Patent Description:
Nowadays, various inspection devices and measurement devices are used in the fields of many industries including steel, automobiles, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and food. Such inspection devices and measurement devices may include inspection chambers or measurement chambers in which entry of light is restricted. For example, a resistivity measuring instrument described in Patent Literature <NUM> includes a measurement chamber, a shutter at an entrance and an exit of the measurement chamber, and a shutter opening-closing system to drive the shutter. The shutter opening-closing system drives the shutter to open and close the entrance and the exit of the measurement chamber. When the entrance and the exit are closed with the shutter, the inside of the measurement chamber is dark.

<CIT> deals with a lens detection device based on machine vision; <CIT> discloses a system and a method for detecting multiple molecules in one assay; <CIT> discloses assay cartridges and methods for point of care instruments; <CIT> discloses an X-ray shielding structure for a food inspection station; and <CIT> teaches an X-ray inspection device and means for triggering the activation of said device. All of them disclose a certain kind of light shutter.

The inspection device with an inspection chamber in which entry of light is restricted is expected to improve light-shielding of the inspection chamber while maintaining easy opening and closing. According to the invention a shutter system installable in an inspection device according to claim <NUM> and an inspection device according to claim <NUM> are provided.

A shutter system according to the invention is installable in an inspection device including an inspection chamber with restricted entry of light. The shutter system includes a first shutter located in an opening of the inspection chamber connecting an inside and an outside of the inspection chamber, and a second shutter located inside the inspection chamber and behind the first shutter. The first shutter has a closed state, an inward-open state, and an outward-open state. The first shutter in the closed state closes the opening. The first shutter in the inward-open state is pushed by an inspection object loaded into the inspection chamber through the opening and pivots inward in the inspection chamber. The first shutter in the outward-open state is pushed by the inspection object unloaded from the inspection chamber through the opening and pivots outward from the inspection chamber. The second shutter has a light-shielding state, a driven state, and a stationary state. The second shutter in the light-shielding state overlaps the first shutter in the closed state and closes a clearance between the opening and the first shutter. The second shutter in the driven state is pushed by the first shutter in the inward-open state and pivots together with the first shutter.

The second shutter in the stationary state is separate from the first shutter in the outward-open state and is at a same position as in the light-shielding state.

The technique according to the above aspect of the present invention allows an inspection device with an easy opening-closing operation and high light-shielding performance.

One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used to describe the embodiments, the same reference numerals denote the same or substantially the same components or elements. Such components or elements will not basically be described repeatedly.

<FIG> is an external perspective view of an inspection device 1A. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of the inspection device 1A. The inspection device 1A shown in <FIG> and <FIG> includes an inspection chamber <NUM> separate from the surroundings, in which entry of light is restricted. The inspection chamber <NUM> includes a side wall <NUM> having an opening <NUM> connecting the inside and the outside of the inspection chamber <NUM>, through which an object <NUM> to be inspected can be placed in and removed out of the inspection chamber <NUM>. More specifically, the inspection object <NUM> can be loaded into the inspection chamber <NUM> through the opening <NUM>. The inspection object <NUM> can be also unloaded from the inspection chamber <NUM> through the opening <NUM>. The inspection object <NUM> to be loaded into and unloaded from the inspection chamber <NUM> may be referred to as a workpiece <NUM>.

The workpiece <NUM> in the present embodiment includes a specimen container <NUM> to contain a specimen, a reagent container <NUM> to contain a reagent, and test paper (not shown) with the color changeable in response to the reaction between the specimen and the reagent. The specimen container <NUM> is embedded in a flat base <NUM>. The reagent container <NUM> is located on the upper surface of the base <NUM> and protrudes from the upper surface of the base <NUM>. In other words, the reagent container <NUM> is a protrusion or a raised portion on the workpiece <NUM>. The specimen to be contained in the specimen container <NUM> is, for example, human saliva or blood.

The inspection chamber <NUM> includes an internal guide <NUM> to guide a workpiece <NUM> to be placed in and removed out of the inspection chamber <NUM>. The inspection chamber <NUM> also includes a light source (e.g., a light-emitting diode or an LED) <NUM>, a camera <NUM>, and an actuator <NUM>. The inspection device 1A includes a display (e.g., a liquid crystal monitor) <NUM> and an operation button <NUM> on its upper surface.

The actuator <NUM> located in the inspection chamber <NUM> presses the reagent container <NUM> in response to the workpiece <NUM> being loaded to a predetermined position. The reagent is then pushed out of the reagent container <NUM> to mix with the specimen placed in the specimen container <NUM>. The light source <NUM> illuminates the workpiece <NUM> located in the inspection chamber <NUM>. The camera <NUM> captures an image of the workpiece <NUM> illuminated with the illumination light. The inspection device 1A then detects any change in the color of the test paper or determines the degree of any such change based on the image of the workpiece <NUM> (workpiece image) captured with the camera <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a shutter system <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded view of the shutter system <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view of the shutter system <NUM>.

As described above, the inspection device 1A detects a change in the color of the test paper or any other factors based on the workpiece image captured with the camera <NUM> installed inside the inspection chamber <NUM>. The image of the workpiece can be affected by any light (external light) entering the inspection chamber <NUM> during imaging of the workpiece. The workpiece <NUM> is to be illuminated with light emitted from the light source <NUM> alone during imaging of the workpiece.

Thus, the inspection device 1A is expected to restrict any light from entering the inspection chamber <NUM>. The inspection device 1A is expected to allow the workpiece <NUM> to be easily placed in and removed out of the inspection chamber <NUM>. More specifically, the inspection chamber <NUM> is expected to have both an easy opening-closing operation and high light-shielding performance.

In response to the above request, the inspection device 1A includes a shutter system <NUM> operable to open and close the opening <NUM>. The shutter system <NUM> includes a first shutter <NUM> and a second shutter <NUM>. The first shutter <NUM> is smaller than the opening <NUM> and is located in the opening <NUM>. The second shutter <NUM> is larger than the first shutter <NUM> and is located in the inspection chamber <NUM>. The first shutter <NUM> may be hereafter referred to as a small shutter <NUM>, and the second shutter <NUM> as a large shutter <NUM>.

The small shutter <NUM> includes a substantially rectangular shutter plate <NUM> with a width (W1) being substantially the same as the width (W) of the opening <NUM>. The shutter plate <NUM> is a flat plate formed from a metal or a synthetic resin and has a size (area) enough to close a large portion of the opening <NUM>. The shutter plate <NUM> is light-shielding.

The small shutter <NUM> further includes a pair of fixtures <NUM> and <NUM>. More specifically, the two fixtures <NUM> and <NUM> are integral with an upper portion of the shutter plate <NUM>. The fixture <NUM> is located on one side of the shutter plate <NUM> in the width direction, and the fixture <NUM> is located on the other side of the shutter plate <NUM> in the width direction.

The width direction of the shutter plate <NUM> is hereafter referred to as the lateral direction. The side on which the fixture <NUM> is located is referred to as the right, and the side on which the fixture <NUM> is located is referred to as the left. The fixture <NUM> may thus be referred to as the right fixture <NUM>, and the fixture <NUM> may be referred to as the left fixture <NUM>.

The small shutter <NUM> includes a support shaft <NUM> with a length greater than its width (W1). The support shaft <NUM> is fixed to the shutter plate <NUM> in a manner nonrotatable relative to each other. More specifically, the support shaft <NUM> has one end press-fitted into the right fixture <NUM>, and the other end press-fitted into the left fixture <NUM>. The support shaft <NUM> has one end placed through the right fixture <NUM> and protruding rightward from the shutter plate <NUM>, and the other end placed through the left fixture <NUM> and protruding leftward from the shutter plate <NUM>.

The right end of the support shaft <NUM> protruding rightward from the shutter plate <NUM> is rotatably supported by a bearing <NUM> on one side of the large shutter <NUM>, and the left end of the support shaft <NUM> protruding leftward from the shutter plate <NUM> is rotatably supported by another bearing <NUM> on the other side of the large shutter <NUM>. More specifically, the small shutter <NUM> is rotatably attached to the large shutter <NUM>. The support shaft <NUM> serves as the rotation axis of the small shutter <NUM>.

The width (W1) of the shutter plate <NUM> is substantially the same as the width (W) of the opening <NUM> but is slightly smaller (narrower) than the width (W) of the opening <NUM>. An inner side surface <NUM> of the opening <NUM> and an outer side surface <NUM> of the small shutter <NUM> (shutter plate <NUM>) can thus face each other but are not in contact with each other.

The height of the shutter plate <NUM> is lower than the height of the opening <NUM>. A bottom surface <NUM> of the opening <NUM> and a lower end surface <NUM> of the small shutter <NUM> (shutter plate <NUM>) can thus face each other but are not in contact with each other.

Thus, the small shutter <NUM> is movable (rotatable) inside the opening <NUM> without being obstructed, while avoiding fully closing the opening <NUM>. More specifically, when the opening <NUM> is closed with the small shutter <NUM>, a clearance <NUM> is left between the inner side surface <NUM> of the opening <NUM> and the outer side surface <NUM> of the small shutter <NUM>. Also, a clearance <NUM> is left between the bottom surface <NUM> of the opening <NUM> and the lower end surface <NUM> of the small shutter <NUM>.

More specifically, a clearance 60a is left between a right inner side surface 13a of the opening <NUM> and a right outer side surface 45a of the small shutter <NUM>. Also, a clearance 60b is left between a left inner side surface 13b of the opening <NUM> and a left outer side surface 45b of the small shutter <NUM>.

The clearance <NUM> between the bottom surface <NUM> of the opening <NUM> and the lower end surface <NUM> of the small shutter <NUM> has a height (H) substantially the same as the thickness (t1) of the base <NUM> of the workpiece <NUM> shown in <FIG>. However, the height (H) of the clearance <NUM> is lower than a thickness (t2) of the workpiece <NUM> including the reagent container <NUM>. In other words, the height (H) of the clearance <NUM> is higher than the height of the base <NUM> and lower than the total height of the workpiece <NUM>. The opening <NUM> and the shutter plate <NUM> have the heights to leave the clearance <NUM> with the above height.

The large shutter <NUM> is located inside the inspection chamber <NUM> and behind the small shutter <NUM>. The large shutter <NUM> includes a shutter plate <NUM> with a width (W2) greater than the width (W) of the opening <NUM>. The shutter plate <NUM> is a flat plate formed from a metal or a synthetic resin and is light-shielding.

More specifically, the shutter plate <NUM> includes a right light shield <NUM>, a left light shield <NUM>, and a middle portion <NUM>. The middle portion <NUM> connects an upper portion of the right light shield <NUM> and an upper portion of the left light shield <NUM>. The shutter plate <NUM> is thus substantially rectangular as a whole, whereas the shutter plate <NUM> is substantially U-shaped as a whole. In other words, the shutter plate <NUM> is a gantry plate.

The shutter plate <NUM>, which is wider than the opening <NUM>, is wider than the shutter plate <NUM> (W1 < W < W2). Thus, when the shutter plate <NUM> and the shutter plate <NUM> overlap, the right and left ends of the shutter plate <NUM> extends beyond the right and left ends of the shutter plate <NUM>. When the large shutter <NUM> overlaps the back surface of the small shutter <NUM> closing the opening <NUM>, the clearance <NUM> is closed with the large shutter <NUM>.

More specifically, the right light shield <NUM> extends rightward beyond the shutter plate <NUM> to close the clearance 60a between the right inner side surface 13a of the opening <NUM> and the right outer side surface 45a of the small shutter <NUM>. Similarly, the left light shield <NUM> extends leftward beyond the shutter plate <NUM> to close the clearance 60b between the left inner side surface 13b of the opening <NUM> and the left outer side surface 45b of the small shutter <NUM>.

Also, when the large shutter <NUM> overlaps the back surface of the small shutter <NUM> closing the opening <NUM>, the clearance <NUM> is partly closed with the large shutter <NUM>. More specifically, a right portion of the clearance <NUM> is closed with a lower part of the right light shield <NUM>. A left portion of the clearance <NUM> is also closed with a lower part of the left light shield <NUM>.

This structure creates a space defined by the shutter plate <NUM> and the shutter plate <NUM> under the small shutter <NUM>. As described above, this space is a part of the opening <NUM> as well as a part of the clearance <NUM>. The height of this space can also be the same as the height (H) of the clearance <NUM>. Further, the width of the space is the same as a facing distance (D) between the inner side surface of the right light shield <NUM> and the inner side surface of the left light shield <NUM>. The facing distance (D) between the inner side surface of the right light shield <NUM> and the inner side surface of the left light shield <NUM> in the present embodiment is slightly greater (wider) than the width (w) of the base <NUM> of the workpiece <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In other words, when the large shutter <NUM> overlaps the back surface of the small shutter <NUM> closing the opening <NUM>, a space with a height and a width that allows the base <NUM> of the workpiece <NUM> to pass through the space is defined under the small shutter <NUM>. This space may be hereafter referred to as a loading port <NUM>.

The large shutter <NUM> includes a pair of fixtures <NUM> and <NUM>. More specifically, the two fixtures <NUM> and <NUM> are integral with an upper portion of the shutter plate <NUM>. The fixture <NUM> is located on one side of the shutter plate <NUM> in the width direction. The fixture <NUM> is located on the other side of the shutter plate <NUM> in the width direction. The fixture <NUM> may be referred to as the right fixture <NUM>, and the fixture <NUM> may be referred to as the left fixture <NUM>.

The large shutter <NUM> also includes a support shaft <NUM> with a length greater than its width (W2). The support shaft <NUM> is fixed to the shutter plate <NUM> in a manner nonrotatable relative to each other. More specifically, the support shaft <NUM> has one end press-fitted into the right fixture <NUM>, and the other end press-fitted into the left fixture <NUM>. The support shaft <NUM> has one end placed through the right fixture <NUM> and protruding rightward from the shutter plate <NUM>, and the other end placed through the left fixture <NUM> and protruding leftward from the shutter plate <NUM>.

The right end of the support shaft <NUM> protruding rightward from the shutter plate <NUM> is rotatably supported by a bearing <NUM> on the side wall <NUM> of the inspection chamber <NUM>. The left end of the support shaft <NUM> protruding leftward from the shutter plate <NUM> is rotatably supported by another bearing <NUM> on the side wall <NUM> of the inspection chamber <NUM>. More specifically, the large shutter <NUM> is rotatably attached to the side wall <NUM> of the inspection chamber <NUM>. The support shaft <NUM> serves as the rotation axis of the large shutter <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> before the workpiece <NUM> is loaded into the inspection chamber <NUM>. <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are side views of the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> while the workpiece <NUM> is being loaded into the inspection chamber <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view of the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> when the workpiece <NUM> is loaded to the predetermined position inside the inspection chamber <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the small shutter <NUM> closes the opening <NUM> (closed state) before the workpiece <NUM> is loaded into the inspection chamber <NUM>. In this state, the large shutter <NUM> overlaps the back surface of the closed small shutter <NUM>, thus closing the clearance <NUM> (<FIG>) between the opening <NUM> and the small shutter <NUM> (light-shielding state).

More specifically, the right light shield <NUM> of the shutter plate <NUM> closes the clearance 60a, and the left light shield <NUM> of the shutter plate <NUM> closes the clearance 60b. The loading port <NUM> is defined under the small shutter <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the workpiece <NUM> (base <NUM>) is loaded into the inspection chamber <NUM> through the opening <NUM> (loading port <NUM>), the workpiece <NUM> (reagent container <NUM>) comes in contact with a front lower surface of the small shutter <NUM> (shutter plate <NUM>).

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the workpiece <NUM> is loaded further into the inspection chamber <NUM>, the small shutter <NUM> is pushed by the workpiece <NUM> (reagent container <NUM>), thus pivoting inward in the inspection chamber <NUM> (inward-open state). At the same time, the large shutter <NUM> is pushed by the small shutter <NUM>, thus pivoting together with the small shutter <NUM> (driven state).

In other words, the workpiece <NUM> rotates the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> to open the opening <NUM>. The workpiece <NUM> comes in contact with the small shutter <NUM> and moves inward in the inspection chamber <NUM> while supporting the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the workpiece <NUM> is loaded to the predetermined position inside the inspection chamber <NUM>, the workpiece <NUM> (reagent container <NUM>) and the small shutter <NUM> in the inward-open state are out of contact from each other. The small shutter <NUM> under its own weight then changes from the inward-open state to the closed state. At the same time, the large shutter <NUM> under its own weight changes from the driven state to the light-shielding state.

The opening <NUM> is thus largely closed with the small shutter <NUM>. The clearance <NUM> (<FIG>) between the opening <NUM> and the small shutter <NUM> is also closed with the large shutter <NUM>.

When the workpiece <NUM> is loaded to the above predetermined position, the base <NUM> has a part (front portion) located inside the inspection chamber <NUM> and another part (rear portion) located outside the inspection chamber <NUM>. In other words, the rear portion of the base <NUM> is exposed outside the inspection chamber <NUM>. More specifically, the base <NUM> extends inward and outward from the inspection chamber <NUM> through the loading port <NUM>. The loading port <NUM> (base <NUM>) is thus closed with the workpiece <NUM>.

More specifically, when the small shutter <NUM> changes from the inward-open state to the closed state, and the large shutter <NUM> changes from the driven state to the light-shielding state, the opening <NUM> is largely closed with the small shutter <NUM>. The clearance <NUM> between the inner side surface <NUM> of the opening <NUM> and the outer side surface <NUM> of the small shutter <NUM> is closed with the large shutter <NUM>. Further, the other part of the opening <NUM> (loading port <NUM>) that remains not closed with the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> is closed with the workpiece <NUM>. The inspection chamber <NUM> is almost fully shielded from light. This structure prevents light from entering the inspection chamber <NUM> or traveling out of the inspection chamber <NUM>.

The workpiece <NUM>, which is loaded further into the inspection chamber <NUM>, reaches the inspection position at which a predetermined inspection is performed (at which an image of the workpiece is captured). After the workpiece <NUM> reaches the inspection position (imaging position), the small shutter <NUM> remains in a closed state and the large shutter <NUM> remains in a light-shielding state. The loading port <NUM> is thus closed with the base <NUM> of the workpiece <NUM>. In other words, the inspection chamber <NUM> remains light-shielded.

<FIG> is a side view of the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> when the workpiece <NUM> is at the inspection position (imaging position) inside the inspection chamber <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> are side views of the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> while the workpiece <NUM> is being unloaded from the inspection chamber <NUM>.

When the workpiece <NUM> shown in <FIG> is unloaded from the inspection chamber <NUM> through the opening <NUM> (loading port <NUM>), the workpiece <NUM> (reagent container <NUM>) comes in contact with a back lower surface of the small shutter <NUM> (shutter plate <NUM>) as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the workpiece <NUM> is further unloaded from the inspection chamber <NUM>, the small shutter <NUM> is pushed by the workpiece <NUM> (reagent container <NUM>), thus pivoting outward from the inspection chamber <NUM> (outward-open state). The large shutter <NUM> is separate from the small shutter <NUM> and is at the same position as in its light-shielding state (stationary state). In other words, the small shutter <NUM> pivots outward from the inspection chamber <NUM>, leaving the large shutter <NUM> behind.

The workpiece <NUM> causes the small shutter <NUM> to pivot and open the opening <NUM>. The workpiece <NUM> comes in contact with the small shutter <NUM> and moves outward from the inspection chamber <NUM> while supporting the small shutter <NUM>.

When the workpiece <NUM> is unloaded to a predetermined position outside the inspection chamber <NUM>, the workpiece <NUM> (reagent container <NUM>) and the small shutter <NUM> are out of contact from each other. The small shutter <NUM> under its own weight then changes from the outward-open state to the closed state. The large shutter <NUM> then changes from the stationary state to the light-shielding state. The small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> return to the state shown in <FIG>.

As described above, the small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> are open inward together with the workpiece <NUM> that is being loaded into the inspection chamber <NUM> through the opening <NUM>. The small shutter <NUM> and the large shutter <NUM> under their own weights are closed automatically when the workpiece <NUM> is loaded to the predetermined position before the inspection position. The opening <NUM> is then almost fully closed with the small shutter <NUM>, the large shutter <NUM>, and the workpiece <NUM>. In other words, the inspection chamber <NUM> is almost fully shielded from light. The small shutter <NUM> is open outward by the workpiece <NUM> that is being unloaded from the inspection chamber <NUM> through the opening <NUM>.

As described above, the inspection device 1A according to the present embodiment includes the inspection chamber <NUM> with an easy opening-closing operation and high light-shielding performance.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be modified variously without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A shutter system installable in an inspection device including an inspection chamber with restricted entry of light, the shutter system comprising:
a first shutter located in an opening of the inspection chamber, the opening connecting an inside and an outside of the inspection chamber; and
a second shutter located inside the inspection chamber and behind the first shutter,
wherein the first shutter has a closed state, an inward-open state, and an outward-open state,
the first shutter in the closed state closes the opening,
the first shutter in the inward-open state is pushed by an inspection object loaded into the inspection chamber through the opening and pivots inward in the inspection chamber,
the first shutter in the outward-open state is pushed by the inspection object unloaded from the inspection chamber through the opening and pivots outward from the inspection chamber,
the second shutter has a light-shielding state, a driven state, and a stationary state,
the second shutter in the light-shielding state overlaps the first shutter in the closed state and closes a clearance between the opening and the first shutter,
the second shutter in the driven state is pushed by the first shutter in the inward-open state and pivots together with the first shutter, and
the second shutter in the stationary state is separate from the first shutter in the outward-open state and is at a same position as in the light-shielding state.