JP2001305053A - Sensor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily attach/detach a sensor element and to output a good measurement result in a sensor device using the sensor element requiring replacement at regular intervals for securing measurement sensitiveness. SOLUTION: A sensor element attaching/detaching mechanism in this sensor device is constructed of a base plate for fixing a sensor device main body, a door part for attaching/detaching the sensor element, a bearing having a long hole supporting a shaft of the door part, and an intermediate plate positioned between the door part and the base plate. When the door part is turned around the shaft and the intermediate plate is slid to the base plate, the sensor element is positioned while being brought into tight contact with a guide pin with circular motion and linear motion carried out, and consequently, the sensor element can be accurately positioned in the vertical, horizontal, and depth directions and measurement can be carried out excellently without requiring operation by an operator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor element attaching / detaching apparatus and a attaching / detaching method for a sensor device having a built-in sensor element for detecting a substance to be measured.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a sensor device called a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor has been proposed (for example, JP-A-11-94734 and JP-A-11-118802). This SPR sensor is a sensor element that utilizes resonance between an evanescent wave generated by total reflection of light on the surface of a metal thin film and surface plasmon (SP) generated on the surface of the metal film.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a prism in a sensor element applied to the present invention. The principle of this sensor is briefly described as follows.

If there is light traveling through a prism having a high refractive index, for example, a glass layer, and the incident light is totally reflected at an interface with the outside, the light does not go out of the prism. Is reflected. Here, when a metal thin film is brought into contact with the reflecting surface, of the incident light to be totally reflected,
Light incident at a certain angle is absorbed. That is, a phenomenon in which the intensity of reflected light at a certain angle decreases is observed. Such a phenomenon is caused by resonance of the following two waves. First, when light is totally reflected at the interface,
At the interface, a very small wave called the evanescent wave oozes only on the surface. On the other hand, a surface wave called surface plasmon may be generated on a thin metal film. When the wavelengths of the two surface waves coincide, resonance occurs, and part of the light energy is used to excite the SPR, and the amount returned as reflected light decreases. At this time, the resonance point between the evanescent wave and the SP of the metal thin film changes depending on the incident angle of light and the refractive index of the substance to be measured in contact with the metal thin film. The change in the refractive index of the substance to be measured in contact with the object can be known as a phenomenon of the intensity of the reflected light at a certain angle. Since the refractive index of the substance to be measured changes depending on the concentration of the solute contained in the substance to be measured, the change in the concentration of the solute in the substance to be measured that comes into contact with the metal thin film can be known. That is, sensing of the target substance becomes possible.

When a sensor device including a sensor element for detecting a substance to be measured and outputting a predetermined signal and a sensor device body containing the sensor element is put into practical use, in order to maintain the measurement sensitivity, it is necessary to use this sensor device. The sensor element needs to be replaced in a certain period.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the sensor element is mounted on the main body of the sensor device, accurate positioning is required for the above optical reasons. There is a problem in that attachment / detachment / replacement is troublesome and affects accuracy of measurement results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to easily attach and detach the sensor element without bothering the operator and without affecting the accuracy of the measurement result. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor element attaching / detaching device and a attaching / detaching method of a sensor device which can be accurately attached so as to output a measurement result.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensor device having at least a door for detaching and attaching a sensor device main body and a sensor element. The sensor device is characterized in that the insertion opening of the sensor element can be moved to a position facing the front when replacing the element.

According to the present invention, since the insertion opening of the door, which can be substantially determined when the positioning of the sensor element is set, faces the replacement direction, the sensor can be easily taken out when replacing the sensor.

In the invention according to claim 2, the door portion includes:
It has a shaft for rotating the door, two bearings fixed to the base plate and positioned at both ends of the shaft, and an elongated hole provided in the bearing, through which the shaft can be inserted and the shaft can be moved in the horizontal direction. The sensor device is characterized in that the insertion portion of the door portion can easily face the front with the door portion as a fulcrum.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, an intermediate plate fixed to the door portion and slidably moved in the horizontal direction together with the door portion;
And a compression coil spring for pushing out the intermediate plate in a direction away from the base plate.

According to the present invention, accurate positioning and release of the sensor element to the measurement position can be easily performed without damaging the sensor element.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sensor device, wherein a hook for fixing the door to the base plate for attaching and detaching the sensor element is provided on the door.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensor device characterized in that the sensor element includes a surface plasmon sensor utilizing a surface plasmon resonance method.

[0015]

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

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a sensor element attaching / detaching mechanism applied to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 1B is a front view when the sensor element is attached / detached, and FIG.
It is a side view from the direction.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the door is closed, and FIG.
Is a door part of the mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an intermediate plate. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the sensor element.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral (1) denotes a base plate, and a door (3) for attaching and detaching the sensor element (2) and a shaft (4) for rotating the door (3) are connected to each other. Two bearings (5) located at both ends of the shaft (4) are fixed. The bearing (5) is provided with an elongated hole (6) through which the shaft (4) can be inserted and the shaft (4) can be moved in the horizontal direction. The guide rod (7A) (see FIG. 4) of the intermediate plate (7), which is fixed to the door (3) and slides with the door (3) in the horizontal direction, moves in a direction away from the base plate (1). A compression coil spring (8) for pushing out the intermediate plate (7) is interposed. Further, a torsion coil spring (9) which is overloaded in a direction in which the door (3) is always raised almost perpendicularly to the base plate (1) is provided between the bearing (5) and the door (3). I have. The rising of the door (3) is regulated by the intermediate plate (7). (10)
Is a push switch for opening the door part (3). The hook (11) of the slide part (11) arranged to be disengageable on a part (3A) (see FIG. 3) of the door part (3).
Locking and unlocking can be performed in conjunction with A). (12) is a switch for pushing down the measuring object supply unit (13) having a pin (13A) engaged with the hole (2A) of the sensor element (2).

Further, a tension coil spring (not shown) is mounted on the switch (10) and the slide part (11) so as to return in a direction opposite to the direction in which the switch (10) is pushed down. In the slide component (11), the hook (11A) is always urged in the locking direction.

Further, a guide pin (14) fixed to the base plate (1) is provided, and a hole (15) into which the guide pin (14) can be inserted is provided in the sensor element (2) (see FIG. 5). ). By bringing the hole (15) of the sensor element (2) into close contact with the guide pin (14), accurate positioning can be performed in the vertical and horizontal directions. A leaf spring (16) is provided inside the door part (3) so as to be in close contact with the sensor element (2) and acts on a part of the base plate (1) or a direction pressed against the guide pins (14). In this case, accurate positioning in the direction of the base plate (1) (depth direction) can be performed by closely contacting a part of the base plate (1) and the guide pin (14). (17) a light source for irradiating light toward the prism (18); (19)
Is a detector for measuring the intensity of the reflected light.

First, the flow of opening the door portion (3) for attaching and detaching the sensor element (2) will be described.

In FIG. 2, the switch (12) is in a released state, and the operator depresses the switch (10) to first switch the switch (12) that has locked the switch (12). A locking means constituted by the engaging projection (12B) and a key-shaped hook plate (19) constantly biased to the locking side to engage with the engaging projection (12B) resists the urging force of the spring of the hook plate (19). This releases the engagement (see FIG. 1 for the lock means).
By further pressing down, it is linked with the slide component (11). The slide component (11) slides on the base plate (1) in a linked state and is pushed down.
At this time, the hook (11A) of the slide component (11)
The engagement with a part (3A) of the door part (3) is released, the door part (3) is opened, the intermediate plate (7) slides in a direction away from the base plate (1), and the door part (3) is moved. ) Rotates about the axis (4), the door (3) is opened while performing linear motion and circular motion, and the insertion opening of the sensor element (2) faces the front. On this occasion,
The shaft (4) and the intermediate plate (7) of the door (3) move the distance of the slot (6) of the bearing (5). The state facing the front refers to a state where the operator is at a position facing the insertion slot.

Next, the flow of mounting the sensor element (2) on the door (3) from the insertion opening and closing the door (3) will be described.

The operator mounts a part of the sensor element (2) in close contact with the door (3) against the urging force of the leaf spring (16). By pressing the side surface of the door part (3) standing up against the base plate (1) with a finger, the door part (3) is rotated around the axis (4) of the door part (3) to rotate the intermediate plate (7). Part of the sensor element (2) is brought into close contact with the sensor element. Next, the door (3) is further pushed in the direction of the base plate (1), so that the door (3) is guided together with the intermediate plate (7) by using the guide rod (7A) of the intermediate plate (7) as a guide. When sliding in the direction, the part (3A) of the door part (3) is moved to the hook (1) of the slide part (11).
1A), the sliding part (11) is slid downward (in the direction opposite to the biasing force of the coil spring), and then a part (3A) of the door part (3) is hooked (11A).
When the slide part (11) exceeds the taper of (A), the slide part (11) returns to the initial position, and the hook (11A) engages with a part (3A) of the door part (3) to lock.
As a result, the vertical positioning of the sensor element (2) with respect to the base plate (1) can be further ensured. At the same time, by inserting the hole (15) of the sensor element (2) into the guide pin (14) fixed to the base plate (1), it is possible to perform vertical and horizontal positioning. Further, the slide part (1) is in close contact with the guide pin (14) by the leaf spring (16) of the door (3).
By fixing 1) to a part (3A) of the door part (3), accurate positioning can be performed in the direction of the base plate (1) (depth direction).

As described above, the sensor element (2) can be accurately positioned with respect to the sensor device main body, and it is possible to output an accurate measurement result, thereby providing an excellent effect in the sensor device. .

In the above embodiment, the door (3) is locked by the hook (11A) of the slide part (11). However, as shown in FIG. (3B) may be provided to directly link with the switch (10). In FIG. 6, the switch (10) can be locked with the projection (10A).

That is, when the switch (10) is depressed, the switch (13) is first unlocked in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and then the switch (13) is unlocked so that the door (3) can be unlocked. ) Is released so that the engaging portion of the switch (10) can be moved so as not to release the hook (3B).

[0028]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view showing a sensor element attaching / detaching mechanism according to an embodiment applied to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic diagram showing a state in which a door is closed in a sensor element attaching / detaching mechanism according to an embodiment applied to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a door in a sensor element attaching / detaching mechanism according to the embodiment applied to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an intermediate plate in the sensor element attaching / detaching mechanism according to the embodiment applied to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a sensor element applied to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall schematic view showing a sensor element attaching / detaching mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a door in a sensor element attaching / detaching mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a prism in a sensor element applied to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 base plate, 2 sensor elements, 3 doors, 4
Door shaft, 5 bearings, 6 bearing long holes,
7 Intermediate plate, 8 Compression spring, 9 Coil spring, 1
0 Door open switch, 11 Slide part, 12 Measurement target supply part insertion switch, 13 Measurement target supply part, 1
4 Guide pin, 15 Guide pin hole of sensor element, 16 leaf spring, 17 light source, 18 prism, 19 detection unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G059 AA01 DD13 EE01 EE02 JJ12 LL01 PP10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sensor device having at least a door for attaching and detaching a sensor element, wherein the door can be moved to a position where an insertion opening for the sensor element faces the front when replacing the sensor element. Sensor device to do. 2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein a shaft for rotating the door, two bearings fixed to a base plate and positioned at both ends of the shaft, and a shaft provided on the bearing are inserted through the door. And a slot capable of moving the shaft in the horizontal direction. 3. The sensor device according to claim 2, wherein
A sensor device comprising: an intermediate plate fixed to a door portion and slidably moved in a horizontal direction together with the door portion; and a spring for pushing the intermediate plate away from the base plate. 4. The sensor device according to claim 2, wherein a hook for fixing the door to the base plate for attaching and detaching the sensor element is provided on the door. 5. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor element includes a surface plasmon sensor using a surface plasmon resonance method.