Plug processing device and specimen test automation system including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11061044-B2
Application number	US-201716315336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2017
Priority date	Aug 3, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

Plug-closing processing units are provided with: a first plug chuck parts that grasp plugs; and a second plug chuck part located above the first plug chuck parts, wherein the first plug chuck parts each include at least two first supports that grasp the plugs from more than one direction, and the second plug chuck part is provided with a plug-closing mechanism that includes a second support disposed in the radial direction of plugs and having an inclined lower end surface. Thus, provided are a plug processing device capable of stable plug-opening processing and plug-closing processing on a conveyor line for a specimen container, and a specimen test automation system including the plug processing device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A plug processing device comprising:
a first plug chuck configured to grip a plug; and
a second plug chuck positioned above the first plug chuck,
wherein the first plug chuck includes at least two or more first supports configured to grip the plug from a plurality of directions,
the second plug chuck includes a second support arranged in a radial direction of the plug, the second support having an inclined lower end surface that includes a first incline in a radial direction of the second plug chuck and a second incline different from the first incline in a direction perpendicular to the first incline, and
the second plug chuck is rotated and the second support contacts the plug while the plug is supported by the first supports of the first plug chuck, so as to perform plug opening or plug closing of the plug with respect to a container.

2. The plug processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second plug chuck further includes a pressing surface configured to contact an upper surface of the plug.

3. The plug processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second supports is provided at a position displaced to an outer side in a radial direction of the plug from a central position of the plug.

4. The plug processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second support includes a plurality of second supports provided radially from a central position of the plug.

5. The plug processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the first supports of the first plug chuck.

6. The plug processing device according to claim 4 ,
wherein all of the lower end surfaces of the plurality of second supports have the same inclination direction.

7. A specimen test automation system comprising:
a plug opening/closing unit configured to perform plug opening and plug closing of a plug from a specimen container sealed by the plug;
a processing unit configured to process a specimen contained in the specimen container;
a conveyor line configured to convey the specimen container to each of the units; and
a control unit configured to control the plug opening/closing unit and the processing unit,
wherein the plug opening/closing unit is the plug processing device according to claim 1 .

8. The specimen test automation system according to claim 7 ,
wherein the plug opening/closing unit includes a plug supply mechanism configured to store a plurality of plugs, and an actuator configured to transport the plug supplied from the plug supply mechanism to the plug opening/closing unit.

9. The specimen test automation system according to claim 7 , comprising:
a plurality of the plug opening/closing units in accordance with the specimen container,
wherein the control unit is configured to switch and convey the specimen container to a suitable one of the plug opening/closing units in accordance with the specimen container.

10. The specimen test automation system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
an analysis processing unit configured to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of the specimen.

Assignees

• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Yamagata Toshiki
• Okabe Shugo
• Kambara Katsuhiro

Classifications

• G01N2035/0406

  Individual bottles or tubes · CPC title

• G01N2035/0405

  manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers · CPC title

• G01N35/04 Primary

  Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B67B7/182

  power-operated · CPC title

• B67B3/2053

  comprising capping heads · CPC title