Automated analysis device, and lid opening/closing mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018024154-A1
Application number	US-201615547533-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Feb 26, 2015
Publication date	Jan 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is an automated analysis device equipped with a lid opening/closing mechanism with which it is possible to selectively open or close lids of a plurality of reagent containers, as well as to close all of the lids of the plurality of reagent containers, regardless of their current open/closed state. Each of a plurality of hooks 102 rotatably linked to a hook base part 104 has: a claw portion 203 which, when oriented to engage with a lid 101, causes force to act on the lid 101 in the opening direction; a basal part 202 which, when oriented to engage with the lid 101, causes force to act on the lid in the closing direction; and a closing protrusion 201 which, when oriented not to engage with the lid 101, causes force to act on the lid in the closing direction.

First claim

1 . An automated analysis device comprising:
a container transport device on which a plurality of reagent containers for accommodation of reagents used for analysis of a sample can be mounted; and a lid opening/closing mechanism that can simultaneously open or close a plurality of specific reagent containers located at a dispensing/stirring position among the plurality of reagent containers, wherein the lid opening/closing mechanism includes a unit base that is fixed to the container transport device, a hook base part that is rotatably linked to the unit base, a lid opening/closing drive device that moves the hook base part in parallel in an opening/closing direction of lids of the plurality of specific reagent containers with respect to the unit base, a plurality of hooks that are rotatably linked to the hook base part, and respectively engage with the lids of the plurality of specific reagent containers, and a plurality of hook drive devices which can individually rotationally move the plurality of hooks with respect to the hook base part, and wherein each of the plurality of hooks includes a claw portion that, when oriented to engage with a lid, causes force to act on the lid in the opening direction, a basal part that, when oriented to engage with the lid, causes force to act on the lid in the closing direction, and a closing protrusion that, when oriented not to engage with the lid, causes force to act on the lid in the closing direction.

2 . The automated analysis device according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the plurality of hooks is formed so that an action point of the closing protrusion is the lowest point of the closing protrusion when the hook is oriented not to engage with the lid.

3 . The automated analysis device according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the plurality of hooks is formed so that an action point of the basal part and an action point of the closing protrusion are located on the same radius from the rotation center.

4 . The automated analysis device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control device that controls an operation of the lid opening/closing mechanism so that the lid opening/closing mechanism performs an initial state returning operation, if it is detected that the automated analysis device is abnormally stopped when the positive operation is finished.

5 . The automated analysis device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the initial state returning operation includes a first operation of rotationally moving the plurality of hooks so that the closing protrusion is oriented to act on the lids of the plurality of specific reagent containers, and a second operation of rotationally moving the hook base part so that the hook base part is moved in parallel in the closing direction of the lids of the plurality of specific reagent containers, following the first operation.

Assignees

• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Miyakawa Takushi
• Noda Kazuhiro
• Sakashita Yukinori

Classifications

• G01N35/1002

  Reagent dispensers · CPC title

• G01N35/025 Primary

  having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes · CPC title

• G01N2035/00287

  movable lid/cover for sample or reaction tubes · CPC title

• G01N2035/0405

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

• B01L3/50825

  Closing or opening means, corks, bungs · CPC title