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    • 专利摘要:
    Device processing station for transporting biological product containers. A processing processing station (1) for the devices (3,31,32,35-37) for transporting biological product containers (4) comprising a main circulation path (2) for the flow of said devices is described (3,31,32,35-37), and a secondary circulation path (5) for the flow of said transport devices (3,31,32,35-37), connected, with each other, by connection stretches (7a, 7b). Said processing station (1) comprises a deviation unit (20) from said transport devices (3,31,32), from said main circulation path (2) to said path secondary circulation (5) and a return unit (30) of said transport devices (3,35-37), of said circulation path (5) to said main circulation path (2) being said diversion (20 ) and return units (30) equipped with means (6,9,10,11a, 11b, 13) adapted to allow continuous flow, without stopping the referred devices those of transport (3,31,32,35-37) between the said main road (2) and the said secondary road (5).
    公开号:BR112014011639B1
    申请号:R112014011639-3
    申请日:2012-11-13
    公开日:2020-11-03
    发明作者:Gianandrea Pedrazzini
    申请人:Inpeco Holding Ltd；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [001] The present invention relates to a device processing station for transporting containers of biological products.
    [002] Nowadays, in laboratories for testing samples of biological material, the use of automated systems that ensure the automatic identification, transport and routing of these samples to different points in the laboratory has been growing. On this matter, the applicant has previously filed patent application EP 2225567, which describes such a system.
    [003] The described system comprises an automatic conveyor, in which the containers of biological products are moved, each of them, inside a transport device (also referred to as "vehicle"), through belts, along railways. circulation, to be properly directed to the various modules that interface with the automation system, whether they are real test modules or, each one, designed to perform a specific pre or post test operation on the containers upon their arrival (for example , loading / unloading, uncapping, reviewing, centrifuging content, and so on).
    [004] The automatic conveyor consists of individual processing stations, positioned in series, one after the other, and all comprising a main and a secondary circulation route. In particular, through management by a control unit, the laboratory's intelligent automation system is able to sort each individual transport device and the relevant container, within each of these processing stations, based on the type of operation to be carried out on them, and this corresponds to a deviation or not of the transport device, from the main circulation path to the secondary circulation path, as well as the subsequent return of the transport device, previously diverted, to the circulation path main.
    [005] In order to track its course and control its correct direction in each processing station, the position of the moving transport device is recorded by a transport device detection device. This device is capable during its journey along the transport system. This is based on a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, consisting of a network of antennas, distributed on the bottom of the conveyor belt of the transport system, which, after the passage of the transport device, are able to receive the data transmitted by a transponder contained in the body of the transport device.
    [006] Mentioned transponder is a device with internal memory, capable of storing and transmitting data and that does not require power supply, since it is powered by a magnetic field, generated by the antenna network. After passing the conveyor device on the belt, close to an antenna, the electromagnetic field generated by the antenna energizes the transponder, which, modulating the electromagnetic field, transmits the data stored in its memory to the antenna. What is stored in the transponder memory of the transport device is an identification code that allows the transport device by itself to be recognized. It is unique, which means that each transport device is associated with a unique and personal identification code. Once received by the antenna, the identification code information is sent to the control unit, which, based on the location of the antenna that sent the information, associates the location of the transport device on the belt. The antennas located at the bottom of the belt are strategically distributed throughout the transport system: an antenna is positioned at each point where it is necessary to control or know the identity of a transport device, to decide its path and store its life cycle (for example, at the points of deviation between the main and secondary traffic routes or at the points where the containers of biological products are processed by the modules).
    [007] The identification of a transport device by an antenna is obtained by the presence of a locking door, located close to each antenna. The locking door locks the transport device exactly at the point where the antenna is positioned, that is, at the bottom of the belt, allowing the antenna to receive its identification code, transmitted by the transponder of the transport device. The identification information of the transport device, recognized by the antenna, is transmitted to the control unit, which optionally directs the transport device to the appropriate pre-test, test or post-test modules, deviating its course , from the main circulation path to the secondary circulation path, by activating a pneumatically activated lever on the internal side wall of the main circulation path.
    [008] In the same way, whenever a transport device, after having interfaced with a predetermined operation module and released after its respective processing has finished and needs to return to the main road, the passage of the transport devices Transport, along the main road, must be blocked and at the same time prevent the returning transport device from colliding with one of the latter, causing a block in the flow of the transport devices during automation. In the known solutions, the object is identified by a sensor that detects the passage of the transport device, normally in the final section of the secondary circulation path, and then communicates with the control unit, which blocks, again by through a locking door, any passage of a transport device coming from the main road.
    [009] Therefore, problems occur, both with regard to the deviation of the transport devices and their subsequent return, due to the fact that, in the known solutions, the two processes are slowed down.
    [0010] In fact, in the first case, it is always necessary to paralyze each transport device, by means of a locking door, as just described, close to the deviation itself, to allow the antenna located at the bottom of the belt read the identification of the transport device and properly direct it or deflect it or not, after interacting with the control unit.
    [0011] In the second case, whenever a transport device needs to return from the secondary traffic path to the main traffic path, the mechanism described above must be activated to block the passage of the transport devices along the main traffic path.
    [0012] In general, the flow of transport devices, along the processing station, is therefore slowed in both stages of diversion of the transport devices from the secondary circulation path (so that they interface with a module predetermined operating time) and, subsequently, the return to the main road. Considering that a laboratory automation system consists of a plurality of processing stations, each of which performs a specific operation on the samples, it is understood that sample after sample and station after station, the resulting deceleration is evident.
    [0013] In addition, any errors or functional failures of the locking door in both stages can cause failure in blocking the transport devices coming from the main road. In the event of a deviation, therefore, the antenna located next to the locking door fails to identify the transport device, and this can lead to an error in directing the transport devices that must be deflected and instead continue along of the main road, or vice versa, especially when several transport devices reach the diversion point in a sequence. Likewise, in the case of a return, a collision with the transport device returning from the secondary circulation path and, therefore, a block in the flow of transport devices becomes inevitable.
    [0014] Certainly, this is not permissible in a biological sample transport system, which is supposed to be fully automated and capable of functioning even at night, without the need for supervision by any technician.
    [0015] US-5941366 describes a system for transporting tubular containers with multiple circulation, with means adapted to divert said containers from one circulation to another.
    [0016] The object of the present invention is to accelerate, both the reading step and subsequently directing each transport device along the adequate circulation path and the return of the transport devices, previously diverted, from the secondary circulation path to the main circulation path, thus considerably increasing their frequency of flow, within each processing station and, by extension, throughout the entire automation system.
    [0017] All of this must be achieved without causing any queues or blockages in the flow of the transport devices.
    [0018] Another object is to ensure an error-free direction in the diversion step, even if a considerable number of transport devices, lined up, get close to the diversion point.
    [0019] Another object is to avoid possible collisions between the return transport devices and those that are in the main circulation lane.
    [0020] These and other objects are reached by a device processing station for transporting biological product containers, as described in claim 1.
    [0021] These and other characteristics of the present invention will become more evident from the detailed description, below, of an embodiment, made by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: - the figure 1 shows a perspective view of a general processing station, related to an automatic conveyor of a laboratory automation system, having removed the control unit; figures 2 to 7 show a top view of the various operational steps of the bypass unit; - figure 8 shows, again, in top view, a detail of the diversion unit, in an emergency situation, in which the transport devices are blocked; figure 9 shows a detail of the detail shown in figure 8, in two different operational steps; figure 10 shows, in detail, an operational step of a part of the deviation unit, related to a transport device; - Figure 11 shows a top view of a first operational stage of the return unit, with a transport device coming from the secondary circulation path, in an introduction stage in the connection section; figure 12 shows, again in a top view, a detail of the stage in which the transport device returns from the secondary to the main circulation path; figure 13 shows a detail of the return unit and a transport device engaged with it; figure 14 shows a block diagram, which explains the various steps of the method related to the operation of the deviation unit; - Figure 15 shows a graph of the speed of the meat and, thus, the acceleration profile, which is periodically repeated for each activation of the meat.
    [0022] An automatic system for the identification, transport and guidance of samples of biological materials ("automation system") consists of a series of processing stations 1, as shown in figure 1, assembled together in a variable number and according to different configurations, to satisfy the different needs of the test laboratories using the present invention.
    [0023] The system, and therefore each station 1, comprises main circulation routes that serve the function of: • transporting devices 3 (that is, devices adapted to transport containers of biological products, as described in the international patent application WO - 2008043394 by the same Applicant), containing these containers of biological products 4, for example, tubes or empty transport devices to be filled with tubes; • direct said transport devices 3, as necessary, to the secondary transport routes 5, parallel to the main circulation routes 2 and located externally in relation to them, which allow these transport devices 3 to reach the modules or pre-test, test stations (or analyzers, instruments adapted to carry out tests on samples of biological materials) or post-test, located close to the secondary circulation path. However, since these modules are not the subject of the present invention, they will not be described, but only cited, in order to provide a clearer explanation of the transport system.
    [0024] The secondary and main 2 circulation paths, reciprocally parallel, accommodate transport belts 21, 51, motorized and horizontally positioned, which have the function of transporting the transport devices 3. Each module has a pair of belts 21, 51, moving in one direction and a pair of straps 21, 51, moving in the opposite direction, with the function of a pair of outer circulation paths and a pair of return circulation paths. The figures show only one of these two pairs of belts 21, 51.
    [0025] For the structural details of each of the processing stations and, therefore, by extension of the entire system, reference should be made to the description provided in Applicant's patent EP-2225567.
    [0026] Connection sections 7a and 7b are provided between the secondary and main circulation routes 5, 2, which cannot be considered as real circulation routes, although they are substantially, and represent the points where the transport devices 3 move from the main road 2 to the secondary road 5, or vice versa, according to the methods that will be better explained hereinafter.
    [0027] A bypass unit 20 is provided, which, in a position at the bottom of the motorized conveyor belts 21, 51 and located before the connection section 7a, comprises means of identification and control 6 of the transport devices (figure 2 ). They are advantageously based on RFID technology and comprise an antenna capable of detecting the passage of each transport device 3, by communicating with a transponder contained within the transport device 3 itself.
    [0028] Antenna 6, in turn, is electrically connected with two detection sensors, mounted laterally, in relation to the main circulation path 2; in particular, they are tube detection sensor 10 and transport device detection sensor, consisting of a transmitter 11a and a receiver 11b. The tube detection sensor 10 is aligned with the emitter 11a, that is, located therein.
    [0029] The sensor, which consists of two parts 11a and 11b, facing each other on opposite sides of the main traffic lane 2 and electrically connected to each other, by means of a bridge 110, is, in turn, synchronized with a deflection device 13, advantageously a cam rotating about a central axis 15 of an electric motor 16 (figure 10). The cam 13 is provided with a shape that makes it possible to simultaneously impact the ring 33 and the body 34 of the transport device 3, as will be explained further below.
    [0030] On the side of the main traffic lane 2, preferably along the same side where the sensor 10 and the emitter 11 are positioned, a locking door 23 can be activated in special emergency conditions, which blocks the flow of transport devices 3 (figures 8 and 9).
    [0031] In addition, a control unit 100 is provided for the entire automation system, represented, for convenience, in connection with only processing station 1 (figure 2) and capable of communicating with processing station 1 thus replacing the plurality of operations of the devices belonging to station 1 itself and which are involved in the process.
    [0032] The control unit 100 can be application software, installed on a personal computer, provided with memory that contains all the necessary information to carry out the correct activities in the tubes 4 and adapted to store their life cycle during the process . The information related to the tube includes, for example, the personal data of the individual from whom the biological material was collected, the tests to be carried out on that biological material and, in some cases, the level of urgency at which the tube has to be processed.
    [0033] The control unit 100, therefore, manages the proper direction of the transport devices 3, containing the tubes 4, along the processing station 1 and, by extension, throughout the entire automation system; obviously, it also manages the routing of transport devices that are empty and contain no tubes. For this purpose, in figures 2-7, as an example, the first of the transport devices 31 in the row, near the bypass unit 20, contains a tube 4, while the others are empty.
    [0034] All devices mounted on the system are connected to the control unit 100, in order to communicate with it, receiving commands in real time.
    [0035] On the other hand, with regard to the return unit 30, on the outer side of the connection section 7b, it comprises a belt 9, preferably elastic and vertically placed, engaged on two pinions 8a and 8b, with shaft of vertical rotation (figure 13). A shaft 22 with vertical axis of rotation, placed in rotation by an electric motor 19, transmits its rotation movement to pinion 8b, which in turn drives belt 9.
    [0036] Three different transport devices 35, 36 and 37 are observed in figures 11 and 12, to better illustrate the flow of these transport devices, along the return unit of 30, which will be clearly shown below.
    [0037] The conveying device 35 comprises an outer lateral cylindrical surface 350, adapted to interact with the belt 9, in more detail, the flat, vertically positioned support surface 91 (figure 13).
    [0038] The operation is as follows: a plurality of conveying devices 3, whether or not containing tubes 4 and coming from previous processing stations, connected before station 1, is moved on the conveyor belt 21 in the main lane 2 before connecting section 7a. The illustrated embodiment (figures 2-7) shows a series of transport devices 3 moving substantially close, one after the other, on the said section of the main traffic lane 2. For convenience, the first two transport devices were identified with reference numbers 31 and 32.
    [0039] For each individual transport device, once it arrives at the conveyor belt portion with antenna 6 (figure 2), the only identification of the transport device itself is detected by the antenna 6 itself, through communication with the transponder contained in the transport device, and the position of the transport device, along the processing station 1, at that exact moment, is thus associated with it. In figure 2, this is shown with reference to the first transport device 31, in the series.
    [0040] Since the control unit 100 already has the information related to the association between each transport device 3 and 4 and the corresponding tube (if any), it also has the information related to the incoming transport device 3 which must be diverted to the secondary circulation lane 5. This information is previously transmitted to the control board of the entire processing station 1 and, consequently, to the smart control board of the antenna 6, in the form of a real listing, containing the transport devices 3, which, once they get close to the connection section 7a, must be deflected.
    [0041] This list can also be updated dynamically, according to the needs of changing the direction of transport devices 3, typical of a laboratory automation system.
    [0042] Thus, the arrival of the transport device 31 in the antenna 6 (figure 2) activates the appropriate communication, through sensors 10, 11a and 11b, mounted laterally in relation to the conveyor belt 21, exactly close to the connection 7a, and electrically connected to the antenna board.
    [0043] In practice, antenna 6 is intended to detect the identification of the incoming transport device 31, recognize it, compare it with the list it has on the control board (which contains the route that each transport device must following) and, thus, alert sensors 10, 11a and 11b about the imminent arrival of a transport device that must or should not be deflected.
    [0044] The location of antenna 6, which, by a certain length of the conveyor belt precedes that of sensors 10, 11a and 11b, is designed based on the intrinsic ability of antenna 6 to instantly read and identify the transport device 31, due to its control board, without the need to paralyze it.
    [0045] On the contrary, this is not possible in known solutions. In order to make the identification, the antenna needs the transport device to be stationary and thus it is blocked by a locking door and its identification is detected by the communication between the antenna and the transponder of the transport device and only after from there the door retracts and the transport device, unlocked, proceeds to then be deflected or not, according to the information transmitted by the control unit.
    [0046] On the contrary, in the solution in question, using the ability of the antenna 6 to read the transport devices, without paralyzing them, this reading is done in advance along the belt (figure 2), so that, since the transport device 31 reaches the sensors (figure 3), the latter are certainly already ready for the arrival of a transport device 31 to be diverted or not and, therefore, already prepared to activate or not the meat 13.
    [0047] It is, therefore, possible to think of the belt section, comprised between antenna 6 and the sensors, as a kind of safety margin, so that, during the course of the transmission device 31, in this section, the communication between the antenna control board 6 and sensors 10, 11a and 11b certainly occurs. Thus, purely theoretically and according to reasonable maximum and minimum distance limits, the length of this section can be reduced, if desired, according to the extent and speed of this electrically managed communication is reliable, in terms of performance.
    [0048] The transport device 31, once it passes the antenna 6, then reaches the sensors located on the sides of the belt 21. Of course, the entire series of transport devices flows forward, that is, in rapid succession, the second transport device 32 is read and identified by antenna 6 and so on, for each of the other subsequent transport devices.
    [0049] Going back to analyzing the various movement steps of the first transport device 31, it then reaches the tube detection sensor 10 and the transport device detection sensor formed by the emitting pair 11a and receiver 11b (figure 3). Preferably, the sensor 10 is in a position that overlaps the emitter 11a (for this reason, in figures 2-8, in a top view, the emitter 11a is hidden by the sensor 10); thus, the detection of the tube, if any, performed by sensor 10, occurs at the same time as the detection of the transport device by the sensor formed by pair 11a and 11b, with the reading window of sensor 10 being narrower than that of pair 11a and 11b and thus understood within the latter. However, the tube detection sensor 10 only serves as a confirmation sensor, adapted to detect the presence or absence of a predetermined tube in the transport device 31, according to what is expected based on the detection of the identification of the transport device 31, carried out by the antenna 6, and in the information about each tube transport device association (or the empty transport device information), already contained in the control unit 100 and previously transferred, first, to the plate control of the entire processing station 1, and then to the antenna control board 6.
    [0050] On the contrary, the detection sensor of the transport device is actually synchronized with the electric motor 16, which drives the meat 13. In fact, regardless of the presence or absence of a tube 4, each transport device 3 can be diverted or not, according to the information previously transmitted by the control unit 100, and, of course, four different situations can occur, that is, the diversion of a transport device with the tube, the diversion of a transport device transport without the tube, the non-diversion of a transport device with the tube and the non-diversion of a transport device without the tube.
    [0051] This depends on the guidance needs, previously established by the control unit 100, of each transport device 3.
    [0052] According to the aforementioned, if a transport device does not need to be deflected, once it has been read by the transport device detection sensor, formed by the emitter and receiver 11a and 11b, it goes on without the activation of the meat 13.
    [0053] On the other hand, assuming that it is necessary to divert the transport device 31 along the secondary circulation path 5, as soon as its passage is detected by the emitter-receiver pair (figure 3), the synchronism characterizing the deviation unit 20 which depends on the smart control board of the antenna 6, by means of the electric motor 16, starts the rotation of the central axis 15 and of the meat 13, which, therefore, impacts the transport device 31 (figure 4).
    [0054] In particular, in the stage of contact with the transport device 31, the meat 13, due to its shape, which is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom (figure 10), impacts both against the ring 33 as against the body 34 of the transport device 31, guaranteeing the same impulse to the transport device 31 and a less accentuated movement compared to known diversion systems.
    [0055] In addition, the electric motor 16 prints a movement to the meat 13, which is characterized by a determined speed profile 210, electronically managed ("electronic meat") and shown in figure 15. It has a speed step of initial increment (and constant acceleration) 211, corresponding to the initial impact stage of the meat 13 with the transport device 31, to then reach a maximum peak speed 212, at the moment when the meat 13 has already released the device transport 31 to be diverted; for this reason, in sequence, the meat continues its movement at a constant speed 213 (and thus, at zero acceleration) and then finally undergoes a deceleration (stretch 214) and returns to its initial position of wait.
    [0056] Naturally, due to the speed of movement of the meat 13 and the short duration of the impact between the transport device 31 and the meat 13 (in the order of milliseconds), variations in the speed of the meat are almost invisible to the naked eye.
    [0057] Figure 5 shows the stage in which the transport device 31 crosses the connecting section 7a and, pushed by the meat 13, which has reached its maximum speed peak 212, moves from the main traffic lane 2 to the secondary circulation lane 5, while figure 6 shows the stage in which the meat 13 has already released the transport device 31, to now be diverted and sent to continue its path along the secondary circulation lane 5, and, in then it returns to its first waiting position, slowing down in the final stage. Meanwhile, the following transport devices, of the series, follow their path along the antenna 6 and sensors 10, 11a and 11b, already described in relation to the transport device 31, and, when the latter is released from the meat 13, and this has already returned to the standby position, is now ready to interface with the following transport device 32, and, optionally, to divert it, if necessary.
    [0058] In fact, whenever the meat is activated to deflect a transport device, it rotates 180 degrees around its axis, represented by axis 15, and this allows the management of the possible arrival of a series of transport devices, close to each other, all to be deflected (figure 15, periodic speed profile of the meat), since the two opposite ends 14a and 14b of the meat 13, alternately, exert effort on the transport devices. As a consequence of this, the next transport device 32, which, in the illustrated embodiment is also intended to be deflected, is pushed into the secondary circulation path 5 by the end 14b of the meat 13 (figure 7), which, in with respect to the central axis 15, it is the opposite end to the 14a that had previously deflected the transport device 31 (figures 4-6).
    [0059] On the other hand, if one of the next transport devices does not need to be bypassed (solution not shown in the figures) as previously described, this instruction (originally from control unit 100) is transmitted by antenna 6 to sensors 10, 11a and 11b and, due to the synchronism between the pair lla-llb and the electric motor 16 of the cam 13, when the transport device reaches the aforementioned pair, the rotation of the cam 13 is not activated, so that the device transport can continue directly along the main road 2.
    [0060] Therefore, the entire system withstands a high frequency of input from the transport devices 3, due to the fact that they are quickly read by the antenna 6, without allowing blockages to occur, as described above. Therefore, the operation of the entire bypass unit 20 and, in general, the flow of the conveyor devices 3 is markedly accelerated.
    [0061] It is also evident that, if at times the input frequency of the transport devices near the bypass unit 20 is not so high (the transport devices are no longer in sequence), the rotation movement of the cam 13, in any case, it is paralyzed, after processing a transport device to be bypassed, and only when the detection sensor of the transport device, that is, the pair formed by the emitter 11a and receiver 11b, detects the arrival of a next device movement, the movement starts again, naturally since the new transport device that enters must be diverted to the secondary circulation path 5.
    [0062] In the cases described above, in which the deviations of the transport devices are not consecutive, the graph of figure 15, obviously shows a greater stretch of zero speed between one profile 210 and the next.
    [0063] A procedure to be implemented in case of emergency is also provided, in case of several problems after the diversion point or, in any situation, in any other point of the automation system, which requires the establishment of a flow block of the conveying devices 3 in the bypass unit 20, so that the problem that has occurred can be resolved and then the conveying devices 3 can flow back normally.
    [0064] The emergency procedure is also provided by the antenna control board 6, which is able to recognize the occurrence of a problem or, in any case, an abnormal situation that needs to be resolved with maintenance operations at the station and temporarily block the flow of the transport devices 3. This occurs by controlling the locking door 23 on the side of the main road 2 (figure 8), as well as by turning off the engine 16, which drives the meat 13 It is clear that, at this stage, the timing between the meat 13 and the transport device detection sensor, which is related to the first, of a possible series of transport devices 3 temporarily blocked, fails, albeit temporarily.
    [0065] At the same time, the antenna control board 6 alerts the control board of the processing station 1 (and, consequently, the information is then transmitted to the control unit 100) about the occurrence of an emergency situation that requires actuation of the locking door 23. The control unit 100 then has the task of optionally controlling the flow blocking of the transport devices also at other points in the automation system (for example, before the processing 1), to prevent the formation of very long lines of transport devices in the bypass unit 20 of the processing station 1.
    [0066] Figure 9 shows, in greater detail, the two different positions of the locking door 23, which is broadly similar to that described in Applicant's patent EP-2225567. In particular, the standby (or "open") position is shown on the left side, where port 23 allows the flow of the transport device 3, while the "closed" position of locking door 23, after an anti-rotation hourly, to lock the transport device 3, is shown on the right side.
    [0067] Once the abnormal situation mentioned above has been resolved, the antenna control plate 6 controls the return of the locking door 23 (by a clockwise rotation and therefore the return to the "open" position) and the concomitant activation of the motor 16 and the synchronism between the detection sensor of the transport device and the meat 13, so that the transport devices 3, now free again to flow along the belt 21, can again be deflected or not, according to needs.
    [0068] The transport devices 3, optionally diverted to the secondary circulation path 5, therefore, flow along the motorized conveyor belt 51 and, once the interface is made with a predetermined (pre-test, test or post-test) module, at the end of the secondary traffic path 5, they must return to the main traffic path 2. Here the return unit of 30 enters the process. In the known solutions, the return is managed by means of a sensor system, based on the detection of the passage of the transport device 3, typically at the end of the secondary traffic lane 5, and a locking door is activated upon detection on the lane main circulation path 2, also in a position close to the connection section 7b, which comprises a selector, which, in rotation, projects from the side wall of the main circulation path 2 and blocks any flowing transport devices 3, allowing the return of the transport devices 3 from the secondary circulation track 5.
    [0069] On the contrary, the solution proposed in the present invention consists in the elimination of any type of sensor system and locking doors to manage the return of the transport devices 3.
    [0070] In fact, a transport device 35 (figure 11) that reached the end of the secondary circulation lane 5 reaches the connecting section 7b; here, the side surface 350 of the transport device 35 meets the belt 9, driven, as already said, by the system controlled by an electric motor 19 and comprising the shaft 22 and the pinions 8a and 8b (figure 13).
    [0071] Naturally, the rotation of the belt 9 follows the direction of the desired return movement of the conveyor 35 (in the present embodiment, clockwise), and the conveyor 35 is then pulled by simple friction to the along the connecting section 7b: substantially the impulse of the conveyor belt placed horizontally 51 of the secondary circulation path 5, underlying the conveyor device 31, is added to the impulse of the conveyor belt 9, which has a vertically positioned surface 91 and which interacts with the side surface 350 of the transport device 35. In this way, the transport device 35 begins to rotate during this drag (figure 11), thus entering (figure 12) in the main traffic lane 2 between two consecutive transport devices 36 and 37 that move, optionally, next to each other, along the main traffic lane 2. This is because the side surface 350 of the device anti-clockwise transport device 35 rests on the side surfaces 360, 370 of the transport devices 36 and 37 and, pivoting on both, allows the transport device 36 to flow, while substantially blocking the transport device 37 and it enters in front of it on the main traffic lane 2. The transport device 35 rotates counterclockwise, around its vertical axis of symmetry, due to the clockwise movement of the 9 belt, and when contacting it causes the rotation in the opposite direction of the device 36 and, above all, of the device 37, which, in fact, flows over the underlying conveyor belt 21, rotating clockwise (in the opposite direction to the rotation of the device 35), without translating, but preferably being moved by the device 35 itself slightly backward. The interaction of the transport device 35 causes a slight clockwise rotation and, above all, another forward push in the device 36. Thus, an interval between the devices 36 and 37 is created to insert the device 35 and any risk of interference between the return device 35 and the devices 36 and 37, which move along the main circulation path 2, is avoided.
    [0072] It should be noted that, if for some time, the pre-test, test and post-test module, existing along the secondary circulation path 5, does not release any previously deviated transport device, and therefore does not there is a need for any of them to return along the main circulation path 2, the electric motor 19, which controls the rotation of the belt 9, can be temporarily turned off for reasons of energy saving, and the belt, of course, will be temporarily blocked .
    [0073] When the module releases a transport device again, at the same time the electric motor 19 is activated and the rotation of the belt 9 is resumed.
    [0074] A method 200 related to the subsequent operational steps of only the bypass unit 20 of the processing station 1, in the absence of problems and abnormal and unexpected situations, is shown in figure 14.
    [0075] First, step 201 refers to the communication, by the control unit 100 to the antenna control board 6, through the control board of the processing station, of a list that contains the list of devices of transport, among those that interface with processing station 1, that need to be diverted.
    [0076] Then, in step 202, the identification of the first transport device 31 that arrives at the antenna 6 is read by the antenna itself and, based on the fact that the transport device belongs or not to the above list, the information about whether said transport device 31 should be deflected or not is stored by the antenna control plate 6 (step 203), based on the future activation of the synchronism between the transport device detection sensor and the bypass device (meat) 13.
    [0077] The cycle is repeated for any next arrival, on antenna 6, of any subsequent transport device (step 204), thus returning to any one of them, for the steps of storing information and prior identification.
    [0078] When the transport device 31 reaches the sensor, consisting of the emitting pair 11a and receiver 11b (step 205), the synchronism between the sensor itself and the meat 13 is instantly activated (step 206). This means that, based on the previously stored information, that is, whether the transport device 31 must be deflected or not (step 207), the next step can be the rotation of the meat 13 (step 208), so that the device The transport device 31 can be diverted from the main traffic path 2 to the secondary traffic path 5, or the non-activation of the meat 13 (step 209), if the transport device must remain along the main traffic path 2. The process it is, therefore, repeated in cascade for all transport devices that interface with processing station 1, at the point prior to the deviation, regardless of their frequency of entry. The innovative aspect of the invention is therefore provided by the fact that, although structurally very different, both the bypass unit 20 and the return unit 30 perform the function of allowing a continuous flow of transport devices 3, for the processing station 1, eliminating the typical need for known systems to have to paralyze these transport devices, at each point of deviation from the main traffic lane 2 or on the return to the main traffic lane.
    [0079] With respect to the bypass unit 20, this is achieved due to the existence, near an optional bypass point, of a synchronization mechanism between the antenna control board, the sensor that detects the presence of transport devices 3 flowing along the main circulation path 2 and the diversion device 13, which optionally deflects the transport devices 3; the synchronization mechanism is designed in such a way that none of the incoming transport devices must be stopped, even if they reach the diversion point, one after another in rapid succession.
    [0080] As mentioned, this aspect is related to the presence, before the diversion point, of an antenna 6, which is able to read the transport devices 3 that enter and identify them, without having to paralyze them. In particular, the antenna control board, which allows this immediate reading, represents a considerable advance in relation to known systems, in which it is always necessary to block the transport device 3, in order to allow them to be read by the antenna 6 and, therefore, , provides, on the same antenna located before the diversion, a locking door that protrudes from the side wall of the conveyor to perform this locking function.
    [0081] In practice, while in known systems antenna 6 is substantially part of the control board of the entire processing station, on the contrary, in the solution of the present invention it is equipped with its own intelligent control board, which, being properly synchronized, through the control board of station 1, with the control unit 100, as well as with the tube detection sensors 10, 11a and 11b and the transport devices, it allows the entire process of diversion of the transport devices 3 along the processing station 1.
    [0082] In any case, a locking door is provided in the diversion unit 20, but its function now is only to block the transport devices in particular emergency situations; therefore, it does not come on during normal operation of the bypass unit itself, as in known solutions.
    [0083] Another innovative aspect is that of placing an antenna 6, at the bottom of the conveyor belt 21, of the main circulation lane 2, previously in a certain stretch in relation to sensors 10, 11a and 11b, that is, at the point immediately before deviation, while in known systems the antenna 6 is located on the tube detection sensor (the only one provided) and thus at the point immediately before the deviation, so that, at the same time, the identification of the detection device transport 3 is detected by antenna 6 and tube 4 (if provided) is detected by the sensor, but all of this with transport device 3 stopped and, thus, with considerable slowness.
    [0084] In addition, the adoption of a meat, as described above, as a diversion device 13, ensures greater momentum over the transport device 3, accompanying it in a smoother way, compared to the known diversion devices.
    [0085] Additionally, the provision of an engine capable of electrically controlling the meat's speed profile represents a highly innovative concept, compared to a known system, where the increase in impulse transmitted by the meat to the transport device is only the result of a particular geometric shape of the flesh itself (for example, a helical shape to transmit a more pronounced impulse in the thinner end portion of the same).
    [0086] Furthermore, by rotating 180 degrees at a time, the meat 13 is better able to withstand a high flow frequency of the conveyor devices 3 to be deflected, one after the other, in comparison with the deviation devices known, mostly, based on a lever, which is pneumatically activated, and therefore, having to open and close continuously, is often not able to support a possible flow of transport devices 3, close each other and all to be diverted.
    [0087] In practice, it has been found that the system thus described can achieve the established objectives, guaranteeing an acceleration of the identification process and optional diversion of the transport devices 3, from the main to the secondary road 5, in a processing 1 of an automatic conveyor from a laboratory automation system, preventing flow blocking of the transport device at this stage. In addition, in the same way, blockages in the flow are also prevented in the subsequent return stage of the previously diverted transport devices 3, which return to the main traffic route 2, without any risk of overturning with those who must continue to move. along the main road 2, since they were not diverted.
    [0088] This is especially true, in both stages, in situations where the frequency of transport devices that interface with the bypass and / or return unit is particularly high.
    [0089] If considered a plurality of processing stations 1, in a series that forms the automatic conveyor as a whole, this leads to an increase in the overall speed of the flow of transport devices 3, throughout the automation system.
    [0090] Several modifications and variations can be made in the invention thus conceived, all within the scope of the inventive concept.
    [0091] In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and sizes, can be changed to any others, according to the needs.
    权利要求:
    Claims (8)
    [0001]
    1. Processing station (1) for devices (3, 31, 32, 35-37) for transporting biological product containers (4), comprising a main circulation path (2), for the flow of said transport devices (3, 31, 32, 35-37), and a secondary circulation path (5), for the flow of the said transport devices (3, 31, 32, 35-37), connected to each other by sections connection (7a, 7b), comprising a deflection unit (20) for said transport devices (3, 31, 32), from said main circulation path (2) to said secondary circulation path (5), and a return unit (30) for said transport devices (3, 35-37), from said secondary circulation path (5) to said main circulation path (2), characterized by each of said said circulation units bypass (20) and each of said return units (30) are provided with means (6, 10, 11a, 11b) adapted to allow identification, control and detection of said transport devices (3, 31, 32, 35-37), without interrupting their movement (3, 31, 32, 35-37), in advance in relation to the activation of diversion means (9, 13) for the same (3, 31, 32, 35-37) from one circulation path (2, 5) to the other (5, 2), said diversion unit comprising a diversion device comprising a meat (13) provided with two side portions (14a, 14b) that rotate around a central axis (15), each of said two side portions (14a, 14b) being adapted to impact one of said transport devices (3, 31, 32, 35- 37), said return unit (30) comprising a motorized belt (9), adapted to interact with an outer side of the cylindrical surface (350) of the transport device (3, 31, 32, 35-37) in order to place said transport device (3, 31, 32, 35-37) rotating about a vertical axis, without interrupting the movement of said transport devices (3, 31, 32, 35-37), whose flow is therefore constant.
    [0002]
    Processing station according to claim 1, characterized in that said diversion unit (20) comprises, located before said connecting section (7a) and along the main circulation path (2), first, means control and identification (6) of said transport devices (3, 31, 32), and then detection means (10, 11a, 11b) of said transport devices (3, 31, 32), during movement of said transport devices (3, 31, 32) in said main circulation path (2), said means (6, 10, 11a, 11b) being connected to a control unit (100), adapted to control a bypass device (13) of said transport devices (3, 31, 32), located after said means (6, 10, 11a, 11b), with a space to allow the diversion of said transport devices (3, 31 , 32) selected, without paralyzing them in the said main circulation route (2).
    [0003]
    Processing station according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said two side portions (14a, 14b) are rotatable around a central axis (15) of an electric motor (16), and being provided with a shaped profile that allows each of said side portions (14a, 14b) to impact one of said transport devices (3) at a time.
    [0004]
    Processing station according to claim 3, characterized in that the meat (13) rotates at a variable speed.
    [0005]
    5. Processing station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said return unit (30) comprises, in the return connection section (7b) of the transport device (3, 35), said motorized belt ( 9).
    [0006]
    6. Processing station according to claim 5, characterized in that said motorized belt (9) is positioned vertically stretched between two pinions (8a, 8b), with vertical axis of rotation, and is provided with a flat contact surface vertical (91), adapted to interact with said outer lateral cylindrical surface (350) of the transport device (3, 35), which returns, in order to put it in rotation, to facilitate the return in the presence of a transport device moving (37) on the main road (2).
    [0007]
    7. Method (200) for diverting transport devices (3, 31, 32, 35-37) from biological product containers (4) between a main road (2) and a secondary road (5) from a processing station (1), as described in claim 1, characterized by providing the identification, control and detection of said transport devices (3, 31, 32, 35-37), without interrupting their movement, in advance of the deviation of them (3, 31, 32, 35 -37) from one circulation path (2, 5) to the other (5, 2), without interrupting the movement of said transport devices (3, 31, 32, 35- 37), whose flow, therefore, is continuous for the deviation of the transport devices (3, 31, 32) of biological products containers (4) from a main circulation path (2) to a secondary circulation path (5) of a processing station (1), it comprises the following steps in time sequence: - communication (201) by a unit of c ontrol (100) for a control board of the means of control and identification (6) of a list, containing the list of transport devices (31, 32) to be bypassed, being referred to a dynamically updated list; - identification (202) of each of said transport devices (31, 32), which enter, by said means of control and identification (6); - storage (203) by said control board of the mentioned means of control and identification (6), of the information related to the need to divert or not to divert each of the transport devices (31, 32) that enter; - driving (206) the detection means (10, 11a, 11b) of said transport devices (31, 32); - actuation (208) of a diversion device (13), if the transport device (31, 32), which reaches said detection means (10, 11a, 11b) of said transport devices (31, 32), it must be diverted from the said main circulation path (2) to said secondary circulation path (5), or the lock (209) of said diversion device (13) if said transport device (31, 32) should continue without being diverted.
    [0008]
    Method according to claim 7, characterized in that, for the return of a transport device (3, 35) for biological products containers (4) from a secondary circulation path (5) to a main circulation path (2) of a processing station, the same provides automatic activation for the rotation of the transport device (35), which returns, around a vertical axis in a return connection section (7b), of the said transport route secondary circulation (5) for said main circulation path (2), in which other transport devices (36, 37) flow.
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    ITMI20112082A1|2013-05-17|
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    AU2012338884A1|2014-06-12|
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    CN103988083B|2016-05-11|
    WO2013072318A1|2013-05-23|
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    法律状态:
    2018-12-04| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2019-12-17| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2020-06-09| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-11-03| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 13/11/2012, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    IT002082A|ITMI20112082A1|2011-11-16|2011-11-16|PROCESS STATION OF TRANSPORT DEVICES FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTAINERS.|
    ITMI2011A002082|2011-11-16|
    PCT/EP2012/072518|WO2013072318A1|2011-11-16|2012-11-13|Process station of devices for conveying biological product containers|
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