JP2007003339A - Liquid dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve miniaturization by employing a simple mechanism and to regulate a nozzle interval to an arbitrary dimension with high precision. <P>SOLUTION: In this liquid dispenser equipped with a first guide shaft 4 and a second guide shaft 5 both of which are arranged in opposed relationship in parallel to each other, a plurality of the nozzle holders 6-13 respectively guided by the respective guide shafts and a drive means for moving the respective nozzle holders in respective axial directions while the respective nozzles 6A-13A held to the respective nozzle holders are alternately arranged with respect to the respective guide shafts, the respective nozzle holders 6-9 guided by the first guide shaft 4 are connected by a first link mechanism 15 so as not only to fix the first holder 6 to a reference position but also to respectively keep the adjacent intervals of the respective nozzle holders 6-9 the same and the respective nozzle holders 10-13 guided by the second guide shaft 5 are connected by a second link mechanism 16 for keeping the adjacent intervals of the respective nozzle holders 10-13 same as the first link mechanism and one place of the second link mechanism is controlled in its axial movement by the position control means fixed on the side opposite to the reference position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a liquid dispensing apparatus provided with a mechanism for arbitrarily changing the interval between a plurality of mounted dispensing nozzles.

  In recent years, liquid specimens (samples) in test tubes have been collected by absorption (hereinafter referred to as fractionation) in specimen tests in the medical field such as DNA testing and blood tests, or in various chemical and biological sample analyses. At the same time, a dispensing system is used that dispenses a predetermined amount of the collected specimen into an inspection recess of a container such as a microplate. This dispensing system is provided with a dispensing head having a plurality of (for example, eight) nozzles for simultaneously dispensing and dispensing a plurality of specimens.

  By the way, the diameter of the test tube from which the sample is collected is often different from the diameter of the inspection recess at the dispensing destination. In this case, naturally, the pitch (interval) between adjacent test tubes and the adjacent inspection The pitch between the concave portions for use is different. Therefore, in the dispensing head, the pitch (interval) between the nozzles can be changed so that it can be used, for example, when dispensing a sample from a test tube or when dispensing a sample to a test recess. It has become.

  Specifically, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses the one shown in FIG. In the drawing, a dispensing head 300 includes two guide rails 310 and 310 that are disposed close to each other in a horizontal and parallel manner, a plurality of sliders 320 that are slidably disposed on each guide rail 310, and each slider 320. A nozzle 330 for separating and dispensing a sample, a space restricting means 340 that can be extended and contracted along each guide rail 310, and slidably provided on both guide rails 310 and 310, and a space restricting means 340. And an expansion / contraction operation urging means 350 for urging the expansion / contraction operation.

  Among these, the space regulating means 340 uniformly connects a plurality of (for example, four) sliders 320 provided on each guide rail 310 and is rotatably connected to each slider 320 at an intersection. It is a linked body of X-shaped unit links. Further, the interval regulating means 340 has its tip end fixed to the expansion / contraction operation urging means 350.

  Then, when the expansion / contraction operation urging means 350 moves to the right along the guide rail 310, for example, the connecting body of the interval restricting means 340 extends, and the slider 320 to which each unit link of the connecting body is connected is the same. The direction of the nozzle 330 is increased. On the other hand, by moving in the left direction, the coupling body of the interval regulating means 340 is contracted, and the slider 320 to which the unit links of the coupling body are connected moves in the same direction, thereby narrowing the pitch of the nozzles 330. .

  Patent Document 2 discloses a dispensing head 400 in which the nozzle pitch can be changed by using a plurality of belts 420 and 430 as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the dispensing head 400 includes a mounting base 410 to which each of a plurality of (for example, five) nozzles (not shown) is attached, and the left and right of the central mounting base 411 of the mounting base 410. A first belt 420 to which left and right mounting bases 412 and 413 are fixed, and a second belt to which left and right end mounting bases 414 and 415 provided at both left and right ends of the mounting base 410 are fixed. 430, and a drive source 440 that rotationally drives the first belt 420 and the second belt 430.

  Among these, the first belt 420 is wound around a first drive pulley 442 fixed to the drive shaft 441 of the drive source 440 and driven pulleys 443 and 444, and the lower surface is supported by the support pulley 445. Yes. In the first belt 420, a right mounting base 413 is fixed to a belt portion (belt-side portion of the belt) positioned on the upper side between the driven pulleys 443 and 444, and a belt portion (belt) positioned on the lower side is fixed. The left mounting base 412 is fixed to the return side portion).

  Similarly to the first belt 420, the second belt 430 is wound around a second drive pulley 446 and driven pulleys 443 and 444 fixed to the drive shaft 441 of the drive source 440, and the support pulley 445. The lower surface is supported by the right end mounting base 415 is fixed to the upper belt portion between the driven pulleys 443 and 444, and the left end mounting base 414 is fixed to the lower belt portion.

  Note that each of the mounting bases 410 is fixed to the belts 420 and 430 via brackets 450.

  The diameter of the first drive pulley 442 is set to be approximately half of the diameter of the second drive pulley 446 (an integer multiple ratio), and the drive shaft 441 is fixed at the reference position by rotating a predetermined angle. The mounting bases 412 to 415 fixed to the first and second belts 420 and 430 are moved toward and away from each other while maintaining a substantially equal interval around the central mounting base 411.

  Accordingly, when the drive shaft 411 rotates in the right direction, the first and second belts 420 and 430 rotate in the right direction, so that the center mounting base 411, the right mounting base 413, the right end mounting base 415, etc. The right and right end mounting bases 413 and 415 are moved in the right direction while maintaining the interval, and the left and right end mounting bases 412 and 412 are maintained while maintaining the central mounting base 411, the left mounting base 412 and the left end mounting base 414 at equal intervals. 414 is moved to the left.

  On the other hand, when the drive shaft 411 rotates in the left direction, the first and second belts 420 and 430 rotate in the left direction, so that the center mounting base 411, the right mounting base 413, the right end mounting base 415, etc. The right and right end mounting bases 413 and 415 are moved to the left while maintaining the interval, and the left and left end mounting bases 412 and 412 are maintained while maintaining the center mounting base 411, the left mounting base 412 and the left end mounting 414 at equal intervals. 414 is moved to the right.

JP-A-11-160328 JP 9-318636 A

  However, the dispensing head of Patent Document 1 complicates the interval regulating means 340 and the expansion / contraction operation biasing means 350 in order to change the nozzle pitch. The variation in accuracy of the components causes a deterioration in accuracy due to an increase in the number of components, and there is a problem that it is difficult to position the nozzles so that the intervals between the nozzles are substantially equal, and the accuracy cannot be increased.

  Further, in the dispensing head of Patent Document 2, since the long first belt and the second belt are used, and the nozzle mounting base is connected to each belt, the nozzles are arranged so that the nozzles are substantially equally spaced. It was difficult to position and the accuracy could not be increased.

  In addition, since the dispensing head becomes large when the belt is long, the dispensing head is moved horizontally by a horizontal drive mechanism (not shown) from the place where the test tube is placed to the place where the microplate is placed, for example, when examining a specimen. The space part which becomes the movement range of was increased, and the dimensions of the dispensing system could not be made compact.

  Furthermore, since the weight of the dispensing head also increases, it may cause an increase in the size and weight of the XY drive device in order to ensure the XY position accuracy of the dispensing system when the dispensing head is moved. Therefore, there is a problem that the drive motor has been increased in size and a compact and inexpensive device could not be provided.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is capable of reducing the size by adopting a simple mechanism, and is capable of adjusting the nozzle interval to an arbitrary dimension with high accuracy. It is an object to provide an apparatus.

  The present invention includes a first guide shaft and a second guide shaft that are arranged to face each other in parallel, a plurality of nozzle holders that are guided by the respective guide shafts, and each nozzle that is held by each nozzle holder. In a liquid dispensing apparatus including a driving unit that moves along each guide shaft in a state of being alternately arranged for each guide shaft, each nozzle holder guided by the first guide shaft is The nozzle holders are fixed at a reference position and are connected by a first link mechanism that maintains the same adjoining interval as the first link mechanism, and each nozzle holder guided by the second guide shaft has an adjoining interval. The movement in the axial direction is restricted by the position restricting means that is connected by the second link mechanism that maintains the same and that is fixed at one place of the second link mechanism on the opposite side of the reference position. thing More is obtained by solving the above problems.

  In the present invention, the nozzle holding body may be provided with an interval regulating means for regulating a minimum adjacent interval. Also, the first drive shaft for moving one of the nozzle holders guided by the first guide shaft in the axial direction and the one of the nozzle holders guided by the second guide shaft are moved in the axial direction. The second drive shaft may be driven simultaneously by the drive means.

  According to the present invention, each of the nozzle holders guided by the first guide shaft is connected to the second guide by the first link mechanism in which one of the nozzle holders is fixed at the reference position and the adjacent intervals are maintained the same. Each nozzle holder guided by the shaft is connected by a second link mechanism that maintains the same spacing between the adjacent ones as the first link mechanism, and one location of the second link mechanism is opposite to the reference position. Since the movement in the axial direction is regulated by the regulating means, it is possible to realize a reduction in size by adopting a simple mechanism and to adjust the nozzle interval to an arbitrary dimension with high accuracy.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The dispensing head (liquid dispensing apparatus) of the present embodiment, for example, dispenses liquid specimens in a plurality of test tubes (not shown), for example, and each dispensed specimen is a microplate (not shown). Etc.) is provided in a dispensing system (not shown) that can dispense a predetermined amount at the same time into the inspection recesses of the container.

  The dispensing head can be adjusted to a desired interval by moving the nozzles close to or away from each other when the sample is dispensed or dispensed, and is dispensed by, for example, an XY drive source (not shown). XY movement (horizontal movement) is free with respect to the system.

  FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view showing one nozzle holder mounted on a dispensing head, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a dispensing head according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an essential part thereof. 4 is a front perspective view thereof, FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view thereof, FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view showing a dispensing head, and FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view showing an essential part thereof.

  The nozzle holder 1 in FIG. 1 has a function of holding a nozzle 2 having a mechanism for automatically sucking and discharging a liquid such as a specimen in a predetermined positional relationship. Specifically, in this nozzle holder 1, a feed nut 1D is screwed by rotating a feed screw 1D through a belt 1B and a pulley 1C by a drive motor 1A fixed at the top. The holding portion 1F for fixing 1E is moved up and down, and the nozzle 2 held by the holding portion 1F can be moved up and down.

  In addition, the nozzle holder 1 has guide holes 1G formed in two upper and lower portions, and is guided by a slide shaft, which will be described later, through the two guide holes 1G, and can move in the axial direction. In the middle position between the upper and lower guide holes 1G, a loose fitting hole 1H into which a feed screw described later is inserted is formed.

  The dispensing head according to the present embodiment is supported entirely by a frame 3 located in the periphery as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, and is opposed to the frame 3. A first slide shaft (guide shaft) 4 and a second slide shaft 5 arranged in parallel to each other are fixed.

  These first and second slide shafts 4 and 5 guide the first to eighth nozzle holders indicated by reference numerals 6 to 13 in the drawing, respectively. That is, the first to fourth nozzle holders 6 to 9 guided by the first slide shaft 4 and the fifth to eighth nozzle holders guided by the second slide shaft 5 (hereinafter simply referred to as holding). 10-13 in a state where the first to fourth nozzles 6A to 9A and the fifth to eighth nozzles 10A to 13A, which are held respectively, are alternately arranged. , And a pulse motor (driving means) 14 that moves along the slide shafts 4 and 5.

  If the dispensing head of this embodiment is explained in full detail, the said 1st slide axis | shaft 4 and the 2nd slide axis | shaft 5 are each comprised by two upper and lower sides. The first to eighth holders 6 to 13 guided by the first and second slide shafts 4 and 5 are basically different in the arrangement position of the drive motor 1A. The function is substantially the same as that of the nozzle holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the first to eighth nozzles 6A to 13A are all the same as the nozzle 2 shown in FIG.

  Next, a link mechanism is demonstrated using FIG. 4 and FIG.

  Among the first to fourth holding bodies 6 to 9 guided by the first slide shaft 4, the first holding body 6 is fixed to a predetermined position of the frame 3, and the reference positions for the operation of all other holding bodies It has become. The second to fourth holding bodies 7 to 9 guided by the first slide shaft 4 other than the first holding body 6 are connected by a first link mechanism 15 that expands and contracts while maintaining the same spacing between adjacent ones. ing.

  The first link mechanism 15 is composed of a plurality of link members in which a rotation shaft 15A is pivotally supported by the first to fourth holding bodies 6 to 9 and connected to be extendable along the first slide shaft 4. ing.

  The fifth to eighth holders 10 to 13 guided by the second slide shaft 5 are connected by a second link mechanism 16 that maintains the same spacing between adjacent ones.

  The second link mechanism 16 has substantially the same configuration as the first link mechanism 15, but the link member connected to the fifth holding body 10 is further extended before the rotating shaft 16A. A projecting portion 16B protruding from the extended end portion is formed on a regulation guide (position regulation means) 17 fixed to the frame 3 on the side facing the first holding body 6 at the reference position. By being guided by the guide hole 17A in the vertical direction, the movement in the axial direction is restricted with the guide hole 17A as a reference position.

  As shown in FIG. 6 and rear views of FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 described later, the regulation guide 17 includes a first holding body 6 in which a guide hole 17A is fixed at a reference position on the first slide shaft 4 side. Are fixed to the frame 3 with screws so as to be located on substantially the opposite side (back side) of the frame.

  In the present embodiment, a first feed screw (drive shaft) 18 that moves one of the holding bodies guided by the first slide shaft 4 in the axial direction is at an intermediate position between the upper and lower first slide shafts 4. It is arranged. Similarly, a second feed screw (drive shaft) 19 that moves one of the holding bodies guided by the second slide shaft 5 in the axial direction is disposed at an intermediate position between the upper and lower second slide shafts 5. Yes.

  A first pulley 18A and a second pulley 19A are connected to the drive side ends of the first feed screw 18 and the second feed screw 19, respectively. These timing pulleys 18A, 19A are timing pulleys of the pulse motor 14. It can rotate in the same direction via a timing belt 20 that is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise by 14A.

  Further, on the first slide shaft 4 side, a feed nut 21 is attached to the fourth holding body 9 on the driving side so as to coincide with the loose fitting hole (1H in FIG. 1). The fourth holding body 9 is moved in the axial direction by rotating the first feed screw 18 inserted into the loose fitting holes in the other second and third holding bodies 7 and 8. By the movement of the fourth holding body, the other second and third holding bodies 7 and 8 connected through the first link mechanism 15 are moved in the axial direction in conjunction with each other.

  Similarly, on the second slide shaft 5 side, the feed nut 21 </ b> A is attached only to the eighth holding body 13, and the eighth holding body 13 is moved in the axial direction by the rotation of the second feed screw 19. The other fifth, sixth, and seventh holding bodies 10, 11, and 12 are moved in the axial direction in conjunction with the two-link mechanism 16.

  The fifth holding body 10 is moved by the restriction guide 17 fixed to the frame 3 so that the movement amount with respect to the first holding body 6 at the reference position is the second, third and fourth holding bodies 7. , 8 and 9 are configured to be ½ of the movement amount.

  Therefore, each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth holding bodies 11, 12, and 13 is used to obtain the same movement amount as that of each of the second, third, and fourth holding bodies 7, 8, and 9. Requires a movement amount obtained by adding the movement amount of the fifth holding body 10.

  For this purpose, the first pulley 18A of the first feed screw 18 has the same diameter as the timing pulley 14A of the pulse motor 14, but the diameter of the second pulley 19A of the second feed screw 19 is smaller than both pulleys 14A and 18A. It is small. Accordingly, the rotation amount of the first feed screw 18 and the second feed screw 19 is larger than that of the first feed screw 18 due to the difference in diameter between the pulleys 18A and 19A. Increases, and the amount of movement of the eighth holder 13 increases.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the first holding body 6 to the fourth holding body 9 respectively moved by the rotation of the first feed screw 18 and the second feed screw 19 driven by the pulse motor 14. The fifth holding body 10 to the eighth holding body 13 are arranged in a staggered arrangement. As a result, the fifth nozzle 10A is between the first nozzle 6A and the second nozzle 7A, the sixth nozzle 11A is between the second nozzle 7A and the third nozzle 8A, and between the third nozzle 8A and the fourth nozzle 9A. The seventh nozzles 12A are arranged in the same row and the eighth nozzles 13A are arranged outside the fourth nozzles 9A so that the nozzles can be moved toward and away from each other.

  The nozzle spacing can be arbitrarily adjusted from the maximum shown in FIG. 2 to the minimum shown in the rear perspective view of FIG. 7 and the rear view of FIG. The maximum interval is defined by an origin sensor 22 such as a photo interrupter, and the minimum interval is defined by a regulation pin (spacing regulation means) 23 attached to each holding body. Incidentally, the maximum nozzle interval is 23 mm (the holding member interval on each axis is 46 mm), and the minimum nozzle interval is 9 mm (the holding member interval is 18 mm).

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the nozzle interval is increased from the minimum dimension shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first feed screw 18 and the second feed screw are rotated by rotating the pulse motor 14 in the clockwise direction in the direction of increasing the nozzle interval. Reference numeral 19 denotes the first slide shaft 4 and the second slide shaft 5 through the feed nuts 21 and 21A attached to the fourth nozzle holding body 9 and the eighth nozzle holding body 13, respectively. Will move up.

  The first link mechanism 15 connected to the holding body 9 with respect to the first holding body 6 fixed to the frame 3 by the axial movement of the fourth holding body 9 on the first slide shaft 4 side. The third and second holding bodies 8 and 7 are moved at equal intervals by the rotation in the extending direction.

  On the other hand, on the second slide shaft 5 side, each of the seventh, sixth, and fifth holding bodies is caused by the movement of the eighth holding body 13 and the rotation of the second link mechanism 16 connected thereto in the extending direction. 12, 11, and 10 move at the same regular intervals as the first slide shaft 4 side.

  Accordingly, the nozzle spacing shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be arbitrarily changed from the minimum dimension state to the maximum dimension state where the link mechanism is extended as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively. It becomes possible to change.

  Further, by rotating the pulse motor 14 in the counterclockwise direction from the state where the nozzle interval is the maximum, it is possible to achieve the minimum dimension shown in FIGS.

  According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) Since the first nozzle holding body 6 is fixed and the held first nozzle 6A is used as a reference, even if the position or interval is changed as in a test tube or a microplate. By using the first holding body 6 as a reference, positioning when the dispensing head on which each nozzle is mounted is moved in the XY directions becomes easy.

  (2) Since the nozzle holders are arranged in two parallel axes, the total length of the head in the nozzle arrangement direction can be made compact even when the number of nozzles is increased.

  (3) Since the interval restricting means for restricting the interval between adjacent nozzles when the nozzle interval is the minimum is provided, the dimensional accuracy of the minimum nozzle interval can be improved.

  (4) Since each holding body guided by the two slide shafts is moved by the first and second feed screws rotated by the timing belt driven by the same pulse motor, the number of parts is increased. As a result, the nozzle can be made more compact, the accuracy of nozzle movement during driving can be improved, and cost reduction can be achieved.

  Although the present invention has been specifically described above, the dispensing head of the present invention is not limited to that shown in the embodiment.

  For example, although the case where the minimum dimension between nozzles is 9 mm is shown, it can be arbitrarily changed in accordance with the dimension of the concave portion for inspection such as a microplate, and the maximum dimension between nozzles may be 23 mm or more.

  In the embodiment, the reference position is the first holding body (first nozzle), but another holding body may be used. Further, the feed nut may be provided in addition to the fourth and eighth holders.

The side view which shows the nozzle holding body with which the dispensing head of one Embodiment which concerns on this invention is provided. The top view which shows the whole dispensing head of this embodiment Side view showing the main part of the dispensing head of this embodiment Front perspective view showing the main part of the dispensing head of the present embodiment Rear perspective view showing the main part of the dispensing head of the present embodiment Rear perspective view showing the entire dispensing head of the present embodiment The other back perspective view showing the important section of the dispensing head of this embodiment The rear view which shows the principal part of the dispensing head of this embodiment The front view which shows the principal part of the dispensing head of this embodiment The other rear view which shows the principal part of the dispensing head of this embodiment A perspective view showing an outline of a conventional dispensing head Plan view showing the outline of another conventional dispensing head

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Nozzle holding body 2 ... Nozzle 3 ... Frame 4 ... 1st slide (guide) axis | shaft 5 ... 2nd slide (guide) axis | shaft 6-13 ... 1st-8th (nozzle) holding body 6A-13A ... 1st-1st 8th nozzle 14 ... Pulse motor 15 ... 1st link mechanism 16 ... 2nd link mechanism 17 ... Restriction guide (position control means)
17A ... guide hole 18 ... first feed screw (drive shaft)
19: Second feed screw (drive shaft)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Timing belt 21, 21A ... Feed nut 22 ... Origin sensor 23 ... Restriction pin (space | interval regulation means)

Claims (3)

A first guide shaft and a second guide shaft arranged in parallel and opposed to each other, a plurality of nozzle holders guided by the respective guide shafts, and each nozzle holder, each nozzle being held by each guide shaft. In a liquid dispensing apparatus provided with drive means for moving in the respective axial directions in a state of being alternately arranged,
Each of the nozzle holders guided by the first guide shaft is connected by a first link mechanism in which one of the nozzle holders is fixed at a reference position and maintains the same spacing between adjacent ones.
Each nozzle holder guided by the second guide shaft is connected by a second link mechanism that maintains the same interval between the nozzle holders as the first link mechanism, and one location of the second link mechanism is the reference A liquid dispensing apparatus, wherein movement in the axial direction is restricted by a position restricting means fixed on the opposite side of the position.   The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle holder is provided with an interval regulating unit that regulates a minimum adjacent interval.   A first drive shaft that moves one of the nozzle holders guided by the first guide shaft in the axial direction and a second drive shaft that moves one of the nozzle holders guided by the second guide shaft in the axial direction. The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is simultaneously driven by the drive unit.

Images