JP2001083049A - Liquid-supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a switching valve that can simplify structure, has superior mass productivity, and can easily carry out piping and connection by composing the switching valve of a port selection part, a driving part, and a connection port, and by arranging the plurality of ports in parallel and at the same time in the same direction. SOLUTION: A switching valve has a disk-shaped rotor 7 being rotated and driving by a stepping motor 6 with a reduction gear, and the rotor is rotatably fitted to a projection being positioned at the center of a recessed part 8 of a valve casing. The lower surface of the rotor 7 and the bottom surface of the recessed part 8 of the casing are flatly and precisely machined. The rotor is pushed to the bottom surface of the recessed part 8 of the casing by a coil spring 9, is allowed to adhere to the lower surface of the rotor and the bottom surface of the recessed part 8 of the casing, and is sealed for preventing liquid from leaking. At the center of the rotor 7, ports 10 being oppositely aligned to a port being arranged at the center of the lower surface of a valve are provided, and an offset port 11 is formed in the radial direction on the outside of the port, and the ports are connected by a horizontal passage 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid supply device having a function of selecting an arbitrary fluid from a plurality of types of fluids.
In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid supply device suitable for an analytical instrument, an instrument for physical and chemical experiments, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a switching valve of a type in which a plurality of fluids are provided in a rotor and a rotor is selected by rotation of the rotor has been used for analytical instruments, instruments for physics and chemistry experiments, and the like. The plurality of ports are arranged radially from the center of rotation of the rotor if the valve body is circular. Also, if the valve body is polygonal, the directions of the plurality of ports are different, for example, the ports are arranged on the side surface of the body and perpendicular to the side surface. (For example, see JP-A-7-198.
See internal passage 242 in FIG. )

[0003]

However, in the port arrangement of the conventional switching valve, since the directions of the plurality of ports are different, when the ports and the switching valve main body case are simultaneously injection-molded with a mold. In addition, it is necessary to have a structure in which a pin incorporated in a mold for molding a port hole is movable according to opening and closing of the mold. For this reason, the mold structure is complicated, and the durability of the mold is not good. Generally, the manufacturing cost also increases.

[0004] Such a switching valve is used in combination with a pump for moving a fluid. It is desirable that the piping distance between the switching valve and the pump be the shortest in terms of operating speed, but if the switching valve and the pump are separated, a constant piping distance is required. Further, there is a problem that a space for installing each of the switching valve and the pump is required, and the device cannot be made compact. Further, there is a problem that a case and a piping port are required for each of the switching valve and the pump, and the number of parts is increased.

[0005] Further, since the directions of the plurality of ports are different, the plurality of pipes and the ports of the switching valve cannot be collectively attached and detached. Therefore, the connection between the switching valve and the pipe becomes a complicated operation at the site where equipment using the switching valve is produced. Further, in order to ensure the workability of the assembly, it is necessary to secure a work space in the port portion of the switching valve, and the device cannot be made compact.

Further, in a device for adjusting the temperature of a fluid,
It is necessary to provide a fluid temperature control means. Since the fluid temperature adjusting means is provided separately from the switching valve, it becomes an obstacle to miniaturization of the equipment. Also, when a sample loop is provided in the device, it may also be an obstacle to miniaturization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a compact switching valve which has good mass productivity and facilitates connection with piping.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a liquid supply source, a liquid supply destination, suction / liquid supply means for performing suction / liquid supply of liquid, and a liquid supply source are provided. First and second holes having a suction flow path to the suction / liquid sending means and a liquid feeding flow path from the suction / liquid sending means to the liquid supply destination, and communicating with the suction / liquid sending flow path, respectively. By sliding the first surface having the first surface, the second surface having the opposing hole communicating with the suction / liquid sending means, and the first surface and the second surface relative to each other, A liquid supply device comprising: a first surface and a third surface on the back side of the first surface. In addition, the first surface and the second communication hole communicating with the first and second holes are formed in the third surface. .

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of liquid supply destinations and a plurality of liquid feed channels are provided, a first surface has a plurality of second holes, and a third surface has a second hole. A plurality of communication holes can be provided.

In another preferred embodiment, a plurality of liquid supply sources and a plurality of suction channels are provided, a first surface has a plurality of first holes, and a third surface has a first hole. Can have a plurality of communication holes.

According to the second aspect, the first surface has a third hole communicating with the suction / liquid sending means, and the third surface has a third communication hole communicating with the third hole. Is formed, the second surface has a second opposed hole, the third hole and the second hole communicate with each other regardless of the relative position of the first surface and the second surface, The opposing hole and the second opposing hole communicate with each other inside a sliding body having a second surface.

That is, at the time of molding the base, pins for connecting the first to third holes and the first to third communication holes are required, but in the present invention, all the pins are set in the same direction. Therefore, the structure of the mold can be simplified as compared with the prior art.

According to the third aspect, by integrating the pump with the base, the piping distance between the base and the pump can be reduced, and the installation space can be further reduced. In addition, since the case and the like can be shared and the piping connection port between the pump and the base can be eliminated, the number of parts can be reduced.

Further, in claim 4, a syringe pump is employed as the pump for moving the fluid according to claim 3. As a result, the syringe pump has high measuring accuracy and can be reliably washed.
By integrating with the base, multiple liquids can be accurately
Moreover, the liquid can be measured without being mixed with another liquid, and can be sent to another flow path.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a suction pipe forming at least a part of the suction flow path, a liquid feeding pipe forming at least a part of the liquid feeding flow path, and an attachment in which both the suction pipe and the liquid feeding pipe are mounted. A first member and a second member.
The communication hole, the suction pipe, and the liquid sending pipe are configured to communicate with each other, and furthermore, by installing a lock / unlock mechanism for attaching and detaching, the simple operation of pushing the mounting member into the base in one direction. Connection between the mounting member and the base can be performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the heat medium used for adjusting the temperature of the fluid is circulated between a part of the pipe and a temperature adjusting means such as a heater, and the pipe and the heat medium are brought into contact with each other so that the fluid in the pipe is To the temperature of the heat transfer medium. Thus, the heat of the temperature control means is transmitted to the fluid via the heat medium, and the temperature of the fluid flowing into or out of the base can be freely set. Further, when the purpose is to reduce the temperature fluctuation of the fluid, the temperature adjusting means is not required, and only the pipe and the heat medium may be brought into contact.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a pipe having a length adjusted so that the internal volume of the pipe becomes a target capacity, that is, a so-called sample loop, is installed on the substrate, and the fluid is fed into the pipe via the substrate. Can be measured only for the target volume.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a switching valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The switching valve includes a port selection unit (1) for selecting a plurality of ports, a driving unit (2) for driving the port selection unit, and a connection port for mounting a pipe or a piping unit. (3).

A fluid is selected by the port selector from a plurality of ports a (4) arranged coaxially and parallel to the lower surface of the connecting portion at the port selector, and the fluid is selected by the port b (5) arranged at the center of the lower surface of the valve. Be guided. Here, the port a (4) is arranged in parallel. In this example, port b
(5) is also arranged in parallel with the port a (4).

FIG. 2 shows the detailed internal structure of the valve.

The switching valve has a disk-shaped rotor (7) that is driven to rotate by a stepping motor (6) with a reduction gear, and this rotor is rotatably fitted with a projection at the center of the recess (8) of the valve casing. Have been combined. The lower surface of the rotor and the bottom surface of the dent of the valve casing are flat and precision machined, and the rotor is pressed against the bottom surface of the dent of the valve casing by a coil spring (9). Sealed to prevent leakage.

In the center of the rotor, there is provided a port (10) which is aligned and opposed to a port arranged in the center of the lower surface of the valve, and has a port (11) offset radially outward from this port. These ports communicate with each other by a horizontal passage (12).

On the bottom surface of the recess of the valve casing, openings are made at equal circumferential intervals at the same radial offset distance as the outer port of the rotor, and the ends for connection to the piping are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction. Six ports (13) are provided.

Here, by aligning the direction in which the mold for molding the valve casing is removed with the direction of these ports, the pin for molding the hole of the port can be fixed to the mold body.

A rotor packing (100) shown in FIG. 9 is sandwiched between the rotor (7) and the recess (8), and as shown in FIG. 10, a port (10) of the rotor (7). And the port (13a) of the case (101).

Although not shown, the port (11) of the rotor (7) and each port (1) of the case (101) are not shown.
Seal between 3).

FIG. 3 is a view showing the entire configuration of a switching valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A switching valve (14) is integrally provided with a pump (15) for moving a fluid to, for example, one of a plurality of ports. Types of pumps include a syringe pump, a diaphragm pump, a plunger pump, a gear pump, a tube pump, a vane pump, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the entire configuration of a switching valve and a piping unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

For example, a disc-shaped piping unit is provided separately from the valve body, and a recessed port into which the ports of the switching valve body are inserted at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at the center of the piping unit (16) and at the same radial offset distance. Ports (17) and convex ports (18) aligned with and opposed to those ports for connection with vertically parallel piping
For example, six ports are provided. In the switching valve body (19), a convex port (20) that is inserted into a port of the piping unit and conducts liquid is arranged so as to correspond to the port of the piping unit. Here, the port of the switching valve may be a concave port and the port corresponding to the switching valve of the piping unit may be a convex port. Further, for example, two flexible claws for fixing the piping unit are provided on the switching valve body. When the port of the switching valve is inserted into the port of the piping unit by a predetermined depth or more by the claw, the claw grasps the piping unit and the piping unit is fixed to the switching valve body. further,
A part having a sealing function such as an O-ring made of rubber or resin is inserted in advance into the concave port bottom of the piping unit, and when the convex port of the switching valve is inserted, the port tip is inserted into the O-ring etc. A mechanism for tightly sealing and sealing the fluid is provided to prevent leakage.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the entire configuration of a switching valve and a piping unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The switching valve body (21) and the piping unit (22) having a function of bringing the heat medium into contact with a part of the piping are structured so as to be detachable by the same means as in the third embodiment. Here, if the purpose is to reduce the temperature fluctuation of the fluid, the means disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-098304 for buffering the temperature fluctuation of the substance to be measured is used.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the overall configuration of a switching valve (23) and a piping unit (24) according to the fifth embodiment.

As in the fourth embodiment, the switching valve body and the piping unit having a function of bringing the heat medium into contact with a part of the piping are structured to be detachable by the same means as in the third embodiment. Further, when the purpose is to reduce the temperature fluctuation of the fluid, a device having a function of bringing a heat medium into contact with a part of the pipe at a required port is made of a material or a structure that can expand and contract and bend as shown in FIG. By configuring, the device itself can expand and contract and bend freely, and even if the sensor device to be connected is movable, the device itself moves freely according to the movement, so it is necessary to install a connection means separately from the device. There is no. As shown in FIG. 7, the device portion has a structure in which a tube having a structure such as a material such as a resin or rubber that can be stretched and bent or a bellows that can be stretched and bent is coaxially arranged. A heat medium (27) for buffering temperature fluctuation is placed in the outer tube (26) so as to cover the inner tube, and both ends of the outer tube are heat medium for buffering temperature fluctuation. And seal it.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the entire configuration of a switching valve and a piping unit according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The switching valve body (28) and a pipe so-called sample loop whose length is adjusted so that the volume in the pipe becomes the target volume is installed in the pipe unit (29), and the same means as in the third embodiment is used. It has a removable structure.

The present embodiment has the following effects by the above configuration. The ports of the switching valve are arranged in parallel and in the same direction. Since the ports have a structure in which the directions of the ports are aligned in one direction, the mold for injection-molding each port and the switching valve body case at the same time has the same mold opening / closing direction and the direction of the port hole forming pin. A structure in which pins to be incorporated into a mold for molding are fixed to the mold can be obtained.
Therefore, the structure can be simplified as compared with the mold using the conventional technique, and the durability of the mold can be improved. By integrating the pump that moves the fluid with the switching valve,
The piping distance between the switching valve and the pump is shortened, so that the operation time can be shortened and a small amount of liquid can be sucked and discharged. Further, the installation space can be reduced, the case and the like can be shared, and the connection piping between the pump and the switching valve can be eliminated, so that the number of parts can be reduced. By using a syringe pump as the pump to move the fluid and integrating this pump with the switching valve, priming for operating the pump is not required, multiple liquids can be measured accurately, and without mixing other liquids. And send it to another port.

By providing the switching valve with a piping unit having a mechanism that can collectively connect the ports of the plurality of switching valves and the piping, the connection between the piping unit and the switching valve can be achieved by simply pushing the piping unit into the switching valve in one direction. Can be realized by the simple operation described above, and in assembling the device using the switching valve, the number of assembling steps can be reduced. Further, since there is no need to secure a work space at the time of assembling, the size of the device can be reduced.

By providing the switching valve with a mechanism that can collectively connect the ports of the plurality of switching valves and the piping and a piping unit having a structure in which a part of the piping is in contact with the heat medium, the temperature of the fluid can be freely adjusted, Temperature fluctuation is small,
Moreover, a switching valve that is small and easy to assemble can be realized.

By providing the switching valve with a mechanism that can collectively connect the ports of the plurality of switching valves and the piping and a piping whose length is adjusted so that the internal volume of the piping becomes the target volume, the fluid can be reduced to a target volume. A switching valve that can be measured precisely, and that is small and easy to assemble can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a switching valve showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed internal structure of the switching valve of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a switching valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a switching valve and a piping unit showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of a switching valve and a piping unit showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of a switching valve according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 has a function of bringing a heat medium into contact with a part of the pipe;
Diagram showing the telescopic / flexible device

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of a switching valve showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a detailed explanatory view of the rotor packing of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a sealed state by the rotor packing of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 port selection section, 2 drive section, 3 connection section, 4 port a, 5 port b, 6 stepping motor with reduction gear, 7 rotor, 8 recess in valve casing, 9 coil spring, 10 bottom surface of valve Ports aligned in opposition to ports located at the center of 11 ... ports offset radially outward, 12 ...
Horizontal passage 13: Port whose terminal is arranged in parallel in the vertical direction for connection with piping 13a: Central port 14: Switching valve, 15: Pump, 16: Piping unit 17: Recessed port of piping unit 18 ... a convex port for connecting to the piping of the piping unit 19 ... a switching valve body 20 ... a convex port for connecting to the piping unit of the switching valve body 21 ... a switching valve body 22 ... a part of the piping for the heat medium A piping unit having a function of contacting with a pipe 23 ... a switching valve, 24 ... a piping unit, 25 ... an inner pipe 26 ... an outer pipe, 27 ... a heating medium, 28 ... a switching valve body 29 ... a piping unit having a sample loop 100 ... a rotor Packing, 101 ... case

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A liquid supply source, a liquid supply destination, suction / liquid supply means for performing liquid suction / liquid supply, a suction flow path from the liquid supply source to the suction / liquid supply means, and the suction A first surface having a liquid sending channel from the liquid sending means to the liquid supply destination, and a first surface having first and second holes respectively communicating with the suction and the liquid sending channel; A second surface having an opposing hole communicating with the liquid feeding means, and the first surface and the second surface are relatively slid, so that the first and second surfaces can be moved relative to the opposing hole. A flow path switching means for facing the holes, comprising: a base having the first surface and a third surface behind the first surface; A first and a second communication hole communicating with the first and second holes are formed on the surface of the first and second holes. Liquid supply apparatus. 2. The first surface has a third hole communicating with the suction / liquid sending means, and the third surface has a third communication hole communicating with the third hole. Is formed, the second surface has the second opposing hole, and the third hole and the second hole are the first surface and the second hole.
2. The liquid according to claim 1, wherein the opposed holes and the second opposed holes communicate with each other inside a sliding body having the second surface, irrespective of a relative position of the surface of the liquid. Feeding device. 3. The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein a pump as said suction / liquid sending means is integrally attached to said base. 4. The liquid supply device according to claim 3, wherein said pump is a syringe pump. 5. A suction pipe that forms at least a part of the suction flow path, a liquid feed pipe that forms at least a part of the liquid flow path, and an attachment in which the suction pipe and the liquid feed pipe are attached together. And a member, and by attaching the attachment member to the base,
The liquid supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second communication holes communicate with the suction pipe and the liquid supply pipe, respectively. 6. The liquid supply device according to claim 5, wherein at least a part of the pipe is in contact with a heat medium. 7. The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein a functional part of a sample loop for quantifying a predetermined amount of fluid is integrally attached to the base.