Patent Description:
In order to carry out measurement continuously by using test strips that are used to measure a predetermined item included in a sample of urine or the like, a mechanism is used that inserts plural test strips into a device, and takes the inserted test strips out one-by-one. A specimen is applied to the test strip that is taken out by the mechanism, and the predetermined item is measured.

For example, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (<CIT>, an "in-drum claw portion" is provided at a drum container. While the drum container is rotatingly driven, testing papers that are stored therein catch on this "in-drum claw portion" one-by-one, and are dropped onto a sorter rack. Further, in the test strip feeding mechanism disclosed in <CIT>, when plural test strips that have been inserted in an insertion section move to a test strip detection block, only one test strip is flattened by a partitioning plate. Thereby, test strips are taken out one-by-one from the insertion section, and are supplied to the testing section that is next.

In the technique of <CIT>, there are cases in which, if plural test strips enter into the "in-drum claw portion", plural test strips are discharged. Further, in the technique of <CIT>, at the time of flattening stacked test strips by the partitioning plate, the test strip that is stacked on top is pushed aside as if swept off. At this time, there are cases in which shavings due to contact between the partitioning plate and the test strip are formed. Another document is <CIT> which refers to test a strip supply apparatus comprises a cylindrical container having an elongate test strip fitting penetration slot formed in its side wall. <CIT> shows an analytic test sheet feeder comprises a cylindrical container having an elongated through hole formed in a side wall thereof for receiving a test sheet. A yet further document is <CIT> which refers to a test strip supply apparatus.

The present disclosure provides a test strip holder that can reliably take test strips out one-by-one, and at which damage that arises at the test strips accompanying this removal is reduced.

A test strip holder according to the present invention comprises the features of claim <NUM>.

Because exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are structured as described above, there is provided a test strip holder that can reliably take test strips out one-by-one, and at which damage that arises at the test strips accompanying this removal is reduced.

Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. Note that reference numerals that are used in common in the respective drawings indicate the same objects even if not stated in the following descriptions of the respective drawings.

<FIG> illustrates a test strip holder <NUM> of a first exemplary embodiment in a front view. <FIG> illustrates the test strip holder <NUM> in a front perspective view. <FIG> illustrates, in a front perspective view, a state in which a cap <NUM> and a door member <NUM> have been removed from the test strip holder <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the test strip holder <NUM> in a rear perspective view. Note that, in the following description, a direction in which a cap <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>) is provided at the test strip holder <NUM> is called a front side, and a direction in which a connecting portion 20C is provided at the test strip holder <NUM> is called a rear side.

The test strip holder <NUM> of the present exemplary embodiment has a holding member <NUM> whose side surface is cylindrical. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, a cap <NUM> that is shaped as a short cylinder is attached to one end side of the holding member <NUM>. A door member <NUM>, which is substantially rectangular as seen in a front view (<FIG>), is provided at a side surface of the holding member <NUM>. A pair of bearings 40B that project out toward an outer side in a cylindrical shape are provided at both ends of the door member <NUM>. The pair of bearings 40B are respectively connected to bearings 20B that are shaped as cylinders of the same diameter and bulge out from the side surface of the holding member <NUM>. A pair of door shafts <NUM> (<FIG>) are accommodated in these bearings 40B, 20B. The door member <NUM> is pivotally supported at the pair of door shafts <NUM>, and can rotate as described later.

On the other hand, a driving shaft accommodating portion 20A, which is cylindrical and bulges out toward the outer side, is provided at another end side of the holding member <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a door driving shaft <NUM> is accommodated in this driving shaft accommodating portion 20A. The door driving shaft <NUM> and the door shafts <NUM> have the same axial centers. The door driving shaft <NUM> is held at an opening/closing operation device <NUM> (see <FIG>) that is described later, and the door member <NUM> is opened and closed due to the door driving shaft <NUM> rotating around the axial center. Moreover, the connecting portion 20C that is shaped as a cylinder of a slightly smaller diameter projects out at the another end side of the holding member <NUM>. This connecting portion 20C is connected to a rotation driving device <NUM> (see <FIG>) when the test strip holder <NUM> is attached to a test strip discharging mechanism <NUM> that is described later. A rotation driving shaft <NUM> of a rotating member <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>) that is described later is visible from an opening provided at the center of the connecting portion 20C.

As illustrated in <FIG> that shows the cross-section along line B-B' of <FIG>, at least a portion of (in the present exemplary embodiment, all of) the lower side of the inner periphery of the holding member <NUM> is a cylindrical surface <NUM> that has a cylindrical shape. The central axis of the cylindrical surface <NUM> is an imaginary central axis <NUM> (<FIG>) of the holding member <NUM>. Moreover, plural inner peripheral grooves <NUM> are formed in the cylindrical surface <NUM> along the peripheral direction. Note that, at the holding member <NUM>, there are cases in which the upper half may be an opening portion <NUM>, provided that at least a portion of the lower side (e.g., half) is the cylindrical surface <NUM>.

A test strip <NUM> that is elongated and illustrated in <FIG> is held at the interior of the holding member <NUM> of the test strip holder <NUM>. In the present exemplary embodiment, a urine test strip for measuring a concentration of or the absence or presence of a physical characteristic or a specific component within urine, is given as an example of the test strip <NUM>.

As illustrated, the test strip <NUM> is a structure in which plural reagent pads <NUM> are disposed on a strip-shaped substrate <NUM>. A grasping portion <NUM> that is grasped within an unillustrated measuring device is provided at one end of the substrate <NUM>, and the other region of the substrate <NUM> is a reagent pad placement region <NUM> (see <FIG>). The plural reagent pads <NUM> are disposed at the reagent pad placement region <NUM> in series along the longitudinal direction with a fixed interval therebetween.

The material of the substrate <NUM> is not particularly limited, and examples thereof are resin, metal, glass and the like. The color of the substrate is not particularly limited, and may be any of white, grey, black, a chromatic color, or transparent. The size of the substrate <NUM> is not particularly limited, and is determined appropriately in accordance with items to be tested, standards of an analyzing device that is used, and the like, and can be, for example, a length of <NUM> ~ <NUM>, a width of <NUM> ~ <NUM>, and a thickness of <NUM> ~ <NUM>. In the present exemplary embodiment, the length in a long-length direction of the test strip <NUM>, i.e., the length of long side <NUM>, is L2 (<FIG>), and the length in a short-length direction, i.e., the length of short side <NUM>, is Y (<FIG>). Accordingly, the length of the holding member <NUM> in the longitudinal direction is greater than or equal to the length of the test strip. In this way, the size of the test strip <NUM> that is suitable for the test strip holder <NUM> of the present exemplary embodiment is limited.

Examples of the material of the reagent pad <NUM> are filter paper, glass-fiber filter paper, knit fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, a membrane filter, a porous resin sheet, a plastic film, and the like. Further, the shape of the reagent pad <NUM> is not particularly limited, and is square, rectangular, circular, oval or the like. The size of the reagent pad <NUM> is not particularly limited, and, when the shape thereof is rectangular, for example, the size can be made to be a length and width of <NUM> ~ <NUM> and a thickness of <NUM> ~ <NUM>. In the present exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the thick-walled portion is X (<FIG>). At the time of forming the reagent pad <NUM>, the reagent pad may be molded into a predetermined shape after the reagent is suffused into the above-described pad material, or the reagent may be suffused after the pad material is molded into a predetermined shape. The suffusing of the reagent can be carried out by, for example, immersing the pad material in a reagent solution and drying the pad material. Further, for example, an adhesive or a tackifier can be used in disposing the reagent pads <NUM> at the substrate <NUM>. For example, polyurethane, acrylic, vinyl chloride, epoxy, nylon, hot melt, cyanoacrylate, rubber or the like can be used as the adhesives and tackifiers.

Note that the thickness X of the test strip <NUM> is a distance of the thickest portion of the test strip used in the test strip holder <NUM>, and, at the above-described test strip <NUM>, is the thickness of the reagent pad <NUM>. If the test strip <NUM> has a portion that is thicker than the reagent pad <NUM>, the thickness of that place is X.

At the test strip discharging mechanism <NUM> that is described later, the test strip holder <NUM> is attached such that the direction of the imaginary central axis <NUM> (<FIG>) of the holding member <NUM> is the horizontal direction. However, the direction of this central axis <NUM> is not limited to the horizontal direction, and the test strip <NUM> may be held provided that the direction is a direction that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction (in other words, is not the vertical direction). Namely, of the angles formed by the direction of the central axis <NUM> and the vertical direction, the magnitude of the angles that are less than or equal to <NUM>° is greater than <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°, and preferably greater than or equal to <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°, and more preferably greater than or equal to <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°, and even more preferably greater than or equal to <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°, and most preferably <NUM>°, i.e., the horizontal direction.

Cut-out portions <NUM> that are rectangular are formed in two places of one of the long sides of the door member <NUM>. This long side is divided into three scooping portions <NUM> that are shaped as tongue pieces by these cut-out portions <NUM> that are at two places. Further, sensing windows <NUM> that are rectangular are formed in the side surface of the holding member <NUM> at two places that are in the vicinity of the other long side of the door member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> that shows a state in which the cap <NUM> and the door member <NUM> have been removed from the test strip holder <NUM>, the opening portion <NUM> that is rectangular is provided in the side surface of the holding member <NUM> along the longitudinal direction. The door member <NUM> is provided at the opening portion <NUM> so as to be able to open and close. A sorting member <NUM> of the rotating member <NUM>, which is accommodated in the interior of the holding member <NUM> and rotates within the holding member <NUM> with the central axis <NUM> being the rotation axis <NUM>, can be seen from the opening portion <NUM>. Length L1 of the opening portion <NUM> in the longitudinal direction is a length that is greater than or equal to the length L2 of the test strip <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, or, in other words, is a length of an extent that does not present problems with the test strip <NUM> being discharged from the opening portion <NUM>. Further, an insertion opening <NUM> for inserting the test strip <NUM> into the holding member <NUM> is formed in the center of the front side of the holding member <NUM>. Note that the opening portion <NUM> is provided in the cylindrical side surface of the holding member <NUM>. For example, in a case in which the test strip holder <NUM> is placed horizontally, the opening portion <NUM> may be provided in the lower side portion of the side surface of the holding member <NUM>. Note that it suffices for the opening portion <NUM> to be provided at an "outer surface" in a sense of including both the "side surface" and the "bottom surface", and not only at the "side surface", in the geometrical sense, of the holding member that is cylindrical.

Note that central line 24A that is shown by a dashed line in the drawings is an imaginary line that bisects the opening portion <NUM> along the longitudinal direction. Here, the central line 24A is at a position that is at the lower side in the rotation direction, with respect to an uppermost position 31A (<FIG>) that the sorting member <NUM> at the interior of the holding member <NUM> reaches. Assuming that the rotational angle of this uppermost position 31A is <NUM>°, the central line 24A is preferably at a position of a rotational angle of greater than or equal to <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°, and more preferably is at the position of <NUM>°.

The rotating member <NUM> that is accommodated in the holding member <NUM> at the test strip holder <NUM> is illustrated in the front perspective view of <FIG> and the rear perspective view of <FIG>. The rotating member <NUM> has a front plate 30A that is circular and positioned at the front side, and a rear plate 30B that is circular and is the same diameter as the front plate 30A and is positioned at the rear side so as to be apart from the front plate 30A by a distance that is longer than the length L2 of the long side of the test strip. Moreover, the rotating member <NUM> has a structure in which plural, and specifically, three, of the sorting members <NUM> are disposed between the front plate 30A and the rear plate 30B. The sorting members <NUM> are respectively provided so as to be apart by a distance that is longer than the length Y of the short side <NUM> of the test strip. The diameters of the front plate 30A and the rear plate 30B are the same as the diameter of the cylinder formed by the cylindrical surface <NUM> of the holding member <NUM>. The front plate 30A and the rear plate 30B are fixed by the sorting members <NUM> such that the central axis of the circle of the front plate 30A and the central axis of the circle of the rear plate 30B coincide.

In other words, the central axis of the front plate 30A and the central axis of the rear plate 30B coincide, and this is the rotation axis <NUM> of the rotating member <NUM>. The rotation driving shaft <NUM> projects out toward the rear side along the central axis of the rear plate 30B from the center of the circle of the rear plate 30B (<FIG>). When the rotating member <NUM> is accommodated such that the outer peripheral surface of the front plate 30A and the outer peripheral surface of the rear plate 30B of the rotating member <NUM> contact the cylindrical surface <NUM> of the holding member <NUM>, the central axis <NUM> of the holding member <NUM> and the central axis <NUM> of the rotating member <NUM> coincide because the diameter of the cylinder formed by the cylindrical surface <NUM>, and the diameter of the front plate 30A and the diameter of the rear plate 30B, are the same.

The rotation driving shaft <NUM> is connected to the rotation driving device <NUM> that is described later. Due to rotational force from the rotation driving device <NUM> being transmitted, the entire rotating member <NUM> rotates in the direction of the arrows shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Thereby, the sorting members <NUM> rotate within the holding member <NUM> around the rotation axis <NUM> that coincides with the central axis <NUM>, and thereby, the test strips <NUM> are moved at the interior of the holding member <NUM>. Namely, the sorting members <NUM> are formed as bodies separate from the holding member <NUM>, and rotate with respect to the holding member <NUM>. In other words, the sorting members <NUM> rotate around the central axis <NUM> of the holding member <NUM> while maintaining a predetermined distance from the central axis <NUM>.

A circular opening is provided in the front plate 30A at the center of the circle of the front plate 30A (<FIG>), and a cylinder of the same outer diameter as this opening is fit therein (<FIG>). The cylinder projects out forward from the front plate 30A. When the rotating member <NUM> is accommodated in the holding member <NUM>, the cylinder is connected to the insertion opening <NUM> of the holding member <NUM>. Accordingly, the test strip <NUM> that is inserted in the insertion opening <NUM> of the test strip holder <NUM> is held between the front plate 30A and the rear plate 30B.

The sorting members <NUM> are members that are substantially plate-shaped and are provided along the direction of the rotation axis <NUM>. The sorting members <NUM> are mounted between the circular surface at the inner side of the front plate 30A and the circular surface at the inner side of rear plate 30B, so as to be apart from the rotation axis <NUM>. The sorting member <NUM> has an outer peripheral surface that faces in the direction of the outer side of the rotating member <NUM>, an inner peripheral surface that faces in the direction of the rotation axis <NUM>, a first side surface that is parallel to the central axis <NUM> and faces in the rotating direction, and a second side surface that is parallel to the central axis <NUM> and faces in the direction of the side opposite the rotating direction. The inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface are curved surfaces whose centers are the rotation axis <NUM>. The first side surface and the second side surface are surfaces connecting the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface, and are flat surfaces that expand from the outer peripheral surface in the direction toward the central axis. Plural sliding projections <NUM> are disposed at the outer peripheral surface, along the edge between the outer peripheral surface and the first side surface. The sliding projections <NUM> are projections that fit into the inner peripheral grooves <NUM> provided at the cylindrical surface <NUM>, at the time when the rotating member <NUM> is accommodated in the holding member <NUM>. The sliding projections <NUM> are shaped as truncated cones whose bottom surfaces are square and that become pointed toward the outer side of the rotating member <NUM>. The surfaces at the rotating direction sides of the sliding projections <NUM> are flat surfaces that expand toward the rotation axis <NUM>, and form portions of the first side surface of the sorting member <NUM>. The first side surface, which includes the rotating direction side surfaces of the sliding projections <NUM>, is a distal end edge <NUM> of the sorting member <NUM>.

Each of the sorting members <NUM> has a distal end edge <NUM> that corresponds to the distal end portion in the rotating direction and is parallel to the central axis. Two pushing pieces <NUM>, which are rectangular parallelepiped and have predetermined lengths in the longitudinal direction, project out in parallel in the rotating direction from the distal end edge <NUM> by a predetermined distance D (see <FIG>) that is longer than at least distance B. The number of the pushing pieces <NUM> is not limited to two. It suffices for the pushing pieces <NUM> to be able to hold the test strip <NUM> even during rotation, and the number thereof may be one or may be three or more. Further, the positions of the pushing pieces <NUM> in the longitudinal direction are not particularly limited, provided that they can hold the test strip <NUM> even during rotation. Moreover, a sorting piece <NUM> that is rectangular parallelepiped projects out from the distal end of the pushing piece <NUM> toward the outer side, i.e., toward the cylindrical surface <NUM> (<FIG>). The plural sliding projections <NUM> are disposed at the outer peripheral surface of the sorting member <NUM> in rows along the distal end edge <NUM> and a rear end edge 32A respectively, toward the cylindrical surface <NUM> (<FIG>). The sliding projections <NUM> provided at the outer peripheral surface of the sorting member <NUM>, and the inner peripheral grooves <NUM> (<FIG>) provided at the cylindrical surface <NUM> of the holding member <NUM>, are formed as a structure of projections and indentations that mesh with each other. The pushing pieces <NUM> and the sorting pieces <NUM> are both fixed to the sorting member <NUM> that rotates around the central axis <NUM> of the holding member <NUM> while maintaining a predetermined distance from the central axis <NUM>. Therefore, the pushing pieces <NUM> and the sorting pieces <NUM> also rotate around the central axis <NUM> while maintaining a predetermined distance from the central axis <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view along line A-A' of <FIG>. The cylindrical surface <NUM> of the holding member <NUM> has a cross-section that is a substantially circular cross-section, and the inner peripheral surface of the door member <NUM> provided at the opening portion <NUM> is a circular arc shape that is flush with the cylindrical surface <NUM> of the holding member <NUM>. Further, the three sorting members <NUM> have cross-sectional shapes that are approximately circular arc shaped, and are disposed uniformly with respect to the central axis <NUM>. Note that the sorting members <NUM> do not absolutely have to be disposed uniformly, and the number thereof is not limited to three. However, the number of the test strips <NUM> that can be held in one round of the rotating member <NUM> increases in accordance with the number of the sorting members <NUM>, and it is preferable that plural sorting members <NUM> be provided in order to improve the speed of taking out the test strips <NUM> from the test strip holder <NUM>. On the other hand, the greater the number of sorting members <NUM>, the narrower the interval between the front and rear sorting members <NUM>, and the higher the probability of rotation without being able to hold the test strips <NUM>. Therefore, the number of sorting members <NUM> is preferably three to five. Moreover, the sliding projections <NUM> that are provided at both the distal end side and the rear end side of the sorting member <NUM> fit in the inner peripheral grooves <NUM> of the cylindrical surface <NUM>, and slide along the inner peripheral grooves <NUM> in the rotating direction that is shown by the arrows in the drawings. Note that, provided that two or more of the sliding projections <NUM> are provided, the test strip <NUM> becoming bitten-in between the sorting member <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM> can be inhibited even if the sliding projections <NUM> and the inner peripheral grooves <NUM> are not meshing together as indentations and projections.

The positional relationships between the cylindrical surface <NUM>, and the pushing piece <NUM> and the sorting piece <NUM> of the sorting member <NUM> are shown in the enlarged sectional view of <FIG>. Namely, the distance between the cylindrical surface <NUM> and the position nearest to the cylindrical surface <NUM> at the distal end edge <NUM> of the sorting member <NUM> (i.e., the distal end of the sliding projection <NUM>) is set to be less than the thickness X of the test strip <NUM> (<FIG>). Thereby, the test strip <NUM> becoming bitten-in between the sorting member <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM> is inhibited, and the distal end edge <NUM> can push the test strip <NUM> in the rotating direction as the sorting member <NUM> rotates. Further, distance A between the cylindrical surface <NUM> and the position of the sorting piece <NUM> that is nearest to the cylindrical surface <NUM> is set to be greater than or equal to the thickness X of the test strip <NUM> and less than two times X.

Namely, the distance A is a distance such that one of the test strips <NUM> can enter in between the sorting piece <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM>, but two or more of the test strips cannot enter in. Thereby, two or more of the test strips <NUM> overlapping and simultaneously entering in between the pushing piece <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM> is inhibited. Note that, from the standpoints of tolerating errors in manufacturing of the test strips <NUM> and ease of entry of the test strips <NUM>, the distance A is preferably greater than or equal to <NUM> times the thickness X of the test strip <NUM>, and more preferably greater than or equal to <NUM> times. Further, because the reagent pad <NUM> at the test strip <NUM> such as that described above is formed of a material such as filter paper or the like, there are cases in which, due to the reagent pad <NUM> being pressed, the thickness X becomes thinner than X. Accordingly, the distance A is preferably less than <NUM> times the thickness X of the test strip <NUM>, and more preferably less than <NUM> times.

Further, the distance B from the distal end edge <NUM> of the sorting member 31to the sorting piece <NUM>, with respect to the length Y (<FIG>) in the short-length direction of the test strip <NUM>, is set to be greater than or equal to Y and less than two times Y. Namely, the distance B is a distance that is such that one of the test strips <NUM> can enter-in in the rotating direction between the cylindrical surface <NUM> and the pushing pieces <NUM> that are disposed between the distal end edge <NUM> and the sorting pieces <NUM>, but two or more of the test strips <NUM> cannot enter-in. Thereby, two or more of the test strips <NUM> being held so as to be lined-up in the rotating direction between the pushing pieces <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM> is inhibited. Note that, from the standpoints of tolerating errors in manufacturing of the test strips <NUM> and ease of entry of the test strips <NUM>, the distance B is preferably greater than or equal to <NUM> times the length Y of the test strip <NUM>, and more preferably greater than or equal to <NUM> times. Further, there is a concern that two or more of the test strips will enter-in if the test strips <NUM> stand-up. Therefore, the distance B is preferably less than <NUM> times the length Y of the test strip <NUM>, and more preferably less than <NUM> times.

Moreover, length C of the portion which projects out from the pushing piece <NUM> toward the cylindrical surface <NUM> at the sorting piece <NUM> is set to be greater than or equal to <NUM> times the thickness X of the test strip <NUM>, and less than <NUM> times X. Namely, the length C is a distance that is such that the one test strip <NUM> that is between the cylindrical surface <NUM> and the pushing pieces <NUM> disposed between the distal end edge <NUM> and the sorting pieces <NUM> can be held, but two or more of the test strips <NUM> cannot be held. Due to these conditions of the distance B and the length C, even if the sorting member <NUM> (the pushing pieces <NUM>) rotates while holding two or more of the test strips <NUM>, immediately after the pushing pieces <NUM> reach the uppermost position 31A (i.e., when the pushing pieces <NUM> reach the position at which the vertically-downward vector is small), only the test strip <NUM> that is at the pushing pieces <NUM> side from the sorting member <NUM> is held at the inner sides of the projecting portions of length C of the sorting pieces <NUM>, and the test strips <NUM> other than that cannot be held by the sorting pieces <NUM>, and therefore, fall down. Note that length C being greater than or equal to <NUM> times the thickness X of the test strip <NUM> and less than <NUM> times X is more preferable from the standpoint that the test strips that are other than the one test strip <NUM> that is held do not at all contact the inner sides of the projecting portions of length C of the sorting pieces <NUM>, and therefore, can reliably be made to drop down.

Further, distance E (see <FIG>), which is the length of the sorting piece <NUM> in the rotating direction, with respect to the length Y of the test strip <NUM> in the short-length direction, is set to be less than Y, and preferably is less than <NUM> times the length Y of the test strip <NUM>. Due to this condition of the distance E, the test strip that is held between the sorting pieces <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM> can fall down immediately after the uppermost position 31A is reached. Note that the distance E is substantially the same length as the distance obtained by subtracting the distance B from the distance D.

A functional block drawing of the test strip discharging mechanism <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. The test strip discharging mechanism <NUM> is structured as a measuring apparatus that measures, by the test strip <NUM> to which a specific reagent has been applied, the concentration of or the absence or presence of a physical characteristic or a specific component of a biological specimen such as, for example, a urine sample.

A control section <NUM> controls the respective sections of the test strip discharging mechanism <NUM>. The control section <NUM> controls a proximity sensor <NUM>, the rotation driving device <NUM>, the opening/closing operation device <NUM>, and a measuring section <NUM> by hardware structures described later. When the test strip holder <NUM> is attached to the test strip discharging mechanism <NUM>, as described above, the rotation driving device <NUM> is connected to the rotation driving shaft <NUM> (<FIG>) of the rotating member <NUM>, and further, the opening/closing operation device <NUM> is connected to the door driving shaft <NUM> (<FIG>) of the door member <NUM>. The proximity sensor <NUM> is structured by, for example, an optical sensor or a proximity sensor or the like, and, through the sensing windows <NUM> (<FIG>) of the holding member <NUM>, senses the approach of the sorting member <NUM> to the opening portion <NUM>. Note that the proximity sensor <NUM> may sense the approach of the test strip <NUM> that is held at the sorting member <NUM>. In accordance with the sensing by the proximity sensor <NUM>, the control section <NUM> drives the rotation driving device <NUM>, and rotates or stops the rotating member <NUM> (the sorting members <NUM>). Further, in accordance with the sensing by the proximity sensor <NUM>, the control section <NUM> drives the opening/closing operation device <NUM>, and opens or closes the door member <NUM>. Note that, in a case in which an opening/closing member <NUM> (see <FIG>) which is not the door member <NUM> is provided at the opening portion <NUM>, the opening/closing operation device <NUM> opens and closes the opening/closing member <NUM> instead of the door member <NUM>. Further, the control section <NUM> also controls the measuring section <NUM> that serves as a measuring apparatus and is structured by various portions and devices.

As illustrated by the hardware structures in <FIG>, the control section <NUM> has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) <NUM>, a ROM (Read Only Memory) <NUM>, a RAM (Random Access Memory) <NUM>, and a storage <NUM>. These respective structures are connected so as to be able to communicate with one another via bus <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> is a central computing processing unit, and executes various programs and controls respective sections. Namely, the CPU <NUM> reads-out a program from the ROM <NUM> or the storage <NUM>, and executes the program by using the RAM <NUM> as a workspace. The CPU <NUM> carries out control of the above-described respective structures, and various computing processings, in accordance with programs recorded in the ROM <NUM> or the storage <NUM>.

The ROM <NUM> stores various programs and various data. The RAM <NUM> temporarily stores programs and data as a workspace. The storage <NUM> is structured by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive) or a flash memory, and stores various programs, including the operating system, and various data. In the present aspect, programs and various data relating to measurements and judgments are stored in the ROM <NUM> or the storage <NUM>. Further, measured data also can be stored in the storage <NUM>.

The control section <NUM> executes control of the proximity sensor <NUM>, the rotation driving device <NUM>, the opening/closing operation device <NUM> and the measuring section <NUM> due to, among the above-described hardware structures, the CPU <NUM> executing the above-described programs.

Due to the above-described structure, by control of the control section <NUM>, the rotation driving device <NUM> can stop the rotation of the sorting member <NUM> when the sorting member <NUM> approaches the opening portion <NUM>, and can restart rotation of the sorting member <NUM> when the opening/closing operation device <NUM> closes the opening portion <NUM>. The control section <NUM> can also carry out control such that this operation of the opening/closing operation device <NUM> is carried out due to the proximity sensor <NUM> sensing the approach of the sorting member <NUM>. Moreover, the control section <NUM> can control the stopping of rotation by the rotation driving device <NUM> due to the proximity sensor <NUM> sensing the approach of the sorting member <NUM>, and can control the restarting of rotation by the rotation driving device <NUM> when the opening/closing operation device <NUM> closes the opening portion <NUM>.

The taking-out of the test strip <NUM> by the test strip holder <NUM> of the present exemplary embodiment is described next with reference to the flowchart of <FIG> (or <FIG>) and the cross-sectional views of <FIG>. Note that the cross-sectional views of <FIG> explain operation focusing on one of the sorting members <NUM>, but, of course, operations at the other two sorting members <NUM> also are executed concurrently.

First, when the power of the test strip discharging mechanism <NUM> is turned on, initial setting of the devices is executed in the step shown in S100. This initial setting also includes setting the rotating member <NUM> at its initial position of rotation due to the control section <NUM> controlling the rotation driving device <NUM>.

Then, after preparations for measurement have been completed, in the step shown in S110, the control section <NUM> drives the rotation driving device <NUM> and starts rotation of the rotating member <NUM>. In the step shown in S120, the control section <NUM> continues the rotation of the rotating member <NUM> until the proximity sensor <NUM> senses the sorting member <NUM> through the sensing windows <NUM>. Note that, in the case of a structure that does not have the proximity sensor <NUM> and that employs, for example, a step motor as the rotation driving device <NUM>, in the step shown in S120' in the flowchart of <FIG>, the control section <NUM> can continue the rotation of the rotating member <NUM> until a predetermined number of steps have passed (e.g., the number of steps needed until the next sorting member <NUM> approaches the opening portion <NUM> after stoppage of rotation and restarting of rotation).

During this time, in <FIG>, the plural test strips <NUM> stay at the lower portion of the interior space of the holding member <NUM>. The pushing pieces <NUM> of the sorting member <NUM> push, in the rotating direction, these plural test strips <NUM> that are staying there.

When the sorting member <NUM> continues to rotate and comes to a position past the lowermost position in the vertical direction as illustrated in <FIG>, only one of the test strips <NUM> that were positioned at the outermost side slips through the gap of width A (see <FIG>) that is between the sorting pieces <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM>, and enters in to a position at which the long side <NUM> thereof is made to contact the distal end edge <NUM>. Note that there are cases in which only a portion of another test strip <NUM> as well enters into the gap between the sorting pieces <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM>. The other test strips <NUM> are raised up by the pushing pieces <NUM>.

When the sorting member <NUM> continues to rotate further, and the pushing pieces <NUM> reach the uppermost position 31A as illustrated in <FIG>, all of the test strips <NUM> that could not enter into the gap between the sorting pieces <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM> fall downward. Then, when the sorting member <NUM> rotates further to the position shown in <FIG>, the test strip <NUM>, at which only a portion thereof entered into the gap between the sorting pieces <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM>, also falls down ultimately, but the test strip <NUM>, which entered in up to the point of contacting the distal end edge <NUM>, is held by the pushing pieces <NUM> and the sorting pieces <NUM> and avoids falling down.

Namely, due to the distance A between the cylindrical surface <NUM> and the nearest position of the sorting piece <NUM> to the cylindrical surface <NUM> satisfying X ≤ A < 2X, only one of the test strips <NUM> is held at a position that is rotated slightly from the uppermost position 31A due to the sorting member <NUM> rotating. Note that, due to the distance B from the distal end edge <NUM> of the pushing piece <NUM> to the sorting piece <NUM> satisfying Y ≤ B < 2Y, and the length C of the portion of the sorting piece <NUM> that projects out from the pushing piece <NUM> toward the cylindrical surface <NUM> satisfying <NUM>. 5X ≤ C < <NUM>. 5X, the sorting member <NUM> can be set in a state of even more reliably holding only the test strip <NUM> at a position that is rotated slightly from the uppermost position 31A.

Further, when the sorting member <NUM> rotates to the position illustrated in <FIG>, in the step shown in S120, the proximity sensor <NUM> senses the approach of the sorting member <NUM> (or, in the step shown in S120', the control section <NUM> senses the passage of the predetermined number of steps), and, in the step shown in S130, the control section <NUM> stops driving of the rotation driving device <NUM>, and rotation of the sorting member <NUM> stops. Then, in the next step shown in S140, the control section <NUM> drives the opening/closing operation device <NUM>, and rotates and opens the door member <NUM> to the state illustrated in <FIG>.

Due to this rotation of the door member <NUM>, simultaneously with the cut-out portions <NUM> reaching the positions of the pushing pieces <NUM>, the scooping portions <NUM> collide with the pushing pieces <NUM> or the test strip <NUM>. Due to this collision, impact is applied to the test strip <NUM> that was held by the pushing pieces <NUM> and the sorting pieces <NUM>, and the test strip <NUM> falls down from the sorting member <NUM> toward the opened door member <NUM>. The test strip <NUM> slides down the concavely curved surface of the door member <NUM>, is discharged to the outer side from the holding member <NUM>, and thereafter, the test strip <NUM> is moved by unillustrated conveying means to the measuring section <NUM>, and is provided to the predetermined measurement thereat.

Then, in the step shown in S150, the control section <NUM> again drives the opening/closing operation device <NUM>, rotates the door member <NUM> reversely, and again closes the door member <NUM> as in the state illustrated in <FIG>. For the timing of closing the door member <NUM>, a discharge sensor that senses that the test strip <NUM> has been discharged to the outer side from the holding member <NUM> may be provided, and the door member <NUM> may be closed due to the discharging of the test strip <NUM> being sensed by the discharge sensor. Otherwise, the door member <NUM> may be closed after a predetermined time has elapsed from the opening thereof. Then, in the step shown in S160, the control section <NUM> judges whether or not there is a next measurement. If there is a next measurement, the control section <NUM> again returns to the step shown in S110, and drives the rotation driving device <NUM>, and restarts the rotation of the rotating member <NUM>.

In this way, because the door member <NUM> is opened only during the discharging of the test strip <NUM> from the holding member <NUM>, even if the flow line for the time of opening and closing the door member <NUM> is on the flow line by which the sorting member <NUM> rotates, the movement of the sorting member <NUM> is not affected. In addition, in a case of using the holding member <NUM> that is airtight except for the door member <NUM>, the test strips <NUM> that are accommodated in the holding member <NUM> can be cut-off from outside air except at the time when the door member <NUM> is opened. Thereby, changes in the quality of the test strips <NUM> due to humidity of the outside air or the like can be prevented.

The test strip holder <NUM> in which the door member <NUM> is made into a different form is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> in a front view and in a front perspective view, respectively. A door accommodating portion <NUM> that is shaped as a cylinder and projects outward is provided at the side surface of the holding member <NUM>. The door accommodating portion <NUM> is a shape in which a portion of a solid cylinder, whose diameter is smaller than the holding member <NUM> and whose length in the longitudinal direction is greater than or equal to the length of the test strip <NUM>, projects outward from the holding member <NUM>. Further, a discharge opening <NUM>, which is an opening of the same length or longer than the test strip <NUM>, is provided along the longitudinal direction of the door accommodating portion <NUM>. The discharge opening <NUM> communicates the interior and the exterior of the door accommodating portion at the lower side of the door accommodating portion <NUM>.

The door member <NUM>, which is the shape illustrated in an outer perspective view in <FIG> and in an inner perspective view in <FIG>, is accommodated in the door accommodating portion <NUM>. The door member <NUM> has a shape that is substantially crescent-shaped in cross-section, as if a portion of the side surface of a solid cylinder has been hollowed out at the concavely curved surface of the cylindrical surface <NUM> of the holding member <NUM>. The convexly curved surface of this side surface is called a cutting-off portion <NUM>, and the concavely curved surface is called an inclined surface <NUM>. The cut-out portions <NUM> that are rectangular may be formed in two places of the lower edge of the inclined surface <NUM>. This lower edge is divided, by these cut-out portions <NUM> that are at two places, into the three scooping portions <NUM> that are shaped as tongue pieces. The door shafts <NUM>, which are provided on an axial center of the solid cylinder of the door member <NUM>, project out from the both ends of the door member <NUM>.

The front side of the door accommodating portion <NUM> is connected to the bearing 20B that is cylindrical and has a smaller diameter than the door accommodating portion <NUM> and bulges out from the side surface of the holding member <NUM>. One of the door shafts <NUM> is accommodated in this bearing 20B. Further, the sensing windows <NUM> that are rectangular are formed at two places in a vicinity above the door accommodating portion <NUM>. The door member <NUM> is provided at the side surface of the holding member <NUM> in a direction running along the longitudinal direction of the holding member <NUM>.

On the other hand, the driving shaft accommodating portion 20A, which is cylindrical and bulges outward and is connected to the door accommodating portion <NUM>, is provided at the another end side of the holding member <NUM>. The door driving shaft <NUM> (see <FIG>) is accommodated in this driving shaft accommodating portion 20A. The door driving shaft <NUM> and the door shafts <NUM> have the same axial centers. The door driving shaft <NUM> is held by the opening/closing operation device <NUM> (see <FIG>) that is similar to the first exemplary embodiment. Due to the door driving shaft <NUM> rotating around the axial center, the door member <NUM> rotates. Moreover, the connecting portion 20C that is cylindrical and has a slightly smaller diameter projects out at the another end side of the holding member <NUM>. This connecting portion 20C is connected to the rotation driving device <NUM> (see <FIG>) when the test strip holder <NUM> is attached to the test strip discharging mechanism <NUM> that is similar to the first exemplary embodiment. The rotation driving shaft <NUM> of the rotating member <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>) that is similar to the first exemplary embodiment can be seen from an opening provided in the center of the connecting portion 20C.

The sorting members <NUM> rotate and move the test strips <NUM>, which are accommodated in the holding member <NUM>, along the cylindrical surface <NUM> that is the inner peripheral surface of the holding member <NUM>. The door member <NUM> is provided at the side surface of the holding member <NUM> so as to be able to open and close, in order to discharge the test strip <NUM> to the exterior of the holding member <NUM>. When closed, the door member <NUM> cuts-off the interior and the exterior of the holding member <NUM> from one another. The door accommodating portion <NUM> covers the door member <NUM> from the outer side of the holding member <NUM>. The door member <NUM> can open and close by rotating at the interior of the door accommodating portion <NUM>.

The discharge opening <NUM> is provided in order to discharge, to the exterior of the door accommodating portion <NUM>, the test strip that has been discharged to the exterior of the holding member <NUM>, i.e., into the door accommodating portion <NUM>. The discharge opening <NUM> can be opened and closed with respect to the exterior by the door member <NUM> that rotates within the door accommodating portion <NUM>. Namely, when the discharge opening <NUM> is closed, the interior and the exterior of the door accommodating portion <NUM> are cut-off from each other. On the other hand, when the discharge opening <NUM> is open, the door member <NUM> closes the opening portion <NUM> of the holding member <NUM> as will be described later.

The inclined surface <NUM> of the door member <NUM> is the inner peripheral surface that is shaped as a concave surface and is flush with the cylindrical surface <NUM> that is the inner side surface of the holding member <NUM>, at the time when the door member <NUM> is closed as illustrated in <FIG>. The cutting-off portion <NUM> that is at the side opposite the inclined surface <NUM> is shaped as a cylindrical, convex surface that corresponds to the cylindrical, concave surface of the interior of the door accommodating portion <NUM>. At the time when the door member <NUM> is closed as illustrated in <FIG>, the cutting-off portion <NUM> closes both the opening portion <NUM> and the discharge opening <NUM>. On the other hand, at the time when the discharge opening <NUM> is open as illustrated in <FIG>, the cutting-off portion <NUM> cuts the interior of the holding member <NUM> off from the exterior.

Namely, simultaneously with the cut-out portions <NUM> arriving at the positions of the pushing pieces <NUM> due to rotation of the door member <NUM>, the inclined surface <NUM> at the scooping portions <NUM> applies impact to the test strip <NUM> that was held by the pushing pieces <NUM> and the sorting pieces <NUM>, and causes the test strip <NUM> to be discharged out to the outer side from the holding member <NUM> (see <FIG>). At this time, the test strip <NUM> that has been discharged out and fallen down is led to the exterior of the holding member <NUM> by the inclined surface <NUM> of the door member <NUM>. In this state, the door member <NUM> closes the discharge opening <NUM> while opening the holding member <NUM>.

When the door member <NUM> rotates further and reaches the state illustrated in <FIG>, the door member <NUM> again closes the opening portion <NUM> and the discharge opening <NUM> by the cutting-off portion <NUM>. Then, the test strip <NUM> that has been discharged drops down along the inclined surface <NUM> (<FIG>).

When the door member <NUM> rotates even further and reaches the state illustrated in <FIG>, the cutting-off portion <NUM> opens the discharge opening <NUM> while closing the opening portion <NUM> (see <FIG>). The test strip <NUM> that has been discharged is led along the inclined surface <NUM> to the opened discharge opening <NUM>, and the test strip <NUM>, which has been discharged from the discharge opening <NUM> to the exterior of the door accommodating portion <NUM>, moves toward the measuring section <NUM>, and is provided to the predetermined measurement thereat.

In the above-described second exemplary embodiment, the door member <NUM> always closes at least one of the opening portion <NUM> of the holding member <NUM> and the discharge opening <NUM> of the door accommodating portion <NUM>. In other words, because the opening portion <NUM> and the discharge opening <NUM> are not open at the same time, the test strips <NUM> accommodated in the holding member <NUM> can always be cut-off from outside air. Thereby, changes in the quality of the test strips <NUM> due to humidity of the outside air or the like can be prevented.

<FIG> illustrates the test strip holder <NUM> of a third exemplary embodiment in a cross-sectional view. In the present exemplary embodiment, the opening portion <NUM> is at a position of being rotated approximately <NUM>° as seen from the uppermost position 31A, and the door member <NUM> does not exist. Even with such a form, the test strip <NUM>, which is held by the sorting member <NUM> that has rotated and has been lowered, can be made to drop down from the opening portion <NUM>.

Note that the opening/closing member <NUM> that opens and closes the opening portion <NUM> may be provided, as in the modified example of the present exemplary embodiment that is illustrated in <FIG>. This opening/closing member <NUM> can be opened and closed by the opening/closing operation device <NUM> in the block drawing of <FIG>.

In the above-described first to third exemplary embodiments, the single test strip <NUM> passes through from the gap between the sorting pieces <NUM> and the cylindrical surface <NUM>, and the test strips <NUM> that could not pass through fall down when facing downward while the sorting member <NUM> is rotating. Thereby, merely due to the sorting member <NUM> rotating within the holding member <NUM>, only one of the test strips <NUM> is naturally grasped by the sorting pieces <NUM> and the pushing pieces <NUM> and can be taken out from the opening portion <NUM>, without excessively applying stress that is due to pushing to the test strips <NUM> that could not pass through.

Note that, although the above exemplary embodiments describe cases of using a urine test strip as the test strip <NUM>, the present invention is not limited to this, and it suffices for the test strip to be a test strip that is elongated and has thickness X.

Claim 1:
A test strip holder (<NUM>) comprising:
a holding member (<NUM>) at which at least a portion of a lower side of an inner periphery is a cylindrical surface (<NUM>), and at whose interior a test strip (<NUM>) that is elongated and has thickness X is held, a direction of an imaginary central axis (<NUM>) of the cylindrical surface (<NUM>) being a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to a vertical direction;
an opening portion (<NUM>) provided in an outer surface of the holding member (<NUM>);
a sorting member (<NUM>) configured to rotate at an interior of the holding member (<NUM>) around a rotation axis (<NUM>) that coincides with the central axis (<NUM>);
a pushing piece (<NUM>) projecting out from a distal end edge (<NUM>), which is parallel to the central axis (<NUM>), at the sorting member (<NUM>) in a direction of rotation of the sorting member (<NUM>); and
a sorting piece (<NUM>) projecting out from a distal end of the pushing piece (<NUM>) toward the cylindrical surface (<NUM>),
wherein a distance between the cylindrical surface (<NUM>) and a position, which is closest to the cylindrical surface (<NUM>), at the distal end edge (<NUM>) is less than X, and
a distance A between the cylindrical surface (<NUM>) and a position, which is closest to the cylindrical surface (<NUM>), at the sorting piece (<NUM>) satisfies <MAT>
characterized in that the sorting member (<NUM>) is formed as a body separate from the holding member (<NUM>), and is configured to rotate with respect to the holding member (<NUM>).