JP2008224299A - Liquid level detection sensor apparatus and liquid determination and supply apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect a liquid level without having to depend on the properties of a liquid, of which the liquid level is to be detected. <P>SOLUTION: A liquid level detection sensor apparatus 51 is provided with an ultrasonic sensor 54, having both an ultrasonic emission part 54c provided for a tip part facing to a liquid level of a volatile solution for emitting ultrasonic waves to the liquid level and an ultrasonic reception part 54d, provided to the tip part for receiving returned ultrasonic waves of ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic emission part 54c and returned from the liquid level; a cap body 57 for covering both the ultrasonic emitting part 54c and the ultrasonic receiving part 54d of the ultrasonic sensor 54 and guiding ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic emission part 54c and the returned ultrasonic waves; and an air flow generating part 59 for generating flow of air at the tip part of the ultrasonic sensor 54. The air flow generating part 59 generates flow of air, at the tip part of the ultrasonic sensor 54 via the cap body 57 and restrains adhesion of volatile matters from the volatile solution, to the tip part of the ultrasonic sensor 54. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a liquid level detection sensor device that detects a liquid level in a container, and a liquid level detection sensor device that automatically pours a predetermined amount of liquid from a first container body to a second container body. The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus for dividing.

  In various analysis or inspection methods, a predetermined analysis / inspection may be performed while pouring a predetermined amount of sample liquid or the like from the first container body into the second container body. For example, in Patent Document 1, urine collected from a patient is automatically taken into the apparatus and a predetermined test is performed, so that a clean and accurate test is performed and management for each patient is surely performed. An automatic feeder for a urine measuring device capable of performing the above is disclosed.

  In the dietary fiber quantification method, for example, one of the enzyme-gravimetric methods most used in the food composition table, a modified Prosky method is carried out that separates and quantifies water-soluble dietary fiber and insoluble dietary fiber. . In the modified Prosky method, the sample is digested with starch to reduce the molecular weight of the protein and then filtered to separate it into a filtrate and a filtrate. Further, 4 times the volume of ethanol is added to the filtrate. In addition, the polymer component is insolubilized. In the modified Prosky method, the weight of the water-soluble dietary fiber and the insoluble dietary fiber is determined by further washing each filtrate with ethanol and acetone and then drying.

  That is, in the modified Prosky method, a crucible type glass filter in which a filter layer is formed in advance using Celite is used, and the sample solution is supplied from a tall beaker to a filter installed in a set device having a suction pump for filtration. In the Prosky modified method, the tall beaker has a capacity of 400 ml and the filter has a capacity of 30 ml. Therefore, 14 sample dispensing operations are required for one sample solution.

Registered Utility Model No. 3033679

  In various inspection / analysis apparatuses, the efficiency of inspection / analysis work is improved by providing an automatic sample liquid supply function like the automatic supply machine of the urine measurement apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above. It is extremely effective. However, the conventional automatic liquid supply apparatus automatically supplies the sample liquid into the apparatus exclusively, and the sample liquid is supplied from a large-capacity container to a small-capacity container as in the Prosky modified method described above. Nothing is provided that fits special applications where it is necessary to pour and deliver the entire volume in batches at a time.

  Therefore, in the conventional inspection / analysis apparatus, the sample solution is supplied by the analyst, and the analyst must replenish the sample solution while constantly monitoring the remaining state of the sample solution in each filter. However, when a large number of sample liquids are inspected, a simple operation of monitoring and replenishment has to be performed over a long period of time. For example, in a mass production type liquid supply apparatus, a liquid supply unit having a liquid metering mechanism, an automatic valve structure, or the like is provided to automatically supply a fixed amount of liquid. However, in the above-described experimental inspection / analysis apparatus used for the Prosky modified method or the like, the large-scale, complicated structure and expensive liquid automatic supply mechanism provided in such a mass production type liquid supply apparatus is provided. It cannot be adopted.

  The applicant has devised to solve the problems of the conventional inspection / analysis apparatus described above, and has developed a liquid quantification apparatus that is small, simple in structure, and inexpensive. This liquid metering device detects the upper limit liquid level position and the lower limit liquid level position of the liquid supplied from the first container body with a large capacity to the second container body with a small volume, and controls the drive mechanism. By reciprocatingly rotating the first container body between the pouring position and the standby position, the predetermined amount is poured separately, and when the supply of the entire amount is completed, the first container body is returned to the initial position. According to such a liquid quantification apparatus, even when analyzing a large number of sample liquids by a modified Prosky method, etc., an analyst is always required to eliminate the trouble of monitoring and replenishing the remaining amount of liquid in each second container. It is possible to carry out precise inspection analysis.

  By the way, in the above-described novel liquid quantitative supply apparatus, a liquid level sensor is provided as means for detecting the liquid level of the liquid supplied to the second container body. Depending on the nature of, there were cases where accuracy was lacking. That is, the above-mentioned liquid level sensor emits ultrasonic waves from the emission surface toward the liquid surface, and by entering the ultrasonic waves reflected from the liquid surface from the incident surface, thereby measuring the exit / incident time, Although it is a sensor that can calculate the distance to the liquid level, for example, when detecting the liquid level of a volatile liquid, the liquid level sensor is affected by volatile substances and cannot be detected accurately. There was a problem.

  In addition, the above-described novel liquid quantification apparatus is configured such that one end of the support plate member that holds the first container body is fixed to a drive shaft that protrudes from the main surface of the housing and faces the main surface. While reciprocatingly rotating over the standby position, the second container body is held on the stand so as to face the main surface on the side of the support plate member. The new liquid metering device was developed exclusively for a pair of first container body and second container body, and the first container body and the second container body were installed side by side along the main surface of the housing. The operation unit is slightly horizontally long.

  Therefore, the new liquid quantification apparatus has a problem that a large space is occupied in the horizontal direction when a large number of sample liquids are provided on the work table and a large number of sample liquids are analyzed simultaneously. In addition, for a new liquid quantification device, a plurality of first container bodies and second container bodies are provided while maintaining a small, simple structure, and inexpensive characteristics, so that a plurality of sample liquids can be analyzed by one unit. There was also a request to make it possible.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a liquid level detection sensor device capable of accurately detecting a liquid level regardless of the nature of the liquid to be detected, and the large-capacity described above. Fully follow the characteristics of a new liquid metering device that is small, simple, and inexpensive, which dispenses the entire amount of liquid from the first container body to the second container body with a small volume accurately and automatically. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid fixed quantity supply device that improves space efficiency and work efficiency in an installed state.

  A liquid level detection sensor device according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is a liquid level detection sensor device used in a liquid quantitative supply device that supplies a volatile solution in a fixed amount, and a tip portion that faces the liquid level of the volatile solution. An ultrasonic wave emitting unit that emits an ultrasonic wave to the liquid surface, and an ultrasonic wave receiving unit that is provided at the tip and receives the return ultrasonic wave from the liquid surface of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave emitting unit And a cap body for guiding the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave emission part and the return ultrasonic wave, while covering the ultrasonic wave emission part and the ultrasonic wave reception part of the ultrasonic sensor part, An air flow generation unit that generates an air flow is provided at the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit. Then, the air flow generation unit generates an air flow at the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit through the cap body, and suppresses adhesion of volatile substances from the volatile solution to the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit. Features.

  In addition, the liquid level detection sensor device has an air flow supply hole that supplies an air flow from the air flow generation unit to a space formed between the cap body and the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit. Provided with a long nozzle body that is connected to the cap body and guides the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave emission unit and the return ultrasonic wave through which the air flow from the air flow supply hole flows. Thus, adhesion of volatile substances from the volatile solution can be suppressed with a simple configuration.

  Moreover, the liquid fixed quantity supply device according to the present invention pours and supplies a predetermined amount of volatile liquid from a first container body having a large capacity to a second container body having a predetermined capacity. The liquid fixed amount supply device includes a holder mechanism for holding a first container body, a movement guide mechanism for moving the first container body along a predetermined path, a standby position for the first container body, and a liquid for the second container body. And a liquid level detection sensor unit for detecting the liquid level of the second container body.

  In the liquid fixed quantity supply device, the holder mechanism detachably holds the first container body in a recessed portion having a substantially arc-shaped cross section in the height direction formed on the main surface of the housing. In the liquid fixed amount supply device, the first guide body is held by the holder mechanism along the height-direction moving guide opening groove that is opened in the main surface by the movement guide mechanism located in the concave portion of the housing. And moving up and down along an arcuate locus centered on the second container body installed opposite the main surface. In the liquid fixed quantity supply device, the drive mechanism has a drive source that outputs a repetitive driving force in the vertical direction, and moves the first container body along the movement guide opening groove via the holder mechanism. In the liquid fixed amount supply device, the liquid level detection sensor unit detects the movement level between the first position and the second position by detecting the liquid level of the second container body.

  In the liquid fixed amount supply device, the first container body is parallel to the main surface at the first position on the lower end side of the movement guide opening groove according to the liquid surface state of the second container body detected by the liquid level detection sensor unit. Is held in a standby state in a substantially vertical position opposite to the upper surface of the movable guide opening groove and is moved to the second position on the upper end side of the movement guide opening groove to be converted into a position substantially orthogonal to the main surface and tilted. Then, the liquid is poured into the second container body.

  The liquid level detection sensor device according to the present invention covers an ultrasonic sensor unit including an ultrasonic wave emission unit and an ultrasonic wave reception unit, and covers the ultrasonic wave emission unit and the ultrasonic wave reception unit of the ultrasonic sensor unit. A cap body that guides ultrasonic waves emitted from the emission unit and return ultrasonic waves, and an air flow generation unit that generates an air flow at the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit are provided. The air flow generation unit generates an air flow at the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit via the cap body, and suppresses adhesion of volatile substances from the volatile solution to the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit. That is, the liquid level can be detected with high accuracy regardless of the nature of the liquid.

  Further, according to the liquid dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, the concave portion is formed on the main surface of the housing, the movement guide opening groove in the height direction is formed in the concave portion, and the holder mechanism is held by the driving mechanism. With a circular arc trajectory in the vertical direction about the second container body through the movement guide mechanism so as to convert the large capacity first container body from a substantially vertical posture to a substantially orthogonal posture with respect to the main surface. By moving and supplying the liquid to the second container body, a vertically long structure with a small lateral width is obtained, and the lateral space is reduced in the installed state. In addition, since the liquid fixed amount supply device includes the above-described liquid level detection sensor device, according to the liquid fixed amount supply device, accurate liquid level detection can be performed regardless of the nature of the solution to be detected. In order to improve space efficiency and work efficiency when installed on a table, etc., automatically perform precise liquid dispensing operation from a large capacity first container body to a predetermined capacity second container body Is possible.

  Hereinafter, a liquid level detection sensor device 51 shown as an embodiment of the present invention and a liquid fixed amount supply device (hereinafter simply referred to as a supply device) 1 including the liquid level detection sensor device 51 will be described with reference to the drawings. Will be described in detail. The supply device 1 is used for the filtration step when performing the quantitative analysis by the Prosky modified method described above, for example, and the 400 ml sample liquid (liquid) is added to the tall beaker 2 having a large capacity of about 500 ml constituting the first container body. The sample solution is automatically poured into a crucible filter (second container) 3 having a capacity of 30 ml constituting the second container body from the tall beaker 2 in a predetermined amount to perform a predetermined analysis. To be done. In the following description, the terms “upper and lower”, “left and right” and “front and rear” indicating directions are used with reference to FIG.

  The supply apparatus 1 presets the supply amount of the sample solution supplied from the tall beaker 2 to the filter 3 in advance, as will be described in detail later. The supply apparatus 1 moves the tall beaker 2 from the first position to the second position for supplying the sample liquid and automatically supplies a set amount of the sample liquid to the filter 3, and then the tall beaker 2 is moved from the second position to the second position. Return to position 1 and enter standby mode. The supply device 1 automatically moves the tall beaker 2 from the first position to the second position again when detecting the state in which the filtering operation of the sample liquid supplied in the filter 3 has progressed to become a predetermined amount or less. The sample solution is supplied to the filter 3 and returned to the first position.

  The supply device 1 is described as reciprocating the tall beaker 2 between the first position and the second position. For example, the first position is an initial position where the tall beaker 2 is set or sample liquid is filled, It may be a standby position to prepare for the next pouring operation slightly above or slightly below the initial pouring operation.

  The second position is described as an operation position in which the tall beaker 2 stops and the sample liquid is poured into the filter 3. However, when the tall beaker 2 is suddenly stopped during the pouring operation, a large amount of sample liquid is filtered at once. There is a possibility that the so-called pouring or the spilling due to the unstable posture may occur. In the supply device 1, by controlling the operation of the tall beaker 2 in the vicinity of the second position, the above situation can be prevented and the liquid level detection of the sample liquid in the filter 3 and simplification of the control can be achieved. Like that.

  Accordingly, the second position does not require the stop state of the tall beaker 2 and does not become a fixed position when the precision is not particularly required, or by corresponding to each mechanism or the like. Further, the second position changes each time according to the remaining amount of the sample liquid in the tall beaker 2. That is, the second position is a position at which the tall beaker 2 is moved from the first position upward along an arc-shaped locus and tilted to a predetermined angle to start pouring the sample liquid into the filter 3. It is.

  The supply device 1 automatically repeats the above-described repeated movement operation of the tall beaker 2 until the supply of the entire amount of the sample liquid to the filter 3 is completed. Therefore, in the supply apparatus 1, even when a plurality of units are installed and a plurality of sample liquids are simultaneously filtered, the analyst monitors all the filters 3 and performs an addition operation according to the remaining state of the sample liquids. It makes it unnecessary, and enables accurate analysis while reducing the burden on analysts and improving work efficiency.

  The supply device 1 is placed on a work table, for example, and has a height of about 75 cm and a depth of about 30 cm, but the width is as small as 20 cm as shown in FIG. Therefore, a sufficient space is ensured, and a plurality of sample solutions can be processed simultaneously. The supply device 1 is installed in a state where the filter 3 is set to a predetermined height position and a front-rear position by a position adjusting mechanism of the filter support bracket 5 so as to face the main surface 4A of the housing 4 as will be described later. Is done. The filter 3 includes a container part 3a filled with a predetermined amount of sample liquid, a filtration layer 3b made of celite fixed to the bottom of the container part 3a, and a support member 3c on which the filtration layer 3b is supported. The suction drainage mechanism 6 that sucks and drains the filtrate passing through the filtration layer 3b is connected to the support member 3c with the internal space connected to the filtration layer 3b in a negative pressure state. Further, a hook-shaped fixing member 3d for fixing the container 3a and the filtration layer 3b to the support 3c is provided on the support 3c of the filter 3. The suction / drainage mechanism 6 connected to the support portion 3c is connected to the first suction / drainage pipe 6a and the rear stage of the first suction / drainage pipe 6a, and a wide-mouth bottle 6b for storing the filtrate from the filter 3; The second suction drain pipe 6c is connected to suction means such as a pump (not shown) at the subsequent stage connected to the wide-mouth bottle 6b. The first suction drain pipe 6a connects the support portion 3c and the wide-mouth bottle 6b, and drains the filtrate from the filter 3 to the wide-mouth bottle 6b. The second suction drain pipe 6c connects the wide-mouth bottle 6b and the suction means, and is connected to a position where the filtrate accumulated in the wide-mouth bottle 6b is not sucked in the upper stage, that is, the upper part of the wide-mouth bottle 6b, and the inside is in a negative pressure state. As a result, the air in the wide-mouth bottle 6b is sucked so that the filtrate of the filter 3 is sucked. The wide-mouth bottle 6b can be used when collecting the filtrate for each supply device 1, but the first suction drain pipe 6a and the second suction drain pipe 6c may be directly connected. Of course it is good. Moreover, the filter 3 is not limited to such a structure, and may be constituted by, for example, a suction bottle and a funnel attached to the upper opening thereof.

  In the supply device 1, the main surface 4A of the casing 4 constituting the operation surface is divided into a lower region 4AL and an upper region 4AU at a substantially central position in the height direction as shown in FIGS. A concave portion 7 having a substantially arc-shaped cross section is provided in 4AL. In the supply device 1, a holder mechanism 8, a movement guide mechanism 9, and a drive mechanism 10, which will be described in detail later, are assembled in a chassis (not shown) provided inside the housing 4, and the tall beaker 2 is installed in the space portion formed by the recessed portion 7. While holding and rotating, move in the height direction.

  In the supply device 1, the tall beaker 2 reciprocates in the height direction in the recessed portion 7 across the first position and the second position by the holder mechanism 8 and the movement guide mechanism 9 as will be described in detail later. In the supply device 1, the holder mechanism 8 holds the tall beaker 2 in a substantially vertical posture that faces the main surface 4A in parallel at the first position. The supply device 1 operates the drive mechanism 10 to move the tall beaker 2 held by the holder mechanism 8 from the first position to the second position. However, the movement guide mechanism 9 causes the inside of the recessed portion 7 to have an arc shape upward. As it is moved along the trajectory, it is gradually changed from the substantially vertical posture described above to a posture substantially orthogonal to the main surface 4A to be in a tilted state.

  In the supply device 1, the filter 3 is installed on the filter support bracket 5 so as to be substantially flush with the main surface 4 </ b> A as shown in FIG. In the supply device 1, the recessed portion 7 is formed on the main surface 4 </ b> A of the housing 4 with a curvature that moves the tall beaker 2 along an arc-shaped locus centering on the filter 3. In the supply device 1, a pair of heightwise movement guide opening grooves 11 </ b> L and 11 </ b> R constituting the movement guide mechanism 9 in the recessed portion 7 (hereinafter collectively referred to as a movement guide opening groove 11, unless otherwise described). Is formed). The movement guide opening groove 11 is formed in the recessed portion 7 as a slit-shaped opening groove that is spaced apart in the width direction and parallel to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the supply device 1 includes a control board 13 that omits the details of mounting the control circuit unit 12 and the like in the upper region 4 AU, and includes a plurality of operation buttons 14 </ b> A to 14 </ b> D and a liquid crystal display 15. Alternatively, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) indicator lamp 16 or the like that displays an on / off state of the power supply or the like is provided. The supply device 1 is provided with a liquid level detection sensor device 51 having one end attached to the upper region 4AU and the tip facing the recessed portion 7 to detect the material of the sample liquid in the filter 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the filter support bracket 5 of the supply device 1 is made of a flat plate member, and an upper surface member 5a on which the support portion 3c of the filter 3 is fixed on the upper surface. It comprises a substantially L-shaped support member 5 b that supports 5 a and is connected to the supply device 1. The support member 5 b of the filter support bracket 5 has an upper surface member 5 a fixed to one end side, and the other end side fixed to the bottom surface of the housing 4 of the supply device 1 by screws. The filter support bracket 5 adjusts the position of the filter 3 such as the vertical position, the left-right position, and the front-rear position by adjusting the fixing position of the bottom surface of the housing 4 of the supply device 1 of the support member 5b.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, in the supply device 1, the holder mechanism 8 is collectively referred to as a pair of support bracket members 18 </ b> L and 18 </ b> R (hereinafter referred to as a support bracket member 18 unless otherwise described). ), A support 19 provided on the support bracket member 18 for placing the tall beaker 2 in an upright state, and two locations in the height direction of the tall beaker 2 placed horizontally on the support bracket members 18 and 18. The semi-arc-shaped fixed holder pieces 21L and 21U (hereinafter collectively referred to as the fixed holder piece 21 unless otherwise described) and the rear side of the cradle 19 are fixed to the fixed holder piece 21 side. It has members, such as the movable holder piece 20 provided by being urged. As will be described later, in the holder mechanism 8, the support bracket member 18 is moved in the vertical direction along the movement guide opening groove 11 by the drive mechanism 10.

  The holder mechanism 8 has a length that allows the movable holder piece 20 to urge and hold the outer periphery of the tall beaker 2 toward the fixed holder piece 21, and is formed to be slightly smaller than the fixed holder piece 21. On the other hand, the lower end side is combined via a hinge mechanism 20 a provided on the rear side of the cradle 19. The holder mechanism 8 includes a bearing cylinder 20b in which the hinge mechanism 20a is fixed to the cradle 19 and cantilever the movable holder piece 20, a support shaft 20c supported in the left-right direction between the support bracket members 18L and 18R, and a support. It comprises a coil spring 20e mounted between a bracket member 20d erected from the shaft 20c and a support bracket member 18L, and rotatably supports the movable holder piece 20 while biasing it toward the fixed holder piece 21 side.

  The holder mechanism 8 places the tall beaker 2 upright on the cradle 19 with the movable holder piece 20 opened against the elastic force of the coil spring 20e. The holder mechanism 8 sandwiches the tall beaker 2 with the fixed holder piece 21 by the movable holder piece 20 returning to the elastic force of the coil spring and coming into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the tall beaker 2 placed on the cradle 19. Hold. Thus, the holder mechanism 8 detachably holds the tall beaker 2 in a substantially vertical state facing the recessed portion 7 formed on the main surface 4A of the housing 4 and facing the main surface 4A in parallel.

  Needless to say, the holder mechanism 8 is not limited to the structure described above, and for example, the tall beaker 2 is securely held on the inner surface of the movable holder piece 20 or the fixed holder piece 21 that is a contact surface with the tall beaker 2. A non-slip elastic sheet material or the like may be joined. The holder mechanism 8 may include a movable holder piece 20 and a fixed holder piece 21 of an appropriate number or shape according to the size of the tall beaker 2. The holder mechanism 8 may be constituted by, for example, an arcuate standing wall standing from the receiving base 19, and the tall beaker 2 may be pressed and held by the movable holder piece 20. The holder mechanism 8 is preferably provided at a position where the fixed holder piece 21 is held below the tall beaker 2 at the second position.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the supply device 1 includes a movement guide opening groove 11 that is opened in the recessed portion 7 described above as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and the housing 4 along the movement guide opening groove 11. A pair of left and right guide rail members 22L and 22R (hereinafter collectively referred to as a guide rail member 22 unless otherwise described), and a drive bracket member that is supported by the guide rail member 22 and moves. 23.

  In the movement guide mechanism 9, the movement guide opening grooves 11 have a larger interval than the outer diameter of the tall beaker 2, and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction and parallel to each other in the recessed portion 7 as described above. It is formed as a circular arc groove. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the movement guide opening groove 11 is inserted into the base end portion of the support bracket member 18 of the holder mechanism 8 and is connected to the drive bracket member 23. In addition, although the supply apparatus 1 formed a pair of movement guide opening groove | channels 11L and 11R, of course, the one movement guide opening groove | channel 11 may be sufficient.

  The guide rail member 22 is substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction, and is attached to the inside of the housing 4 along the movement guide opening groove 11. The guide rail member 22 has an arc shape having a curvature substantially equal to the curvature of the recessed portion 7 and is a long member having a length substantially equal to the height thereof. As shown in FIG. 6, guide grooves 24 </ b> L and 24 </ b> R (hereinafter collectively referred to as “guide grooves 24” unless otherwise described) open to their respective side surfaces as shown in FIG. By being formed, it is made of a channel-shaped member having a substantially U-shaped cross section. As shown in the figure, the guide rail member 22 has a stepped side wall on the front side that forms the guide groove 24, and the chain guide grooves 25 </ b> L and 25 </ b> R along the guide groove 24 (except for the case described individually below). Are collectively referred to as a chain guide groove 25).

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the drive bracket member 23 is integrally and continuously provided along a plate-like base portion 26 having a width substantially equal to the interval between the guide rail members 22 and both side edges of the base portion 26. The side plate portions 27L and 27R (hereinafter collectively referred to as the side plate portion 27 except when individually described) are substantially H-shaped members. In the drive bracket member 23, the support bracket member 18 of the holder mechanism 8 described above in which the movement guide opening groove 11 is fitted in the base portion 26 which is curved with a curvature substantially equal to the curvature of the concave portion 7 in the thickness direction. The proximal end is joined.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the drive bracket member 23 is formed in an arc shape in which the side plate portion 27 is curved with a curvature substantially equal to the curvature of the recessed portion 7 and has a width slightly larger than the groove width of the guide groove 24. It consists of a plate part. The side plate portion 27 is provided with pin shafts 28L and 28U (hereinafter collectively referred to as pin shafts 28 unless otherwise described) on the outer surfaces near both ends in the length direction. The bearing rollers 29L and 29U (hereinafter collectively referred to as bearing rollers 29 unless otherwise described) having the same diameter as the groove width of the guide groove 24 are mounted.

  The drive bracket member 23 guides the bearing roller 29R with the side plate portion 27L facing the guide rail member 22R while the side plate portion 27L faces the guide rail member 22L and the bearing roller 29L is fitted into the guide groove 24L. By being inserted into the groove 24R, the guide rail members 22L and 22R are combined. The drive bracket member 23 moves smoothly in the vertical direction as the bearing roller 29 rotates in the guide groove 24 when a drive force in the vertical direction is applied from the drive mechanism 10 described later. By this moving operation, the drive bracket member 23 moves the support bracket member 18 of the holder mechanism 8 integrally, and moves the tall beaker 2 along an arc-shaped locus substantially equal to the curvature of the recessed portion 7. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive mechanism 10 includes a linear servo motor 30 that constitutes a drive source, and lower guide bodies 31F and 31B (hereinafter referred to as “front guide”) that are positioned below the moving guide opening groove 11 and are opposed to each other. The upper guide bodies 32F and 32B (hereinafter referred to as individual guides) are provided at the upper part of the moving guide opening groove 11 and opposed to each other in the front-rear direction. Except for the case described below, and a pair of left and right lower chain belts 33L and 33R (hereinafter collectively referred to as the lower chain belt 33 except when individually described), and left and right. A pair of upper chain belts 34L and 34R (hereinafter collectively referred to as upper chain belt 34 unless otherwise described) is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive mechanism 10 is provided with the linear servo motor 30 inside the housing 4 in a standing state so as to be opposed to the recessed portion 7. Since the linear servo motor 30 is equivalent to a well-known one that is generally used in various automatic control devices and the like, a detailed description thereof will be omitted, but a pair of left and right operating bodies 35L and 35R (hereinafter referred to as individual cases). The actuator 35 is generically referred to as an operating body 35.) The actuator 35 is driven by precisely controlling the moving direction, moving amount or moving speed based on a control signal output from the control circuit unit 12 described later. Is done.

  Although not described in detail, the linear servo motor 30 detects the moving position of the operating body 35 and outputs a position signal to the control circuit unit 12, and a control signal output from the control circuit unit 12 based on this position signal. Thus, predetermined operation control is performed. Based on the position signal, the linear servo motor 30 switches the movement of the operating body 35 in the vertical direction, for example, by inverting the output, and switches the speed of the operating body 35. As described above, the linear servo motor 30 is provided in an upright state inside the housing 4 so that the operating body 35 reciprocates in the vertical direction facing the recessed portion 7. As will be described later, a lower chain belt 33 and an upper chain belt 34 constituting a drive belt body are fixed to the operating body 35 at respective one end portions.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the front lower guide body 31 </ b> F includes a pair of left and right front lower chain wheels 36 </ b> L and 36 </ b> R (hereinafter collectively referred to as a front lower chain wheel 36 unless otherwise described), and these front lower chain wheels. A front lower support shaft 37 that supports the vehicle 36, and a pair of left and right front lower bearing bearings 38L and 38R that rotatably support the front lower support shaft 37 (hereinafter, unless otherwise described individually). Are collectively called). As shown in FIG. 6, the front lower guide body 31 </ b> F is rotatably supported with the front lower support shaft 37 positioned between the guide rail members 22 via the front lower bearing bearing 38 in the vicinity of the lower end portion thereof. A front lower chain wheel 36 is mounted on the lower support shaft 37 in the chain guide groove 25 of the guide rail member 22.

  The rear lower guide body 31B has the same basic structure as the front lower guide body 31F, and is a pair of left and right rear lower chain wheels 39L and 39R (hereinafter collectively referred to as a rear lower chain wheel 39 unless otherwise described). .), A rear lower support shaft 40 that supports these rear lower support shafts 39, and a pair of left and right rear lower bearing bearings 41L and 41R that rotatably support the rear lower support shaft 40 (hereinafter, individually described) Except for the rear lower bearing bearing 41. Note that only the left rear lower bearing bearing 41L is shown in FIG. The rear lower guide body 31B has a rear lower support shaft 40 rotatably supported on the chassis of the housing 4 via a rear lower bearing bearing 41, and the rear lower support shaft 40 is opposed to the front lower chain wheel 36. Thus, the rear lower chain wheel 39 is mounted.

  The drive mechanism 10 is configured such that the front upper guide body 32F is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the guide rail member 22 facing the above-described front lower guide body 31F and includes an equivalent member. The front upper guide body 32F has the same components as the front lower guide body 31F, and will not be described in detail. However, a pair of left and right front upper chain wheels 42L and 42R (hereinafter, unless otherwise described separately) And a front upper support shaft 43 and a pair of left and right front upper bearing bearings 44L and 44R (hereinafter collectively referred to as a front upper bearing bearing 44 unless otherwise described). Consists of

  The drive mechanism 10 is configured such that the rear upper guide body 32B is provided with an equivalent member so as to face the rear lower guide body 31B described above. The rear upper guide body 32B is not described in detail, but a pair of left and right rear upper chain wheels 45L and 45R (hereinafter collectively referred to as the rear upper chain wheel 45 except when individually described). The rear upper support shaft 46 and a pair of left and right rear upper bearing bearings 47L and 47R (hereinafter collectively referred to as the rear upper bearing bearing 47 unless otherwise described).

  The drive mechanism 10 includes a lower chain belt 33 having one end fixed to the operating body 35 of the linear servo motor 30 as described above, and the rear lower chain wheel 39 and the front lower chain wheel 36 as shown in FIGS. And the other end side of the guide rail member 22 is fixed to one end side of the drive bracket member 23. In the drive mechanism 10, an upper chain belt 34 having one end portion opposed to the lower chain belt 33 and fixed to the operating body 35 is engaged with the rear upper chain wheel 45 and the front upper chain wheel 42 and the guide rail member 22. The inside of the chain guide groove 25 is guided, and the other end thereof is fixed to the other end of the drive bracket member 23 so as to face the lower chain belt 33.

  In the drive mechanism 10, the operating body 35 is driven in the vertical direction based on a control signal supplied from the control circuit unit 12 to the linear servomotor 30. The drive mechanism 10 transmits the operation of the operating body 35 to the drive bracket member 23 via the lower guide body 31 and the upper guide body 32, and the drive bracket member 23 is directed upward along the guide rail member 22. Alternatively, it is moved downward. The drive mechanism 10 controls the linear servo motor 30 to instruct the pouring operation from the tall beaker 2 to the filter 3 in the first position where the drive bracket member 23 is located at the lower end of the guide rail member 22 shown in FIG. When the signal is supplied, the operating body 35 moves downward in the figure.

  In the drive mechanism 10, as the operating body 35 moves downward, the lower chain belt 33 is fed forward through the rear lower chain wheel 39 and the front lower chain wheel 36 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4. The upper chain belt 34 is moved so as to be wound rearward via the front upper chain wheel 42 and the rear upper chain wheel 45. The drive mechanism 10 moves the drive bracket member 23 upward along the guide rail member 22 by the operation of the lower chain belt 33 and the upper chain belt 34.

  On the other hand, when the pouring operation from the tall beaker 2 to the filter 3 is completed at the second position and the control signal instructing the linear servo motor 30 to return to the first position is supplied to the drive mechanism 10, 35 moves upward. As the operating body 35 moves upward, the drive mechanism 10 moves so that the lower chain belt 33 is caught in the rear side via the front lower chain wheel 36 and the rear lower chain wheel 39, and The upper chain belt 34 moves so as to be fed forward through the rear upper chain wheel 45 and the front upper chain wheel 42. The drive mechanism 10 moves the drive bracket member 23 so as to push it downward along the guide rail member 22 by the operation of the lower chain belt 33 and the upper chain belt 34.

  In the drive mechanism 10, the drive bracket member 23 is driven by the pair of left and right lower chain belts 33 and upper chain belts 34, as described above, because the drive bracket members 23 whose both side portions are supported by the guide rail members 22 are driven. A vertical movement operation is performed along the guide rail member 22 in a more stable posture. Therefore, in the drive mechanism 10, the tall beaker 2 held by the holder mechanism 8 is stably and smoothly moved in the vertical direction via the drive bracket member 23 to prevent the occurrence of liquid spills.

  In the drive mechanism 10, the linear servo motor 30 is used as a drive source as described above. However, for example, a precision motor capable of forward and reverse rotation such as a rotation output type servo motor or an appropriate motor is used as a drive source. May be. The drive mechanism 10 is configured to directly or indirectly rotationally drive the rear lower support shaft 40 that supports the rear lower chain wheel 39 and the rear upper support shaft 46 that supports the rear upper chain wheel 45 by the precision motor, for example. It may be.

  Further, in the drive mechanism 10, the drive bracket member 23 is moved by the pair of left and right lower chain belts 33 and the upper chain belt 34 as described above, but is moved by the chain belt provided on either the left or right side. You may make it make it. For example, a timing belt and a timing pulley may be used instead of the chain belt and the chain wheel.

  The supply device 1 performs the above-described operation of the tall beaker 2 by controlling the operation of the linear servo motor 30 of the drive mechanism 10 using a control signal output from the control circuit unit 12. As will be described later, the supply device 1 detects the remaining amount of the sample liquid in the filter 3, that is, the liquid level position by the liquid level detection sensor device 51, and operates the drive mechanism 10 when detecting the state below the specified amount. The tall beaker 2 is moved from the first position to the second position so that the sample liquid pouring operation is automatically performed, and when the state of reaching the specified amount is detected, the tall beaker 2 is returned from the second position to the first position. . The supply device 1 moves the tall beaker 2 to the second position and keeps the stopped state to supply the sample liquid to the filter 3. For example, a setting operation unit is provided to adjust the capacity of the filter 3 and the like. Accordingly, it is possible to set the stop time and the like in advance. In this case, the supply apparatus 1 may perform other setting operations such as the speed setting of the linear servo motor 30 by the setting operation unit.

  The supply apparatus 1 performs the above-described control operation of the tall beaker 2 by the control system shown in FIG. Although not described in detail, the supply device 1 is configured by a control circuit unit 12 mounting a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory element, a counter, or the like on a control board 13. Note that not only the components of the control circuit unit 12 but also components such as a motor control circuit 30A or a power supply circuit unit are mounted on the control board 13.

  The supply device 1 is supplied with power by connecting a plug of a power cord (not shown) to a commercial power outlet, for example. The supply device 1 performs power ON / OFF operation with the power switch 14A, and performs AC-DC conversion processing and predetermined voltage conversion processing in the power supply circuit portion to the respective components such as the control circuit portion 12 and the linear servo motor 30. Power supply at a predetermined voltage is performed.

  The control circuit unit 12 receives output signals output from the operation buttons 14, the liquid level detection sensor device 51, or the linear servo motor 30, performs predetermined processing based on these output signals, and controls the linear servo motor 30. A control signal is output to the motor control circuit 30A to be driven. The control circuit unit 12 drives the liquid crystal display 15 based on each output signal to perform a predetermined display and performs a predetermined lighting display by the LED indicator lamp 16.

  As described above, a position signal corresponding to the movement position of the operating body 35 output from the linear servo motor 30, in other words, the movement position of the tall beaker 2 is input to the control circuit unit 12. The control circuit unit 12 counts this position signal with a counter, compares the control operation information registered in the memory element, and outputs a predetermined control signal to the motor control circuit 30A. The control circuit unit 12 drives the linear servo motor 30 at a high speed while the tall beaker 2 moves from the first position to a predetermined height position, and drives at a low speed from the position to the second position. To immediately before the first position, the motor is driven at high speed, and is controlled to decelerate and stop gently at the position immediately before. Needless to say, the control circuit unit 12 is not limited to such a control operation.

  In the supply device 1, a power switch 14 </ b> A, a start switch 14 </ b> B, a pause switch 14 </ b> C, and a return switch 14 </ b> D are provided on the upper surface of the housing 4 as operation buttons 14. The power switch 14A performs the power on / off operation as described above. The start switch 14B is operated with the tall beaker 2 and the filter 3 set, thereby outputting a start signal to the control circuit unit 12 and driving the drive mechanism 10 so that the tall beaker 2 is moved. .

  The temporary stop switch 14C is operated, for example, when it is necessary to temporarily stop the pouring operation for some reason during the supply of the sample liquid to the tall beaker 2, and outputs a temporary stop signal to the control circuit unit 12. Thus, the stop operation of the drive mechanism 10 is performed. The return switch 14D is operated, for example, when the analysis work is completed after supplying the sample liquid of the entire volume from the tall beaker 2 to the filter 3, and outputs a signal to the control circuit unit 12 to output the initial position of the drive mechanism 10. A return operation is performed. For example, the supply device 1 includes a start switch 14B and a temporary stop switch 14C that are formed by push-push switches so that the start operation is performed once and the operation is continued, and the operation is continued twice. A pause operation may be performed by the operation.

  The supply device 1 displays the progress state of the sample liquid pouring operation (for example, the number of times of pouring) and the state of the operation mode of the pause described above, etc., by the liquid crystal display 15. In addition, when the supply apparatus 1 is used in combination with a large number of sets, the liquid crystal display 15 displays the sample liquid number and the like. The supply apparatus 1 may display the information when the operation specification based on the analysis specification can be set by having the setting operation unit. Needless to say, the supply device 1 does not require the liquid crystal display 15.

  The LED indicator lamp 16 is turned on / off in conjunction with the on / off operation of the power switch 14A to display the power-on state. The LED indicator lamp 16 is switched to blinking when, for example, the supply of the entire volume of the sample solution from the tall beaker 2 to the filter 3 is completed, thereby allowing the analyst to replenish the sample solution and operate the return switch 14D. To encourage. In the event of an abnormal situation where the tall beaker 2 has stopped in the middle of the movement guide opening groove 11 for some reason, for example, the LED indicator lamp 16 is switched to a high-speed blinking display to notify the analyst. Note that the supply device 1 may be notified by an alarm buzzer sounding together with the blinking of the LED indicator lamp 16 when an abnormal situation occurs.

  For example, an ultrasonic sensor is used as the liquid level detection sensor device 51, and an ultrasonic wave is emitted from the emission surface into the filter 3, and a return ultrasonic wave reflected by the filter 3 is incident from the incident surface. The detection signal is given by counting the time. The liquid level detection sensor device 51 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the liquid level of the sample liquid in the filter 3 to the control circuit unit 12. In addition, about the liquid level detection sensor apparatus 51, it is not limited to the ultrasonic sensor mentioned above, The suitable sensor which detects the height position of a liquid level, for example, a float sensor and an optical sensor, is also used.

  The liquid level detection sensor device 51 monitors the pouring state of the sample liquid from the tall beaker 2 to the filter 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid level detection sensor device 51 is erected in the upper region 4 AU of the main surface 4 </ b> A of the housing 4 so that the tip portion is opposed to the filter 3. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the liquid level detection sensor device 51 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the main surface 4A from the upper region 4AU, and is a ball plunger that is rotatably supported in a plane parallel to the main surface 4A. It is fixed to the main surface 4A via a first support member 17b having 17a and a second support member 17c that is rotated and fixed approximately every 90 degrees by a ball plunger 17a. The first support member 17b is formed of an annular member, and the second support member 17c is inserted therein, and the second support member 17c is positioned by the ball plunger 17a. The 2nd support member 17c consists of an annular member, and the 1st connection member 52 of the liquid level detection sensor apparatus 51 is penetrated. A threaded through hole 17d is provided on the peripheral surface on the distal end side of the second support member 17c, and the first connecting member 52 is fixed at a predetermined position by screwing the screw 17e. .

  The liquid level detection sensor device 51 includes a first connection member 52 inserted and fixed to the second support member 17c, and an ultrasonic wave generation circuit that is connected to the first connection member 52 and accommodates the ultrasonic wave generation circuit 54a. A storage member 53, a second connection member 55 that is connected to the ultrasonic wave generation circuit storage member 53 and that directs the ultrasonic emission surface 54b of the ultrasonic sensor 54 at the subsequent stage to the main surface 4A, and a second connection An ultrasonic sensor storage member 56 that is connected to the member 55 and stores the ultrasonic sensor 54, and an ultrasonic sensor 54 that is connected to the ultrasonic sensor storage member 56 and that is exposed from the ultrasonic output surface 54 b. A cap body 57 for guiding the direction and a nozzle 58 provided on the cap body 57 are configured.

  The first connecting member 52 is formed of an annular member. One end side of the first connecting member 52 is inserted into the second support member 17c, and is screwed with a screw 17e at a predetermined position. The other end side is provided on the ultrasonic wave generation circuit housing member 53. It is inserted through the insertion hole 53a. The first connecting member 52 is fixed at a predetermined position by screwing a screw 53 c into a threaded through hole 53 b provided in the ultrasonic wave generation circuit housing member 53.

  The ultrasonic wave generation circuit storage member 53 is connected to the insertion hole 53a through which the first connection member 52 is inserted, the space part 53d in which the ultrasonic wave generation circuit 54a is stored, and the space part 53d. An insertion hole 53e through which the second connecting member 55 provided in a direction perpendicular to the insertion hole 53a is inserted is provided. The ultrasonic wave generation circuit housing member 53 is provided with a threaded through hole 53b penetrating through the insertion hole 53a, and the first connecting member 52 is fixed by screwing the screw 53c into the through hole 53b. . Similarly, the ultrasonic wave generation circuit housing member 53 is provided with a threaded through hole 53f penetrating through the insertion hole 53e. By screwing a screw 53g into the through hole 53f, the second connecting member 55 is provided. To fix.

  The second connecting member 55 is formed of an annular member, and is inserted through the insertion hole 53 e of the ultrasonic generation circuit storage member 53 to connect the ultrasonic generation circuit storage member 53 and the ultrasonic sensor storage member 56.

  The ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 is formed of an annular member, and the second connecting member 55 is inserted into an insertion hole 56a provided on one end side, and is threaded from the outer peripheral surface on one end side to the insertion hole 56a to penetrate therethrough. The second connecting member 55 is fixed by screwing the screw 56c into the through hole 56b. Further, the ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 is screwed into a female screw portion 56d formed on the inner peripheral surface on the other end side so that the ultrasonic output surface 54b partly faces and the ultrasonic sensor 54 54 is held. Furthermore, the ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 is formed with a plurality of through-holes 56e provided through the inside of the ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 from the other end surface for sending air from the fan 59 described later to the nozzle 58 side. Has been.

  The ultrasonic sensor 54 is a cylindrical ultrasonic sensor, and an ultrasonic wave emission part 54c having an ultrasonic wave emission surface 54b that emits an ultrasonic wave at the tip part, and a return of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave emission part 54c. An ultrasonic receiving unit 54d that receives ultrasonic waves is connected to a cable 54e to which power and electric signals are supplied from the rear end. The ultrasonic sensor 54 has a male screw portion 54 f formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is screwed with the female screw portion 56 d of the ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 and is screwed with the female screw portion 57 a of the cap body 57.

  The cap body 57 is a member that is hermetically coupled to the ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 via the ultrasonic sensor 54, and is formed from one end side. The cap body 57 includes the ultrasonic emission unit 54c and the ultrasonic reception unit 54d of the ultrasonic sensor 54. In addition to covering, each of the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave emitting unit 54c and the return ultrasonic wave reflected on the liquid surface is guided in a predetermined direction. The cap body 57 passes through the first insertion hole 57b screwed into the ultrasonic sensor 54 and the other end side formed continuously at the bottom of the first insertion hole 57b, and the nozzle 58 is screwed into the first cap hole 57b. A second insertion hole 57c having a smaller diameter than the first insertion hole 57b is provided. On the one end side of the cap body 57, air from the fan 59 that has flowed into the through hole 56e of the ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 is formed between the ultrasonic emission surface 54b and the bottom of the first insertion hole 57b. A plurality of air flow supply holes 57e that are bypassed to the space portion 57d are formed. The air flow supply hole 57e is a hole that supplies air from the fan 59 to the space 57d to generate an air flow. On the inner peripheral surface of the first insertion hole 57b of the cap body 57, a female screw portion 57a that is screwed with the male screw portion 54f of the ultrasonic sensor 54 is provided on one end side. The cap body 57 is hermetically connected to the ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 and has an ultrasonic sensor so as to form a space 57d between the ultrasonic emission surface 54b and the bottom of the first insertion hole 57b. 54.

  The nozzle 58 is made of a tubular member, the rear end side is screwed into the second insertion hole 57c of the cap body 57, and air from the fan 59 and ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic sensor 54 are emitted in a predetermined direction from the front end side. At the same time, the return ultrasonic wave reflected by the liquid surface is guided to the ultrasonic wave receiving unit 54d. The nozzle 58 is provided with a notch 58 a having a predetermined angle θ with respect to a surface orthogonal to the nozzle central axis on the tip side. This notch portion 58a receives the ultrasonic wave effect of the reflected wave generated when the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave emitting portion 54c is emitted from the tip end side of the nozzle 58 to the liquid surface when the notch is not formed. This is for the portion 54d not to receive.

  The fan 59 is an air flow generation unit provided in the upper region 4AU of the supply device 1. The air supplied from the fan circulates inside each member of the liquid level detection sensor device 51, and the nozzle 58 Released from the tip. Specifically, the air from the fan 59 provided in the housing 4 of the supply device 1 flows into the second support member 17c, the first connecting member 52, the ultrasonic wave generation circuit housing member 53, the first The second connecting member 55, the ultrasonic sensor housing member 56, the through hole 56 e, the air flow supply hole 57 e, the space 57 d, and the nozzle 58 pass through in this order and flow out from the tip of the nozzle 58. This is because, depending on the nature of the sample liquid poured into the filter 3, for example, in the case of a volatile sample liquid, the volatile substance of the sample liquid accumulates in the nozzle 58, thereby reducing the accuracy of the ultrasonic sensor. This is to prevent this. The fan 59 supplies an air volume that generates a slight air flow from the nozzle 58 via the air flow supply hole 57e of the cap body 57, and receives a reflected wave from the liquid level of the ultrasonic sensor 54. An air volume that does not reduce accuracy is preferable.

  The liquid level detection sensor device 51 having such a configuration includes an ultrasonic sensor housing member 56 that holds the ultrasonic sensor 54, and an air flow from the fan 59 is generated through the air flow supply hole 57 e of the cap body 57. In addition, even when the liquid level of the volatile sample liquid is detected, adhesion of the volatile substance to the ultrasonic sensor 54 can be suppressed. Further, the liquid level detection sensor device 1 causes the air from the fan 59, which is an air flow generation unit, to flow through each member, and from the air flow supply hole 57e to the space 57d provided on the distal end side of the ultrasonic sensor 54. Since the volatile substance is accumulated in the cap body 57 and the nozzle 58, the volatile substance can be prevented from adhering to the ultrasonic wave emitting part 54c and the ultrasonic wave receiving part 54d, and the shape of the apparatus main body is clean. Space saving.

  The supply device 1 configured as described above provides the control circuit unit 12 with the origin information of the drive bracket member 23 of the movement guide mechanism 9 and the origin information of the actuating body 35 of the linear servo motor 30 as a setup operation for performing the analysis work. An origin recognition operation for recognition is performed. In the supply device 1, for example, the drive mechanism 10 is driven by operating the start switch 14 </ b> B, and the start position is recognized based on the position signal output from the linear servo motor 30 and stored in the memory element. It should be noted that this origin recognition operation may be performed for the first analysis work and need not be performed each time the same analysis work is performed. In the supply device 1, the control position can be arbitrarily set by storing the position information in a memory element by turning on / off the start switch 14 </ b> B according to the movement position of the tall beaker 2.

  In the supply device 1, the tall beaker 2 is held in a substantially vertical standby state facing the main surface 4 </ b> A in parallel at the first position below the recessed portion 7 by the holder mechanism 8 described above. In the supply device 1, it is possible to perform the sample liquid filling operation without removing the tall beaker 2 from the holder mechanism 8 in this standby state. In the supply apparatus 1, as described above, the holder mechanism 8 has one end of the support bracket member 18 fitted into the movement guide opening groove 11 and fixed to the drive bracket member 23 of the movement guide mechanism 9, and this drive bracket member 23. Are combined with the guide rail member 22.

  In the supply device 1, the drive mechanism 10 is operated by the control signal from the control circuit unit 12 and the holder mechanism 8 is moved by the movement guide mechanism 9, so that the tall beaker 2 has an arc shape along the movement guide opening groove 11. An operation of moving upward along the trajectory is performed. That is, in the supply device 1, the drive mechanism 10 causes the linear servo motor 30 to slide the operating body 35 downward from the upper initial position, and the lower chain belt 33 and the upper chain belt 34 coupled to the operating body 35. Drive. In the supply device 1, as described above, the lower chain belt 33 is engaged with the lower guide body 31 and the upper chain belt 34 is engaged with the upper guide body 32 and coupled to the drive bracket member 23 of the movement guide mechanism 9. The drive bracket member 23 is moved.

  In the supply device 1, the drive bracket 10 that is positioned at the lower end portion of the guide rail member 22 moves upward along the guide rail member 22 by the drive mechanism 10 as shown in FIG. 4. In the supply device 1, the movement guide mechanism 9 moves the support bracket member 18 of the holder mechanism 8 upward in the movement guide opening groove 11 along an arc-shaped locus in accordance with the movement operation of the drive bracket member 23. Let In the supply apparatus 1, the tall beaker 2 held by the holder mechanism 8 as the support bracket member 18 moves is being converted from a substantially vertical posture into a substantially orthogonal posture as shown in FIG. 5 in the recessed portion 7. Moving.

  In the supply device 1, the tall beaker 2 moves along an arcuate trajectory centered on the filter 3 so that the spout 2A faces the filter 3 as shown in FIG. In the supply device 1, when the tall beaker 2 moves to a predetermined height position, the linear servo motor 30 becomes low speed based on a control signal output from the control circuit unit 12. In the supply apparatus 1, when the tall beaker 2 further moves at a low speed and reaches the second position, the filled sample liquid is poured into the filter 3 from the spout 2A.

  In the supply device 1, as described above, the tall beaker 2 is returned to the first position after pouring a predetermined amount of the sample solution into the filter 3, but the linear servo motor 30 changes the speed between the forward path and the return path and operates. You may control to drive 35. In this case, the supply device 1 returns the tall beaker 2 to the first position at high speed on the return path. Further, in the supply device 1, for example, while the supply of the whole amount of the sample solution is completed, the tall beaker 2 may be returned to a midway position and waited. In this case, in the supply apparatus 1, the tall beaker 2 is lowered to a midway position where the sample liquid does not spill and is put on standby.

  In the supply apparatus 1, the liquid level detection sensor device 51 causes the amount of the sample liquid remaining in the filter 3 to be small and the lower limit liquid level position that needs to be replenished, and the upper limit liquid level that stops the pouring operation when full. The position is detected. In the supply apparatus 1, the detection signal output from the liquid level detection sensor device 51 is input to the control circuit unit 12, and when the state reaching the lower limit liquid level position is detected, the control circuit unit 12 applies the drive mechanism 10. A control signal for instructing the moving operation to the second position is output.

  In the supply device 1, the sample liquid is poured into the filter 3 from the tall beaker 2 moved to the second position, and the liquid level detection sensor device 51 monitors the pouring state. In the supply device 1, when the control circuit unit 12 detects a state where the upper limit liquid level position has been reached based on the detection signal output from the liquid level detection sensor device 51, the control circuit unit 12 detects the state of the drive mechanism 10. A control signal that supports the return operation to the initial position is output. In the supply device 1, when the drive mechanism 10 returns the tall beaker 2 to the first position, the drive mechanism 10 is driven so as to move up and down at a minute interval at start-up so as to give vibrations. The surface tension of the sample liquid at the opening edge 3 may be lowered to perform a so-called liquid running-out operation.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the supply apparatus 1 arranges a large number of 1A to 1N side by side on a work table 50, thereby saving space and performing analysis of a large number of sample solutions simultaneously by a single analyst. Make it possible. Each of the supply devices 1A to 1N is installed on the work table 50 with the main surface 4A of the housing 4 facing forward, holds the tall beakers 2 one by one by the holder mechanism 8, and also by the filter support bracket 5 The filter 3 is installed facing the recessed portion 7.

  As described above, each of the supply devices 1A to 1N is configured such that each tall beaker 2 moves along an arcuate locus about the filter 3 and performs a pouring operation of the sample liquid. Constructed in a small vertical structure. Accordingly, each of the supply devices 1A to 1N can be installed side by side on a work table 50 having a limited space, and space-saving and work efficiency can be improved. It is possible to automatically perform a precise sample liquid pouring operation on the container 3.

  The supply device 60 shown as the second embodiment in FIG. 12 is configured by incorporating a plurality of mechanisms provided in the above-described supply device 1 in one housing 61, and analyzing a plurality of sample solutions. Can be implemented simultaneously. That is, although not described in detail, the supply device 60 incorporates a plurality of mechanism portions such as the holder mechanism 8, the movement guide mechanism 9, or the drive mechanism 10 described above in the housing 61, and in the recessed portion 62 formed on the main surface 61A. A plurality of tall beakers 2 are moved in an up-down direction along an arcuate locus.

  As described above, the supply device 60 is configured in a vertically long structure in which each tall beaker 2 is moved in a space having a narrow lateral width and the lateral width is small as a whole. In addition, although the supply device 60 is configured corresponding to each tall beaker 2 for the mechanism unit, for example, the control circuit unit can be configured in common, so that the size can be reduced.

  The supply device 70 shown in FIG. 13 as the third embodiment has the same basic configuration as the supply device 1 described above. The drive mechanism 71 that moves the tall beaker 2 is characterized. The supply device 70 includes a rotation output type servo motor 72, a pinion 73 fixed to the output shaft 72A of the servo motor 72 and rotated forward and backward, and a rack member 74 driven by the pinion 73. Consists of

  In the drive mechanism 71, the servo motor 72 causes the liquid level detection sensor device 51 to detect the liquid level position of the filter 3 as described above, and outputs a detection signal to the control circuit unit 12, and is output from the control circuit unit 12. Based on the control signal, the pinion 73 is driven forward and backward. Although not shown, the drive mechanism 71 is provided with an encoder in the servo motor 72, and outputs the rotation direction and the rotation amount to the control circuit unit 12. In the drive mechanism 71, the rack member 74 is formed of a plate member having an arc-shaped cross section having a curvature that is substantially equal to the curvature of the recessed portion 7 and a length that is substantially equal to the movement guide opening groove 11.

  The rack member 74 is a member corresponding to the drive bracket member 23 provided in the movement guide mechanism 9 of the supply device 1 described above, and the base end portion of the support bracket member 18 constituting the holder mechanism 8 is fixed. Although not shown, the rack member 74 is combined so as to be smoothly moved in the height direction along the guide rail member 22 through an appropriate movement guide structure equivalent to the bearing roller described above. The rack member 74 fixes the support bracket member 18 so as to protrude to the inner peripheral side, and a rack 74A meshed with the pinion 73 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral side over the entire region in the length direction.

  The supply device 70 configured as described above holds the tall beaker 2 in a vertical posture through the holder mechanism 8 in which the support bracket member 18 is fixed to the rack member 74 at the initial position as shown in FIG. In the supply device 70, the servo motor 72 is driven based on a control signal instructing the pouring operation of the sample liquid output from the control circuit unit 12, and the pinion 73 and the rack member 74 are operated by the servo motor 72, and the tall beaker 2 is operated. Is moved in a circular arc shape in the height direction so that the sample liquid is supplied to the filter 3.

  The drive mechanism 71 moves the rack member 74 along an arcuate locus with the filter 3 as a substantially rotational center by rotating the pinion 73 clockwise in FIG. 13 from the state shown in FIG. The drive mechanism 71 converts the tall beaker 2 from the vertical posture to the inclined posture gradually by the movement operation of the rack member 74 to which the support bracket member 18 is fixed, so that the sample solution is supplied from the tall beaker 2 to the filter 3. To. When the drive mechanism 71 supplies a predetermined amount of sample liquid to the filter 3, the servo motor 72 performs a reverse rotation operation to return the tall beaker 2 to the initial position.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the liquid quantitative supply device suitably used in the filtration process of the Prosky modified method adopted as the dietary fiber quantitative method has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to such an application example. Of course. The present invention can of course be used for various applications in which a predetermined amount of liquid is subdivided each time from a large capacity first container body to a small capacity second container body to supply the entire volume. It is.

It is a front view of the liquid fixed quantity supply device shown as an embodiment. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the internal structure of the liquid fixed amount supply apparatus. It is a block diagram of the configuration of the liquid metering device. It is a principal part side view which shows the structure of the holder mechanism with which the liquid fixed amount supply apparatus is equipped, a movement guide mechanism, and a drive mechanism. It is a principal part side view which shows the pouring operation | movement of the sample liquid from the tall beaker to the filter in the liquid fixed amount supply apparatus. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the movement guide mechanism with which the liquid fixed amount supply apparatus is equipped, and a drive mechanism. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the movement guide mechanism with which the liquid fixed amount supply apparatus is equipped. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the combined state of the guide rail member and drive bracket member which comprise the movement guide mechanism. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the liquid level detection sensor apparatus with which the liquid fixed amount supply apparatus is equipped. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the liquid level detection sensor apparatus with which the liquid fixed amount supply apparatus is equipped. It is a perspective view of the use condition which installed multiple sets of the same liquid fixed amount supply apparatus side by side. It is a front view of the liquid fixed quantity supply apparatus shown as 2nd Embodiment. It is a principal part block diagram which shows the structure of the movement guide mechanism and drive mechanism of the liquid fixed quantity supply apparatus shown as 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid fixed amount supply apparatus, 2 tall beakers, 3 filter, 4 housing | casing, 4A main surface, 5 filter support bracket, 6 suction drainage mechanism, 7 recessed part, 8 holder mechanism, 9 movement guide mechanism, 10 drive mechanism, 11 Movement guide opening groove, 12 control circuit section, 13 control board, 14 operation button, 18 support bracket member, 20 movable holder piece, 21 fixed holder piece, 22 guide rail member, 23 drive bracket member, 24 guide groove, 29 bearing roller , 30 Linear servo motor, 33 Lower chain belt, 34 Upper chain belt, 35 Actuator, 50 Work table, 51 Liquid level detection sensor device, 52 Connecting member, 53 Ultrasonic generation circuit storage member, 54 Ultrasonic sensor, 54a Sound wave generation circuit, 54b ultrasonic wave emission surface, 54c ultrasonic wave emission part, 54d ultrasonic wave Wave receiving part, 55 connecting member, 56 ultrasonic sensor housing member, 57 cap body, 57d space part, 57e air flow supply hole, 58 nozzle, 59 fan, 60 supply device, 61 housing, 62 recess, 70 supply device 71 Drive mechanism 72 Servo motor 73 Pinion 74 Rack member

Claims (3)

In a liquid level detection sensor device used in a liquid fixed amount supply device for supplying a volatile solution in a fixed amount,
An ultrasonic wave emitting portion that is provided at a tip portion facing the liquid surface of the volatile solution and emits ultrasonic waves to the liquid surface; and an ultrasonic wave wave that is provided at the tip portion and emitted from the ultrasonic wave emission portion. An ultrasonic sensor unit having an ultrasonic receiving unit for receiving the return ultrasonic wave from the liquid surface;
A cap body that covers the ultrasonic wave emission unit and the ultrasonic wave reception unit of the ultrasonic sensor unit, guides the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave emission unit, and the return ultrasonic wave, and
An air flow generation unit that generates an air flow at the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit;
The air flow generation unit generates an air flow at the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit via the cap body, and suppresses adhesion of volatile substances from the volatile solution to the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit. A liquid level detection sensor device. The cap body is provided with an air flow supply hole for supplying the air flow by the air flow generation unit in a space formed between the cap body and the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit.
It is connected to the cap body, and includes an elongated nozzle body that guides the ultrasonic wave that is introduced from the air flow supply hole and emitted from the ultrasonic wave emission unit, and the return ultrasonic wave. The liquid level detection sensor device according to claim 1, wherein: A liquid fixed amount supply device for pouring and supplying a predetermined amount of volatile liquid from a first container body having a large capacity to a second container body having a predetermined capacity,
A holder mechanism for detachably holding the first container body in a recessed portion having a substantially arc-shaped cross section in the height direction formed on the main surface of the housing;
The first container body held by the holder mechanism along the height-direction moving guide opening groove located in the concave portion of the housing and opened in the main surface faces the concave portion and the main container body. A movement guide mechanism that moves in a vertical direction with an arcuate locus having the second container body disposed substantially opposite the surface as a center;
A driving mechanism that outputs a repetitive driving force in the vertical direction, and moves the first container body along the movement guide opening groove via the holder mechanism;
An ultrasonic wave emitting portion that is provided at a tip portion facing the liquid surface of the volatile solution and emits ultrasonic waves to the liquid surface; and an ultrasonic wave wave that is provided at the tip portion and emitted from the ultrasonic wave emission portion. An ultrasonic sensor unit having an ultrasonic receiving unit for receiving the return ultrasonic wave from the liquid surface, and covering the ultrasonic wave emitting unit and the ultrasonic wave receiving unit of the ultrasonic sensor unit, and from the ultrasonic wave emitting unit A cap body that guides the emitted ultrasonic wave and the return ultrasonic wave; and an air flow generation unit that generates an air flow at a tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit, wherein the air flow generation unit includes the cap. An air flow is generated at the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit through the body, and adhesion of volatile substances from the volatile solution to the tip of the ultrasonic sensor unit is suppressed, and the liquid in the second container body A liquid level detection sensor unit for detecting the surface,
According to the liquid level state of the second container body detected by the liquid level detection sensor unit, the first container body faces the main surface in parallel at the first position on the lower end side of the moving guide opening groove. In addition to being held in the standby state of the substantially vertical posture, the drive mechanism is moved to the second position on the upper end side of the movement guide opening groove to be converted into a posture substantially orthogonal to the main surface and tilted. The liquid dispensing apparatus characterized by performing the pouring operation into the second container body.

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