Transport device and analysis system
Provided are a transport device and an analysis system in which a stability of transport at a time of restart is further enhanced while achieving cost reduction by a position-sensorless configuration. A transport device includes: a plurality of coils 25 a, 25 b configured to generate a thrust to transport a transport container 20 ; a drive circuit 50 configured to apply a voltage to each of the plurality of coils 25 a, 25 b ; and a calculation unit 40 configured to estimate a position of the transport container 20 based on current information when voltage pulses 80, 81 are applied to the coils 25 a, 25 b . When a power supply of the device is activated, the calculation unit 40 applies a voltage pulse 80 in a positive direction and a voltage pulse 81 in a negative direction to the target coils 25 a, 25 b so as to detect the position of the transport container 20 from the current information of current flowing through the coils 25 a, 25 b.
1 . A transport device configured to transport a transport container having a magnet or a magnetic body, the transport device comprising:
a plurality of coils configured to generate a thrust to transport the transport container;
a coil drive unit configured to apply a voltage to each of the plurality of coils; and
a calculation unit configured to estimate a position of the transport container based on current information when a voltage pulse is applied to the coils, wherein
when a power supply of the device is activated, the calculation unit applies a voltage pulse in a positive direction and a voltage pulse in a negative direction to the target coils so as to detect the position of the transport container from the current information of current flowing through the coils,
the current information used in the calculation unit is a current change amount which is a difference between a maximum current and a minimum current flowing through a coil when the voltage pulse in the positive direction and the voltage pulse in the negative direction are applied, and
the calculation unit is configured to determine whether the transport container is present right above a coil when a voltage pulse in a first direction is applied to the coils and to determine whether the transport container is present at a position distant from the coil when a voltage pulse in a second direction is applied to the coils.
2 . The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
the calculation unit outputs a positional relationship between the transport container and the coils in a coordinate system based on a magnitude of the current change amount.
3 . The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
positive and negative of the voltage pulse is changed according to an orientation of the magnet or the magnetic body.
4 . The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
the voltage pulses are applied in a manner such that the voltage pulse in the positive direction is applied separately in a plurality of times and the voltage pulse in the negative direction is applied separately in a plurality of times.
5 . The transport device according to claim 4 , wherein
the voltage pulse in the positive direction and the voltage pulse in the negative direction are applied the same number of times.
6 . The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
the voltage pulse has a magnitude that no thrust is generated with respect to the transport container.
7 . The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
an interval for applying the voltage pulse in the positive direction and the voltage pulse in the negative direction is kept at a predetermined time.
8 . An analysis system comprising:
the transport device according to claim 1 .