CONTAINER TRANSFER DEVICE

Provided is a container transfer device that allows a container to be easily exchanged when the container is located in an exchange area and that can reliably prevent unintentional lifting of the container by fixing the container so as to prevent the container from escaping upward when the container is located in a sampling area. A container transfer device 5A includes a rotating table 31 on which a container 200 accommodating a sample is placed and which moves the container 200 between an exchange area (K) and a sampling area (S), a holding body 32 holding the container 200 placed on the rotating table 31 to allow the container 200 to be pulled out upward, and a movable body 33 fixing the container 200 to prevent the container 200 from escaping upward in the sampling area (S).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a container transfer device that transfers a container accommodating a sample of a liquid, such as a chemical or a beverage.

BACKGROUND ART

There is a known automated analyzer for continuously analyzing components of a sample or the like, which is configured to extract the sample in a container at a sampling position (see Patent Document 1, for example). There is another known automated analyzer provided with a dispensing mechanism that sucks a liquid sample directly from a closed container (see Patent Document 2, for example).

The automated analyzer according to Patent Document 1 includes an open-top sample storage, a sample disk rotatably disposed in the sample storage, and a front lid covering the opening of the sample storage. The sample disk has a plurality of holes. A plurality of containers accommodating a sample is placed on the sample disk while being inserted into the holes, respectively. An inner lid is integrated with the front lid to be slidable relative to the front lid. When the opening of the sample storage is closed with the front lid, the inner lid is in contact with the opening of each container and can keep the container sealed, and only the inner lid can be moved to be separated from the opening of the container. In the automated analyzer according to Patent Document 1, the sample disk is rotated, whereby a container for which dispensing is to be performed is moved to a dispensing position. At the dispensing position, a sampling probe is inserted into the container through through holes respectively provided in the front lid and the inner lid, so that a sample in the container can be sucked by means of the sampling probe.

The dispensing mechanism provided in the automated analyzer according to Patent Document 2 includes a nozzle with a sharp tip that can penetrate through a rubber stopper closing the opening of a container, and is configured to cause the nozzle to penetrate through the rubber stopper and suck a liquid sample in the container. A plurality of containers accommodating the liquid sample is placed on a rack disposed on a transport mechanism. A stopper is attached to the rack to be located above the containers in order to prevent each container from being pulled up by friction generated between the nozzle and the rubber stopper in an operation of pulling out the nozzle performed after the operation of sucking the liquid sample in the container. The stopper has a nozzle through hole smaller than the outer diameter of each container. The container that is about to rise together with the nozzle comes into contact with a lower surface of the stopper, which thereby prevents it from being unintentionally lifted.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-25804

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

In the automated analyzer according to Patent Document 1, fixation of all the containers placed on the sample disk by the inner lid is released by the detachment of the front lid from the sample storage, so that these containers can easily be exchanged. Meanwhile, when the front lid is attached to the sample storage, all the containers placed on the sample disk can be fixed by the inner lid. However, in this configuration in which fixation of all the containers placed on the sample disk by the inner lid and release of fixation are achieved by attaching the front lid to the sample storage and detaching the front lid, all the containers placed on the sample disk are not fixed if the attaching of the front lid to the sample storage is forgotten. Therefore, if the sample disk is rotated in a state in which the attaching of the front lid is forgotten, the containers may be tilted, or the positions of the containers may be shifted. When the sampling probe is inserted into any of the containers in this state, the sampling probe may interfere with the container, and the sampling probe and/or the container may be broken. Even if the interference between the sampling probe and the container is avoided, measurement may be made impossible because of a failure to suck out a sample.

In the automated analyzer according to Patent Document 2, lifting of the container in the operation of pulling out the nozzle performed after the suction of the liquid sample can be prevented by the stopper attached to the rack. However, the containers placed on the rack cannot be exchanged unless the stopper is detached. Therefore, the stopper has to be detached prior to the exchange of the container. It is troublesome to detach the stopper, and the container cannot be exchanged easily.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container transfer device that allows a container to be easily exchanged when the container is located in an exchange area, and that can reliably prevent unintentional lifting of the container by fixing the container so as to prevent the container from escaping upward when the container is located in a sampling area.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the above object, a container transfer device according to the present invention is characterized by including:a rotating table on which a container accommodating a sample is placed and which moves the container between an exchange area and a sampling area;a holding body holding the container placed on the rotating table to allow the container to be pulled out upward; anda fixing unit fixing the container to prevent the container from escaping upward in the sampling area.

According to the container transfer device having this configuration, the container accommodating the sample is placed on the rotating table and is moved between the exchange area and the sampling area. The container placed on the rotating table is held by the holding body to be able to be pulled out upward. When the container is located in the exchange area, the container placed on the rotating table can be pulled out from the holding body by being lifted, and can easily be exchanged. When the container is located in the sampling area, the container is fixed by the fixing unit so as not to be pulled out upward. Therefore, in the case where the opening of the container is closed with a sealing member, for example, when a nozzle that can penetrate through the sealing member is pulled out after the suction of the sample in the container by means of the nozzle arranged to penetrate through the sealing member, the fixing member can prevent the container from being pulled up due to friction generated between the nozzle and the sealing member, thus preventing unintentional lifting of the container.

In the container transfer device according to the present invention, it is preferable that,the container has a constricted portion, andthe fixing unit is configured to fix the container to prevent the container from escaping upward by catching a movable body movable relative to the constricted portion in the constricted portion.

According to the container transfer device having this configuration, the fixing unit is configured to fix the container to prevent upward escape of the container by catching the movable body movable relative to the constricted portion of the container in the constricted portion of the container. This configuration can reliably prevent unintentional lifting of the container and enables, for example, a plate-like member that can enter the constricted portion of the container to be used as the movable body. Accordingly, the device can be made thin.

It is preferable that the container transfer device according to the present invention further includes a switch unit switching between a caught state and an uncaught state of the movable body with respect to the constricted portion of the container in the sampling area and the exchange area.

According to the container transfer device having this configuration, the caught state and the uncaught state of the movable body with respect to the constricted portion of the container are switched by the switch unit in the sampling area and the exchange area. In the sampling area, the switch unit performs switching to the caught state where the movable body is caught in the constricted portion of the container. Accordingly, unintentional lifting of the container can be prevented by the movable body more reliably. In the exchange area, the switch unit performs switching to the uncaught state where the movable body is not caught in the constricted portion of the container. Accordingly, it is possible to easily pull out the container from the holding body by lifting the container placed on the rotating table. Container exchange can thus be performed easily.

In the container transfer device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the switch unit includesa biasing member biasing the movable body toward the constricted portion of the container, anda cam moving the movable body in a direction in which the movable body is separated from the constricted portion of the container in the exchange area by using a rotary power for rotating the rotating table.

According to the container transfer device having this configuration, when the container placed on the rotating table has been moved to the exchange area by rotation of the rotating table, part of the rotary power for rotating the rotating table is converted by the cam to a driving force for driving the movable body in the direction in which the movable body is separated from the constricted portion of the container. Thus, the movable body is moved so as to be separated from the constricted portion of the container and is placed in the uncaught state where the movable body is not caught in the constricted portion of the container. Further, when the container on the rotating table has been moved from the exchange area to the sampling area, the movable body biased toward the constricted portion of the container moves toward the constricted portion of the container and is caught in the constricted portion of the container, thereby being fixed so as not to escape upward. As described above, only by rotating the rotating table on which the container is placed to move the container between the exchange area and the sampling area, it is possible to automatically switch between the uncaught state where the movable body is not caught in the constricted portion of the container and the caught state where the movable body is caught in the constricted portion of the container.

It is preferable that the container transfer device according to the present invention further includes a pin member maintaining the uncaught state of the movable body with respect to the container in the exchange area.

According to the container transfer device having this configuration, the pin member is included for maintaining the uncaught state of the movable body with respect to the container in the exchange area. With this configuration, the state in which the container can be pulled out upward from the holding body is reliably maintained by the pin member in the exchange area. Therefore, container exchange can be performed in a more stable manner in the exchange area.

In the container transfer device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the pin member is attached to the holding body to be movable up and down,the pin member is configured to, when being at a lowered position, engage with the movable body to maintain the uncaught state and, when being at a raised position, disengage from the movable body not to maintain the uncaught state, anda pin push-up block is further included for pushing up the pin member to the raised position in the sampling area by using the rotary power for rotating the rotating table.

According to the container transfer device having this configuration, when the container on the rotating table is located in the exchange area, the pin member attached to the holding body to be movable up and down is lowered by a gravitational action to be located at the lowered position. When being located at the lowered position, the pin member engages with the movable body, whereby the uncaught state where the movable body is not caught in the constricted portion of the container is maintained. When the container on the rotating table has been moved to the sampling area by rotation of the rotating table, part of the rotary power for rotating the rotating table is converted by the pin push-up block to the driving force for raising the pin member to the raised position. The pin member is thus pushed up to the raised position. When being located at the raised position, the pin member disengages from the movable body, and the uncaught state is not maintained, that is, the movable body is placed in the caught state where it is caught in the constricted portion of the container. The container is thus fixed so as not to escape upward. As described above, only by rotating the rotating table on which the container is placed to move the container from the exchange area to the sampling area, it is automatically switch from the uncaught state where the movable body is not caught in the constricted portion of the container to the caught state where the movable body is caught in the constricted portion of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, an automated analyzer is described as an example which is provided with a container transfer device according to the present invention transferring a container accommodating a sample of a liquid, such as a chemical or a beverage. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the configurations shown in the embodiments described below and the drawings.

First Embodiment

<Overall Configuration of Automated Analyzer>

FIG.1is a perspective view of a whole automated analyzer1A provided with a container transfer device5A according to a first embodiment of the present invention, when viewed from the front side. The automated analyzer1A shown inFIG.1includes the container transfer device5A that transfers a container accommodating a sample between an exchange area and a sampling area and a dispensing device10that sucks the sample from the container and dispenses the sample in the sampling area. The definition of the exchange area and the sampling area will be described in detail later. Further, the shape and structure of the container used in this example will also be described in detail later.

The dispensing device10is configured to include a nozzle unit11and a driving unit12and is disposed in a rear right corner of a casing20described later in the container transfer device5A. The nozzle unit11includes a nozzle13with a sharp tip (lower end) extending in the vertical direction and is configured to be able to suck and discharge a sample via the nozzle13. The driving unit12is a combination of a Y-axis driving mechanism for linearly moving the nozzle unit in the horizontal Y-axis direction (front-back direction) and a Z-axis driving mechanism for linearly moving the nozzle unit in the vertical Z-axis direction (vertical direction), although the description based on detailed illustration is omitted. The driving unit12is configured to be able to move the nozzle unit11in two directions including the front-back direction and the vertical direction.

FIG.2is a cross-sectional view along line A-A inFIG.1. As shown inFIG.2, the container transfer device5A includes the casing20, a rotating body21arranged above the casing20, and a rotary driving mechanism22arranged inside the casing20. The casing20is configured by a top plate25and a bottom plate26that are arranged in the vertical direction with a predetermined interval therebetween and are rectangular in plan view, and a frame body27arranged to connect the outer circumferences of the top plate25and the bottom plate26to each other.

<Exchange Area and Sampling Area>

FIG.3is a plan view of the rotating body21with a plurality of containers200placed thereon. As shown inFIG.3, the rotating body21moves the containers200between an exchange area and a sampling area. Here, in plan view of the rotating body21, the X and Y orthogonal axes are set with the center of rotation of the rotating body21coincident with the origin O, the axis extending in the left-right direction is defined as the X-axis with its left side set as the positive side, the axis extending in the front-back direction is the Y-axis with its back side set as the positive side, and the clockwise direction around the origin O is defined as a forward rotation direction (forward direction) with the positive side of the X-axis regarded as a reference (0°). In this case, an area of rotation from 0° to 120° inclusive in the rotating body21is defined as the sampling area (a range denoted with symbol “S” and a double arrow inFIG.3) for extracting a sample from the container200, and an area of rotation more than 180° and less than 360° in the rotating body21is defined as the exchange area (a range denoted with symbol “K” and a double arrow inFIG.3) for exchanging the container200, for example. As for the sampling area and the exchange area, the numerical ranges of angles are not limited to the ranges exemplified above, and can be appropriately set by adjusting the number of disposed movable bodies33described later, the circumferential length of each movable body33, and the like.

FIGS.4(a) and4(b)are cross-sectional views of a main portion along line C-C inFIG.3and respectively show an uncaught state and a caught state. As shown inFIG.4(a), the container200is configured by a container main body201and a lid202. The container main body201has a cylindrical portion205forming an opening open upward, a bottomed cylindrical portion206that is larger than the cylindrical portion205in diameter and can accommodate a sample, and a sloping portion207connecting the cylindrical portion205and the bottomed cylindrical portion206to each other. The bottomed cylindrical portion206, the sloping portion207, and the cylindrical portion205are contiguously provided to be integrated together from bottom to top in this order. The lid202has a sealing member208covering the opening of the cylindrical portion205and a sealing-member holding portion209that holds the sealing member208with the center portion of the sealing member208in plan view exposed to outside. An external thread formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion205and an internal thread formed on the inner circumferential surface of the sealing-member holding portion209are screwed together to tighten the lid202, whereby the container main body201can be closed and sealed with the lid202. In the container200, a constricted portion210is formed by the boundary between the cylindrical portion205and the sloping portion207and upper and lower adjacent portions of the boundary (a portion between the bottomed cylindrical portion206and the lid202).

FIG.5is an overall perspective view of the rotating body21with no container placed thereon. As shown inFIG.5, the rotating body21includes a rotating table31, a holding body32, and a plurality of movable bodies33.

FIG.6is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the rotating body21between the rotating table31and the holding body32. As shown inFIG.6, the rotating table31is configured by a hollow disc-like member with a predetermined thickness which has a placing surface with a sufficient area allowing a plurality of (30at maximum in the present embodiment) containers200to be placed at the same time. A center opening34in the shape of a circular hole is formed at the center of the rotating table31to have a size that allows a rotor93described later to pass therethrough. A support disc35is provided between the rotating table31and the holding body32.

FIG.7is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the rotating body21between the holding body32and the movable bodies33. As shown inFIG.7, the holding body32is configured by a hollow disc-like member. A center opening36in the shape of a circular hole is formed at the center of the holding body32. A plurality of (30 in the present embodiment) holding-body through holes40in the shape of circular holes is formed in a flat surface of the holding body32between a portion near the inner periphery surrounding the center opening36and the outer circumference, and penetrates through the flat surface in the vertical direction.

The holding-body through holes40provided in the holding body32are regularly arranged to form two concentric circles in the radial direction. That is, in the flat surface of the holding body32between the portion near the inner periphery and the outer circumference, 15 holding-body through holes40are arranged equiangularly (every 24°) in an annular band-like region close to the portion near the inner periphery in such a manner that the center of each holding-body through hole40is coincident with a point on the circumference of a first-pitch circle [C1] around the center of the holding body32. Also, in the flat surface of the holding body32between the portion near the inner periphery and the outer circumference, 15 holding-body through holes40are arranged equiangularly (every 24°) in another annular band-like region close to the outer circumference in such a manner that the center of each holding-body through hole40is coincident with a point on the circumference of a second-pitch circle [C2] around the center of the holding body32, the second-pitch circle being larger than the first-pitch circle [C1]. These 30 holding-body through holes40in total are arranged toward the circumferential direction in a staggered manner, i.e., are alternately shifted in the radial direction of the holding body32one by one toward the circumferential direction, so that the through holes40are aligned along the circumferential direction as a whole. Accordingly, while the holding body32can be made compact, more containers200can be held.

An opening area of each holding-body through hole40is set to an area that allows the bottomed cylindrical portion206of the container main body201(seeFIG.4(a)) to be inserted therethrough. The container200can thus be inserted into and removed from the holding-body through hole40in the vertical direction. In addition, while the bottomed cylindrical portion206of the container main body201is inserted through the holding-body through hole40, the bottomed cylindrical portion206is surrounded by the inner circumferential surface of the holding-body through hole40. In this manner, the holding body32holds the container200placed on the rotating table31so as to allow the container200to be pulled out upward, while the bottomed cylindrical portion206of the container main body201is inserted through the holding-body through hole40.

Three inner main slits41in total are formed every 120° in the circumferential direction in a portion of the holding body32close to the portion near the inner periphery. The inner main slits41extend in the radial direction and have a shape of a rounded rectangle. Three outer main slits42in total are formed every 120° in the circumferential direction in a portion of the holding body32close to the outer periphery. The outer main slits42extend in the radial direction and have a shape of a rounded rectangle. Each outer main slit42and a corresponding inner main slit41are arranged in the radial direction with a predetermined interval therebetween. Further, six sub slits43in total in the shape of a rounded rectangle are formed in the portion of the holding body32close to the outer periphery. The sub slits43are arranged on one side and the other side of each outer main slit42in the circumferential direction to be parallel thereto with a predetermined interval therebetween.

A plurality of (three in the present embodiment) movable bodies33is provided above the holding body32to be arranged along the circumferential direction of the holding body32. Each movable body33is configured by a partial annular member with a predetermined thickness which extends along the circumferential direction of the holding body32to cover a region slightly smaller than about one-third of a total region of the holding body32in the plan view. The partial annular member has an inner arc portion45and an outer arc portion46. The inner arc portion45has an arc length corresponding to a sector arc having a radius slightly larger than the radius of the center opening36of the holding body32and a central angle of about 110°. The outer arc portion46corresponds to a sector arc having a radius about the same as the radius of the holding body32and a central angle of about 110°. The movable body33can move relative to the constricted portion210of the container200and serves as a fixing unit that fixes the container200so as to prevent the container200from escaping upward by being caught in the constricted portion210.

A plurality of (seven in the present embodiment) movable-body through holes50in the shape of circular holes is formed in a flat surface of the movable body33between a portion near the partial inner periphery and the partial outer circumference, and penetrates through the flat surface in the vertical direction. The movable-body through holes50provided in the movable body33are regularly arranged to form two concentric circles in the radial direction. That is, in the flat surface of the movable body33between the portion near the partial inner periphery and the partial outer circumference, three movable-body through holes50are arranged equiangularly (every 24°) in a partial annular band-like region close to the portion near the partial inner periphery in such a manner that the center of each movable-body through hole50is coincident with a point on the circumference of the first-pitch circle [C1] around the center of the holding body32in plan view, when the movable body33is located at an uncaught position described later. Further, four movable-body through holes50are arranged equiangularly (every) 24° in another partial annular band-like region in the flat surface of the movable body33between the portion near the partial inner periphery and the partial outer circumference, which is close to the partial outer circumference, in such a manner that the center of each movable-body through hole50is coincident with a point on the circumference of the second-pitch circle [C2] around the center of the holding body32in plan view, when the movable body33is located at an uncaught position described later. The second-pitch circle is larger than the first-pitch circle. These seven movable-body through holes50in total are arranged in a staggered manner toward the circumferential direction, i.e., are alternately shifted in the radial direction of the movable body33one by one toward the circumferential direction, so that the through holes50are aligned along the circumferential direction as a whole. The size of each of the seven movable-body through holes50provided in the movable body33is set to be the same as the size of the movable-body through holes50provided in the holding body32.

Large arc notches51are formed at both ends in the circumferential direction of the partial annular band-like region close to the partial inner periphery of the movable body33with one large arc notch51at each end. The large arc notch51has an arc length exceeding a half of the total circumferential length of the movable-body through hole50. Further, at one end in the circumferential direction of the partial annular band-like region close to the partial outer circumference of the movable body33is formed a small arc notch52having an arc length of about one-fourth of a length less than a half of the total circumferential length of the movable-body through hole50.

Small through holes53are formed in the portion near the partial inner periphery and the portion near the partial outer periphery of the movable body33to respectively correspond to the inner main slits41, the outer main slits42, and the sub slits43provided in the holding body32. A heteromorphic hole55is formed near the center in the circumferential direction of the portion near the partial inner periphery of the movable body33. The heteromorphic hole55has an arc hole portion56arranged close to the inner arc portion45and having a central angle of larger than 180° and a rounded half rectangular hole portion57extending from the arc hole portion56toward the outer arc portion46to be continuous with the arc hole portion56. The rounded half rectangular portion57is approximately half of a rounded rectangle in the longitudinal direction.

A sliding member60is interposed between the holding body32and the movable body33to be located between the inner main slit41of the holding body32and the small through hole53of the movable body33corresponding to that inner main slit41. The holding body32and the movable body33are secured together by a fastener formed by a pan head screw61penetrating through the inner main slit41, the sliding member60, and the small through hole53and a cap nut62screwed to the screw shaft of the pan head screw61. Further, the sliding member60is interposed between the holding body32and the movable body33to be located between the outer main slit42of the holding body and the small through hole53of the movable body33corresponding to that outer main slit42. The holding body32and the movable body33are secured together by a fastener formed by the pan head screw61penetrating through the outer main slit42, the sliding member60, and the small through hole53and a knob63also serving as a cap nut screwed to the screw shaft of the pan head screw61. Furthermore, the sliding member60is interposed between the holding body32and the movable body33to be located between the sub slit43of the holding body32and the small through hole53of the movable body33corresponding to that sub slit43. The holding body32and the movable body33are secured together by a fastener formed by the pan head screw61penetrating through the sub slit43, the sliding member60, and the small through hole53and the cap nut62screwed to the screw shaft of the pan head screw61.

FIG.8is a plan view of the rotating body21with no container placed thereon, in which the movable body33is partially broken.FIG.9(a)is a cross-sectional view of a main portion along line E-E inFIG.8, andFIG.9(b)is a cross-sectional view of a main portion along line F-F inFIG.8. As shown inFIGS.8and9(a), six columnar standing pins71are arranged to stand equiangularly (every 60°) in the circumferential direction in the portion near the inner periphery of the holding body32. A hanging pin72is provided to hang down at each end in the circumferential direction of the movable body33at a position close to the portion near the partial inner periphery of the movable body33. An extension spring75is provided between the standing pin71and the hanging pin72in a hanging manner. As shown inFIG.8, a pair of extension springs75is arranged between each movable body33and the holding body32in such a manner that the distance between them is increased toward the outer circumference. Due to this arrangement, a resultant force (vector) of elastic forces of the extension springs75acts toward the center of the holding body32along the radial direction of the holding body32. The extension spring75serves as a biasing member that biases the movable member33toward the constricted portion210of the container200(seeFIG.4(a)).

As shown inFIGS.8and9(b), a pin member80is provided in the rotating body21to be movable up and down in association with each movable body33. As shown inFIG.9(b), the pin member80has a large-diameter shaft portion81, a small-diameter shaft portion82, and an elongated shaft portion83, which are contiguously provided to be integrated together in this order from top to bottom with those axial centers coincident with each other. In the pin member80, the small-diameter shaft portion82can fit into the arc hole portion56of the heteromorphic hole55provided in the movable body33. The outer diameter and the height of the large-diameter shaft portion81are set to such values that the large-diameter shaft portion81can be placed on the peripheral portion of the arc hole portion56when the small-diameter shaft portion82fits into the arc hole portion56, and can be pinched with fingers. The elongated shaft portion83extends in the vertical direction to penetrate through the holding body32and the rotating table31and is supported by the holding body32and the rotating table31so as to be movable in the vertical direction and not to be movable in the horizontal direction. A stopper84that can come into contact with the lower surface of the rotating table31is attached to the lower end of the elongated shaft portion83. When the pin member80is pulled up from a state in which the small-diameter shaft portion82fits into the arc hole portion56and the large-diameter shaft portion81is placed on the peripheral portion of the arc hole portion56, the small-diameter shaft portion82escapes from the arc hole portion56and becomes a non-fitting state, and the pin member80is about to be further pulled up, the stopper84comes into contact with the lower surface of the rotating table31to stop the operation of further pulling up the pin member80, thereby preventing the elongated shaft portion83from escaping from the rotating table31.

As shown inFIG.6, the support disc35and the portion of the holding body32near the inner periphery of the holding body32are secured together with the necessary pan head screws61and countersunk screws87via three inner hexagonal columnar members85arranged between the support disc35and the holding body32equiangularly (every 120°) in the circumferential direction. Further, the portion of the holding body32close to the portion near the inner periphery thereof and the rotating table31are secured together with the necessary pan head screws61via four outer hexagonal columnar members86arranged between the holding body32and the rotating table31equiangularly (every 90°) in the circumferential direction. The support disc35is fixed to the rotor93described later to be detachable. A rotary power from the rotor93is transmitted to the rotating table31via the support disc35, the three inner hexagonal columnar members85, the holding body32, and the four outer hexagonal columnar members86.

As shown inFIG.4(a), the holding body32is arranged at the height corresponding to an upper portion of the bottomed cylindrical portion206of the container main body201of the container200placed on the rotating table31through the movable-body through hole50and the holding-body through hole40. Further, the movable body33is arranged at the height corresponding to the constricted portion210of the container200.

<Uncaught Position and Caught Position>

As shown inFIG.7, the holding body32and the movable body33are secured together by means of a fastener with the required sliding members60interposed therebetween. With this configuration, the movable body33is slidable together with the sliding member60relative to the holding body32in a direction in which the inner main slit41and the outer main slit42extend, that is, in the radial direction of the holding body32, and is reciprocatable between an uncaught position and a caught position along the radial direction of the holding body32. The uncaught position of the movable body33is a position at which the movable body33is not caught in the constricted portion210of the container200placed on the rotating table31through the movable-body through hole50and the holding-body through hole40, as shown inFIG.4(a). That is, the uncaught position is a position of the movable body33relative to the holding body32at which the position of the movable-body through hole50provided in the movable body33and the position of the holding-body through hole40provided in the holding body32are coincident with each other in plan view, and the position of each of the large arc notch51and the small arc notch52(seeFIG.7) provided in the movable body33and the position of the holding-body through hole40provided in the holding body32are coincident with each other in plan view. Further, the caught position of the movable body33is a position at which the movable body33is caught in the constricted portion210of the container200. That is, the caught position is a position of the movable body33relative to the holding body32at which the movable body33has moved from the uncaught position by a predetermined distance toward the center of the holding body32along the radial direction of the holding body32, and a peripheral portion of each of the movable-body through hole50, the large arc notch51, and the small arc notch52(seeFIG.7) provided in the movable body33enters into the constricted portion210of the container200.

As shown inFIG.2, the rotary driving mechanism22includes a driving motor91, a rotary shaft92, and the rotor93. The driving motor91is disposed in a rear left corner of the casing20in such a manner that the output shaft of the driving motor91penetrates through the top plate25of the casing20and reaches the inside of the casing20. The rotary shaft92extends in the vertical direction to be coaxial with the rotating body21and is arranged to penetrate through the top plate25of the casing20with a predetermined center distance from the output shaft of the driving motor91. The rotary shaft92is supported by the top plate25of the casing20via a bearing member94to be rotatable. A driving timing pulley95is fixed to the output shaft of the driving motor91. A driven timing pulley96is fixed to the lower end of the rotary shaft92. A timing belt97is wound around the driving timing pulley95and the driven timing pulley96. The rotor93is fixed to the upper end of the rotary shaft92to be coaxial with the rotary shaft92. The support disc35in the rotating body21is fixed to the rotor93to be coaxial therewith and detachable therefrom. In the rotary driving mechanism22, a rotary power from the output shaft of the driving motor91is transmitted to the rotating body21via the driving timing pulley95, the timing belt97, the driven timing pulley96, the rotary shaft92, and the rotor93. Accordingly, the rotating body21can be rotated in the forward direction and the reverse direction by forward rotation and reverse rotation of the driving motor91.

FIG.10is an enlarged view of a portion B inFIG.2. A pin push-up block100is placed and fixed on a portion of the top plate25of the casing20corresponding to the sampling area in the rotating body21. The block100is contactable with the lower end of the elongated shaft portion83of the pin member80projecting from the lower surface of the rotating table31. The pin push-up block100is configured by a block member in the shape of a rectangle in plan view parallel to the tangential direction of the rotating table31. The pin push-up block100has a first inclined surface portion101inclined upward toward the forward direction of the rotating body21, a second inclined surface portion102inclined upward toward the reverse direction of the rotating body21, and a horizontal surface portion103. The first inclined surface portion101, the horizontal surface portion103, and the second surface portion102are arranged in this order toward the forward direction of the rotating body21. During rotation of the rotating body21in the forward direction, the first inclined surface portion101comes into contact with the lower end of the elongated shaft portion83of the pin member80that moves together with the rotating body21and is located at a lowered position, and pushes up the pin member80to a raised position in association with rotation of the rotating body21. During rotation of the rotating body21in the reverse direction, the second inclined surface portion102comes into contact with the lower end of the elongated shaft portion83of the pin member80that moves together with the rotating body21and is located at the lowered position, and pushes up the pin member80to the raised position in association with rotation of the rotating body21. The pin member80located at the lowered position is thus pushed up to the raised position by rotation of the rotating body21in the forward direction and in the reverse direction, while being moved in the sampling area.

An operation of the automated analyzer1A having the above-described configuration is described.FIG.11is an overall perspective view of the rotating body21with the containers200placed thereon.FIGS.12(a) and (b)are enlarged views of a portion D inFIG.5and respectively show a state when the pin member80is located at a lowered position and a state when the pin member80is located at a raised position.

As shown inFIG.11, when the container200is exchanged, the movable body33located in the exchange area (K) is moved to the uncaught position by a manual operation to be placed in an uncaught state. That is, the knob63of the movable body33located in the exchange area (K) is pinched with fingers and is operated so as to separate the movable body33from the center of rotation of the rotating body21, whereby the movable body33is moved to the uncaught position. The uncaught state where the movable body33is not caught in the constricted portion of the container200is thus obtained.

As shown inFIG.12(a), when the movable body33has been moved to the uncaught position, the position of the arc hole portion56of the heteromorphic hole55and the position of the small-diameter shaft portion82of the pin member80are coincident with each other in plan view, and the pin member80is lowered by the gravitational force acting on the pin member80to a position (the lowered position) at which the lower surface of the large-diameter shaft portion81of the pin member80(a step surface between the large-diameter shaft portion81and the small-diameter shaft portion82) comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the arc hole portion56of the heteromorphic hole55. When the pin member80is located at the lowered position, the small-diameter shaft portion82of the pin member80fits into the arc hole portion56of the heteromorphic hole55, whereby the pin member80engages with the movable body33. In this state, even if the movable body33is biased toward the center of the holding body32by a pair of extension springs75(seeFIG.8), the movable body33is locked by the pin member80so as not to move from the uncaught position. The uncaught state is thus maintained. Accordingly, as shown in the partial enlarged view around the container200located in the exchange area inFIG.11, a state in which the container200can be pulled out upward from the holding body32is reliably maintained by the pin member80, and thus a state where exchange of the container200can be performed in a more stable manner is achieved. Then, in the exchange area (K), the container200currently placed on the rotating table31, for example, for which sampling of a sample has been done, is pulled out upward, and the new container200for which sampling of a sample is to be carried out is placed on the rotating table31through the movable-body through hole50and the holding-body through hole40. The containers200are exchanged with each other in this manner.

After the containers200are exchanged in the exchange area (K) as described above, the rotating body21is rotated in the forward direction by the rotary driving mechanism22(seeFIG.2), whereby the container200is moved to the sampling area (S). The pin member80that has been moved to the sampling area (S) passes over the pin push-up block100, as shown inFIG.10. When the pin member80passes over the pin push-up block100, the first inclined surface portion101of the pin push-up block100comes into contact with the lower end of the elongated shaft portion83of the pin member80located at the lowered position. At this time, part of a rotary power for rotating the rotating body21is converted to a driving force for raising the pin member80to the raised position by the first inclined surface portion101of the pin push-up block100. Accordingly, the pin member80is raised toward the raised position. When the pin member80is raised and reaches a position (the raised position) at which the small-diameter shaft portion82of the pin member80escapes from the arc hole portion56of the heteromorphic hole55as shown inFIG.12(a), the pin member80disengages from the movable body33, and the movable body33biased toward the center of the holding body32by a pair of extension springs75(seeFIG.8) is allowed to move to the caught position due to the presence of the rounded half rectangular portion57of the heteromorphic hole55, thereby being moved to the caught position. Accordingly, as shown in the partial enlarged view around the container200located in the sampling area inFIG.11, when the movable body33has been moved to the caught position, the peripheral portion of each of the movable-body through hole50, the large arc notch51, and the small arc notch52(seeFIG.7) provided in the movable body33enters into the constricted portion210of the container200(FIG.11only shows a state in which the peripheral portion of the movable-body through hole50has entered into the constricted portion210). Thus, a caught state where the movable body33is caught in the constricted portion210of the container200is obtained. Then, a sample accommodated in the container200as a sampling target, for which the movable body33is caught, is dispensed. That is, by control of driving of the driving unit12(seeFIG.1), the nozzle unit11is positioned in such a manner that the nozzle13is located above the container200as the sampling target, and is then lowered to a position at which the nozzle13can suck the sample in the container200through the sealing member208. The sample in the container200is then sucked by a suction operation by the nozzle unit11. After the suction operation, the nozzle unit11is raised so as to pull out the nozzle13from the sealing member208. At this time, the container200is about to be raised together with the nozzle13due to friction generated between the nozzle13and the sealing member208. When the container200is located in the sampling area (S), the container200is fixed so as not to escape upward by the movable body33caught in the constricted portion210of the container200, as shown in the partial enlarged view around the container200located in the sampling area inFIG.11. Therefore, the movable body33can prevent the container200from being pulled up due to friction generated between the nozzle13and the sealing member208in the operation of pulling out the nozzle13performed after suction of the sample in the container200. Consequently, unintentional lifting of the container200can be prevented. This effect of preventing lifting of a container can be achieved by the configuration in which the movable body33formed by a relatively thin plate-like member capable of entering into the constricted portion210of the container200is caught in the constricted portion210of the container200. Therefore, the device (the rotating body21) can be made thin.

According to the container transfer device5A of the above-described automated analyzer1A, the movable body33is automatically placed in the caught state with regard to the container200in the sampling area, so that the container200is fixed so as not to escape upward. It is thus possible to reliably prevent fixation of the container200from being forgotten. Further, in the exchange area, container exchange can easily be performed by an operation of insertion and removal of the container200to/from the holding body32. Accordingly, safety of the container exchange work can be improved. Furthermore, the rotating body21can easily be attached and detached by fixing the support disc35with respect to the rotor93and release of fixing of the support disc35, so that maintainability can be improved. In addition, by preparing a plurality of types of rotating bodies21for various containers200, the device can be applied to the various containers200only by changing the rotating bodies21.

Further, in the container transfer device5A, the ranges of the exchange area and the sampling area can be adjusted by adjustment of the number of the disposed movable bodies33and the length in the circumferential direction of the movable body33.

Second Embodiment

FIG.13is a perspective view of a whole automated analyzer1B provided with a container transfer device5B according to a second embodiment of the present invention, when viewed from the front side. In the second embodiment, the same or similar component as/to that in the first embodiment is labelled with the same reference sign inFIG.13, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. In the following description, characteristic portions of the second embodiment are mainly described.

In the automated analyzer1B according to the second embodiment shown inFIG.13, the container transfer device5B includes a switch unit110that automatically switches between the caught state and the uncaught state of the movable body33with respect to the constricted portion210of the container200in the sampling area (S) and the exchange area (K).

The switch unit110is configured by the extension spring75as a biasing member that biases the movable body33toward the constricted portion210of the container200and a cam111that moves the movable body33by using a rotary power for rotating the rotating body21so as to separate the movable body33from the constricted portion210of the container200in the exchange area (K).

The cam111is configured by a plate-like member with a predetermined thickness in an approximately fan shape around the center of the holding body32, the central angle of the fan shape being about 90°. The cam111is arranged at such a height that the cam111can come into contact with the inner arc portion45of the movable body33in the exchange area (K) in a hollow center portion of the rotating body21formed in the shape of a hollow disc as a whole. The cam111is fixed to the upper end of a support shaft112disposed to penetrate through the shaft center of each of the rotor93and the rotary shaft92(seeFIG.2) in the rotary driving mechanism22and to be fixed above the bottom plate26of the casing20.

The cam111has a swelling portion113formed in the central position in the circumferential direction and non-swelling portions114respectively formed on both sides of the swelling portion113. The swelling portion113is formed in a round swelling shape in such a manner that the swelling portion113spreads from a first virtual circle with a radius the same as the distance between the inner arc portion45of the movable body33located at the caught position and the center of the holding body32in plan view, to a second virtual circle having a radius the same as the distance between the inner arc portion of the movable body33located at the uncaught position and the center of the holding body32in plan view. The non-swelling portion114is formed in such a shape that it extends in the tangential direction of the holding body32inside the first virtual circle.

In the automated analyzer1B having the above-described configuration, when the movable body33in the rotating body21rotated in the forward direction by the rotary driving mechanism22has been moved from the sampling area (S) to the exchange area (K), the swelling portion113of the cam111comes into contact with the inner arc portion45of the movable body33, so that part of the rotary power for rotating the rotating body21is converted by the cam111to a driving force for driving the movable body33in a direction in which the movable body33is separated from the constricted portion210of the container200. The movable body33is thus moved to the uncaught position in the direction in which it is separated from the constricted portion210of the container200, whereby the uncaught state where the movable body33is not caught in the constricted portion210is obtained. When the movable body33has been moved to the uncaught position, the position of the arc hole portion56of the heteromorphic hole55and the position of the small-diameter shaft portion82of the pin member80are coincident with each other in plan view as shown inFIG.12(a), and the pin member80is lowered to a position (the lowered position) at which the lower surface of the large-diameter shaft portion81of the pin member80(the step surface between the large-diameter shaft portion81and the small-diameter shaft portion82) comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the arc hole portion56of the heteromorphic hole55, due to the gravitational force acting on the pin member80. When the pin member80is located at the lowered position, the small-diameter shaft portion82of the pin member80fits into the arc hole portion56of the heteromorphic hole55, whereby the pin member80attached to the rotating table31and the holding body32to be movable up and down engages with the movable body33. In this state, even if the movable body33is biased toward the center of the holding body32by a pair of extension springs75(seeFIG.8), the movable body33is locked by the pin member80so as not to move from the uncaught position, so that the uncaught state is maintained. Accordingly, a state where the container200can be pulled out upward from the holding body32is reliably maintained by the pin member80, and a state where exchange of the container200can be performed in a more stable manner is obtained. Then, in the exchange area (K), the container200currently placed on the rotating table31, for which sampling of a sample has been done, is pulled out upward, and the new container200for which sampling of a sample is to be performed is placed on the rotating table31through the movable-body through hole50and the holding-body through hole40. The containers200are thus exchanged with each other.

After the above-described container exchange in the exchange area (K), when the rotating body21has been rotated in the forward direction by the rotary driving mechanism22to move the container200to the sampling area (S), the pin member80is raised toward the raised position due to an action of the pin push-up block100and disengages from the movable body33as shown inFIG.12(b), and the movable body33biased toward the center of the holding body32by a pair of extension springs75(seeFIG.8) is moved to the caught position, as in the automated analyzer1A according to the first embodiment. Consequently, the caught state is obtained in which the peripheral portion of each of the movable-body through hole50, the large arc notch51, and the small arc notch52provided in the movable body33enters into the constricted portion210of the container200, and the movable body33is caught in the constricted portion210. Accordingly, the container200can be prevented by the movable body33from being pulled up in an operation of pulling out the nozzle13performed after suction of the sample in the container200, so that unintentional lifting of the container200can be prevented surely.

In the automated analyzer1B, the uncaught state where the movable body33is not caught in the constricted portion210of the container200and the caught state where the movable body33is caught in the constricted portion210of the container200can be automatically switched only by rotating the rotating body21with the container200placed on the rotating table31in the forward direction (or in the reverse direction) and moving the container200between the exchange area (K) and the sampling area (S).

The embodiments of the container transfer device according to the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiments, and the configuration can be modified as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The container transfer device according to the present invention is applicable for use in transferring a container accommodating a sample of a liquid, such as a chemical or a beverage, in research institutes, inspection institutes, universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, industrial chemical manufacturers, cosmetics manufacturers, food manufacturers, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS