JP2007017242A - Liquid container for dispenser, and dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a reagent from spilling from a reagent bottle when a worker conveys or arranges the reagent bottle to a predetermined position in an analysis device. <P>SOLUTION: In this liquid container for a dispenser (reagent bottle 20) where liquid (reagent 18) is sucked by a dispensing nozzle 12 inserted from an upward opening 22, both longitudinal ends of the opening 22 are provided with a lid-like member 26 of which inside tip is bent in the inserting direction of the dispensing nozzle 12 and that can be turned only downward. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid container for a dispensing apparatus and a dispensing apparatus in which liquid is sucked by a dispensing nozzle inserted from an upper opening, and particularly in the field of drug discovery screening, biotechnology, life science, etc. A reagent bottle storing a reagent, which is suitable for use as a reagent bottle in a dispensing apparatus used for dispensing a liquid when reacting a specimen such as blood with a reagent or reacting a plurality of types of reagents with each other The present invention relates to a liquid container for a dispensing device and a dispensing device using the same, which can prevent a reagent from spilling out from a reagent bottle when transporting and arranging the liquid at a predetermined position of the dispensing device.

  In an analyzer that performs analysis by reacting a specimen such as blood with a reagent or reacting a plurality of types of reagents with each other, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the reagent stored in the reagent bottle 20 is dispensed. A dispensing head 10 in which a plurality of dispensing nozzles 12 are arranged in a line is provided. A detachable nozzle tip 14 is attached to the tip of the dispensing nozzle 12. The dispensing head 10 moves between a suction target position set for the reagent bottle storage unit and a discharge target position set for a dispensing stage on which a container for storing a sample or the like is placed. In addition, in each of the suction target position and the discharge target position, each dispensing nozzle 12 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

  The reagent bottle storage unit is arranged along a direction orthogonal to the dispensing nozzles 12 arranged in a row, and each of the reagent bottles 20 includes a plurality of dispensing nozzles 12 each having a nozzle chip 14 attached thereto. The opening 22 is provided so that the direction parallel to the dispensing nozzles 12 arranged in a row is the longitudinal direction. Each reagent bottle 20 individually stores a liquid reagent necessary for analysis.

  The reagent bottles 20 in which the reagents are stored are poured into a predetermined amount of each reagent outside the analyzer, and an operator transports and arranges the reagent bottles 20 one by one at a predetermined position in the analyzer, or a tray. In general, the reagent bottles 20 are arranged in a tray, and the operator carries and arranges the trays at a predetermined position in the analyzer in a lump.

  However, when the operator transports and arranges the reagent bottle 20 in which the reagent is stored at a predetermined position of the apparatus, the reagent easily spills from the reagent bottle 20 due to the flow of the reagent due to the inertial force inside the reagent bottle 20. There was a problem.

  In order to solve such problems, (1) reducing the amount of reagent put into the reagent bottle 20, (2) enlarging the reagent bottle 20, and (3) each reagent bottle 20 like a commercial product. (4) As described in Patent Document 1, the opening portion 22 of the reagent bottle 20 is made smaller and the flow of the reagent due to the inertial force of the reagent is prevented inside the reagent bottle 20. It is conceivable to provide a partition plate (buffer plate) 24.

JP-A-2005-17176

  However, if the amount of the reagent put into the reagent bottle is reduced as in (1), the frequency of replacing the reagent bottle increases and the burden on the operator increases. Further, when the capacity of the reagent bottle is increased as in (2), the apparatus size is increased. In addition, when a sealing lid is provided for each reagent bottle as shown in (3), all reagent bottle lids must be removed after the reagent bottles are arranged at predetermined positions in the apparatus. The burden will increase. (4) Since the entrance becomes narrow when the opening 22 is made small as in Patent Document 1, only one nozzle can be inserted in the example of Patent Document 1, and further, if the partition plate 24 is provided, the nozzle position Has a problem that it is restricted by the partition plate 24.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent liquid from spilling from a liquid container during transportation and arrangement.

  The present invention relates to a liquid container for a dispensing device in which liquid is sucked by a dispensing nozzle inserted from an upper opening, and a lid shape that does not obstruct the insertion of the dispensing nozzle at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the opening. By providing a member, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

  Also, the inner tip of the lid-like member is bent in the direction in which the dispensing nozzle is inserted, so that the undulating liquid is rebounded to the inside of the container and the movement of the dispensing nozzle is smoothed, so that the nozzle tip from the dispensing nozzle Is to prevent it from coming off.

  In addition, the lid-like member can be rotated only downward so that the liquid container can be made as small as possible.

  The present invention also provides a dispensing apparatus comprising the liquid container.

  According to the present invention, an operator transports and arranges a liquid container in which a predetermined amount of liquid is poured outside the analyzer to a predetermined position in the analyzer, or arranges a liquid container on a tray or the like. In addition, it is possible to prevent liquid from spilling from the liquid container when the operator transports and arranges the trays at a predetermined position in the analyzer.

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

  As shown in FIG. 3, the present embodiment is for a dispensing apparatus having a rectangular opening 22 on the upper surface so that a plurality of dispensing nozzles (not shown) equipped with nozzle tips inserted from above can be sucked simultaneously. In the reagent bottle 20 of FIG. 4, a lid-like member 26 whose tip is bent in an R shape that does not obstruct the insertion of the dispensing nozzle 12 fitted with the nozzle tip 14 at both longitudinal ends of the opening 22 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower part is provided so as to be rotatable only downward. The lid-like member 26 is configured to always return to the original position by the action of the restoring spring 28.

  In the above configuration, when the reagent bottle 20 in which the reagent 18 is stored is transported / placed to a predetermined position of the analyzer, the reagent 18 becomes longer than the length of the reagent bottle 20 due to the flow of the inertia force of the reagent inside the reagent bottle body. The undulating reagent is returned to the inside of the reagent bottle 20 by the lid-shaped members 26 having R-shaped tips provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the opening 22 of the reagent bottle 20. In addition, the wave of the short side direction of the opening part 22 is small, and does not become a problem.

  Further, since the lid-shaped member 26 having an R-shaped tip is rotatably supported downward, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of dispensing nozzles 12 fitted with the nozzle tips 14 simultaneously aspirate the reagent. Therefore, when it is lowered, the lid-like member 26 is pushed by the nozzle tip 14 and rotates to the inside of the lower container. Further, when the dispensing nozzle 12 is raised, the end of the lid-like member 26 has an R shape, so that the nozzle tip 14 attached to the dispensing nozzle 12 is not hindered from being raised and restored. The spring 28 returns to the original position by the action.

  In the present embodiment, the inner tip of the lid-like member 26 is bent in the direction in which the dispensing nozzle 12 is inserted, so that the undulating reagent 18 in the reagent bottle 20 can be returned downward again and dispensed. The nozzle operation can be made smooth so that the nozzle tip 14 is not detached from the dispensing nozzle 12.

  In addition, since the lid-like member 26 is supported so as to be pivotable downward, when the plurality of dispensing nozzles 12 to which the nozzle chips 14 are attached simultaneously sucks the reagent, the reagent bottle 20 can be used to dispose the dispensing nozzle 12. It does not interfere with the vertical movement. Therefore, the dispensing nozzle 12 can be arranged as close as possible to the side wall of the reagent bottle 20, and it is not necessary to enlarge the reagent bottle 20 more than necessary in order to avoid interference with the dispensing nozzle 12.

  The shape and movement of the lid-like member 26 are not limited to this embodiment.

  In the above description, the present invention has been applied to the reagent bottle of the dispensing apparatus. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to this, and it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to liquid containers for dispensing apparatuses in general. is there.

The perspective view which shows the principal part structure of an example of the conventional dispensing apparatus. The perspective view which shows the reagent bottle described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2005-17176 The perspective view which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention Similarly, a sectional view seen from the front to explain the action

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Dispensing head 12 ... Dispensing nozzle 14 ... Nozzle tip 18 ... Reagent 20 ... Reagent bottle 22 ... Opening part 26 ... Lid-like member 28 ... Restoration spring

Claims (4)

In a liquid container for a dispensing device in which liquid is sucked by a dispensing nozzle inserted from an upper opening,
A liquid container for a dispensing apparatus, wherein lid-like members that do not obstruct the insertion of the dispensing nozzle are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the opening.   The liquid container for a dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein an inner front end of the lid-like member is bent in the insertion direction of the dispensing nozzle.   The liquid container for a dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid-like member is rotatable only downward.   A dispensing apparatus comprising the liquid container for a dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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