Sample plate for supporting bar code scanning

The present application claims priority of the Chinese Patent Application No. 200620015430.1, entitled “Sample Plate Structure for Supporting Bar Code Scanning”, filed on Oct. 26, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to a sample plate for supporting bar code scanning, specifically to a configuration of sample slots and corresponding clear slots on the sample plate for supporting bar code scanning.

In a full automatic biochemical analyzer, a sample plate is used to carry a variety of test tubes which hold samples, and rotates intermittently according to a predetermined program to transmit the test tubes which hold the samples to positions where the samples are to be extracted such that sampling needles extract the samples. During rotation of the sample plate, a bar code scanner reads sample information under control of the program. Therefore, it is required to adopt a sample plate for supporting bar code scanning. The existing sample plate are provided with sample slots distributed uniformly along the circumference thereof and clear slots for allowing bar code scanning light to pass, in which the clear slot communicates with the sample slot and the axis of the clear slot passes through the center of the circle of the corresponding sample slot and that of the sample plate, thereby causing an unreasonable incident angle in which the bar code scanning light is projected on the bar code on the test tube.

The technical problem to be solved in the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings in the prior art and there is provided a sample plate which guarantees the reasonable incident angle of the bar code scanning light.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sample plate for supporting bar code scanning, comprising: several first-circle sample slots distributed along the circumference of the sample plate, and several clear slots each of which are correspondingly communicated with each of the first-circle sample slots respectively, wherein an angle α is formed between the line connecting the center of the circle of each first-circle sample slot to that of the sample plate and the axis of the corresponding clear slot.

Preferably, the range of the angle α is: 4°<α<8°. The several first-circle sample slots are distributed uniformly along the circumference of the sample plate.

Each of the clear slots correspondingly communicating with each of the first-circle sample slots is opened towards the exterior margin of the sample plate.

The sample plate for supporting bar code scanning according to the embodiment of the present invention further comprises: several second-circle sample slots which are arranged in the inner side of the first-circle sample slots and distributed along the circumference; and a barrier rib for blocking light, which is disposed between the first-circle sample slots and the second-circle sample slots. Preferably, the second-circle sample slots are distributed uniformly along the circumference of the sample plate.

The sample plate for supporting bar code scanning according to the embodiment of the present invention further comprises: several third-circle sample slots which are arranged between the first-circle sample slots and the barrier rib and distributed along the circumference; and several clear slots each of which correspondingly communicates with each of the third-circle sample slot respectively; wherein the first-circle and the third-circle sample slots are interlaced and an angle α is formed between the line connecting the center of the circle of each third-circle sample slot to that of the sample plate and the axis of the corresponding clear slot. Preferably, the range of the angle α is 4°<α<8°. Still preferably, the several third-circle sample slots are distributed uniformly along the circumference of the sample plate. Each of the clear slots correspondingly communicating with each of the third-circle sample slot passes through the space between the first-circle sample slots and is opened towards the exterior margin of the sample plate.

Preferably, the first-circle, second-circle and third-circle sample slots are shaped as circular concave holes.

The beneficial effect of the present invention is to be able to guarantee a reasonable range of the incident angle when the bar code scanning light is projected on the surface of the bar code on the ground that an angle is formed between the axis of the clear slot and the radial direction of the sample plate.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sample plate for supporting bar code scanning according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sample plate for supporting bar code scanning according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an angle formed between the axis of a clear slot correspondingly communicating with one of third-circle sample slots and the radial direction of the sample plate.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a sample plate 1 for supporting bar code scanning according to the embodiment of the present invention has ninety sample slots 11 , 12 and 13 for carrying a variety of test tubes which hold samples. The ninety sample slots are divided into an inner circle, a middle circle and an outer circle along the radial direction, each of which is provided with thirty sample slots, wherein the sample slots in the inner circle are used for scaling and emergency treatment, and those in the middle and outer circles are used for conventional detection. Besides, the sample slots in the middle and outer circles support bar code information scanning, whereas those in the inner circle do not. The sample slots 11 , 12 and 13 can be in a variety of shapes, but in this embodiment, they are preferably shaped as circular concave holes.

The sample slots 11 and 12 in the outer and middle circles are arranged alternately. Along the circumference 17 of the sample plate 1 are provided with sixty clear slots 14 and 15 distributed uniformly, through which the scanning light for bar code can pass. The sixty clear slots 14 and 15 correspondingly communicate one-to-one with the sixty sample slots 11 and 12 in the outer and middle circles, wherein the clear slots 14 are opened towards the exterior margin of the sample plate 1 , and the clear slots 15 communicating with the sample slots 12 pass through the space between the sample slots 11 and are also opened towards the exterior margin of the sample plate 1 . In order to guarantee a reasonable range of the incident angle when the bar code scanning light is projected on the surface of the bar code on the test tube, a certain angle α is formed between the line connecting the center of the circle of the sample plate 1 to that of respective sample slots 11 and 12 in the outer and middle circles (i.e. the radial direction of the sample plate 1 ) and the axis of each of corresponding clear slots 14 and 15 (the axis of the clear slot is parallel to its wall), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 respectively. The reasonable range of the angle α is 4°<α<8.

As sample slots 13 in the inner circle do not support bar code information scanning, a barrier rib 16 is provided between the sample slots 13 in the inner circle and the sample slots 12 in the middle circle to prevent mistaken reading of the bar code information on test tubes in the inner circle when the middle and outer circles are scanned.

In virtue of the structure of the sample plate according to the present embodiment, a manufacturing technique of injection molding is employed so as to reduce the cost of parts.

The present invention has been described in detail by way of above-mentioned specific preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not construed to be limited to the embodiments described herein. For a person skilled in the art, some simple inference or substitution can be made without departing from the conception of the present invention, which should be within the protective scope of the present invention.