principle of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. The turntable 3 is used to set a normal sample container 1 and a special sample container 2, and 40 normal sample containers 1, numbered 1 to 40, are set on the outer periphery of the turntable 3, as shown in the top view. The inner circumference is designed to accommodate 20 containers ranging from 1' to 20'. These can now be used as standard samples and blank samples to be used as comparison reference samples, as well as emergency specimen sample containers for emergency testing, and so-called special specimen sample containers can be set. These containers may contain reagents instead of samples. In FIG. 1, the turntable 3 on which the sample containers 1 and 2 are placed is rotated by the transmission force of a motor 11, a motor power transmission gear 10 attached to its shaft, and a turntable rotation gear 9. .

On the shaft of the turntable, there is a sample number detection plate 8 in which concave grooves (light transmitting portions) and light blocking portions are alternately formed in the same number as the holes for setting sample containers on the outer periphery of the turntable 3. By attaching it, it rotates in the same direction as the turntable 3. Furthermore, a sample container detector 4 detects the presence or absence of a normal sample sample container 1 on the outer circumferential side, a standard sample, a blank sample,
It is equipped with detection units such as a sample container detector 5, a sample container initial position detector 7, and a sample number detector 6, which detect a special sample container 2 on the inner circumferential side of an emergency sample or the like. The signals of each detection state are sent to voltage comparators 14 and 1.
6. The signal is inputted to the microcomputer 13 via the buffer gate 22, which undergoes waveform shaping processing by the detection signal processing circuit 12, which is composed of switching circuits 15, 17, pulse generation circuits 18, 19, and AND circuits 20, 21. Ru. In addition, a detection signal processing circuit 12 and a microcomputer 13
forms a signal processing device that determines the presence or absence of a sample container. In the device shown in Fig. 1, detectors 4, 6, 7
The presence or absence of a container can be accurately detected by the signal timing processing of the detectors 5, 6, and 7.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The sample container detector 4 determines the set state of the container and outputs the signal waveform a in FIG. 4. This signal is waveform-shaped by the voltage comparator 14 and changes to the signal waveform shown in FIG. 4b. The signal waveform b generates a constant time width pulse c from the pulse generating circuit 18 and enters the AND circuit 20.

In other words, the signal of constant time width pulse c has a waveform b
It is formed as a pulse with a constant time width from the leading edge of the pulsed output signal (the rising portion marked with a circle in b in FIG. 4). On the other hand, the sample number detector 6 detects the position of the groove in the concave part of the sample number detection plate 8, and outputs a signal d through the switching circuit 15 to the AND circuit 2.
Enters 0. The two signals c and d entering the AND circuit 20 generate an AND output signal f.

The signal from the sample container initial position detector 7 outputs a signal e in the switching circuit 17 and enters the buffer gate 22.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that sample containers 1, 2, and 6 are containers containing specimen samples, 3, 4, and 7 are empty containers with no samples, and sample position 5 is in a state where there is no container. According to the present invention, no matter what state the contents of the container are in, when the sample container passes through the detector, the tip of the container is always detected by utilizing the properties of the opaque area created by the thick wall sections at the front and rear of the container. The state of the container can be accurately detected by capturing the output signal and by ANDing the sample number signal that is output at the center of the container in synchronization with it. When there is no container, no signal is generated at the output of the detector because light is always transmitted. The output signal f of the AND circuit 20 is composed of the address signal of the microcomputer 13 and output from the input/output command by the buffer gate 22, and is sent from the input command decoder 23 to the computer 13.
Data is input to.

Similarly, special sample (standard, blank, emergency sample) containers set on the inner circumferential side in FIG.
(signal h), the pulse generating circuit 19 outputs a time width pulse i, the AND circuit 21 performs the AND of the two signals, and the output signal j is input to the buffer gate 22. The subsequent signal processing is the same as for the specimen sample. FIG. 5 shows a signal waveform diagram of each partial output. FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of the block diagram shown in FIG. 2, showing a method for detecting the presence or absence of a specimen sample container.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the presence or absence of a sample container is accurately detected using a circuit system using a semiconductor detector, and at the same time, the positions of special samples such as standard, blank, and emergency samples are determined, and a computer search is performed to achieve high efficiency in the measurement order. can be converted into

As described above, according to the present invention, there is no need for a mechanical system with moving parts such as contacts as a means for detecting the presence or absence of a sample container, and the function can be carried out using only an electronic circuit system, so the functional life is very long. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a container can be accurately detected regardless of the state of liquid in the container. Since the detection method can be created using a simple electronic circuit, it is also economically advantageous.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sample container setting turntable according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a top view of the turntable and sample container detection plate, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detection signal processing circuit in the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of the detection signal processing circuit of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a timing pulse diagram of the normal sample container detection processing signal in the embodiment device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is the same. FIG. 6 is a timing pulse diagram of a detection processing signal for a special specimen sample container. 3... Turntable, 4... Sample container detector, 5... Sample container detector, 6... Sample number detector, 7... Sample container initial position detector, 8... Sample number detection plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A turntable in which a row of holes into which containers capable of containing liquid are inserted are formed concentrically; A turntable is attached coaxially with the turntable and has the same number of light transmitting parts as the number of holes in the row of holes. a detection plate, the light transmitting parts of which are formed corresponding to the respective holes in the row of holes; a first optical detection means for detecting a light transmitting portion on the detection plate; forming a light beam that is traversed by the container inserted into the hole when the container is transported by the rotational movement of the turntable; a second optical detection means comprising a light emitting part and a light receiving part arranged opposite to each other via the container transfer path; from the leading edge of the pulsed output signal from the second optical detection means; A signal processing device is provided for determining the presence or absence of a container on the turntable based on the AND of the formed constant time width pulse signal and a light transmitting portion detection signal based on the output of the first optical detection means. A container transfer device characterized by: