Specimen conveying system

ABSTRACT

A specimen conveying system according to the present invention selectively supplies specimens, which are carried in by a specimen carry-in line having conveyor-belt type conveying lane, to a plurality of specimen processing lines each having a conveyor-belt type conveying lane which perform respective specific processes for the specimens. The supply of the specimens to the specimen processing lines is performed using a motor vehicle whose running is controlled by running control means including means for transmitting a command given from a host computer. The configuration of the whole system is simplified to lower the costs, and an operating passage, which crosses the conveying line, is secured to improve the efficiency of the entire specimen processing operation.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(Embodiment)

The specimen conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a specimen carry-in line shown at the upper left corner of FIG. . The specimen carry-in line carries in a plurality of specimens , which are contained in test tubes held by a holder, through a conveyor-belt type conveying lane as indicated by an arrow. In FIG. 1, reference numeral denotes a conveying lane for returning the specimens.

The specimen conveying system comprises a specimen processing line group including a biochemicals line , a blood line , a coagulation line , and a urine line , which are arranged in parallel to one another. These specimen processing lines to perform the following specific specimen process.

In the biochemicals line , a blood specimen contained in a blood-collecting tube is centrifuged and dispensed. The dispensed blood specimen is subjected to a given test by a biochemicals analyzer and then stored in a predetermined place.

In the blood line , a blood specimen contained in a blood-collecting tube is centrifuged and dispensed, as described above. The dispensed blood specimen is subjected to a given test by a blood testing analyzer and then stored in a predetermined place.

In the coagulation line , a blood specimen contained in a blood-collecting tube is centrifuged and dispensed, as described above. The dispensed blood specimen is subjected to a given test by a coagulation testing analyzer and then stored in a predetermined place.

In the urine line , a urine specimen contained in a urine-collecting tube is centrifuged and dispensed. The dispensed urine specimen is subjected to a given test by a urine testing analyzer and then stored in a predetermined place.

The specimen processing lines to each have the same conveyor-belt type conveying lane (not shown) as the foregoing specimen carry-in line .

In the specimen conveying system of the present embodiment, a distribution supply means DS using a motor vehicle is adopted, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to selectively supply the specimens , which are carried in by the specimen carry-in line , to the specimen processing lines to .

The running of the motor vehicle is controlled by a running control means RC including a command transmission means given from a host computer (including a controller made up of a CPU, and a control signal generation unit , etc.) shown in FIG. . Thus, the motor vehicle runs along guiding conductors to , which are formed on running routes between the specimen carry-in line and the specimen processing lines to , to receive and send the specimens .

Transmitting antennas to are provided close to the branch points of the guiding conductors to , respectively. These antennas to can transmit control signals having a plurality of types of modulation frequencies (e.g., modulation frequency of the order of a megahertz), which are transmitted from the host computer through the conductors at given timing, as radio waves.

The guiding conductor is one formed on a common running route and the other guiding conductors to are ones formed on their respective branch running routes. Similarly, the transmitting antenna is one provided at a branch point of the common running route and the other transmitting antennas to are provided at their respective branch points of the branch running routes.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the motor vehicle is configured by a truck section M and a carrier section N mounted thereon. The truck section M has a driving source such that the motor vehicle can run on, e.g., the guiding conductor formed on a floor surface F. The driving source includes a motor rotated by electric energy from a battery , a power transmission mechanism having at least a steering mechanism S and a deceleration mechanism, and a controller . The motor vehicle includes a photosensor (, ), which is one of components of automatic follow-up control means, in such a manner that the truck section M can automatically follow the guiding conductors to . The motor vehicle also includes a receiving antenna on the bottom of the truck section M. The receiving antenna can receive the radio waves from the transmitting antennas to .

When the steering mechanism S receives a signal having a specific modulation frequency that is assigned to the motor vehicle via the receiving antenna , it steers the truck section M in a designated direction at a branch point, which is located close to a position in which the mechanism S receives the signal.

The front and rear portions of each of the truck section M and carrier section N of the motor vehicle are formed into the same shape. The front portion (left end of FIG. 3) of the carrier section N has a first coupling section that can be coupled to one end of the specimen carry-in line , and the rear portion (right end of FIG. 3) thereof has a second coupling section that can be coupled to one end of each of the specimen processing lines to . Further, a conveying lane that can receive and send the specimens is formed on the top of the carrier section N. One end of the conveying lane can be connected to an output end of the specimen carry-in line . The other end of the conveying lane can selectively be connected to input ends to of the specimen processing lines to .

As shown in FIG. 5, the guiding conductor is made of a coaxial cable including a center conductor P and an external conductor Q that are formed coaxially with each other. The transmitting antenna is a planar antenna formed on an insulation substrate B, and the planar antenna has a spiral antenna element A that is made of a thin-film conductor. In FIG. 5, a broken line shows a running route marking belt made of, e.g., a black tape that covers the running routes on which the guiding conductor and transmitting antenna are formed such that the motor vehicle can easily follow the running routes. However, the running route marking belt need not always be provided but can be removed.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the photosensor includes photosensors and located on both sides of the motor vehicle and a photosensor located in the center thereof.

When the photosensor catches the running route marking belt covering the guiding conductor as shown in FIG. 6A, the motor vehicle runs in a straight line without correcting its route. When the motor vehicle shifts to the right and the left-hand photosensor detects the running route marking belt as shown in FIG. 6B, the automatic follow-up control means operates to move the steering mechanism S in a given direction. As a result, the route of the motor vehicle is corrected such that it returns to the original position. Though not shown, when the motor vehicle shifts to the left and the right-hand photosensor detects the belt , the automatic follow-up control means operates to move the steering mechanism S in a direction opposite to the above direction. As a result, the route of the motor vehicle is corrected such that it returns to the original position.

In the foregoing specimen conveying system according to the present embodiment, the specimens carried in by the specimen carry-in line are selectively sent to a designated one of the specimen processing lines to by the motor vehicle whose running is controlled by the running control means RC. The motor vehicle runs to automatically follow the guiding conductors to by the automatic follow-up control means and . If the motor vehicle acquires a signal having a specific modulation frequency, which is assigned to the motor vehicle itself, at a specific branch point, it turns to a given direction at the branch point and exactly arrives at a given specimen processing line. Thus, even though a plurality of motor vehicles run at the same time, they can exactly be guided to their respective specimen processing lines to without any trouble.

Since the effective range of radio waves emitted from the transmitting antennas to is at most 10 cm, there is no fear that the radio waves interfere with each other. Since, moreover, a coaxial cable formed by a center conductor P and an external conductor Q shielding the center conductor P is used, extraneous noises can be block out.

(Features of the Embodiment)

[1] A specimen conveying system according to the above embodiment, comprises:

a specimen carry-in line which carries in specimens through conveyor-belt type conveying lanes and ;

a plurality of specimen processing lines , , . . . each having a conveyor-belt type conveying lane, which perform respective specific processes for the specimens carried in by the specimen carry-in line ; and

distribution supply means DS for selectively distributing and supplying the specimens carried in by the specimen carry-in line to the plurality of specimen processing lines , ,

wherein the distribution supply means DS supplies the specimens received at an output end of the specimen carry-in line to a specific one (e.g., ) of the plurality of specimen processing lines , , . . . by a motor vehicle whose running is controlled by running control means RC including means for transmitting a command given from a host computer .

In the above-described specimen conveying system, the specimens carried in by the specimen carry-in line are selectively supplied to the specimen processing lines , , . . . by the motor vehicle . Unlike in the prior art, therefore, a distribution line including a conveyor-belt type conveying lane having a complicated direction-change mechanism need not be formed between the specimen carry-in line and the plurality of specimen processing lines , , . . . ; thus, the configuration of the whole conveying system can be simplified and the costs thereof can be lowered. Since, furthermore, no distribution line is formed between them, a relatively long line is divided. Consequently, an operating passage, which crosses the conveying line, is secured and accordingly the efficiency of the whole specimen processing operation can be improved.

[2] In the specimen conveying system according to the above paragraph [1], the running control means RC includes:

guiding conductors , , . . . , which are formed along running routes between the specimen carry-in line and the plurality of specimen processing lines , , . . . ; and

transmitting antennas , . . . provided close to branch points of the guiding conductors , , . . . , which transmit control signals having a plurality of types of modulation frequencies, which are transmitted from the host computer through the guiding conductors , , . . . , as radio waves, and

the motor vehicle includes:

a truck section M having a driving source (, and ) such that the motor vehicle can run by itself;

automatic follow-up control means (, ) provided such that the truck section M can automatically follow the guiding conductors , , . . . ;

a receiving antenna provided in the truck section M so as to receive the radio waves from the transmitting antennas , , . . . ; and

a steering mechanism S that receives a control signal having a specific modulation frequency that is assigned to the motor vehicle through the receiving antenna and steers the truck section M in a designated direction at a branch point which is located in a position where the control signal is received.

The specimen conveying system produces the same advantages as those of the system described in above paragraph [1]. When the motor vehicle receives a signal having a specific modulation frequency assigned to the motor vehicle at a branch point, it steers the truck section M in a designated direction at the branch point. Even though a plurality of motor vehicles run at the same time, they can exactly be guided to a given one of the specimen processing lines (one of , , , . . . ) without any trouble.

[3] In the specimen conveying system according to the above paragraph [2], the guiding conductors , , . . . are coaxial cables.

The specimen conveying system produces the same advantages as those of the system described in above paragraph [2]. Extraneous noises can be almost block out by the shielding effect of the coaxial cables.

[4] In the specimen conveying system according to the above paragraph [2], at least the transmitting antennas , , . . . of the transmitting and receiving antennas are planar antennas obtained by forming a spiral antenna element A, which is made of a thin-film conductor, on an insulation substrate B.

The specimen conveying system produces the same advantages as those of the system described in above paragraph [2]. Since the transmitting antennas , , . . . can be provided without greatly projecting from the floor surface F, they do not obstruct the running of the motor vehicle .

[5] In the specimen conveying system according to the above paragraphs [1] to [4], the motor vehicle has a first coupling section at the front, a second coupling section at the rear, and a conveying lane at the top, the first coupling section being coupled to one end of the specimen carry-in line , the second coupling section being coupled to one end of each of the specimen processing lines , , . . . , and the conveying lane being selectively connected to the output end of the specimen carry-in line or each of input ends , , . . . of the plurality of specimen processing lines , , . . . and receiving and sending the specimens .

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a specimen conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing part of the specimen conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a motor vehicle in the specimen conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the motor vehicle in the specimen conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a guiding conductor and a transmitting antenna in the specimen conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a view showing a control operation performed by an automatic follow-up control means in the specimen conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a view showing another control operation performed by the automatic follow-up control in the specimen conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

CLAIMS

1. A specimen conveying system comprising: a specimen carry-in line which carries in specimens through conveying lanes; specimen processing lines each having a conveying lane, which perform respective processes for the specimens carried in by the specimen carry-in line; and distribution supply means for selectively distributing and supplying the specimens carried in by the specimen carry-in line to the specimen processing lines, wherein the distribution supply means supplies the specimens received at an output end of the specimen carry-in line to one of the specimen processing lines by a vehicle whose running is controlled by running control means including means which transmits a command supplied from a host computer, the running control means comprising: guiding conductors formed along running routes between the specimen carry-in line and the specimen processing lines; and transmitting antennas provided close to branch points of the guiding conductors, for transmitting control signals transmitted from the host computer through the guiding conductors as radio waves having modulation frequencies; and the vehicle comprising: a truck section having a driving source such that the vehicle runs by itself; automatic follow-up control means enabling the truck section to automatically follow the guiding conductors; a receiving antenna provided in the truck section for receiving radio waves from the transmitting antennas; and a steering mechanism for receiving a control signal having a specific modulation frequency assigned to the vehicle through the receiving antenna and steering the truck section in a designated direction at a branch point located in a position where the control signal is received.

2. The specimen conveying system according to claim 1 wherein the guiding conductors are coaxial cables.

3. The specimen conveying system according to claim 1, wherein at least the transmitting antennas of the transmitting and receiving antennas are planar antennas obtained by forming a spiral antenna element, made of a thin-film conductor and positioned on an insulation substrate.

4. The specimen conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a first coupling section at a front portion thereof, a second coupling section at a rear portion thereof, and a conveying lane at a top portion thereof, the first coupling section being coupled to one end of the specimen carry-in line, the second coupling section being coupled to one end of each of the specimen processing lines, and the conveying lane being selectively connected to the output end of the specimen carry-in line or each of input ends of the plurality of specimen processing lines for receiving and sending the specimens.

5. The specimen conveying system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle has a first coupling section at a front portion thereof, a second coupling section at a rear portion thereof, and a conveying lane at a top portion thereof, the first coupling section being coupled to one end of the specimen carry-in line, the second coupling section being coupled to one end of each of the specimen processing lines, and the conveying lane being selectively connected to the output end of the specimen carry-in line or each of input ends of the plurality of specimen processing lines for receiving and sending the specimens.

6. The specimen conveying system according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle has a first coupling section at a front portion thereof, a second coupling section at a rear portion thereof, and a conveying lane at a top portion thereof, the first coupling section being coupled to one end of the specimen carry-in line, the second coupling section being coupled to one end of each of the specimen processing lines, and the conveying lane being selectively connected to the output end of the specimen carry-in line or each of input ends of the plurality of specimen processing lines and receiving for sending the specimens.

COPYRIGHT

User acknowledges that Fairview Research and its third party providers retain all right, title and interest in and to this xml under applicable copyright laws. User acquires no ownership rights to this xml including but not limited to its format. User hereby accepts the terms and conditions of the License Agreement.