JP2000088858A - Dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely fit a cap to a container when an automatic cock closing function is imparted to a dispenser. SOLUTION: A conveying mechanism has manipulators 22A, 22B. A container 12 is conveyed by the manipulators 22A, 22B, for example, to a label attaching device. A cap 36 is fitted to the container 12 utilizing the conveying mechanism. A flange part 44 is formed in the cap 36, and when a knob 40 is held by two fingeres 22A, 22B, tip faces thereof abuts to an upper face 44A of the flange part 44. Downward pressing force is transmitted directly to the cap 36 to enhance a press-in action.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dispenser used prior to sample analysis, and more particularly to a dispenser having an automatic stopper mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a dispensing apparatus, a liquid (sample) is dispensed using a nozzle. That is, a plurality of child samples are generated from the original sample (parent sample). These child samples are transported from the dispensing device to the next analyzer. In addition, a dispensing apparatus including a mechanism for automatically attaching a barcode label or the like to a child sample to manage the child sample after dispensing has been proposed.

However, when the child sample is not immediately subjected to the analysis processing in the analyzer, but is left as it is or stored for a long period of time, the upper opening of the sample container is open. This causes problems such as mixing of other scattered specimens and evaporation of the specimens. In some cases, the parent sample remaining after dispensing may be used as a stored sample, but the same problem occurs in such a case.

In this regard, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-31890, 7-29668, and 6-8862
No. 5, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 8-6793, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-15
Japanese Patent No. 6994 discloses an automatic stopper device.
Therefore, if the automatic closure device related to the dispensing device is incorporated,
It is possible to attach a cap to the container as needed.

[0005] However, all of the conventional automatic capping devices have a large-scale mechanism.
There is a problem that the dispensing apparatus becomes large and the apparatus cost increases significantly. In the dispensing device, various devices such as a dispensing mechanism, rack transport device, label sticking device, etc. are already incorporated, and if an automatic closing device is further incorporated into it,
In addition to the above problems, there are also problems such as installation space.

[0006]

Therefore, it is conceivable to effectively use an existing configuration (for example, a manipulator). However, a certain amount of pressing force is required to attach a cap to a container. Is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus with an automatic closing function so that a cap can be easily and reliably attached to a container. Is to do.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dispensing means for sucking and discharging a liquid for dispensing the liquid into a container, and a dispensing means for grasping and transporting the container. A dispensing device including a manipulator and a cap that closes an opening of the container, wherein the manipulator grips the cap and attaches the cap to the opening of the container, wherein the cap includes the opening An insertion portion to be inserted into the inside, a flange portion provided at an upper portion of the insertion portion and having a diameter larger than the opening, and provided at an upper portion of the flange portion and having a smaller diameter than the flange portion. And a knob portion gripped by the manipulator. When the cap is pressed downward to attach the cap to the opening, the manipulator is disposed on the upper surface of the flange portion. Wherein the front end of the data is contact.

According to the above structure, when the cap is gripped by the manipulator and the cap is attached to the opening of the container, the flange projects below the knob, and the top surface of the manipulator is provided on the upper surface thereof. To apply a pressing force. If such an abutting action cannot be obtained, the frictional force between the side surface of the knob and the inner surface of the tip of the manipulator will transmit the pressurized force, but in that case, there is a risk of slip between the two. It is. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the plugging process can be reliably performed by a sufficient press-fitting action.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a main part thereof. This dispensing device is a device for dispensing samples such as blood and urine. In the figure, a dispensing nozzle and a dispensing pump are not shown.

One or a plurality of container racks 10 are placed on a plate of the dispensing apparatus. Each container rack 10 holds a plurality of containers 12 standing upright. Each container 12
A liquid 14 as a specimen is stored in the inside. Here, the container 12 is, for example, a test tube, and the specimen 14 is a parent specimen or a child specimen.

The transport mechanism 20 is a device for transporting the container 12 by the manipulator 22. The transport mechanism 20 transports the container 12 to the label sticking device 30. The label sticking device 30 has an insertion slot for accommodating the container 12, and the sticking unit 32 applies a bar code label or the like to the container 12 (indicated by reference numeral 12 'in the drawing) inserted into the insertion slot. Label is affixed. The container after labeling is returned to the original container rack 10 by the transport mechanism 20.

The manipulator 22 has two fingers 22
A, 22B. A pad 23 made of an elastic member or the like is provided on the inner surface of the distal end portion of each finger 22A, 22B.
The container 12 can be grasped by 2A and 22B. The transport mechanism 20 has a mechanism for transporting the manipulator 22 vertically and horizontally.

In the present embodiment, one or a plurality of cap racks 34 are mounted on a plate of the dispensing device. A plurality of caps 36 are aligned and held in each cap rack 34. Specifically, a plurality of openings are formed in the cap rack 34, and each cap 36 is held with a part inserted into each opening.

In the present embodiment, the caps 36 are picked up by the transport mechanism 20 for transporting the containers, and the caps 36 are attached to the upper openings of the containers 12. Specifically, the cap 36 is pinched by the manipulator 22, and the cap 36 is further pulled down from above the specific container 12, so that the cap 36 is finally attached to the container 12.

FIG. 2 shows the operation at the time of mounting. In the present embodiment, the cap 36 is roughly divided into 3
Consists of three parts. That is, an insertion portion 42 to be inserted into the container 12, a flange portion 44 formed above the insertion portion 42 and extending in the horizontal direction, and a cylindrical knob portion 40 formed on the upper portion of the flange portion 44. And The flange portion 44 has a larger diameter than the insertion portion 42, and the flange portion 44 has a larger diameter than the knob portion 40. That is, when viewed from above, the flange portion 44 extends horizontally beyond the knob portion 44, thereby forming the upper surface 44A.

As shown in FIG. 2, two fingers 2
The side surface of the knob portion 40 is pinched by the 2A and 22B, whereby the cap 36 is conveyed by the manipulator 22. When the cap 36 is mounted on the upper opening of the container 12, the tip surfaces of the fingers 22A and 22B ( The lower surface is brought into contact with the upper surface 44A, and a downward pressure input is transmitted to the cap 36 using such a contact relationship. That is, it is expected that a sufficient pressing force cannot be transmitted only by the surface joining between the side surface of the knob portion 40 and the pad 23, and a slip may occur between the surfaces. However, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, For example, finger 22A, 2
Due to the direct contact between the distal end surface of 2B and the upper surface 44A, it is possible to physically and reliably transmit the pressure input from above to below. Therefore, it is sufficient if the contact is performed at least during such press-fitting.
Such a contact relationship is not necessarily required during the transfer of 6.

As described above, according to the dispensing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the cap can be mounted, that is, the capping process can be performed by using the transport mechanism for transporting the container, so that no special mechanism is required. Therefore, there is an advantage that even if a capping function is added to the dispensing device, an increase in cost due to the function can be prevented as much as possible. In addition, since the capping process can be performed without moving the container from the rack, there is an advantage that a cap can be quickly attached after dispensing is completed, and problems such as evaporation of the sample and contamination can be prevented as much as possible.

Further, according to the device of the present embodiment,
The cap 36 has a specific form, and specifically, the collar portion 44
Therefore, since the downward pressing force of the fingers 22A and 22B is directly transmitted, there is an advantage that the cap can be securely mounted.

In this embodiment, since the cap 36 is mounted by the manipulator 22, for example, even if the type of the container 12 is changed and the form of the cap 36 is changed, the cap 36 can be flexibly changed. There is an advantage that it can respond. Even in such a case, it is desirable to provide a flange as shown in FIG.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In adding the automatic closure function to the automatic dispensing device, the cap can be securely and easily attached to the container.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when a cap is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 container rack, 12 containers, 20 transport mechanism, 22
Manipulator, 30 labeling device, 34 cap rack, 36 caps.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A dispensing means for aspirating and discharging a liquid to dispense a liquid into a container, a manipulator for grasping and transporting the container, and a cap for closing an opening of the container, A dispensing device in which the cap is grasped by a manipulator and the cap is attached to an opening of the container, wherein the cap is provided at an upper part of the insertion part, which is inserted into the opening. A flange having a diameter larger than the opening; and a knob provided at an upper portion of the flange, having a smaller diameter than the flange, and being gripped by the manipulator. The tip of the manipulator is brought into contact with the upper surface of the flange when the cap is pressed downward to attach the cap to the dispensing device. .