JP2007093285A - Mechanism for attaching and removing tube member and dispensing apparatus using same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve inspection efficiency by reliably preventing defects in the attachment and removal of tube members due to liquid surface tension in a dispensing apparatus using a mechanism for attaching and removing tube members. <P>SOLUTION: The dispensing apparatus includes a chip case 60 for arranging a plurality of chips 50 with attachment and removal parts 50a oriented in a prescribed direction; a plurality of chip rods 11 having a fitting part 11a in each tip; a first moving means such as a drive motor 14 for a chip attachment and removal part and for relatively moving the chip rods 11 in a prescribed direction to the chip case 60 fitting them in the attachment and removal parts 50a of the plurality of chips 50 arranged in the chip case 60; a chip extrusion member 10 for biasing the chips 50 fitted in chip rods 11 and releasing them from fitting by relatively moving along a prescribed direction at side parts of the chip rods 11; and further a slide mechanism 13 for relatively moving the chips 50 released from fitting and the chip extrusion member 10 in directions which intersect with the prescribed direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe member attaching / detaching mechanism and a dispensing apparatus using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in various examinations, for example, a dispensing device that sucks and dispenses a predetermined amount of body fluid such as blood and urine, a sample, a reagent, and the like is used. Such a dispensing device is equipped with a tip (tube member) that is provided with a nozzle at the tip and can hold a certain amount of liquid at the tip of the suction tube, and is detached after use and replaced with another tip. A member attaching / detaching mechanism is provided.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a shaft body is moved down by a first air cylinder device and a swing arm, fitted to a nozzle tip (chip), and moved up and down along the shaft body (suction tube). A pipette device having a nozzle tip automatic changing mechanism in which a nozzle tip is removed using a nozzle tip removing lever is described.
Further, in Patent Document 2, the slider is moved up and down by one motor power, the replacement nozzle attachment (suction tube) is moved downward, the tip is fitted to the chip, and the chip is detached from the end of the chip. A nozzle dispensing device is described in which the replacement nozzle attachment is moved upward while the working arm is in contact with the tip, and the tip is removed.
In these devices, an example in which the tip is attached to and detached from one suction tube is described. However, in Patent Document 3, a plurality of cylinders (suction tubes) provided integrally with the clamp plate are connected by an S-axis motor. A liquid dispensing device that moves up and down and simultaneously fits into a plurality of dispensing tips (tips) is described. When the dispensing tips are detached, they are detached by pulling up the cylinder with the eject plate in contact with the ends of the plurality of dispensing tips.
JP-A 63-106567 (FIGS. 3 and 4) JP 2004-101479 A (FIGS. 1-4, 9) JP 2001-33463 A (FIG. 1-8)

However, the conventional pipe member attaching / detaching mechanism and the dispensing apparatus using the same have the following problems.
In the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the attachment and detachment is performed by relatively moving the suction tube in a state where the removal member is in contact with the end of the chip. On the other hand, in the liquid suction process, the liquid may penetrate between the suction tube and the chip due to capillary action, and may also penetrate between the removal member and the end of the chip.
Even when the suction tube is pulled out from the tip, the tip may be adsorbed by the removal member due to the surface tension of the liquid that has permeated between the removal member and the tip.
In such a case, the chip has to be removed manually, which hinders automatic replacement of the chip and causes a problem that inspection efficiency deteriorates.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a tube member attaching / detaching mechanism that can reliably prevent the tube member from being detached due to the surface tension of the liquid and can improve the inspection efficiency. It aims at providing the used dispensing apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a mechanism for attaching and detaching a plurality of tube members having a fitted portion, wherein the plurality of tube members are arranged in a fixed direction. A tube member holding portion disposed toward the fitting portion, a plurality of tubular rods each having a fitting portion fitted to the fitted portion at each tip, and the plurality of tubular rods with respect to the tube member holding portion. A first moving means that moves relative to each other along the direction and is fitted to the fitted portions of the plurality of tube members disposed in the tube member holding portion, and a side portion of the tubular rod along the fixed direction. The detachable member that urges the tube member fitted to the tubular rod to release the fitting by relatively moving, and the tube member and the detachable member released from the fitting are fixed to each other. And a second moving means that relatively moves in a direction crossing the direction.
According to this invention, with respect to the plurality of tube members in which the plurality of tubular rods are arranged in the tube member holding portion, the plurality of tubular rods are relatively moved by the first moving means, and the fitting portions of the plurality of tubular rods are moved. Fits to a plurality of tube members. Then, by moving the detachable member relative to the tubular rod by the first moving means, the tube member fitted to the tubular rod is urged to release the fitting between all the tubular members and the tubular rod. To do. Then, the tube member released from the fitting and the detachable member are relatively moved by the second moving means in a direction intersecting the moving direction at the time of fitting, and the tube member is detached from the detaching member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the dispensing device using the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism, the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism according to the first aspect is provided, and a tip having a nozzle portion formed at the tip is provided as the tube member. It is configured to be detachable.
According to this invention, since the pipe member attaching / detaching mechanism according to the first aspect is provided, the same effect as the invention according to the first aspect is provided.

  According to the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism and the dispensing apparatus using the same according to the present invention, the second moving means intersects the moving direction at the time of fitting the tube member and the detachable member released from the fitting. Accordingly, the nozzle member is detached from the detachable member, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the nozzle chip from being detached due to the surface tension of the liquid and to improve the inspection efficiency.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In all the drawings, even if the embodiments are different, the same or corresponding members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and common description is omitted.

A tube member attaching / detaching mechanism and a dispensing apparatus using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a front explanatory view for explaining a schematic configuration of a dispensing apparatus using a tube member attaching / detaching mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is also an explanatory diagram on the right side. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the detachable member of the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, taken along line B-B in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.
The coordinate axes in the figure are an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system arranged in a direction common to each figure for the convenience of referring to the direction. The arrangement direction is such that the XY plane is the horizontal plane, the Z-axis positive direction is the vertical upward direction, and the direction from the X-axis positive direction to the X-axis negative direction is the front view direction (the same applies hereinafter).

  In various tests, the dispensing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment sucks and dispenses, for example, a body fluid such as blood and urine, a sample, a reagent, and the like, or sucks and discharges the liquid in the container. It is a device for doing. A tip 50 (tube member) having a nozzle portion at the tip and capable of holding a certain amount of liquid can be automatically replaced and used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tip 50 is a member in which a tip hole portion 50 d (nozzle portion) and a detachable portion 50 a (fitted portion) are provided at the end of a tubular tip body 50 c, for example, a synthetic It is manufactured at a low cost with resin or the like, and is generally replaced with a new one each time it is used in order to prevent mixing of sucked liquid.
The tip hole portion 50d is provided with a hole having a constant diameter at the tip of a tapered nozzle for sucking and dropping a predetermined amount of liquid.
The detachable portion 50a has a female shape that fits on the outer peripheral side of the fitting portion 11a of the tip rod 11 described later. For example, like this embodiment, when the fitting part 11a is a taper-shaped convex shape with a taper, it is equipped with the taper-shaped concave shape which diameter-expands to an edge part side.
The chip main body 50c is thicker than the maximum diameter of the tip hole portion 50d and extends with a diameter thinner than the minimum diameter of the detachable portion 50a. And the receiving part 50b which is a step part for hold | maintaining the attaching / detaching part 50a to an upper direction in the perpendicular direction is formed in the outer peripheral part by the side of the attaching / detaching part 50a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the schematic configuration of the dispensing apparatus 100 includes an attachment base 1, a support plate 2, and a tip attachment / detachment unit 40 (tube member attachment / detachment mechanism).
The mounting base 1 is composed of a plate member arranged on the YZ plane, and constitutes a support base that supports the chip attaching / detaching portion 40 in the vertical direction.
The support plate 2 supports the mounting base 1 from above in the vertical direction, and is held by a slide mechanism 13 (second moving means) so as to be movable in the X-axis direction with respect to a base member (not shown).
The slide mechanism 13 includes a slider 13a and a slide rail 13b, and is driven by a drive mechanism such as a ball screw driven by a motor (not shown) or a linear motor provided on the slide rail 13b. In the drawing, the case where the movement direction is the X-axis direction is illustrated, but a configuration in which movement is possible in both the X-axis and Y-axis directions may be employed as necessary.

  The schematic configuration of the chip attaching / detaching portion 40 is as follows: a tip case 60 (tube member holding portion), a tip rod 11 (tubular rod), a tip rod holder 9, a ball screw 4, a tip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14, and a chip pushing member 10 (detaching member). , And a protruding pin 21.

The chip case 60 is a member for arranging a plurality of chips 50 to be mounted at a time in an aligned manner in a state in which the detachable portion 50a is directed vertically upward (Z-axis positive direction). In the present embodiment, a plurality of rod storage holes 60b having openings large enough to lock the receiving part 50b of the chip 50 from above are formed on the chip receiving surface 60a of the upper end part extending in the horizontal direction at a predetermined pitch. Is provided.
The number of chips 50 to be mounted at one time can be set as appropriate, but in the present embodiment, a case of 10 chips will be described as an example.
The rod storage hole 60b is formed to have a size capable of storing the tip main body 50c and the tip hole portion 50d on the tip side of the receiving portion 50b of the tip 50.
In the case of this embodiment, the chip case 60 has a horizontal position fixed on a base member (not shown) and is detachably disposed on the Z axis positive direction side.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tip rod 11 is a rod member formed with a pipe passage through which a hole 11 b penetrates and extending in the Z-axis direction, and is fitted to the lower end portion and the upper end portion thereof. A portion 11a and a tube mounting portion 11c are provided. Of these intermediate portions, a stopper 11d is formed on the outer peripheral portion on the side close to the tube mounting portion 11c to be locked to the tip rod holder 9 from vertically above. A cylindrical surface having a constant outer diameter is formed on the outer peripheral portion between the stopper 11d and the fitting portion 11a.
In the present embodiment, the entire length of each tip rod 11 and the length from the stopper 11d to the tip of the fitting portion 11a are all common.

The fitting portion 11a is formed in a shape that fits into the detachable portion 50a of the chip 50 from the inside. In the present embodiment, the taper is formed in a tapered shape corresponding to the shape of the detachable portion 50a.
The tube mounting portion 11c has an uneven shape for mounting the tube 19 (see FIG. 5) for sucking or discharging air or liquid in the chip 50 through the hole 11b in an airtight manner.

The tube 19 is connected to a pump (not shown) for adjusting the pressure of the pipe line in the tip rod 11 to suck or discharge the liquid from the tip 50 fitted to the detachable portion 50a. .
The illustration of the tube 19 is omitted except for FIG. 5 in order to make the drawing easier to see.

In this embodiment, the tip rod holder 9 is a member for holding the ten tip rods 11 integrally in the through holes 9 a and moving in the Z-axis direction, and is a ball screw nut that is screwed onto the ball screw 4. 7 is fixed through a holder 8.
The through-hole 9a is provided with linear bearings 12 and 12 that support the outer periphery of the tip rod 11 so as to be slidable in the Z-axis direction at the upper and lower openings.
At both ends of the tip rod holder 9 in the Y-axis direction, spring mounting holes 9c for arranging guide rods 17 fitted with coil springs 16 from the top surface are provided, and only the guide rods 17 are penetrated through the bottom surface 9d of the spring mounting holes. Guide holes 9b are provided (see FIG. 5).

The guide rod 17 is a rod-shaped guide member for matching the position in the XY direction between the tip rod holder 9 and a tip push-out member 10 described later, and the compressed coil spring 16 is connected to the upper end portion of the guide rod 17 and the spring. Locked between the mounting hole bottom surface 9d.
The elastic force of the compressed coil springs 16, 16 is at least greater than the weight of the tip pushing member 10, and when no external force acts other than its own weight, the tip pushing member 10 is placed on the tip rod holder 9 side as shown in FIG. It can be pulled up and held.
When an external force other than its own weight acts on the tip pushing member 10 in the negative direction of the Z axis, the coil spring 16 is compressed, and the guide rod 17 can slide in the negative direction of the Z axis in the guide hole 9b.

A holding plate 18 having a hole through which the tip rod 11 passes through the upper side of the stopper 11d is fixed to the upper end portion of the holder 8.
In each tip rod 11, a compressed coil spring 15 is mounted on the outer peripheral side of each tip rod 11 between the presser plate 18 and the stopper 11 d on the upper end side of the tip rod holder 9. Therefore, when the tip rod 11 receives a load of a certain level or more from the lower end side in the positive direction of the Z axis and exceeds the elastic force of the coil spring 15, the tip rod 11 can move in the positive direction of the Z axis.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball screw 4 is fixed to the mounting base 1 by being arranged in the Z-axis direction and held at the upper and lower ends by holder blocks 6 and 3 via bearings, respectively. ing.
Guide shafts 5, 5 are fixed to both ends of the holder blocks 6, 3 in the Y-axis direction so as to position the span in the Z-axis direction and prevent the holder 8 from rotating as the ball screw 4 rotates. ing. The guide shafts 5 and 5 slidably penetrate through through holes 8 a and 8 a provided in the holder 8 to guide movement of the holder 8 in the Z-axis direction and restrict rotation in the XY plane. (See FIG. 3).
The end of the ball screw 4 on the holder block 6 side is coupled to the motor shaft 14a of the chip attaching / detaching portion driving motor 14 through an appropriate joint.

  In the holder block 3, protruding pin guide holes 3a and 3a for penetrating a protruding pin 21, which will be described later, are penetrated in the X-axis direction.

The chip attachment / detachment portion drive motor 14 is a motor that can be switched between a rotation amount and a forward / reverse direction of rotation, and rotates the ball screw 4 in the forward / reverse direction so that the ball screw nut 7 screwed into the ball screw 4 is moved to Z. The tip rod holder 9 is moved in the Z-axis direction via a holder 8 attached to the ball screw nut 7 by driving in the positive or negative direction.
Therefore, the tip rod 11 held by the tip rod holder 9 can move relative to the tip case 60 in the Z-axis direction.
That is, the ball screw 4, the ball screw nut 7, and the chip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14 constitute first moving means for moving the plurality of chip rods 11 relative to the chip case 60 along a certain direction.
The type of the chip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14 is not particularly limited, but, for example, a stepping motor or the like can be preferably used.

1-4, the chip push-out member 10 is a block member disposed below the holder 8, and between the upper surface 10d and the chip push-out surface 10a (biasing surface) on the lower surface side, A tip rod guide hole 10c provided in sliding contact or close to the side portion of each tip rod 11 protruding downward from the rod holder 9 is provided.
The size of the tip rod guide hole 10c is smaller than the outer diameter of the upper end portion of the tip 50 attached to the tip rod 11, and the tip pushing member 10 is relatively moved along the tip rod 11 so that the tip pushing surface 10a causes the tip rod guide hole 10c to move. The upper end portion of the chip 50 can be biased.
Further, rod fixing holes 10e and 10e for fixing the lower end portion of the guide rod 17 are provided at both ends in the Y-axis direction of the chip pushing member 10.

The tip push-out member 10 is configured such that each lower end of the guide rod 17 inserted through the guide hole 9b (see FIG. 5) of the tip rod holder 9 in the Z-axis direction is fixed to the rod fixing holes 10e and 10e. The guide hole 10c and each linear bearing 12 provided in the tip rod holder 9 are positioned in the XY direction with respect to the tip rod holder 9 so as to be coaxial.
For this reason, the tip push-out member 10 can move in the Z-axis direction while keeping the position in the XY direction with respect to the tip rod holder 9 constant when receiving an external force of a certain load or more in the Z-axis negative direction. .

The tip extrusion surface 10a is appropriately provided with a step according to the arrangement position of each tip rod guide hole 10c.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the surfaces S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₄ , S ₅ , S ₆ , S ₇ , S ₈ , S ₉ from the negative direction of the Y axis toward the positive direction. And the height from the upper surface 10d is t ₁ , t ₂ , t ₃ , t ₄ , t ₅ , t ₄ , t ₃ , t ₂ , t ₁ (where t ₁ <t ₂ <t A mountain-shaped staircase shape projecting in the negative Z-axis direction such that ₃ <t ₄ <t ₅ ) is formed. Here, the surface S _5, are penetrated two chips rod guide hole 10c, the other face, the chip rod guide hole 10c of one by one is through.
That is, the length of each tip rod guide hole 10c is the same for each pair from both ends in the Y-axis direction.

On the side surface of the tip push-out member 10 in the negative X-axis direction, a protruding pin insertion hole 10b that forms a recess in the positive X-axis direction is provided in a range that does not interfere with the tip rod guide hole 10c (see FIG. 2). Yes.
The protruding pin insertion hole 10b is a space for engaging the protruding pins 21 and 21 that advance and retreat in the X-axis direction in the Z-axis direction, and is provided in an oval shape in front view in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the protruding pins 21 and 21 are arranged to be inserted into the protruding pin guide holes 3 a and 3 a of the holder block 3, respectively, and are fixed to the protruding pin holder 20 at the end on the X axis negative direction side. ing.
The protruding pin holder 20 is a member that transmits a driving force for moving the protruding pin 21 forward and backward, and includes a slide hole 20a through which an oval opening penetrates in the Z-axis direction in the XY plane.

As shown in FIG. 2, the advancing / retreating mechanism of the protruding pin 21 includes a protruding pin drive motor 23, a lever 24, and a pressure roller 26.
The protruding pin drive motor 23 is for rotating a lever 24 fixed to a motor shaft 23a extended in the negative direction of the Z axis in a range of a predetermined angle in the forward and reverse directions, and the mounting base 1 via the motor holder 22 It is fixed to.
The lever 24 is provided with a support shaft 25 that extends in the negative Z-axis direction at a position that is offset by an appropriate distance in the XY plane from a fixed position with respect to the motor shaft 23a that is the rotation center. At the tip of the support shaft 25, there is provided a pressure roller 26 that is rotatably supported by the shaft.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the pressure roller 26 is a cylindrical member that is disposed in the slide hole 20a and is movably provided along the hole surface of the slide hole 20a. When the support shaft 25 is rotated, the pressure roller 26 is rotated around the support shaft 25 together with the rotation of the lever 24, and the protrusion pin holder 20 is pressurized in the X-axis direction through the inner surface of the slide hole 20a. Therefore, by controlling the forward / reverse direction of the rotation direction of the ejector pin drive motor 23 and the amount of rotation, the ejector pin holder 20 can be appropriately advanced and retracted in the X-axis direction.
As a member of the pressure roller 26, for example, a ball bearing can be employed.

Next, the operation of the dispensing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the attaching / detaching operation of the chip 50. This operation is performed automatically or manually by sending an appropriate control signal to a movable mechanism such as the slide mechanism 13, the chip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14, and the ejection pin drive motor 23 via known control means (not shown). Can be done.
FIG. 7 is a right side view operation explanatory view for explaining the mounting operation of the dispensing device using the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is also a partial front explanatory view. FIG. 9 is a right side view operation explanatory diagram for explaining the detaching operation of the dispensing apparatus using the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line DD of FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line DD of FIG. 9 for explaining the operation following FIG. FIG. 12 is a right side view operation explanatory diagram for explaining the detaching operation following the step of FIG. 11. 10 and 11, the illustration of the chip case 60 is omitted, and only the position of the chip receiving surface 60a is shown.

The mounting operation of the chip 50 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 1, the ten chips 50 to be mounted are arranged in the chip case 60 with the detachable portion 50a facing the positive direction of the Z axis.
Then, the slide mechanism 13 is driven to move the support plate 2 so that the tip rods 11 are located on the same axis above the mating tip 50 as shown in FIGS. At this time, the chip attaching / detaching portion 40 is set to a height that does not interfere with the attaching / detaching portion 50a.

In the chip attaching / detaching portion 40 in this state, the stopper 11 d of each tip rod 11 is pressed against the linear bearing 12 at the upper end of the tip rod holder 9 by each coil spring 15. Further, the tip pushing member 10 is pulled up in the positive direction of the Z-axis by the biasing force of the coil spring 16, and the upper surface 10 d is pressed against the linear bearing 12 at the lower end of the tip rod holder 9. Clearance d ₀ is formed between the lower end and the upper surface 10d of the tip rod holder 9.
At this time, at least the fitting portion 11a of each tip rod 11 protrudes below the tip pushing surface 10a. Of Chip extrusion surface 10a, the distance from the surface S ₅ which is projected lowermost, for example, h ₀ (see FIG. 1).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the chip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14 is rotated, and the ball screw nut 7 is screwed in the negative direction of the Z axis via the ball screw 4 so that the tip attaching / detaching portion 40 is moved in the negative direction of the Z axis. Moving.
And if it falls to a predetermined position, the fitting part 11a of each tip rod 11 will fit in each attachment / detachment part 50a.
In this way, the chip 50 can be attached to the fitting portion 11a of the chip rod 11.
Here, in the present embodiment, in order to absorb the variation in the arrangement height of the attaching / detaching portion 50a and to improve the adhesion between the fitting portion 11a and the attaching / detaching portion 50a, the fitting portion 11a and the attaching / detaching portion 50a Is lowered slightly below the position where the abuts.
In this manner, in the tip rod 11 that has been fitted faster due to the variation in the arrangement height of the tip 50, the reaction force from the tip 50 to the tip rod 11 that increases with the descent is applied to the coil spring 15 via the stopper 11d. The tip rod 11 is retracted in the positive direction of the Z axis until it is transmitted and balanced with the urging force of the coil spring 15. Therefore, even if the arrangement height of the chip 50 varies, an excessive load is not applied between the chip 50 and the chip rod 11, and the fitting is ensured without being insufficiently fitted. It can be carried out.

The chip 50 attached to the chip rod 11 raises the chip rod holder 9 and is pulled out from the chip case 60. And it moves to a suitable position with the slide mechanism 13, and performs dispensing operation | movement.
When the dispensing operation is completed, in order to replace the used chip 50, the chip 50 is detached and attached as follows.

First, in a state where the used chip 50 is fitted in the fitting portion 11a, the support plate 2 is moved above the collecting chip case 60, the chip rod holder 9 is lowered, and the chip 50 is chipped. Store in the case 60. And the receiving part 50b of the chip | tip 50 is hold | maintained at the height which substantially contact | abuts to the chip | tip receiving surface 60a of the chip | tip case 60. FIG. This state is substantially the same as the state immediately after the fitting is completed, and is the state shown in FIGS.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the distance between the tip receiving surface 60a and the surface _{S 5 H 0 (however, H 0> h} 0) to. Further, the gap between the tip rod holder 9 and the chip push-out member 10 is d _0.
Further, the projecting pins 21 and 21 are located at the retracted position on the Z axis negative direction side.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the ejection pin drive motor 23 is rotated to move the pressure roller 26 in the positive direction of the X axis, pressurizing the inner surface of the slide hole 20a, and the ejection pins 21, 21 are moved to the X axis. Protruding in the forward direction, the tip of each protruding pin 21 is inserted into the protruding pin insertion hole 10b.
Then, the tip attaching / detaching portion driving motor 14 is rotated in the direction opposite to that when lowered, and the tip rod holder 9 is raised.
Since the tip rod 11 is locked to the linear bearing 12 on the upper surface side of the tip rod holder 9 via the stopper 11d, each tip rod 11 also rises as the tip rod holder 9 rises.
On the other hand, the chip push-out member 10 is held at a constant height because it is engaged in the Z-axis direction by the push-out pins 21 and 21 inserted into the push-out pin insertion hole 10b.

For this reason, the tip push-out member 10 moves relatively to the Z-axis negative direction side with respect to the tip rod 11 raised along the tip rod guide hole 10c. FIG. 10 shows a state where the tip rod holder 9 is moved in the positive direction of the Z axis by a distance d ₁ (where d ₁ > d ₀ ) and the upper end of the tip 50 comes into contact with the surface S ₅ . .
Along with such relative movement, the end of each chip 50 mounted on the fitting portion 11a moves to the surfaces S ₅ , S ₄ (S ₆ ), S ₃ (S ₇ ), S ₂ (S ₈ ), S _The chips abut sequentially on the chip pushing surface 10a in the order of ₁ (S ₉ ). As the relative movement continues, the reaction force is urged from the chip pushing surface 10a to the chip 50 in the negative Z-axis direction. As a result, the fitting part 11a is pulled out from the attaching / detaching part 50a, and the fitting is sequentially released. The
In FIG. 11, the tip rod holder 9 is raised to a height d ₂ (where d ₂ > d ₁ ) with respect to the upper surface 10d, and the tip of the tip rod 11 is positioned above the tip push-out member 10, A state in which the fitting with all the chips 50 is released is shown.
In such a state, the chip attaching / detaching portion driving motor 14 is stopped.

Thus, in this embodiment, by the step of chip extrusion surface 10a, the surface _{S 5, S 4 (S 6} ), S 3 (S 7), S 2 (S 8), in the order of _S 1 (S ₉₎ The fitting between the two tips 50 and the tip rod 11 is released with a time difference corresponding to the step. Therefore, the driving torque that becomes the load of the chip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14 is only a torque corresponding to the load for releasing the fitting of the two fitting portions, and is one fifth of the case of releasing the fitting at the ten locations simultaneously. Reduced.
What is necessary is just to set the level | step difference of the chip | tip extrusion surface 10a to the level | step difference corresponding to the time difference which cancellation | release of 1 set of fitting is complete | finished. For example, since it is sufficient if the step is larger than the deformation amount of the chip 50 at the time of mating release, it is generally sufficient that there is a slight step, and the increase in time of the detachment operation due to the time difference is extremely small.

The released chip 50 often falls into the chip case 60 due to its own weight. However, if liquid adheres to the upper end of the chip 50, it may adhere to the chip extrusion surface 10a due to surface tension. .
Even in such a case, in order to reliably remove the chip 50, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the slide mechanism 13 is driven until the chip pushing member 10 is retracted from above the chip 50. The support plate 2 is relatively moved in the negative direction of the X axis.
Since the lower end side of each chip 50 is not protruded from the rod storage hole 60b, even if the chip push-out member 10 moves in the negative direction of the X axis, it stays on the chip case 60 and the chip push-out member 10 is retracted from above. Then, when it cannot adhere to the chip pushing member 10, it falls into the rod storage hole 60b by its own weight.
That is, by the retreating operation of the chip pushing member 10, the chip 50 attached to the chip pushing member 10 due to the surface tension of the liquid can be reliably removed from the chip pushing member 10. Therefore, the mounting operation can be performed without any trouble even when another chip 50 is mounted. Therefore, the chip 50 can be attached and detached efficiently.

When the retraction of the chip push-out member 10 is completed, the chip attachment / detachment section drive motor 14 is rotated to move the chip rod holder 9 in the negative direction of the Z-axis, and the gap between the chip rod holder 9 and the chip push-out member 10 is d. back to _0. Then, the protrusion pin drive motor 23 is driven to retract the protrusion pin 21 from the protrusion pin insertion hole 10b, and the chip attaching / detaching portion 40 is returned to the state shown in FIG. Further, if necessary, the tip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14 is driven to raise the tip rod holder 9 and return to the state shown in FIG. In this manner, the next chip 50 is prepared for the mounting operation.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the level | step difference is provided in the chip | tip extrusion surface 10a, a time difference can be provided in the urging | biasing timing of the chip | tip extrusion member 10 at the time of releasing fitting of each chip | tip 50. FIG. Then, the fitting can be released for every few chips 50 compared to the total number of chips 50. As a result, the load on the chip attaching / detaching portion driving motor 14 can be reduced, and a small motor with low power consumption and low output can be employed. In addition, the apparatus can be reduced in size and simplified.

Next, a modification of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the right side for explaining a modification of the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In this modification, in the above embodiment, the support plate 2 is moved so that the chip push-out member 10 is retracted in the negative X-axis direction with respect to the chip 50, whereas the X-axis direction of the support plate 2 is used. The chip case 60 is moved to the X axis by a slide mechanism 27 (second movement means) composed of a slider 27a and a slide rail 27b, which are moving means in the X axis direction provided at the lower part of the chip case 60. It moves in the positive direction.
Here, the slide mechanism 27 can employ the same configuration as the slide mechanism 13.
As described above, even if the position of the support plate 2 is fixed and the chip case 60 is relatively moved, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment are obtained.

  In the above description, the tubular rod and the detachable member move relative to each other, and the distance between the fitting portion of the tubular rod and the urging surface of the detachable member is varied according to the tubular rod, so that a time difference is generated in the urging timing. The example described here is provided. Means for providing a time difference in the urging timing is not limited to these. For example, the relative movement timing and the relative movement speed of each tubular rod may be changed.

In the above description, an example in which a time difference is provided in the urging timing for urging the detachable member to the pipe member has been described, but the method of providing the time difference is not limited to this. The above embodiment can be modified as follows, for example.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory front view showing a main part of a tube member attaching / detaching mechanism for explaining a modified example in the case of providing a time difference in urging timing.

In this modification, instead of the chip push-out member 10 in the above-described embodiment, a chip push-out member 10A (detachment member) is provided. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the above embodiment.
The chip extruding member 10A includes a chip extruding surface 10f (biasing surface) in which the arrangement of the steps of the chip extruding surface 10a in the chip extruding member 10 is changed.
The chip extruding surface 10f of the chip extruding member 10A is formed with a stepped step corresponding to each projecting pin insertion hole 10b, the height of which increases in the Z-axis positive direction from the Y-axis negative direction toward the positive direction. It is.

According to such a chip push-out member 10A, when the tip rod holder 9 is raised in the detaching operation in the same manner as in the above embodiment, the upper end portion of the chip 50 comes into contact with the tip push-out surface 10f on the Y-axis negative direction side in order. As a result, a time difference is sequentially generated from the chips 50 on the Y axis negative direction side in FIG.
Further, the load of the chip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14 of this modification may be half that of the above embodiment, and the load torque can be further reduced.

  As shown in the present modification, the method of attaching the tip pushing member 10 to the step can freely deform the number of steps, the arrangement position of the steps, etc. as required, such as the magnitude of the load torque and the balance of reaction forces. it can.

Next, another example in the case where a time difference is provided in the urging timing for urging the detachable member to the pipe member will be described.
FIG. 15 is a front explanatory view showing a main part of a tube member attaching / detaching mechanism for explaining another modified example in the case of providing a time difference in urging timing.

The present modification includes a chip pushing member 30 (a detaching member) and a chip case 61 (a pipe member holding portion) instead of the chip pushing member 10 and the chip case 60 in the above embodiment. Further, instead of the ten tip rods 11 having the same dimensions, tip rods 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, and 11E, which are tube members having the same configuration as the tip rod 11 but differing in length from the negative direction of the Y-axis. , 11E, 11D, 11C, 11B, 11A (hereinafter collectively referred to as “tip rod 11A etc.”). The lengths from the respective stoppers 11d to the tips of the fitting portions 11a are, in order, L _A , L _B , L _C , L _D , and L _E (where L _A > L _B > L _C > L _D > L _E ). Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the above embodiment.

  The chip extrusion member 30 is obtained by changing the chip extrusion surface 10a of the chip extrusion member 10 to a chip extrusion surface 30a parallel to the XY plane. That is, the chip pushing member 30 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the upper surface 10d and the chip pushing surface 30a are parallel.

  In the chip case 61, the height of the chip receiving surface 61a for holding the ten chips 50 in the Z-axis direction differs depending on each rod storage hole 61b for storing the chip 50, and is a mountain-shaped staircase that rises from both ends toward the center. It is a shape. The height of the tip receiving surface 61a is set to have the same distance from the tip of the tip rod 11A or the like.

According to this modified example, in the mounting operation, the tip rod 11A and the like can be simultaneously fitted to the attaching / detaching portion 50a of the tip 50 arranged with a corresponding step on the tip case 61. .
In the detaching operation, when the tip rod holder 9 is raised to raise the tip rod 11A or the like along the tip rod guide hole 10c, the tip rods 11E, 11D, 11C, The two chips 50 fitted to 11B and 11A contact each other sequentially with a time difference, the reaction force is urged from the chip pushing surface 30a, and the fitting is sequentially released. Therefore, the load on the chip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14 is exactly the same as that in the above embodiment.
In the case of this modification, there is no need to provide a step on the chip extrusion surface 30a, so that there is an advantage that the chip extrusion member 30 can have a simple configuration.

  As described above, in this modified example, when the tip rod 11A and the tip pushing member 30 move relative to each other, the tip pushing surface 30a is not provided with a step, and the length of the tip rod 11A or the like is changed to change the tip 50 tip pushing surface. In this example, the relative distance from 30a is changed to change the urging timing.

  In the above description, when performing the detachment operation, an example has been described in which a time difference is provided in the urging timing for urging the detachable member to the tube member. However, if there is a margin in the load of the first moving means, The members may be detached at the same time.

  In the above description, the example of the first moving means including the ball screw 4, the ball screw nut 7, and the chip attaching / detaching portion drive motor 14 has been described. However, the moving means is not limited to this as long as it is a means capable of linear movement. Not. For example, moving means using a linear motor or moving means using an air cylinder may be employed.

  In the above description, the example in which the plurality of tube members have a common shape as the chip 50 has been described, but the shapes of the plurality of tube members may be different from each other. At this time, when the urging forces required for desorption are different, it is preferable to set a combination that is desorbed at the same timing so that each urging force is averaged according to a difference in necessary urging forces.

  Moreover, all the relative movements in the above description can be modified so that the configuration on the opposite side to the above embodiment moves.

  In the above description, the example in which the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism is used in the dispensing device has been described. However, the tube member attaching / detaching mechanism of the present invention is not limited to use in the dispensing device, The pipe member may be used in other apparatuses that need to be detached.

It is front explanatory drawing for demonstrating schematic structure of the dispensing apparatus using the attachment or detachment mechanism of the pipe member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is right side explanatory drawing for demonstrating schematic structure of the dispensing apparatus using the attachment or detachment mechanism of the pipe member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. 3 of the attachment / detachment member of the attachment / detachment mechanism of the tube member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view which follows the BB line of FIG. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the right side view for demonstrating mounting | wearing operation | movement of the dispensing apparatus using the attachment or detachment mechanism of the pipe member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is partial explanatory drawing for demonstrating mounting | wearing operation | movement of the dispensing apparatus using the attachment or detachment mechanism of the pipe member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the right side view for demonstrating the removal | desorption operation | movement of the dispensing apparatus using the attachment or detachment mechanism of the pipe member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line DD of FIG. 9 for explaining the operation following FIG. 10. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the right side view for demonstrating the removal | desorption operation | movement following the process of FIG. It is right side view explanatory drawing for demonstrating the modification of the attachment or detachment mechanism of the pipe member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is front explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of the attachment or detachment mechanism of a pipe member for demonstrating one modification when providing the time difference of urging | biasing timing. It is front explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of the attachment or detachment mechanism of a pipe member for demonstrating the other modification in the case of providing the time difference of urging | biasing timing.

Explanation of symbols

1 mounting base 2 support plate 4 ball screw (first moving means)
7 Ball screw nut (first moving means)
9 Tip rod holder 10, 10A, 30 Tip extruding member (detaching member)
10a, 10f, 30a Chip extrusion surface (urging surface)
10b Extrusion pin insertion hole 11 Tip rod (tubular rod)
11a Fitting portion 11d Stopper 12 Linear bearing 13, 27 Slide mechanism (second moving means)
14 Chip attachment / detachment portion drive motor (first moving means)
19 Tube 21 Extrusion pin 23 Extrusion pin drive motor 26 Pressure roller 40 Tip attaching / detaching portion (tube member attaching / detaching mechanism)
50 tips (tube members)
50a Detachable part (fitted part)
50b Receiving part 50d Tip hole part (nozzle part)
60, 61 Tip case (tube member holding part)
60a Tip receiving surface 100 Dispensing device

Claims (2)

A detachable mechanism for a plurality of pipe members having mated portions,
A tube member holding portion for arranging the plurality of tube members with the fitted portion oriented in a certain direction; and
A plurality of tubular rods each having a fitting portion that fits into the fitted portion;
The plurality of tubular rods are moved relative to the tube member holding portion along the fixed direction, and are fitted into the fitted portions of the plurality of tube members arranged in the tube member holding portion. Transportation means;
A detachable member that releases the fitting by urging the tube member fitted to the tubular rod by relatively moving along the fixed direction at the side of the tubular rod;
A tube member attaching / detaching mechanism comprising: a second moving means for relatively moving the tube member and the detachable member which are released from the fitting in a direction crossing the fixed direction. The pipe member attaching / detaching mechanism according to claim 1,
A pipetting device using a tube member attaching / detaching mechanism, wherein a tip having a nozzle portion formed at the tip is attached and detached as the tube member.

Images