JP2000019181A - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a nozzle tip mountable more smoothly and positively by vibrating a nozzle base part at the time of mounting the nozzle tip to the nozzle base part. SOLUTION: A nozzle tip 12 is held by a tip rack 16, and a nozzle base part tip part 10A is inserted in a tip hole 12B of a tip head 12A of the nozzle tip 12 to mount the nozzle tip 12 onto a nozzle base part 10. The nozzle base part 10 is held by a nozzle head 20, and the nozzle head 20 is vertically driven by elevating mechanism 22. The elevating mechanism 22 is horizontally moved by the horizontal movement of a horizontal arm supporting the elevating mechanism 22. A cylindrical ultrasonic vibrator 30 comprising a piezoelectric body 32 and electrodes 34, 36 on both sides is provided at an intermediate part of the nozzle base part 10. Voltage is applied between the electrodes 34, 36 to vibrate the piezoelectric body 32, and the vibration is transmitted to the nozzle base part 10. The nozzle base part 10 is vibrated at the time of mounting and detaching the nozzle tip 12. The nozzle tip can therefore be smoothly mounted and detached, and the elevating mechanism 22 can be miniaturized because the driving force can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus, and more particularly, to a dispensing apparatus in which a nozzle tip is mounted on a nozzle base.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a dispensing apparatus, a nozzle (a sample) sucks or discharges a liquid (sample). In order to prevent contamination and contamination between liquids, a dispensing device using a disposable nozzle tip is also widely used. In such a dispensing apparatus, the nozzle is composed of a metal nozzle base and a nozzle tip that is detachably attached to the tip of the nozzle base, and the nozzle tip is replaced every time a sample is dispensed.

[0005] The nozzle tip is generally held upright on a tip rack. At the time of tip mounting, the nozzle base is positioned above the target nozzle tip, the nozzle base is lowered from there, and the tip of the nozzle base is press-fitted into the upper opening of the nozzle tip to connect the two.

[0004]

However, in order to securely fit the nozzle tip and the nozzle base, a large pressure input is required, which causes a problem that the lifting mechanism of the nozzle base becomes large. . That is, in order to obtain a sufficient fitting action, a driving motor for generating a large driving force and a robust mechanism have been required.

In addition, if there is a nozzle chip formation defect, a nozzle chip positioning error, a nozzle base positioning error, or the like, it is difficult to make the axial center of the nozzle tip coincide with the axial center of the nozzle base. there were. Of course, the upper opening of the nozzle tip and the tip of the nozzle base are formed with a slightly tapered surface, so that even if there is a slight positioning error between the two, the two can be fitted. However, if the positioning error is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the tip surface of the nozzle base collides with the upper wall of the nozzle tip, and jamming occurs. While properly maintaining the final mating state,
If the allowable range of the positioning error can be widened, the problem of occurrence of jamming can be reduced.

On the other hand, after dispensing the sample, the nozzle tip is removed from the nozzle base. In this case, in order to remove the nozzle tip from the nozzle base in a state where both are completely fitted, as described above. However, there is a problem that a large lifting mechanism is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to smoothly and reliably mount a nozzle tip to a nozzle base.

It is another object of the present invention to smoothly remove a nozzle tip from a nozzle base.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the load applied to the drive mechanism of the nozzle base or to downsize the drive mechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to increase the positioning tolerance between the nozzle tip and the nozzle base.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid by a nozzle comprising a nozzle base and a nozzle tip detachably mounted on the nozzle base. Vibration means for vibrating the nozzle base, and mounting control means for operating the vibration means when the nozzle tip is mounted on the nozzle base.

According to the above configuration, when the nozzle tip is mounted on the nozzle base, the nozzle base can be vibrated, so that the two can be smoothly fitted. In particular, even if there is some positioning error between the two, mounting can be performed regardless of the positioning error. According to the present invention, since the required fitting driving force can be reduced as compared with the conventional device, there is also an advantage that the lifting mechanism can be reduced in size.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid by using a nozzle including a nozzle base and a nozzle tip detachably mounted on the nozzle base. A detachment control unit that operates the vibration unit when the nozzle tip is detached from the nozzle base.

According to the above configuration, when removing the nozzle tip from the nozzle base, the nozzle base can be vibrated to smoothly remove the nozzle tip. In addition, there is an advantage that the driving force required for removal can be reduced.

Preferably, the vibrating means is an ultrasonic vibrator provided on the nozzle base. This is to vibrate the nozzle base using ultrasonic vibration. For example, low frequency ultrasonic vibration is used. According to this configuration,
There is an advantage that vibration can be generated at an arbitrary timing and the amplitude can be freely adjusted.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the nozzle base, and the nozzle base is vibrated by periodically moving the nozzle base up and down by the elevating mechanism. It is constituted by the elevating mechanism. According to this configuration, there is an advantage that vibration can be generated by effectively utilizing an existing configuration without providing a separate configuration for generating vibration. Preferably, the elevating mechanism includes a drive motor that generates a driving force for elevating and lowering, and the nozzle base vibrates by generating a natural vibration in the drive motor. Normally, the motor is controlled so as not to generate the natural vibration. However, in the above configuration, the motor is used as a vibration source.

Preferably, the vibration means vibrates the nozzle base in an axial direction or a direction perpendicular thereto.

According to the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid by a nozzle comprising a nozzle base and a nozzle tip detachably mounted on the nozzle base. Rack and
A vibration unit for vibrating the nozzle chip on the chip rack when the nozzle chip is mounted, and a control unit for operating the vibration unit when the nozzle chip is mounted.

The same operation as described above is obtained by vibrating the nozzle tip side, not the nozzle base connected to each other. In this case, it is desirable to appropriately set the vibration frequency and the like so that the amplitude of the nozzle tip does not become unnecessarily large.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire configuration.

The nozzle 14 includes a nozzle base 10 and a nozzle tip 12. The nozzle base 10 is made of, for example, a metal pipe, and the nozzle tip 12 is made of, for example, a resin-formed product. As shown, each nozzle tip 12 is held by a tip rack 16. By inserting the tip portion 10A of the nozzle base 10 into a chip hole 12B formed in the chip head 12A of the nozzle chip 12, the nozzle tip 12
Is attached. Thus, the nozzle 14 is configured, and the nozzle 14 is used to suck and discharge the sample.

The nozzle base 10 is held by a nozzle head 20, and the nozzle head 20 is
2 driven in the vertical direction. This lifting mechanism 22
Is supported by a horizontal arm (not shown), and by moving the horizontal arm in the horizontal direction, the lifting mechanism 22 can be horizontally moved in a desired direction. As a result, the lifting and lowering action of the lifting and lowering mechanism 22 is compatible. In addition, the nozzle 14 can be freely moved in the three-dimensional direction.

In this embodiment, an ultrasonic vibrator 30 is provided at an intermediate portion of the nozzle base 10. This figure 1
Although the ultrasonic transducer 30 shown in FIG. 1 has a cylindrical shape, various ultrasonic transducers can be used as long as ultrasonic vibration can be transmitted to the nozzle base 10. The ultrasonic transducer 30 is specifically composed of a piezoelectric body 32 and electrodes 34 and 36 provided on both sides thereof. When a voltage is applied between the two electrodes 34 and 36, the piezoelectric body 32 vibrates, and the vibration is generated by the nozzle base 10
Is transmitted to In the present embodiment, the nozzle tip 12
The nozzle base 10 is vibrated at the time of mounting and dismounting,
Thereby, smooth attachment and detachment are achieved. Incidentally, when the nozzle base 10 is vibrated, the nozzle base 10 may be vibrated in the axial direction, or the tip 10A of the nozzle base 10 may reciprocate in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the nozzle base 10. You may vibrate.

The ultrasonic transducer 30 is connected to a control section 42 by a signal line 37. That is, a pulse signal for vibrating the ultrasonic transducer 30 is supplied from the control unit 42 via the signal line 37. The frequency of the pulse signal is, for example, several tens Hz. Of course, various frequencies can be appropriately selected as the vibration frequency. Nozzle base 10
Is connected to a pump 40 via an air tube 39. That is, the pump 40 generates a suction force and a discharge force. The control unit 42 supplies a drive pulse to the ultrasonic transducer 30 and controls the pump 40 and the elevating mechanism 22. In addition, it controls the entire apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the apparatus shown in FIG. In S101, the nozzle base 10 is placed above the nozzle tip 12 to be mounted.
Is positioned. In S102, when the nozzle base 10 is pulled down and reaches a predetermined height, the process proceeds to S103.
, The ultrasonic transducer 30 is driven, and as a result, the nozzle base 10 vibrates.

In S104, such a nozzle base 10
By inserting the nozzle base 10 into the nozzle tip 12 in a state where the vibration is performed, the nozzle tip 12 is mounted on the nozzle base 10. After the secure attachment is determined, the lowering of the nozzle base 10 is stopped in S105, and the driving of the ultrasonic transducer 30 is stopped in S106. In S107, the nozzle tip 12 is pulled up above the nozzle 14 mounted. S108
Then, the dispensing process is executed in the same manner as in the related art, and when the dispensing process is completed, the steps after S109 are executed.

In S109, the nozzle 14 is positioned at the tip remover position for removing the nozzle tip 12, and thereafter, prior to the removal operation of the nozzle tip 12 in S111, the ultrasonic vibrator 3 is removed in S110.
0 is driven again. This causes the nozzle 14 to vibrate. In S111, the tip head 12 is attached to the tip remover.
The nozzle tip 12 is detached from the nozzle base 10 by hooking A. In this case, the nozzle base 10
, The vibration can be transmitted, so that the removing operation can be performed smoothly. In S112, the vibration is stopped after the nozzle tip 12 is detached. In S113, it is determined whether or not the dispensing is further continued. When the dispensing is continued, the steps from S101 are repeatedly executed. You.

Therefore, in the above-described operation example, since the vibration is transmitted to the nozzle base 10 both when the nozzle tip 12 is attached and detached, the attachment and detachment of the nozzle tip 12 can be performed smoothly. There are advantages. Further, since the driving force in such processing can be reduced as compared with the related art, there is an advantage that the lifting mechanism 22 can be downsized. Further, even if there is a slight positioning error between the nozzle base 10 and the nozzle tip 12, the nozzle base 1
Since 0 is oscillating, there is an advantage that the range of such an allowable positioning error can be expanded as compared with the related art.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the means for vibrating the nozzle base 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle base 10 is not provided with independent ultrasonic vibration generating means, and the vibration of the nozzle base 10 is performed using the lifting mechanism 22A. That is, the elevating mechanism 22A includes the pulse motor 50 and the conversion mechanism 52, and the rotational force generated by the pulse motor 50 is converted by the conversion mechanism 52 into a vertical driving force. As a result, the nozzle head 20 is driven vertically. When a pulse signal of a predetermined frequency is supplied from the control unit 42A to the pulse motor 50, a unique vibration is generated according to the characteristics of the pulse motor 50. As a result, the vibration is transmitted to the nozzle head 20 via the conversion mechanism 52, and as a result, a vertical vibration action is given to the nozzle base 10. As described above, the mounting and dismounting of the nozzle tip 12 are performed using such a vibration action.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to separately provide the ultrasonic vibrator 30, but according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle base 10 is vibrated by effectively utilizing the existing configuration. There is an advantage that can be.

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment. In this embodiment, a tip rack 16 holding the nozzle tips 12 is held by a vibration plate 54 and driven by a vibration source 56 of the vibration plate 54. That is, when a vibration of a predetermined frequency is generated by the vibration source 56 and such mechanical vibration is transmitted to the vibration plate 54, the vibration is transmitted to the chip rack 16, and as a result, the nozzle chip 12 vibrates. .
As a result, similarly to the above-described embodiments, one of the two members to be mounted can be vibrated, so that there is an advantage that the mounting force and the like can be reduced as compared with the conventional device.

The vibration frequency and the vibration amplitude may be switched between when the nozzle tip 12 is mounted and when it is detached. For example, a low amplitude may be generated when the nozzle tip 12 is mounted, while a large amplitude may be generated when the nozzle tip 12 is removed.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the dispensing device, the nozzle tip can be more smoothly and reliably mounted. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, removal of a nozzle tip can be performed more smoothly. Also,
According to the present invention, the load applied to the driving of the nozzle base can be reduced, or the size of the driving mechanism can be reduced. Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the positioning tolerance between the nozzle tip and the nozzle base can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the vibration means.

FIG. 4 is a view showing still another embodiment of the vibration means.

[Description of Signs] 10 nozzle base, 12 nozzle tips, 14 nozzles, 16 chip rack, 20 nozzle head, 22
Elevating mechanism, 30 ultrasonic vibrator, 42 control unit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid by a nozzle comprising a nozzle base and a nozzle tip detachably mounted on the nozzle base, wherein: a vibrating means for vibrating the nozzle base; and the nozzle to the nozzle base. A dispensing device, comprising: a mounting control unit that operates the vibrating unit when the chip is mounted. 2. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid by a nozzle including a nozzle base and a nozzle tip detachably mounted on the nozzle base, wherein: a vibrating means for vibrating the nozzle base; and the nozzle from the nozzle base. A dispensing device, comprising: detachment control means for operating the vibration means when the tip is detached. 3. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating means is an ultrasonic vibrator provided on the nozzle base. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the nozzle base, wherein the nozzle base is vibrated by periodically moving the nozzle base up and down by the elevating mechanism. The dispensing device, wherein the vibrating means is substantially constituted by the elevating mechanism. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lifting mechanism includes a driving motor for generating a driving force for lifting and lowering, and the nozzle base is vibrated by generating a natural vibration in the driving motor. A dispensing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration means vibrates the nozzle base in an axial direction or a direction perpendicular thereto. 7. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid by a nozzle including a nozzle base and a nozzle tip detachably mounted on the nozzle base, wherein a tip rack for standing and holding the nozzle tip, and A dispensing apparatus comprising: a vibration unit that vibrates the nozzle tip on the chip rack; and a control unit that operates the vibration unit when the nozzle tip is mounted.