Search

EP-4324772-B1 - CONVEYING DEVICE, AND ANALYTE ANALYSIS SYSTEM

EP4324772B1EP 4324772 B1EP4324772 B1EP 4324772B1EP-4324772-B1

Inventors

  • AOYAMA YASUAKI

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220309

Claims (8)

  1. A conveyance device (102) comprising: a conveyance plate (15) that can convey a conveyed body (10) along a conveyance surface; a magnetic circuit unit arranged on an opposite side of the conveyance surface of the conveyance plate (15) and having a winding (30) wound around teeth; a position detection unit (51) configured to detect a position of the conveyed body (10); a current detection unit (52) configured to detect a current in the winding (30); a gap estimation unit configured to estimate a gap (Dg) that is a distance in a perpendicular direction between the conveyed body (10) and the conveyance surface; a data storage unit (130) configured to store data indicating a relationship among a position on a conveyance surface of the conveyance plate (15), a current flowing through the winding (30), a force applied to the conveyed body (10), and a size of the gap (Dg); and an abnormality determination unit configured to determine an abnormality regarding conveyance of the conveyed body (10) including deterioration or abnormality of the conveyance surface based on the gap (Dg) estimated by the gap estimation unit, the position detected by the position detection unit (51), the current detected by the current detection unit (52), and the data.
  2. The conveyance device (102) according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality determination unit is configured to determine, in accordance with the data, a thrust (61) for moving the conveyed body (10) along the conveyance surface and a perpendicular force (62) acting on the conveyed body (10) in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface based on the position detected by the position detection unit (51) and the current detected by the current detection unit (52), and further configured to determine the abnormality by performing arithmetic operation of a friction coefficient of the conveyance surface based on the perpendicular force (62).
  3. The conveyance device (102) according to claim 1, further comprising a mass information acquisition unit (53) configured to acquire information regarding a mass of the conveyed body (10), wherein the abnormality determination unit is configured to determine an abnormality regarding conveyance of the conveyed body (10) including deterioration or abnormality of the conveyance surface based on the position detected by the position detection unit (51), the current detected by the current detection unit (52), the data, and the information regarding the mass.
  4. The conveyance device (102) according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality determination unit is configured to execute determination of the abnormality by moving the conveyed body (10) having a known mass on the conveyance surface.
  5. A specimen analysis system (100, 200) comprising: an analysis unit (105) configured to be injected with a specimen from a conveyed body (10) and to analyze the specimen; and a conveyance device (102) according to claim 1, configured to convey the conveyed body (10) toward the analysis unit (105).
  6. The specimen analysis system (100, 200) according to claim 5, wherein the abnormality determination unit is configured to determine, in accordance with the data, a thrust (61) for moving the conveyed body (10) along the conveyance surface and a perpendicular force (62) acting on the conveyed body (10) in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface based on the position detected by the position detection unit (51) and the current detected by the current detection unit (52), and further configured to determine the abnormality by performing arithmetic operation of a friction coefficient of the conveyance surface based on the perpendicular force (62).
  7. The specimen analysis system (100, 200) according to claim 5, further comprising a mass information acquisition unit (53) configured to acquire information regarding a mass of the conveyed body (10), wherein the abnormality determination unit is configured to determine an abnormality regarding conveyance of the conveyed body (10) including deterioration or abnormality of the conveyance surface based on the position detected by the position detection unit (51), the current detected by the current detection unit (52), the data, and the information regarding the mass.
  8. The specimen analysis system (100, 200) according to claim 5, wherein the abnormality determination unit is configured to execute determination of the abnormality by moving the conveyed body (10) having a known mass on the conveyance surface.

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates to a conveyance device used for a specimen analysis system that performs analysis of a biological sample (hereinafter called a "specimen") such as blood or urine or a specimen preprocessing device that performs preprocessing for analysis, and a specimen analysis system including such conveyance device. Background Art A specimen analysis system and a specimen preprocessing device are provided with a conveyance device for conveying a specimen. PTL 1 discloses such a conveyance device. The conveyance device of PTL 1 includes a plurality of container carriers. Each of the container carriers is configured to include at least one magnetically activation device (preferably at least one permanent magnet) and convey a specimen container including a biological sample. The conveyance device includes a conveyance plane adapted to convey the plurality of container carriers and several electromagnetic actuators arranged below the conveyance plane. The electromagnetic actuator is adapted to move the container carrier arranged on the conveyance plane by applying a magnetic force to the container carrier. The electromagnetic actuator can control the movement of the container carrier on the conveyance plane by driving the container carrier under the control of a control device. The control device executes a movement control such that three or more container carriers are movable on the conveyance plane simultaneously and independently of one another. For the purpose of quick inspection of a specimen, there is a demand for a conveyance device that can convey a large amount of container carriers at a high speed, has less stoppage of the container carrier, and can quickly repair an error. As described in PTL 1, a conventional specimen conveyance device has a function for detecting abnormality in specimen conveyance. By comparing the position of a specimen container according to a schedule with an actual position of the specimen container having been detected, the device of PTL 1 described above detects a gradual decrease in the conveyance speed based on an increase in friction caused by contamination of the conveyance plane, for example. If a gradual decrease in the conveyance speed is detected, the control device performs control to increase the magnetic force generated by the electromagnetic actuator or displays an error message that the conveyance speed falls below a given threshold. However, with the conventional conveyance device, even when a decrease in the conveyance speed is detected, it has been difficult to accurately determine the cause thereof. Specifically, it has been difficult to determine whether the decrease in the conveyance speed is due to deterioration or abnormality (contamination, scratch, or the like) generated on the conveyance plane or due to a decrease in the thrust acting on the specimen container caused by a change in another situation. Therefore, it is desired to provide a conveyance device that can determine a cause of a decrease in the conveyance speed. PTL 2 discloses a conveying device which detects an abnormality due to a change in the surface state of the conveying plane. The conveying device has a conveying plane for conveying thereabove a conveying container equipped with a magnetic body, a position detection unit for detecting the position of the conveying container above the conveying plane, a magnetic pole disposed below the conveying plane and equipped with a core and a coil, a drive unit for applying a voltage to the magnetic pole, and a calculation unit for controlling the drive unit. The calculation unit calculates the conveying speed of the conveying container on the basis of the position of the conveying container above the conveying plane, and the time at which the conveying container passes through the position, and detects the surface state of the conveying plane on the basis of the calculated conveying speed of the conveying container. Citation List Patent Literature PTL 1: JP 2015-502525 APTL 2: JP 2021 010254 A Summary of Invention Technical Problem The present invention is to provide a conveyance device and a specimen analysis system that can accurately determine a cause of a decrease in conveyance speed of a conveyed body. Solution to Problem A conveyance device of the present invention is according to claim 1. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a conveyance device and a specimen analysis system that can accurately determine a cause of a decrease in conveyance speed of a conveyed body. Brief Description of Drawings [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a specimen analysis system 100 according to a first embodiment.[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a specimen preprocessing device 150 and a specimen analysis system 200 according to the first embodiment.[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a configuration of a conveyance