JP2008136954A - Magnetic crushing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic crushing machine for reducing a sample by magnetically causing motion of a crushing medium while cooling a tube containing the sample of a crushing object and the crushing medium. <P>SOLUTION: When the tube 5 containing the sample and the crushing medium 6 is inserted into a container containing cylinder 10 including a refrigerant circulation part 31 for circulating a refrigerant, a magnetic pole 36 of a plurality of electromagnetic poles 11 to 14 is subjected to advance drive to press the container containing cylinder 10 from the surroundings, thereby holding the tube 5. The crushing medium 6 mainly formed of a strong magnetic material is subjected to rotary motion or vertical motion to grind and crush the sample by controlling excitation of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 14 disposed at a plurality of steps in a perpendicular direction of the container containing cylinder 10. Since the container containing cylinder 10 is maintained with cooling, the heat of the sample the temperature of which is elevated by frictional heat or the like is radiated through the tube 5 and the container containing cylinder 10, thereby enabling a crushing treatment causing no deterioration of the sample due to the elevated temperature. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic crushing apparatus for crushing by crushing a crushing medium put into a container containing a sample to be used for analysis, inspection, experiment, and the like.

It is required to crush or emulsify the target sample in a place such as analysis or inspection. For example, in order to perform DNA analysis, pretreatment for crushing cells of a sample to be analyzed is indispensable. Various devices for performing this cell disruption treatment are known, but broadly divided into the following methods.

(1) A stirring and crushing method in which a stirrer inserted into a container containing a sample is rotationally driven by a motor and the cells are crushed by friction or shear.
(2) A vibration crushing method in which a crushing medium such as beads is accommodated in a container together with the sample, and the sample is ground or crushed by the crushing medium by reciprocating the container up and down and left and right.
(3) An external force crushing method in which cells are ruptured by applying ultrasonic waves or pressure to the sample.

  Each of these cell disruptors has advantages and disadvantages. In the stirring and crushing method, the temperature is likely to rise due to frictional heat, etc., and the crushing treatment is performed while cooling the container by immersing the container in ice water or the like in order to prevent the protein from being inactivated or the RNA from being broken due to the temperature rise. There is a need. Further, since it is necessary to pass the rotational drive shaft from the motor through the container, the opening of the container is in an open state, and foreign matter or the like may be mixed to cause contamination. In addition, the vibration crushing method and the external force crushing method have problems that the apparatus is large and difficult to handle. In the vibration crushing method, the temperature rise due to frictional heat is inevitable as in the stirring crushing method, Since it is difficult to cool the moving container, it takes time and effort to take out and cool the container halfway when time is required for crushing.

  That is, in a cell crushing device that crushes biological samples, it can be crushed in a sealed space where no foreign matter is mixed in, it can be crushed while suppressing temperature rise, it is easy to handle and compact, and it is in a crushing state suitable for the purpose of processing. It is a requirement to be prepared to be able to select.

  As a result of studying a new method of cell disruption that can satisfy these requirements, the inventor of the present application has applied a magnetic field applied from the outside of the container to the disruption medium accommodated in the container while cooling the sealed container held in place. We have developed a magnetic crushing device that moves in a three-dimensional direction including rotational movement and crushes the sample contained in the container with a crushing medium.

A magnetic stirrer such as a magnet stirrer is known as a magnetic drive technique for moving a magnetic body accommodated in a container by an external magnetic field. However, the magnetic stirrer is a liquid stirrer and cannot crush a sample.

A conventional technique for crushing a sample by magnetically driving a crushing medium contained in a container is a cell crushing method in which fine magnetic spheres or metal spheres are mixed with the sample and the sample is crushed by a magnetic field applied from outside the container. Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In this cell disruption method, electromagnets are arranged in two or four directions facing the diameter direction of a cylindrical container containing a sample mixed with fine magnetic spheres and metal spheres, and the electromagnets are energized at random timing. By switching the energization direction as necessary and reversing the magnetic pole, irregular movement and rotation are caused in the magnetic sphere and metal sphere, and the sample is crushed.

In addition, there has been proposed an excitation mechanism that crushes a sample by reciprocating a magnetic material housed in the container in the axial direction of the cylindrical container by a magnetic field applied from the outside of the cylindrical container (see Patent Document 2). . In this apparatus, a magnetic body put in a container attached to the inside of each of the first and second solenoids arranged up and down is linearly reciprocated by controlling on and off of the first and second solenoids. Crush the sample. A mass body is previously stored in the bottom of the container, and a sample is placed on the mass body. When the magnetic body is placed in the container and the first and second solenoids are alternately excited, the magnetic body moves back and forth. Since the sample collides with the mass body, the sample is crushed between the mass body and the magnetic body.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-000226 JP 2005-111358 A

  In the cell crushing method shown as the above prior art, the crushing medium mixed in the sample is a fine magnetic sphere or metal sphere, and it is simply moved within the cylindrical container by switching the magnetic field direction, so that the mass is crushed. The medium cannot cope with the crushing of a fibrous sample such as a plant or a hard sample. In addition, since the crushing medium is mixed in the sample and the crushing process is performed, the sample is limited to liquid or soft samples such as leukocytes, bacteria, and viruses, or fine powder samples as disclosed. In addition, since the crushing medium only reciprocates and revolves around the excited electromagnet in the cylindrical container, it takes time for the crushing medium to crush the sample to the required crushing state. Conceivable. If time is required for the crushing process, the temperature of the sample is inevitably increased, and the sample may be altered as the temperature increases.

  Further, in the vibration mechanism shown as the prior art, the magnetic body is moved linearly by electromagnetic drive to collide with the mass body, and the sample accommodated between the magnetic body and the mass body is compressed and crushed and frozen. Although the crushing action of crushing and crushing the sample and the hard sample is obtained, the crushing action of crushing the sample cannot be obtained. Therefore, the types of samples to be crushed are limited, and it can only be considered that the freeze-fracture device for storing a frozen sample that has been known in the past in a metal container and crushing it by external impact is replaced with an electric drive. Absent.

  The purpose of the present invention is to magnetically move the crushing medium accommodated in the container to crush the sample accommodated in the container by the action of grinding and crushing, and to suppress the temperature rise associated with the crushing process. An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic crushing apparatus that can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, a magnetic crushing apparatus according to the first invention of the present application includes a container housing cylinder for housing a container into which a crushing medium formed mainly of a ferromagnetic material and a sample to be crushed are placed, A plurality of electromagnetic poles disposed at a plurality of positions surrounding the container housing cylinder, a magnetic pole advance / retreat driving means for driving the magnetic pole of each electromagnetic pole or the whole to move forward and backward with respect to the container housing cylinder, and an excitation for controlling the excitation of each electromagnetic pole Control means and cooling means for cooling the container housing cylinder are provided.

  According to the above configuration, when the container into which the sample and the crushing medium are put is inserted into the container housing cylinder, the magnetic poles of the plurality of electromagnetic poles advanced and moved by the magnetic pole advance / retreat driving means press the container housing cylinder and Since the container is brought into close contact, the container is held and the container is cooled by the cooling means, and the magnetic field from the electromagnetic pole is applied to the crushing medium from the nearest position. If the excitation of each electromagnetic pole is controlled by the excitation control means, the crushing medium can be moved in a three-dimensional direction in the container, and the sample is ground by the movement of rubbing with the inner wall of the container and moved upward. The sample is crushed by the movement of the media to the bottom of the container. By performing excitation control in which the action of grinding and crushing is effectively performed according to the type and state of the sample, the sample is crushed while maintaining a state in which the temperature rise is suppressed.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable to provide electromagnetic pole axial direction drive means for moving an arbitrary electromagnetic pole in the axial direction of the container housing cylinder. Since any electromagnetic pole can be moved in a predetermined height direction in the axial direction of the container by the electromagnetic pole axial direction driving means according to the size of the container to be used or the type and condition of the sample, a plurality of electromagnetic poles having different height positions can be obtained. A magnetic field is applied from the pole, and the crushing medium can be moved to a free position in the three-dimensional direction in the container, so that the action of grinding and crushing according to the type and state of the sample is effectively performed.

  In addition, it is preferable to arrange an attracting electromagnetic pole whose magnetic tip is in contact with the bottom of the container housing cylinder and which is excited and controlled by the excitation control means. When the crushing medium moved upward in the container falls, if the suction electromagnetic pole is excited, the crushing medium collides violently with the bottom of the container by magnetic adsorption, so the effect of crushing the sample at the bottom of the container increases. . Further, if the attracting electromagnetic pole is weakly excited while the crushing medium is rotating, the crushing medium rotates while being pressed against the bottom of the container, so that the effect of grinding the sample increases.

The suction electromagnetic pole is preferably disposed so as to be movable back and forth in the direction of the container housing cylinder, and the magnetic pole is in contact with the bottom of the container even when the size of the container used is changed and the container housing cylinder is changed. Can keep.

In addition, the container housing cylinder is preferably formed to have an inner diameter and an inner shape that are in contact with the outer surface of the container formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and is easily brought into close contact with the inserted container, and the cooling effect of the container and the efficiency of magnetic field application Can be improved.

The container housing cylinder is preferably provided so as to be detachable, can respond to a change in the size of the container, can be replaced, cleaned and sterilized when it deteriorates, and is effective for biohazard measures.

In addition, the cooling means is preferably configured to circulate the refrigerant cooled to a required temperature in the refrigerant circulation part formed in the container accommodation cylinder, and is cooled by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circulation part. Because the container cools closely, the heat of the sample whose temperature has increased due to frictional heat or the like can be quickly dissipated, and the sample can be maintained at a predetermined temperature by the temperature control of the refrigerant to perform the crushing process.

This cooling means can also be configured to blow cool air to the container housing cylinder and the radiating fins formed thereon, and the cooling means can be simply configured and at the same time the running cost can be reduced.

In addition, the cooling means is configured to freeze the regenerator material filled in the refrigerant circulation section, so that the container storage cylinder is stored in a freezer or the like in advance, and is attached at the time of use. Can be easily cooled.

In addition, the crushing medium can be formed by magnetizing a ferromagnetic material, thereby causing the crushing medium to rotate, and improving the grinding action.

In addition, the crushing medium rotates in a crushing medium by forming a shape in which the radial cross section of the ferromagnetic material has a smaller number of protrusions than the number of electromagnetic poles disposed on the circumferential surface surrounding the container. Can be produced, and the grinding action can be improved.

In addition, the crushing medium is configured by sealing the ferromagnetic material at an eccentric position in the non-magnetic material, thereby causing the crushing medium to rotate while swinging, thereby increasing the state of rubbing with the peripheral wall of the container. The action of grinding the sample is increased.

  Further, a plurality of crushing media may be accommodated in a cylinder that has been cleaned and cleaned so as to be aligned in the axial direction, and stored in a crushing medium supply cylinder that is discharged one by one from the open end of the cylinder. It is suitable and can be put into the container without touching it by hand, and by touching the crushing medium with hand etc., contamination due to foreign matter entering the container is prevented, and work efficiency is improved. Improvements can be made. Further, when the crushing medium is magnetized, the problem that it is difficult to adsorb each other and separate them one by one is solved.

  According to the present invention, the sample accommodated in the sealed container is crushed by the crushing medium efficiently moving by applying the magnetic field from the nearest position while maintaining the cooling in the container accommodating cylinder. The Since the container is held in a fixed position, it is easy to cool, so it does not cause deterioration such as inactivation in the sample due to temperature rise, and it can be made compact so that it can be used for DNA analysis etc. It can also be installed inside. In addition, since the magnetic field control for moving the crushing medium can be variously changed, the movement of the crushing medium according to the type and state of the sample can be freely selected.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an external configuration of a magnetic crushing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. A crushing process is performed on a tube (container) 5 in which a sample X to be crushed and a crushing medium 6 are introduced and an opening is closed with a cap 7. By inserting into the container insertion hole of the apparatus 1, the tube 5 is maintained in a cooled state, and the crushing process for the sample X is executed under the conditions set and input from the setting operation unit 40.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a main part of the magnetic crushing apparatus 1 as a horizontal sectional view. A container housing cylinder 10 that houses the tube 5 serving as a crushing container is disposed at the center position, and electromagnetic poles 11, 12, 13, and 14 are disposed at four diametrical positions surrounding the container housing cylinder 10. Each of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 14 includes an exciting coil 35 and a magnetic pole 36 inserted into the exciting coil 35 so as to be movable back and forth. The magnetic pole 36 of each of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 14 is externally attached by a yoke 37. It is magnetically connected on the side.

  The container housing cylinder 10 is formed of a material having excellent thermal conductivity such as a heat conductive resin so as to have an inner diameter that contacts the circumferential surface of the tube 5 to be used. Refrigerant circulation portions 31 are formed by providing recesses so that the tip portions of the magnetic poles 36 of the respective electromagnetic poles 11 to 14 can come into contact with each other. By circulating a refrigerant that is supplied to the refrigerant circulation portion 31 while being controlled to a predetermined temperature from the outside, the tube 5 is cooled via the container housing cylinder 10, and the temperature rise of the sample X due to frictional heat or the like is suppressed and the crushing process is performed. It can be implemented.

  3 (a) and 3 (b) show the main configuration of the magnetic crushing apparatus 1 in a vertical cross-sectional view. Electromagnetic poles 15 to 18 having the same configuration are disposed below the electromagnetic poles 11 to 14 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, each of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 can move the arbitrary electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 up and down to an arbitrary height position in the cylindrical axis direction of the container housing cylinder 10. An attracting electromagnetic pole 9 is disposed at a position corresponding to the bottom of the container housing cylinder 10.

  Although not shown, the magnetic poles 36 of the respective electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 are driven forward and backward by the magnetic pole advance / retreat driving means 43 and move backward during standby to facilitate the insertion of the tube 5 into the container housing cylinder 10. When the tube 5 is inserted into the housing cylinder 10, the container 5 moves forward to the illustrated forward position so that the container housing cylinder 10 is brought into close contact with the tube 5, and is pressed from the periphery to hold the tube 5. Maintain cooling of tube 5. The suction electromagnetic pole 9 is driven up and down by the suction electromagnetic pole raising / lowering drive means 45 to a position where the magnetic pole comes into contact with the bottom of the container housing cylinder 10 according to the height change of the container housing cylinder 10 corresponding to the size of the tube 5. Move up. In addition, since the attracting electromagnetic pole 9 is disposed in a state of being biased upward, the attracting electromagnetic pole 9 is pushed downward in accordance with the height dimension change of the inserted container housing cylinder 10 and moves backward. Without providing the raising / lowering drive means 45, the magnetic pole 36 can always be in contact with the bottom of the container housing cylinder 10.

Further, each of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 can be moved up and down by an electromagnetic pole raising / lowering drive means (electromagnetic pole axial direction drive means) 44, corresponding to changes in the size of the tube 5 to be used, the crushing processing method, etc. As shown in 3 (b), it moves up and down to an arbitrary height position. The magnetic pole advance / retreat driving means 43, the electromagnetic pole raising / lowering driving means 44, and the attracting electromagnetic pole electromagnetic pole raising / lowering driving means 45 can be constituted by a cam mechanism or a ball screw mechanism, and the magnetic pole advance / retreat driving means 43, electromagnetic pole raising / lowering driving means. 44. The operation of the attracting electromagnetic pole raising / lowering driving means 45 is driven and controlled by the control device 30 described later.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the control device 30. The position control unit 41 controls the operations of the magnetic pole advance / retreat drive means 43, the electromagnetic pole elevating drive means 44, and the attracting electromagnetic pole elevating drive means 45, and each electromagnetic pole 11. And the excitation control unit 42 for controlling the excitation of the attraction electromagnetic pole 9, and the control operations by the position control unit 41 and the excitation control unit 42 are executed based on the setting input input from the setting operation unit 40. The

  The container housing cylinder 10 is replaced in accordance with the shape and dimensions of the tube 5 to be used. When the container housing cylinder 10 is replaced, the magnetic poles 36 of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 are moved backward, and the attracting electromagnetic pole 9 is moved downward. The container housing cylinder 10 can be pulled out and taken out, and can be replaced with one that conforms to the shape and dimensions of the tube 5 to be used, and can be replaced when it is deteriorated. In addition, since it can be removed, cleaned and sterilized, it is also effective for biohazard countermeasures.

A container housing cylinder 10 corresponding to the tube 5 to be used is mounted, the tube 5 housing the sample X to be crushed and the crushed medium 6 is inserted into the container housing cylinder 10, and the type and processing of the sample X from the setting operation unit 40. When conditions such as the method are set and inputted, the attracting electromagnetic pole 9 is moved upward by the attracting electromagnetic pole raising / lowering driving means 45 and the magnetic pole is brought into contact with the bottom of the container housing cylinder 10. The position control unit 41 changes the height positions of the arbitrary electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 by the electromagnetic pole raising / lowering drive means 44 in accordance with the setting input. Next, the magnetic pole 36 of each of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 is driven to advance by the magnetic pole advance / retreat driving means 43, and the tip of the magnetic pole 36 presses the container housing cylinder 10 to bring the container housing cylinder 10 and the tube 5 into close contact with each other. Hold. Further, the excitation control unit 42 controls the supply of excitation current to the excitation coils 35 of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 and the suction electromagnetic pole 9 in accordance with the setting input from the setting operation unit 40.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a general-purpose tube 5 generally called a centrifuge tube or a sample tube can be applied to the tube 5. The tube 5 is preferably formed in a container with a cap 7 using polypropylene, fluororesin, or the like, and in a crushing process, a tube having a capacity of 1.2 ml to 5.0 ml is often used. Here, a 2.0 ml tube 5 is used as a basic size, and it is possible to cope with the size change. The crushing medium 6 is formed mainly of a ferromagnetic material such as mild steel, and has a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the tube 5 and one end facing the bottom of the tube 5 formed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the inner bottom of the tube 5. A thing is a basic shape. The shape, size, and structure of the crushing medium 6 can be optimally configured according to the type of sample X, the processing method, and the like, as will be described later.

  The excitation order of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 can be freely controlled by the excitation control unit 42, and the movement of the crushing medium 6 according to the type and state of the sample X and the degree of crushing treatment can be controlled. For example, when the electromagnetic poles 15 and 16 are excited so that an excitation current is supplied to the excitation coils 35 of the electromagnetic pole 15 and the electromagnetic pole 16 in different directions to form a magnetic circuit, the crush formed of a ferromagnetic material. The medium 6 is attracted to the inner wall of the tube 5 between the magnetic poles 36 of both electromagnetic poles 15 and 16. Next, when the electromagnetic pole 16 and the electromagnetic pole 17 are similarly excited, the crushing medium 6 moves along the inner wall of the tube 5 and is attracted to the inner wall between the magnetic poles 36 of both the electromagnetic poles 16 and 17. When such excitation switching is controlled clockwise or counterclockwise, the crushing medium 6 rotates so as to rub against the inner wall of the tube 5, and therefore the sample X sandwiched between the crushing medium 6 and the inner wall of the tube 5. Is crushed.

  Here, since four electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 are arranged in two stages in the height direction of the tube 5, the crushing medium 6 rises in the tube 5 when the excitation is switched to the upper electromagnetic poles 11 to 14. Moving. When the excitation switching control of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 14 is performed similarly to the excitation switching of the lower electromagnetic poles 15 to 18, the crushing medium 6 can be rotated at a high position in the tube 5. When the excitation of the upper electromagnetic poles 11 to 14 is stopped at the same time as the crushing medium 6 is in the raised position, and the excitation electromagnetic pole 9 is excited, the crushing medium 6 falls and is attracted to the suction electromagnetic pole 9. The crushing medium 6 strikes the bottom of the tube 5 violently. The sample X at the bottom of the tube 5 is compressed and crushed by the collision of the crushing medium 6.

  Therefore, when the excitation of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 and the suction electromagnetic pole 9 is controlled so that the crushing medium 6 rotates and rises and falls at a required frequency, the sample X accommodated in the tube 5 contains the crushing medium 6. The grinding action associated with the rotation and the crushing action associated with the rising and falling are performed, and the sample X is crushed into a required crushed state.

  Since the change of the height position of each electromagnetic pole 11-17, the excitation state with respect to the attraction electromagnetic pole 9, and the excitation switching order of each electromagnetic pole 11-18 can be freely controlled, various crushing processes according to the type of the sample X can be performed. Is possible. For example, when crushing a bulky fibrous sample X like a leaf of a plant, as shown in FIG. The electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 are arranged in a spiral shape so that the electromagnetic pole 15 is in the lowest position and the electromagnetic pole 14 is in the highest position, and the electromagnetic pole 15 is controlled by the excitation control unit 42. Electromagnetic pole 16, electromagnetic pole 16 and electromagnetic pole 17, electromagnetic pole 17 and electromagnetic pole 18... Are excited in the order of pulses in the order of electromagnetic pole 13 and electromagnetic pole 14, and excitation of electromagnetic pole 13 and electromagnetic pole 14 located at the top is performed. When the attracting electromagnetic pole 9 is excited simultaneously with the stop, the crushing medium 6 ascends spirally along the inner peripheral wall of the tube 5 as shown in FIG. And hits the bottom of the tube 5. The sample X is effectively crushed by controlling the crushing medium 6 so that the spiral rising and falling motion is repeated a required number of times.

  The movement of the crushing medium 6 is controlled by the position controller 41 to control the electromagnetic pole lifting / lowering drive means 22 to change the height positions of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 17, and the excitation controller 42 excites the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18. It can be changed freely by switching the order. In the case where the sample X is soft, it is preferable to rotate the crushing medium 6 intensively in the vicinity of the bottom of the tube 5, and if the operation frequency of the crushing medium 6 rising and falling is increased, the crushing action is increased. Since it increases, it becomes suitable for crushing the hard sample X.

Further, by controlling the amount of exciting current for the attracting electromagnetic pole 9, the attracting force that attracts the crushing medium 6 to the bottom of the tube 5 can be adjusted. If the attracting electromagnetic pole 9 is weakly excited while the crushing medium 6 is rotated on the bottom side of the tube 5, the crushing medium 6 rotates while being pressed against the bottom of the tube 5, and the sample X at the bottom of the tube 5 is rotated. The grinding action to grind can be increased.

In the excitation control method, the rotation of the crushing medium 6 is a revolving motion that moves along the inner peripheral wall of the tube 5. Considering that the crushing medium 6 is rotated, the grinding action can be increased, and there is also a sample X in which the crushing medium 6 is preferably rotated. In order to rotate the crushing medium 6, it is necessary to change the shape or structure of the crushing medium 6 and the excitation control of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18.

As described above, when the excitation control of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 is performed in the order of the adjacent electromagnetic poles 15 and 16, the electromagnetic poles 16 and 17, the electromagnetic poles 17, 18,..., As shown in FIG. A ferromagnetic material 49 having a semicircular cross-sectional shape is sealed in a non-magnetic material 48 such as a ceramic, and the crushing medium 6 has a structure in which the position of the ferromagnetic material is biased. Can be given. However, it may be difficult to obtain a smooth rotation due to the resistance of the sample X or the resistance when contacting the tube 5. Therefore, it is preferable that the structure of the crushing medium 6 and the excitation control method for reliably obtaining the rotation motion are as follows.

As shown in FIG. 8, the horizontal cross section of the crushing medium 6 is not circular, but is formed in a rectangular shape in which one direction in the diametric direction is a longitudinal direction, that is, in a shape in which both sides in the diametrical direction protrude. The excitation of 18 is controlled so that the magnetic poles 36 opposed in the diametric direction are in the exciting current directions opposite to each other. In FIG. 8, A, B, C, and D indicate the arrangement positions of the magnetic poles 36 of the respective electromagnetic poles 11 to 18, and as shown in FIG. 8A, A is an N pole and C is an S pole. When excited, the longitudinal direction of the crushing medium 6 is the AC direction as shown. Next, when excitation is performed so that B is an N pole and D is an S pole, the crushing medium 6 rotates 90 degrees and the longitudinal direction becomes the BD direction. By alternately performing excitation of AC and BD, the crushing medium 6 rotates at a rotation speed corresponding to the excitation switching speed.

  However, in the shape of the crushing medium 6 shown in FIG. 8A, the area in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the tube 5 is small, so a reduction in the grinding action is inevitable. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the crushing medium 6 is formed in a structure in which a non-magnetic material 48 such as ceramic is formed in a cylindrical shape and a ferromagnetic material 49 having a rectangular cross section is sealed, Although the motion behavior is the same as the structure shown in FIG. 8A, the outer shape is a cylindrical shape, so that the grinding action is not reduced. Moreover, it is preferable that the diameter of the crushing medium 6 in the case of mainly performing the rotation motion is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the tube 5, so that a large grinding action by rubbing against the inner peripheral wall of the tube 5 can be obtained. .

  Since the rotation of the crushing medium 6 does not have a fixed rotation axis and there is resistance of the sample X and the liquid (buffer solution, etc.) contained in the tube 5, it rotates while swinging and rubs against the inner peripheral wall of the tube 5. Although the degree is large, when the magnetic field strengths of the opposing magnetic poles are antagonizing, there is a possibility that the tube 5 rotates without contacting the inner peripheral wall at the center position. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8C, when the ferromagnetic body 49 is sealed in the non-magnetic body 48 in an eccentric state, an unbalance occurs in the magnetic attractive force, so that the crushing medium 6 rotates while swinging. The state to do can be obtained reliably.

  The structure of the crushing medium 6 in which the ferromagnetic material 49 is sealed in the non-magnetic material 48 as described above is suitable for the sample X that is not preferable to be in contact with a metal or iron component. The nonmagnetic material 48 may not be a ceramic but may be a resin such as a fluororesin or glass.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the structure of the crushing medium 6 that rotates is to rotate the crushing medium 6 with the same excitation control as described above by using the crushing medium 6 magnetized in the diameter direction. Can do. In the case of a structure in which the crushing medium 6 is magnetized, a structure in which the surface is covered with a nonmagnetic material 48 as shown in FIG. 9B, and a nonmagnetic material 48 as shown in FIG. A structure for sealing in an eccentric state can be applied. When the crushing medium 6 is thus magnetized, the crushing media 6 are magnetically attracted to each other and are difficult to handle in the storage state. A measure for facilitating the handling of the magnetized crushing medium 6 will be described later.

  The configuration of the magnetic crushing device 1 described above corresponds to a relatively small tube 5, but the number of electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 is set as in the configuration according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. By increasing the number, it becomes possible to cope with a larger tube 5 and at the same time, it is possible to obtain a more colorful and smooth movement of the crushing medium 6. In this configuration, an example is shown in which sixteen electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 are arranged in a three-tiered manner, six by six.

  In the configuration according to the second embodiment, since the number of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 is large, the crushing medium 6 is switched by switching the excitation of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 without providing the electromagnetic pole raising / lowering drive means 44. Can be easily moved up and down. In addition, since the number of electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 arranged on one circumferential surface of the container housing cylinder 10 is large, various movements can be applied to the crushing medium 6 and excitation control can be more variously performed. .

  In the configuration of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the crushing medium 6 is formed so that its radial cross-sectional shape is a cross shape as a configuration for causing the crushing medium 6 to rotate. By controlling so that the electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 are excited between the counter electrodes, a stronger rotation motion can be expected. Further, by making the peripheral surface uneven as described above, the action of shearing the sample X is increased, and it is effective for crushing the fiber sample X such as plants and muscles.

  The cross-sectional shape of the crushing medium 6 corresponds to that six electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 are arranged in a three-tiered manner on a circumferential surface surrounding the tube 5, and the electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 per stage. By providing a smaller number of protrusions than the number (here, 6), only one pair of protrusions facing the magnetic pole 36 facing the tube 5 as a center is provided. Here, although the number of magnetic poles is six, if four projecting portions having a smaller number are formed, a cross-shaped cross section as shown in the figure is obtained. In FIG. 12A, when the magnetic poles A and D are excited so as to be opposite to each other, the crushing medium 6 is in the state shown in the figure, and then when the magnetic poles C and F are similarly excited, the crushing medium 6 is 30 degrees. Rotate. Next, when the magnetic poles B and E are excited, the crushing medium 6 is further rotated 30 degrees. By performing excitation control so that this excitation sequence is performed, the crushing medium 6 can be rotated at an arbitrary speed. Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, the effect of rotating while swinging is obtained by sealing the ferromagnet 49 having a cross-shaped cross section in a non-magnetic material 48 such as ceramic. The grinding action can be increased.

  A configuration example of the crushing medium 6 that improves the action of grinding and crushing in common with the first and second embodiments will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, a crushing medium is provided by placing a rotary lifting body 54 in which a ferromagnetic body is formed in a cylindrical shape on a pedestal 53 formed of a nonmagnetic body in a tip shape corresponding to the inner bottom portion shape of the tube 5. 6. By making the facing surface of the pedestal 53 and the rotary lift 54 a rough surface, the grinding action of grinding the sample X when the rotary lift 54 is rotated is improved, and at the same time, the rotary lift 54 is rotated. The grinding action by rotation of the following pedestal 53 is obtained. Further, the effect of crushing the sample X on the pedestal 53 when the rotary elevating body 54 is dropped from the raised position can be increased. The guide shaft 55 provided on the pedestal 53 is not particularly necessary. However, if the crushing medium 6 is not a single member, the labor required to be put into the tube 5 is increased, so that the rotary lift 54 freely moves on the pedestal 53. The pedestal 53 and the rotary elevating body 54 are integrated so that they can be made. It is desirable that the inner diameter of the central hole of the rotary elevator 54 is sufficiently larger than the diameter of the guide shaft 55 so as not to obstruct the movement of the rotary elevator 54.

  In the crushing process of the sample X by the movement of the crushing medium 6, the generation of frictional heat is inevitable. In addition, there are not a few influences caused by the heat generated by the apparatus and the heat generated by applying a magnetic field. Since the temperature rise of the sample X changes the sample X such as protein deactivation, it is required to suppress the temperature rise of the sample X and to perform the crushing treatment. Here, as described above, the refrigerant cooled to the required temperature is circulated through the refrigerant circulation portion 31 of the container housing cylinder 10 to cool the tube 5 via the container housing cylinder 10 and suppress the temperature rise of the sample X. It is configured as follows.

  The container housing cylinder 10 is formed to have an inner diameter that comes into contact with the peripheral wall of the tube 5, and the magnetic poles 36 of the electromagnetic poles 11 to 18 are driven forward to come into close contact with the tube 5, so that the tube 5 cooled by the container housing cylinder 10 The heat of the sample X in contact is quickly dissipated and the temperature rise is suppressed. The refrigerant supply port 32 and the refrigerant discharge port 33 provided in the refrigerant circulation part 31 of the container housing cylinder 10 are connected to a cooling device by piping, and the refrigerant cooled to a required temperature is supplied to the refrigerant supply port 32 and cooled. Is injected from the refrigerant injection pipe 34 to the bottom of the refrigerant circulation part 31. Since the plurality of refrigerant circulation spaces formed in the refrigerant circulation portion 31 communicate with each other in the upper and lower directions, the refrigerant injected from the refrigerant injection pipe 34 circulates in each refrigerant circulation space to cool the container housing cylinder 10, and the tube The refrigerant whose temperature has increased through heat exchange with the refrigerant 5 is returned from the refrigerant outlet 33 to the external cooling device. By continuing the circulation of the refrigerant and managing the refrigerant temperature, the temperature of the tube 5 and thus the temperature of the sample X can be kept constant.

  The refrigerant supplied to the refrigerant circulation part 31 does not necessarily need to be a liquid, and may be a gas such as low-temperature air. When using low-temperature air as a refrigerant, a cooling structure can be easily configured by employing an ultra-low temperature air generator that generates negative temperature air from compressed air. When cooling air is used as the refrigerant, the refrigerant circulation portion 31 has a structure in which heat radiating fins are formed, and can be cooled by blowing cooling air from below the container housing cylinder 10.

  The cooling of the container housing cylinder 10 can also be easily performed as follows. That is, the regenerator material is enclosed in the refrigerant distribution space of the refrigerant distribution unit 31 and stored in a freezer or the like in advance so that the regenerator material freezes, and is mounted on the magnetic crushing apparatus 1 at the time of use. With this cooling method, it is not necessary to provide a cooling device outside, and it is possible to easily cope with the crushing process for a small number of tubes 5.

  In the configuration described above, various excitation controls can be performed on a plurality of sizes of tubes 5. However, in the case of normal analysis or inspection, a specific size X tube 5 is used for a specific sample X. Therefore, when it is configured as a special processing dedicated machine for such use, a drive structure and control for driving the electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 and the suction electromagnetic pole 9 up and down. No configuration is required, and only the necessary number of electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 for crushing a specific sample X need to be arranged at a required position, so that the control configuration is simplified and the magnetic crushing apparatus 1 is simplified. In addition, it can be configured at low cost.

  The crushing medium 6 put into the tube 5 is required to be stored in a clean state that is sterilized and not polluted so that it is not polluted at the time of loading. Further, in the case of the magnetized crushing medium 6, if many pieces are put in the same storage place, it is difficult to take out only one piece by attracting each other, and work efficiency is lowered.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, in the manufacturing process of the crushing medium 6, the plurality of cleaned crushing media 6 are accommodated in the axial direction in the cleaned crushing medium supply cylinder 50, and the lever 52 is operated. Therefore, it is preferable that one end of the crushing medium accommodating cylinder 50 is configured so that one crushing medium 6 falls by the shutter 51. Further, it is possible to perform sterilization and disinfection with a predetermined number of the crushing media 6 stored in the crushing media supply cylinder 50 or to magnetize the crushing media 6. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of contamination caused by the crushing medium 6 and to improve the work efficiency for the crushing process.

  In the configuration of each embodiment described above, the suction electromagnetic pole 9 is arranged on the bottom side of the container housing cylinder 10, but the action of sucking the crushing medium 6 in the raised position to the bottom is the electromagnetic pole in the lower position. It is also possible to excite 11 to 28, and when the strong attraction is not required, the attraction electromagnetic pole 9 can be eliminated. Moreover, in the structure of each embodiment, although the electromagnetic poles 11-28 are comprised so that the magnetic pole 36 may be advanced / retracted, it can also be comprised so that the electromagnetic poles 11-28 whole may be advanced / retreated.

  Further, in the configuration of each embodiment, the electromagnetic poles 11 to 28 and the attracting electromagnetic pole 9 are basically DC excitation, but by alternating current excitation at a low frequency, rotation driving of the crushing medium 6 due to generation of a rotating magnetic field, It is also possible to slightly vibrate the crushing medium 6 by exciting the attracting electromagnetic pole 9 with alternating current.

Moreover, in the structure of each embodiment, although the tube 5 is arrange | positioned at the perpendicular direction, since the arrangement direction of the tube 5 is free by magnetic drive and the opening part of the tube 5 can be sealed with the cap 7, tube It can also comprise so that 5 may become a diagonal direction or a horizontal direction.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the sample can be crushed in the sealed container, and since the container is held at a predetermined position, it is easy to cool, and the temperature rise of the sample is suppressed and crushed. Therefore, even if the crushing process requires time, the sample is not altered. In addition, excitation control and magnetic pole placement position that optimize the movement of the crushing medium in the tube according to the type and state of the sample to be crushed and the crushing process can be set, and the shape and dimensions of the crushing medium By selecting the optimum structure, it is possible to construct a crushing apparatus that is easy to handle. In addition, as a small apparatus that can be installed in a clean bench or the like, a magnetic crushing apparatus that can efficiently perform DNA analysis, BSE inspection, and the like can be provided.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the magnetic crushing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part structure of an apparatus same as the above as a horizontal direction cross section. The principal part structure of an apparatus same as the above is shown as a cross section in the vertical direction, (a) is a state in which electromagnetic poles are arranged closer to the lower side, and (b) is a sectional view showing an example in which electromagnetic poles are arranged in a spiral. The block diagram which shows the control structure of an apparatus same as the above. The 1/2 sectional view showing the example of composition of a tube. The perspective view which shows the example of a motion of a crushing medium. Sectional drawing which shows the modification of a crushing medium. Sectional drawing which shows the various forms which make a crushing medium rotate. Sectional drawing which shows the various forms which made the crushing medium the magnetization structure. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part structure of the magnetic crushing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment as a horizontal direction cross section. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part structure of an apparatus same as the above as a vertical direction cross section. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the crushing medium corresponding to the structure of 2nd Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the modification of a crushing medium. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of a crushing medium supply cylinder.

Explanation of symbols

1 Magnetic crusher 5 Tube (container)
6 Crushing medium 9 Suction electromagnetic pole 10 Container accommodating cylinder 11-28 Electromagnetic pole 30 Control device 31 Refrigerant circulation part (cooling means)
35 Exciting coil 36 Magnetic pole 41 Position control unit 42 Excitation control unit 43 Magnetic pole advance / retreat driving means 44 Electromagnetic pole elevating / lowering driving means 45 Suction magnetic pole Electromagnetic pole elevating / lowering driving means 48 Non-magnetic material 49 Ferromagnetic material 50 Crushing medium supply cylinder

Claims (13)

  A container housing cylinder for housing a container into which a crushing medium formed mainly of a ferromagnetic material and a sample to be crushed are charged; a plurality of electromagnetic poles disposed at a plurality of positions surrounding the container housing cylinder; Magnetic pole advance / retreat drive means for driving the magnetic poles of the electromagnetic poles or the whole to move forward and backward with respect to the container housing cylinder, excitation control means for controlling excitation of each electromagnetic pole, and cooling means for cooling the container housing cylinder. The magnetic crushing apparatus characterized by becoming.   2. The magnetic crushing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising electromagnetic pole axial drive means for moving an arbitrary electromagnetic pole in the axial direction of the container housing cylinder.   The magnetic crushing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a magnetic pole tip is in contact with the bottom of the container housing cylinder, and an attraction electromagnetic pole that is excited and controlled by excitation control means is provided.   The magnetic crushing device according to claim 3, wherein the attracting electromagnetic pole is disposed so as to be movable back and forth in the container housing cylinder direction.   5. The magnetic crushing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container housing cylinder is formed to have an inner diameter and an inner shape in contact with an outer surface of the container formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape.   The magnetic crushing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container housing cylinder is detachably provided.   The magnetic crushing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cooling means is configured to circulate the refrigerant cooled to a required temperature through a refrigerant circulation portion formed in the container housing cylinder.   The magnetic crushing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cooling means is configured to blow cold air to the container housing cylinder and the heat radiation fin formed thereon.   The magnetic crushing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cooling means is configured to freeze the regenerator material filled in the refrigerant circulation part.   The magnetic crushing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the crushing medium is formed by magnetizing a ferromagnetic material.   The crushed medium is formed in a shape in which the radial cross section of the ferromagnetic material is provided with a number of protrusions smaller than the number of electromagnetic poles disposed on the circumferential surface surrounding the container. , 10 Magnetic shredding device.   The magnetic crushing apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, and 11, wherein the crushing medium is formed by sealing a ferromagnetic material at an eccentric position in a non-magnetic material. The crushing medium is housed in a cylinder that has been cleaned and cleaned so as to be aligned in the axial direction, and is accommodated in a crushing medium supply cylinder that is discharged one by one from the open end of the cylinder. The magnetic crushing apparatus as described in any one.