Abstract:
A transport apparatus transports sample holder racks. The apparatus employs a first transport unit that moves the rack in a path between two ends of the transport apparatus, a rack sender unit that extends in a first direction that intersects the path, a second transport unit dimensioned parallel to the first transport unit and with the rack sender unit interposed therebetween, which locates the sample container held in the rack at a sample loading position of a measurement device, and a first movable member capable of moving in the first direction between the first and the second transport units. The apparatus has movable portions that alternately stop the rack movement, and push the rack such that optimal movement is achieved whereby the rack moves beyond the rack sender unit to the second transport unit as the first movable member moves in the first direction.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-175906 filed on Aug. 29, 2014 entitled “TRANSPORT APPARATUS,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to a transport apparatus that transports a rack holding a sample container. 
         [0003]    There is a transport apparatus that transports a rack holding a sample container (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-137749 (Patent Literature 1)). 
         [0004]    Patent Literature 1 discloses a transport apparatus that transports a sample to a measurement device. The transport apparatus includes a first transport unit, a second transport unit, a rack sender unit, a movable member, and a rack transfer member. The first transport unit transports a rack in longitudinal directions of the first transport unit between both ends of the transport apparatus. The rack sender unit extends a first direction orthogonal to the first transport unit. The rack sender unit is located between the first transport unit and the second transport unit. The second transport unit locates a sample container held in a rack at a sample loading position of a measurement device. The movable member is movable in the first direction between the first transport unit and the rack sender unit. The rack transfer member is a pair of hook members. The rack transfer member is arranged at the rack sender unit. In order to move a rack on the first transport unit to the rack sender unit, the movable member stops the rack on the first transport unit once, and then moves the stopped rack toward the rack sender unit. At the rack sender unit, the rack is passed from the movable member to the rack transfer member. The rack thus passed to the rack transfer member is moved to the second transport unit by the rack transfer member. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An embodiment of a transport apparatus that transports a rack that holds a sample container, comprising: a first transport unit that transports the rack in a longitudinal direction between two ends of the transport apparatus; a rack sender unit that extends in a first direction that intersects a longitudinal direction of the first transport unit; a second transport unit that extends parallel to the first transport unit with the rack sender unit interposed therebetween and locates the sample container held in the rack at a sample loading position of a measurement device; and a first movable member capable of moving in the first direction between the first transport unit and the second transport unit, wherein the first movable member comprises a first portion that stops, at a rack stop position, the rack transported by the first transport unit, and a second portion that pushes, in the first direction, a side surface of the rack located at the rack stop position, and wherein the second portion moves the rack at the rack stop position beyond the rack sender unit to the second transport unit as the first movable member moves in the first direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a transport apparatus according to an embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the transport apparatus according to an embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a drive unit in the transport apparatus according to an embodiment, the drive unit drives each of a first movable member and a second movable member; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a view of a transport apparatus connected to another device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    Embodiments are explained with reference to drawings. In the respective drawings, the same constituents are designated by the same reference numerals and duplicate explanation concerning the same constituents is basically omitted. Drawings are provided to illustrate representative examples only. No dimensional proportions in the drawings shall impose a restriction on the embodiments. For this reason, specific dimensions and the like should be interpreted with the following description taken into consideration. In addition, the drawings include parts whose dimensional relationship and ratios differ from one drawing to another. 
         [0011]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a configuration of transport apparatus  10  according to an embodiment is described. 
         [0012]    Transport apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  transports rack  900  holding sample containers  900   a,  to sample loading position P 1  at which measurement device  50  loads a sample. In a preferred embodiment, measurement device  50  is a urine testing device that sucks a urine sample in each sample container  900   a  and tests the urine. 
         [0013]    Transport apparatus  10  includes first transport unit  11 , rack sender unit  12 , second transport unit  13 , and rack delivery unit  14 . 
         [0014]    First transport unit  11  includes transport belt  113  that transports rack  900  in longitudinal directions (X 1  and X 2  directions). Transport belt  113  has along side extending along an X axis. Transport belt  113  transports rack  900  along the X axis between both ends (X 2 -side end and X 1 -side end) of first transport unit  11 . 
         [0015]    Note that, in this specification, an axis orthogonal to first transport unit  11  is called a Y axis; an X 1  direction is called a transport direction; and a vertically downward direction in the state of installation of transport apparatus  10  is called a downward direction (Z 2  direction). 
         [0016]    Stopping member  11   a  is arranged near the X 1 -side end of first transport unit  11 . Stopping member  11   a  is capable of moving between a position interfering with first transport unit  11  and a position not interfering with first transport unit  11 . When another transport apparatus is connected to a downstream part in the transport direction of transport apparatus  10 , stopping member  11   a  controls the timing to feed rack  900  to the downstream transport apparatus. 
         [0017]    Rack sender unit  12  extends in a Y 2  direction. Rack sender unit  12  is sandwiched, at its both sides on the Y axis, by second transport unit  13  and first transport unit  11 . 
         [0018]    Rack sender unit  12  preferably includes restriction unit  121 . Restriction unit  121  is arranged near the Y 2 -side end of rack sender unit  12 . Restriction unit  121  projects above the upper surface of rack sender unit  12  by the driving of a motor not illustrated. When projecting above the upper surface of rack sender unit  12 , restriction unit  121  comes into contact with rack  900  moving in rack sender unit  12 . By switching the modes of restriction unit  121  between a projected mode and a non-projected mode, restriction unit  121  is capable of positional change between a contact mode where restriction unit  121  is to come into contact with rack  900  and a non-contact mode where restriction unit  121  is kept out of contact with rack  900 . Restriction unit  121  restricts, in the contact mode, the movement of rack  900  from rack sender unit  12  to second transport unit  13 . Restriction unit  121  thereby allows rack  900 , which holds samples yet to be sucked by measurement device  50  at sample loading position P 1 , to remain in rack sender unit  12 . 
         [0019]    Second transport unit  13  is arranged at the Y 2  side of first transport unit  11  with rack sender unit  12  interposed therebetween. Second transport unit  13  is arranged to extend parallel with first transport unit  11  (X 1  direction) with rack sender unit  12  interposed therebetween. Second transport unit  13  is arranged at a position closer to measurement device  50  than first transport unit  11 . 
         [0020]    Second transport unit  13  includes two transport belts  133 . Second transport unit  13  is capable of transporting rack  900  in the X 1  direction. 
         [0021]    Second transport unit  13  is capable of positioning each sample container  900   a  held in rack  900  at sample loading position P 1  where measurement device  50  loads a sample. Second transport unit  13  transports rack  900  transported from rack sender unit  12  toward rack delivery unit  14  via sample loading position P 1 . Second transport unit  13  is capable of arranging two racks  900  at different positions on the X axis and transporting them individually. 
         [0022]    Stopping member  13   a  that stops rack  900  at rack stop position P 2  is arranged outside second transport unit  13  on its X 1  side. 
         [0023]    Rack delivery unit  14  is arranged between first transport unit  11  and second transport unit  13 . Rack delivery unit  14  extends in the Y 2  direction intersecting the extending direction of first transport unit  11 . Rack  900  having passed through sample loading position P 1  is sent out to rack delivery unit  14 . 
         [0024]    Rack delivery unit  14  includes restriction unit  141 . Restriction unit  141  is arranged near the Y 1 -side end of rack delivery unit  14 . Restriction unit  141  projects above the upper surface of rack delivery unit  14  by the driving of a motor (not shown). By switching the modes of restriction unit  141  between a projected mode and a non-projected mode, restriction unit  141  can be changed between a contact mode of contacting rack  900  moving in rack delivery unit  14  and a non-contact mode of not contacting rack  900 , similarly to restriction unit  121  of rack sender unit  12 . Restriction unit  141  thus restricts, in the contact mode, the movement of rack  900  from rack delivery unit  14  to first transport unit  11 . Restriction unit  141  thereby allows rack  900 , which holds samples aspirated at sample loading position P 1  already, to remain in rack delivery unit  14 . 
         [0025]    Note that restriction unit  141  may be used in a state of projecting above the upper surface of rack delivery unit  14  at all times. Rack  900  configured to remain in rack delivery unit  14  in this case can be drawn to the outside of transport unit  10  by a user. 
         [0026]    Transport apparatus  10  further includes first movable member  15  provided for rack sender unit  12  and second movable member  21  provided for rack delivery unit  14 . First movable member  15  includes first portion  151  and second portion  152 . First portion  151  is formed at the X 1 -side end of second portion  152 . First portion  151  projects from second portion  152  to the Y 2  side. First portion  151  allows rack  900  being transported by first transport unit  11  to stop at rack stop position P 0 . Second portion  152  extends in the longitudinal directions of rack  900  on first transport unit  11 . In other words, second portion  152  has a long side extending along the X axis. 
         [0027]    First movable member  15  is movable along the Y axis. More specifically, first movable member  15  is movable between first position L 1  being the end point in the Y 1  direction and second position L 3  being the endpoint in the Y 2  direction. First movable member  15  may be located at stop position L 2  between first position L 1  and second position L 3 . 
         [0028]    First position L 1  is a position of first movable member  15  where neither first portion  151  nor second portion  152  protrudes on first transport unit  11 , and is the position of origin of first movable member  15 . When first movable member  15  is located at first position L 1 , first portion  151  does not interfere with rack  900  being transported by first transport unit  11 . In the state where first movable member  15  is located at first position L 1 , first transport unit  11  can move rack  900  beyond the position of first movable member  15  to its X 1 -side end. 
         [0029]    Stop position L 2  is a position where first portion  151  protrudes on first transport unit  11  but second portion  152  does not protrude on first transport unit  11 . In the state where first movable member  15  is located at stop position L 2 , rack  900  being transported on first transport unit  11  is stopped at rack stop position PO by first portion  151 . 
         [0030]    Second position L 3  is a position where first portion  151  protrudes on second transport unit  13  and second portion  152  abuts on second transport unit  13 . As first movable member  15  moves in the Y 2  direction from stop position L 2  to second position L 3 , first movable member  15  can push rack  900  at rack stop position PO using second portion  152  and move the rack beyond rack sender unit  12  to second transport unit  13 . 
         [0031]    In a plan view, second movable member  21  is substantially in the form of a rectangle having a long side on the X axis. Second movable member  21  has the same configuration as first movable member  15  except that second movable member  21  includes no portion equivalent to first portion  151 . Second movable member  21  is movable between position L 4  where second movable member  21  is not placed on second transport unit  13  and position L 5  where second movable member  21  pushes and places rack  900  on rack delivery unit  14 . Position L 4  is the position of origin of second movable member  21 . Position L 5  is a position where second movable member  21  abuts on first transport unit  11 , and is a foremost position in the movable range of second movable member  21 . 
         [0032]    Second movable member  21  can move rack  900  located on second transport unit  13  to a Y 1 -side end portion of rack delivery unit  14 . This allows rack  900 , which holds sample containers  900   a  subjected to a sample loading operation at sample loading position P 1 , to remain in rack delivery unit  14 . 
         [0033]    Controller  27  includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a storage unit. Controller  27  performs control related to a transport operation of transport apparatus  10 , based on a program stored in the storage unit. How controller  27  controls the units is to be described later. 
         [0034]    Next, mechanisms to drive first movable member  15  and second movable member  21  are described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0035]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , as the mechanism to drive first movable member  15 , transport apparatus  10  includes guide member  16 , drive unit  17 , pulleys  18   a  to  18   d  (see  FIG. 3 ), belts  19   a  and  19   b,  and transmission blocking mechanism  20 . As the mechanism to drive second movable member  21 , transport apparatus  10  includes guide member  22 , drive unit  23 , pulleys  24   a  to  24   d  (see  FIG. 3 ), belts  25   a  and  25   b,  and transmission blocking mechanism  26 . Note that, in  FIG. 2 , rack sender unit  12  and rack delivery unit  14  are illustrated with diagonal lines for the sake of convenience of the description. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , using support part  153  at its X 2 -side end as a base end, first movable member  15  supports second portion  152  extending in the X 1  direction and first portion  151  provided in its end portion in the X 1  direction. Support part  153  is fixed on belt  19   a.  In other words, second portion  152  is supported by support part  153  at its X 2 -side end only. Support part  153  slidably engages with guide member  16 . 
         [0037]    Guide member  16  is a rail member that slidably engages with support part  153 . Guide member  16  extends linearly along the Y axis. Guide member  16  guides the movement of first movable member  15  between first position L 1  (see  FIG. 1 ) and second position L 3  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0038]    Drive unit  17  includes pulse motor  17   a,  for example. Drive unit  17  is a drive source to move first movable member  15 . Pulse motor  17   a  performs drive control based on the number of pulses. Note that a servo motor other than pulse motor  17   a  may be used for drive unit  17 . 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the shaft of drive unit  17  is connected to pulley  18   d.  Circular belt  19   b  is wound around pulley  18   d  and pulley  18   c.  Pulley  18   c  has a shaft connected to pulley  18   a  via transmission blocking mechanism  20 . Circular belt  19   a  is wound around pulley  18   a  and pulley  18   b.  Support part  153  of first movable member  15  described above is fixed on belt  19   a  while slidably engaging with guide member  16 . When drive unit  17  drives pulse motor  17   a,  the driving force is transmitted to pulleys  18   a  to  18   d  and moves belt  19   a.  First movable member  15  is moved in conjunction with the movement of belt  19   a.    
         [0040]    Transmission blocking mechanism  20  includes torque limiter  20   a.  Transmission blocking mechanism  20  blocks transmission of the driving force to first movable member  15  by drive unit  17  when receiving a load of a certain level or more. More specifically, when transmission blocking mechanism  20  receives the load of the certain level or more, the shaft which connects pulleys  18   c  and  18   a  runs idle by the action of torque limiter  20   a  and the transmission of the driving force is blocked, which stops the movement of first movable member  15 . 
         [0041]    As first movable member  15  is moved in the Y 2  direction under control of controller  27 , rack  900  is moved in the Y 2  direction along with the movement of first movable member  15 . At this time, there is a difference in the arrival position of rack  900  between the cases where restriction unit  121  projects above rack sender unit  12  and where restriction unit  121  does not project above rack sender unit  12 . 
         [0042]    In the case where restriction unit  121  projects above rack sender unit  12 , rack  900  pushed by first movable member  15  comes into contact with restriction unit  121 . When rack  900  comes into contact with restriction unit  121 , transmission blocking mechanism  20  receives the load of the certain level or more and thus blocks transmission of the driving force. This makes drive unit  17  run idle and a remaining amount of the driving force run out. Rack  900  is stopped while abutting on restriction unit  121 . If other racks  900  already exist in rack sender unit  12 , all racks  900  in rack sender unit  12  are pushed rearward (in the Y 2  direction) by first movable member  15 . In this case, the load applied to transmission blocking mechanism  20  becomes the certain level or more when first rack  900  comes into contact with restriction unit  121 , which actuates transmission blocking mechanism  20  and stops first movable member  15 . 
         [0043]    In the case where restriction unit  121  does not project above rack sender unit  12 , rack  900  pushed by first movable member  15  passes through rack sender unit  12  and is sent to second transport unit  13 . If other racks  900  already exist in rack sender unit  12 , all racks  900  in rack sender unit  12  are pushed rearward (in the Y 2  direction) by first movable member  15 . In this case, the load applied to transmission blocking mechanism  20  becomes the certain level or more when first rack  900  is sent to second transport unit  13 , which actuates transmission blocking mechanism  20  and stops first movable member  15 . 
         [0044]    With this configuration, rack  900  pushed by first movable member  15  is stopped at the position where rack  900  cannot move any more in the Y 2  direction, and the transmission of the driving force of drive unit  17  is blocked. Thus, it is unnecessary to change the amount of the driving force of drive unit  17  depending on a distance by which rack  900  needs to move. Besides, this configuration makes it possible to prevent drive unit  17  from generating abnormal chattering noise due to application of a load. 
         [0045]    When the amount of the driving force runs out, controller  27  returns first movable member  15  back to position of origin L 1 . 
         [0046]    The number of pulses generated by drive unit  17  when first movable member  15  returns to position of origin L 1  corresponds to a position on the Y axis of rack  900  which is located at a foremost position (in the Y 1  direction) among racks  900  in rack sender unit  12 . This corresponds to the number of racks  900  in rack sender unit  12 . Accordingly, controller  27  calculates the number of racks  900  in rack sender unit  12  based on the number of pulses generated by drive unit  17  (see  FIG. 3 ) when first movable member  15  returns to position of origin L 1 . Based on the calculation result, controller  27  can judge whether or not the maximum number of racks  900  that can remain in rack sender unit  12  is equal to the number of racks  900  currently remaining in rack sender unit  12  (packed state). If judging that rack sender unit  12  is in the packed state, controller  27  no longer sends rack  900  to rack sender unit  12 . 
         [0047]    Guide member  22 , drive unit  23 , pulleys  24   a  to  24   d,  belts  25   a  and  25   b,  and transmission blocking mechanism  26 , which constitute the mechanism to drive second movable member  21 , respectively correspond to guide member  16 , drive unit  17 , pulleys  18   a  to  18   d,  belts  19   a  and  19   b,  and transmission blocking mechanism  20 , which constitute the mechanism to drive first movable member  15 . Second movable member  21  can move along the Y axis similarly to first movable member  15 . Second movable member  21  moves along the Y axis to move rack  900  on second transport unit  13  to rack delivery unit  14 . As in the case of first movable member  15 , controller  27  is capable of judging whether or not rack delivery unit  14  is in the packed state based on the number of racks  900  in rack delivery unit  14  calculated based on the number of pulses generated by drive unit  23  when second movable member  21  returns to third position L 4 . 
         [0048]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , first transport unit  11  includes first pulley  111 , second pulley  112 , and drive unit  114 . 
         [0049]    First pulley  111  is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction (on the X 2  side). Second pulley  112  is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction (on the X 1  side). Circular transport belt  113  is wound around first pulley  111  and second pulley  112 . Transport belt  113  is driven via first and second pulleys  111  and  112  upon transmission of the driving force of drive unit  114 . 
         [0050]    Support part  153  is movable along the Y axis while passing through the outside (X 2  side) of first pulley  111  and second pulley  112  of first transport unit  11 . Specifically, support part  153  is located at the X 2  side than first pulley  111  of first transport unit  11 . Thereby, support part  153  does not need to traverse transport belt  113  and thus division of transport belt  113  is not needed, which simplifies the structure of transport apparatus  10 . 
         [0051]    Similarly to first transport unit  11 , second transport unit  13  includes two first pulleys  131 , two second pulleys  132 , and two drive units (not shown). Two transport belts  133  are driven individually via first pulleys  131  and second pulleys  132  upon transmission of the driving force of the drive units (not shown). Note that, in  FIG. 2 , one of two second pulleys  132  is not illustrated. 
         [0052]    Next, a system including transport apparatus  10  is described with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0053]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , transport apparatus  10  is connected to sample input device  60 . Measurement device  50  is connected to information processing unit (IPU)  70  constituted by a computer. Transport apparatus  10  is connected to host computer  80  via IPU  70  of measurement device  50 . 
         [0054]    Measurement device  50  is arranged at the Y 2  side of transport apparatus  10 . Measurement device  50  sucks a urine sample transported to sample loading position P 1  by transport apparatus  10  and tests the urine. IPU  70  analyzes measurement data that measurement device  50  has acquired through the urine sample measurement and thereby generates a test result. 
         [0055]    In sample input device  60 , racks  900  housing samples therein are set by the user. Sample input device  60  transports rack  900  to transport apparatus  10  in response to a request by transport apparatus  10 . 
         [0056]    Host computer  80  comprises a PC. Host computer  80  stores therein a measurement order of urine samples, and sends the measurement order in response to a request by measurement device  50 . Host computer  80  also receives and stores a test result obtained by measurement device  50  according to the measurement order. 
         [0057]    According to the embodiment, first movable member  15  can move rack  900  directly from first transport unit  11  to second transport unit  13 . Thus, the structure of transport apparatus  10  can be simplified unlike the case where first movable member  15  passes rack  900  in first transport unit  11  to another member and then this member moves rack  900  to second transport unit  13 . 
         [0058]    In Patent Literature 1, a rack is moved from the first transport unit to the second transport unit by being passed from the movable member to the rack transfer member, which complicates the structure of the transport apparatus. Hence, there is a demand for simplification of the structure of the transport apparatus. 
         [0059]    Embodiments described above simplify the structure of a transport apparatus. 
         [0060]    Note that embodiments disclosed herein should be deemed exemplary and not restrictive in every respect. The scope of embodiments is not defined by the description of the embodiment described above but by the scope of the claims, and includes changes having the same meaning and scope within the scope of the claims.