Test piece mounting body, transport unit, and test piece analyzer

Abstract

A test piece analyzer capable of easily washing a transport device to which the sample (urine sample) has adhered is provided. A test piece analyzer is provided with a transport unit having a transport device to transport a test piece, a drive part to drive the transport device, an imaging unit to image the test piece, and a casing to house the transport unit, imaging unit, and drive part. The transport unit is removable relative to the casing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A test piece analyzer comprising:
 a transport device configured to transport a test piece;   a drive part comprising a motor to drive the transport device;   a reader to optically read a coloration of the test piece; and   a casing comprising a pull-out part which is configured to be withdrawn from the casing, wherein   the pull-out part has a first connecting part, and the transport device has a second connecting part that is connectable to the first connecting part; and   the transport device is removably mounted to the pull-out part of the casing through the first connecting part and second connecting part.   
     
     
         2 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 1 , wherein
 the transport device comprises a plurality of individual test piece mounting bodies and an endless belt.   
     
     
         3 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 2 , wherein
 the test piece mounting body circulates in conjunction with a circulation of the endless belt.   
     
     
         4 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 1 , wherein
 each respective individual test piece mounting body is configured to transport a respective single test piece from a first position to a second position where the reader reads the coloration of the test piece.   
     
     
         5 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 4 , wherein
 the casing has an opening exposing the transport device to allow placing the test piece on the transport device.   
     
     
         6 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 1 , wherein
 each respective individual test piece mounting body is configured to transport a respective single test piece from a first position to a second position horizontally distanced from the first position along a portion of an endless belt extending substantially horizontally, wherein the first position and the second position are both located on the portion of the endless belt that extends substantially horizontally.   
     
     
         7 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 1 , wherein
 the drive part is mounted on the pull-out part and is removably connected to the transport device via a shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 7 , wherein
 the transport device comprises pulleys around which an endless belt is trained; and   the drive part is configured to rotate one of the pulleys through the shaft.   
     
     
         9 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 8 , wherein
 the drive part is configured to intermittently drive the endless belt.   
     
     
         10 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 1 , wherein
 the transport device is formed of water resistant parts for washing.   
     
     
         11 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 1 , wherein
 the reader comprises an imaging device to capture an image of at least a part of the test piece.   
     
     
         12 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a display part to display an analysis result, and wherein the casing houses the display part.   
     
     
         13 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a controller to control the drive part, and wherein the casing houses the controller.   
     
     
         14 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 13 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to control the reader.   
     
     
         15 . The test piece analyzer of  claim 13 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to calculate a concentration of analyte based on the coloration read by the reader.   
     
     
         16 . A urine analyzer comprising:
 a transport device configured to transport a test piece that comprises a plurality of reagents reactive to urine components;   a drive part comprising a motor to drive the transport device;   a reader to optically read a coloration of the test piece;   a controller configured to calculate a concentration of a urine component based on the coloration read by the reader; and   a casing comprising a pull-out part which is configured to be withdrawn from the casing, wherein   the pull-out part has a first connecting part, and the transport device has a second connecting part that is connectable to the first connecting part; and   the transport device is removably mounted to the pull-out part of the casing through the first connecting part and second connecting part.