RACK ACCOMMODATION DEVICE

• US 20130307381A1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aoi Seiki Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ADI Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: ITOH, Teruaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,894,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/97
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/026 Racks equipped with a displaceable load carrying surface to facilitate loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0417 forming an endless chain in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a rack accommodation device includes, a base capable of supporting supporters on a plurality of stages in a first direction and in a plurality of rows in a second direction across the first direction, the supporters each being configured to hold a rack capable of holding a plurality of upright sample holders each accommodating a sample, a first movement mechanism configured to move the supporters in the first direction, and a second movement mechanism configured to move the supporters in the second direction.

Claims

1. A rack accommodation device comprising:

a base capable of supporting supporters on a plurality of stages in a first direction and in a plurality of rows in a second direction across the first direction, the supporters each being configured to hold a rack capable of holding a plurality of upright sample holders each accommodating a sample;

a first movement mechanism configured to move the supporters in the first direction; and

a second movement mechanism configured to move the supporters in the second direction.

2. The rack accommodation device of claim 1, wherein the first movement mechanism comprises a raising mechanism configured to raise the supporters on the plurality of stages in an ascending row on one side in the second direction and a lowering mechanism configured to lower the supporters on the plurality of stages in a descending row on the other side in the second direction, the second movement mechanism comprises an upper shift mechanism configured to move the supporters on an upper stage in the ascending row to the other side and a lower shift mechanism configured to move the supporters on a lower stage in the descending row to the one side, and the supporters are moved along a predetermined circulatory route such that the racks are sequentially introduced into a predetermined processing area.

3. The rack accommodation device of claim 2, wherein each of the supporters comprises a slide tray capable of being drawn out of the base structure in a third direction across the first and second directions.

4. The rack accommodation device of claim 2, comprising a controller for controlling operations of the raising mechanism, the lowering mechanism, the upper shift mechanism, and the lower shift mechanism, wherein the supporter comprises first engaging portions held by the raising mechanism and the lowering mechanism and second engaging portions held by the upper shift mechanism and the lower shift mechanism, the raising mechanism and the lowering mechanism each comprise a retaining frame capable of reciprocating between a position to engage with the engaging portions of the supporter and a retracted position to be disengaged from the first engaging portions and a lift frame capable of reciprocating between a position to engage with the first engaging portions of the supporter and a retracted position to be disengaged from the first engaging portions and of an up-and-down motion, the upper shift mechanism and the lower shift mechanism each comprise a slider, comprising an engagement retaining portion capable of reciprocating between a position to engage with the second engaging portions of the supporter and a retracted position to be disengaged from the second engaging portions, and a shift driver configured to move the slider in the second direction, and the controller controls the operations of the raising mechanism, the lowering mechanism, the upper shift mechanism, and the lower shift mechanism so that the supporter is held, moved, and disengaged at predetermined timings and moves the supporter along the circulatory route.

5. The rack accommodation device of claim 3, further comprising a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the sample holders held by the rack in the processing area to a predetermined transport line.