Automatic centrifuge, pre-analysis system with automatic centrifuge and the control techniques of that system
First Claim
1. A pre-analysis system comprising:
- a conveyor line which conveys a plurality of holders for holding a first plurality of specimen containers in which respective specimens are housed;
an automatic centrifugal unit arranged along the conveyor line; and
a computer connected with the conveyor line and the automatic centrifugal unit;
the automatic centrifugal unit comprising;
a centrifuge which rotates a second plurality of specimen containers around a rotation central axis;
a plurality of adaptors, each of which has a plurality of holes, configured in a lattice pattern, each hole able to receive a respective specimen container of the first plurality of specimen containers;
a plurality of buckets positioned symmetrically to each other across the rotation central axis of the centrifuge and on which the adaptors can be installed detachably; and
a specimen container chuck mechanism fixed on a horizontal and vertical transporting mechanism;
wherein the computer is programmed to control the specimen container chuck mechanism to;
grip one of the specimen containers held in one of the holders,transport of the specimen container gripped by the specimen container chuck mechanism from the one of the holders to the adaptor, andinstall the specimen containers gripped by the specimen container chuck mechanism into respective holes of the adaptor sequentially in an order from a hole arranged in the lattice pattern closer to a gravity center of the adaptor and, concurrently, in an order from a heavier specimen container to a lighter specimen container.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A determination mechanism which obtains information about the weight of the specimen housed in the specimen container is arranged on a conveyor line for connecting between a loading module and an automatic centrifugal unit, the specimens are held without being installed at an adaptor until the number of the specimens which can be subjected to a centrifugal processing at once by the automatic centrifugal unit arrives, and the specimens are installed after the arrival in an order from a heavier specimen at the adaptors to be paired, which are installed at the symmetric positions to each other across the rotation central axis. Also, the specimen is installed at the gravity-center position of the adaptor first, and the subsequent specimens are installed from the inner side at the point-symmetric positions to each other across the gravity-center position.
11 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A pre-analysis system comprising:
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a conveyor line which conveys a plurality of holders for holding a first plurality of specimen containers in which respective specimens are housed; an automatic centrifugal unit arranged along the conveyor line; and a computer connected with the conveyor line and the automatic centrifugal unit; the automatic centrifugal unit comprising; a centrifuge which rotates a second plurality of specimen containers around a rotation central axis; a plurality of adaptors, each of which has a plurality of holes, configured in a lattice pattern, each hole able to receive a respective specimen container of the first plurality of specimen containers; a plurality of buckets positioned symmetrically to each other across the rotation central axis of the centrifuge and on which the adaptors can be installed detachably; and a specimen container chuck mechanism fixed on a horizontal and vertical transporting mechanism; wherein the computer is programmed to control the specimen container chuck mechanism to; grip one of the specimen containers held in one of the holders, transport of the specimen container gripped by the specimen container chuck mechanism from the one of the holders to the adaptor, and install the specimen containers gripped by the specimen container chuck mechanism into respective holes of the adaptor sequentially in an order from a hole arranged in the lattice pattern closer to a gravity center of the adaptor and, concurrently, in an order from a heavier specimen container to a lighter specimen container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12)
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7. An automatic centrifuge comprising:
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a centrifuge that rotates a plurality of specimen containers around a rotation central axis; at least two adaptors which have a plurality of holes in which a plurality of specimen containers can be installed; at least two buckets positioned symmetrically to each other across the rotation central axis of the centrifuge in which the adaptors can be installed; a buffer line which holds a number of the specimen containers; a specimen container chuck mechanism configured to convey at least some of the specimen containers held in the buffer line to the adaptors; and a computer connected with the centrifuge, the buffer line, and the specimen container chuck mechanism, wherein the computer is programmed to control the specimen container chuck mechanism to install the specimen containers sequentially in an order from a hole closer to a gravity center of the adaptor and, concurrently, in an order from a heavier specimen container to a lighter specimen container. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a centrifuge configured to rotate a plurality of specimen containers around a rotation central axis; at least two adaptors, each adaptor having a plurality of holes configured to receive respective specimen containers, the plurality of holes including a centrally located hole at a gravity center of the adaptor and a plurality of other holes symmetrically arranged around the centrally located hole; at least two buckets positioned symmetrically to each other across the rotation central axis of the centrifuge into which the adaptors can be installed; a buffer line able to hold a number of the specimen containers; a specimen container chuck mechanism configured to convey at least some of the specimen containers held in the buffer line to the adaptors; and a computer connected with the centrifuge, the buffer line, and the specimen container chuck mechanism, wherein the computer is programmed to control the specimen container chuck mechanism to install the specimen containers sequentially in an order from the centrally located hole at the gravity center of the adaptor and, concurrently, in an order from a heavier specimen container to a lighter specimen container based at least partially on comparing respective weights of the specimen containers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification