JP2009115652A - Sample pin holding attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sample pin holding attachment allowing a screw type sample pin-compliant sample changer to correspond to a magnet type sample pin. <P>SOLUTION: The sample pin holding attachment includes: a tong divided into at least two parts including a first and a second part, for holding the sample pin between the first and the second part; a first and a second flat spring connected to the first and the second part respectively; a body having an axis connected to the first and the second flat spring; and a first and a second presser foot separated from the body and located so as to contact the external side faces of the first and the second part respectively, in which the first and the second flat spring apply each force for moving the first and the second part from the center axis of the axis to the first and the second part, and the external side faces of the first and the second part have a short and a long distance part where the distances from the center axis of the axis to the external faces of the first and the second part are different each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample pin holding attachment.

  Conventionally, a device described in Patent Document 1 is known as an apparatus (sample changer) for automatically exchanging a frozen sample in a single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment.

  This sample changer has the function of attaching / detaching sample pins (hereinafter referred to as “screw-type sample pins”) having left and right reverse screws at both ends to and from the experimental apparatus only by uniaxial rotation. It is used to conduct experiments quickly in the laboratory.

However, this sample changer is compatible with a sample pin (hereinafter referred to as a “magnet type sample pin”, for example, a product of Hampton Research Co., Ltd.) that is mounted on a magnetic head that has been widely used in general. Not done. As typified by Non-Patent Document 1, many sample changers for handling magnetic sample pins have been developed by many research institutions and companies to date.
Japanese Patent No. 3640383 G. Snell et. Al, "Automated Sample Mounting and Alignment System for Biological Crystallography at a Synchrotron Source", Structure, (2004). 12, pp537-545

  In spite of the presence of the two types of sample pins, the sample changer is compatible with only one of the methods, and the user may be inconvenienced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a sample pin holding attachment that enables a sample changer corresponding to a screw type sample pin to correspond to a magnet type sample pin. .

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  The sample pin holding attachment of the present invention is divided into at least two parts including a first part and a second part and holds a sample pin between the first part and the second part, and a first part and a second part. A body portion having first and second leaf spring portions coupled to each other, a shaft portion coupled to the first and second leaf spring portions, and a first portion and a second portion separated from the body portion and First and second pressing portions arranged to contact the outer side surfaces, respectively, and the first and second leaf spring portions are respectively directions in which the first and second portions are separated from the central axis of the shaft portion. Of the first and second portions, and the outer surfaces of the first and second portions have short distances from the central axis of the shaft portion to the outer surfaces of the first and second portions, respectively. And a long distance portion.

According to the present invention, the pinching state and the releasing state of the sample pin by the tongue portion can be changed by the uniaxial rotation operation. Therefore, by attaching the sample pin holding attachment of the present invention to the sample changer corresponding to the screw type sample pin, the sample pin can be clamped and released by the uniaxial rotation operation of the sample changer. Supports sample pins.
Hereinafter, various embodiments will be exemplified.

  The first and second portions of the tongue are configured such that when they come into contact with each other, a space is formed between the first and second portions, the proximal end side being closed and the distal end side being cylindrical. Also good. There are many types of magnetic sample pins, but the bases are all cylindrical and have the same diameter. Therefore, when the first and second portions have the above-described configuration, the tongue portion is made to have the sample pin by making the cylindrical diameter of the space between the first and second portions the same as the diameter of the base of the sample pin. Since the space becomes a sealed space when sandwiched, liquid nitrogen can be stored in the space, and a sample (frozen protein crystal or the like) attached to the sample pin can be kept at a low temperature.

  The cylindrical space may include a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion having a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter portion in order from the distal end side. In this case, by minimizing the space volume around the sample, it is possible to suppress frost formation due to air mixing during transportation.

  The first and second portions of the tongue portion are semicylindrical on the outer end and the inner surface at the distal end, respectively, and the axis when viewed from the distal end side of the first and second portions. In a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the part, the semicircular straight part of the inner surface of the first and second parts overlaps the semicircular straight part of the outer side of the first and second parts, and the first and second The center of curvature of the semicircle on the inner surface of the portion is offset from the center of curvature of the semicircle on the outer surface of the first and second portions, respectively, and when the first and second portions contact each other, It may coincide with the central axis. The tongue part can be made relatively compact.

The present invention also provides a method for using the sample pin holding attachment described above, wherein the first and second pressing portions are disposed so as to contact the outer surfaces of the first and second portions, respectively. The first and second pressing portions and the main body portion are relatively moved in the first direction with the central axis of the shaft portion as an axis so that the two pressing portions are in contact with the short distance portions of the first and second portions, respectively. The tongs are opened by rotating, and the first and second holding parts are contacted with the long distance parts of the first and second parts, respectively, with the central axis of the shaft part as an axis. Also provided is a method of using a sample pin holding attachment comprising a step of closing the tongue portion by rotating the two pressing portion and the main body portion relative to each other in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
The relative rotation between the first and second pressing portions and the main body portion may be performed by immobilizing the first and second pressing portions and rotating the main body portion. In this case, there is an advantage that the configuration becomes simple.

  The various embodiments shown here can be combined with each other.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The contents shown in the drawings and the following description are examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to those shown in the drawings and the following description.

1. Configuration of Sample Pin Holding Attachment A sample pin holding attachment according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig.1 (a)-(c) shows a structure in case the tongue part 7 of the sample pin holding | maintenance attachment 1 of this embodiment is a closed state. Fig.1 (a) is a top view, FIG.1 (b) is a right view, FIG.1 (c) is II sectional drawing in Fig.1 (a). 2A to 2C show a configuration when the tongue 7 of the sample pin holding attachment 1 of the present embodiment is in an open state. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a right side view, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 2A. FIGS. 3A to 3C are right side views corresponding to FIGS. 1B and 2B, and are diagrams for explaining the principle that the tongue 7 is opened and closed. 3A to 3C, the first pressing portion 17 and the second pressing portion 19 are shown in a simplified manner. FIG. 4 shows an example of a magnet type sample pin 23 that can be handled by the sample pin holding attachment 1 of the present embodiment. It is a front view. 5A to 5C show a state in which the sample pin 23 of FIG. 4 is held by the tongue 7 of the sample pin holding attachment 1 of the present embodiment. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a right side view, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 5A.

  The sample pin holding attachment 1 of the present embodiment is divided into a first portion 3 and a second portion 5, and a tong portion 7 that holds the sample pin 23 between the first and second portions 3 and 5, and the first portion 3 and the second portion 5, the first leaf spring portion 9 and the second leaf spring portion 11 are coupled to each other, and the shaft portion 13 is coupled to the first leaf spring portion 9 and the second leaf spring portion 11. The main body part 15 includes a first pressing part 17 and a second pressing part 19 which are separated from the main body part 15 and arranged so as to contact the outer surfaces of the first and second parts 3 and 5, respectively. The first and second leaf spring portions 9 and 11 apply a spring force to the first and second portions 3 and 5 in the direction of moving the first and second portions 3 and 5 away from the central axis X of the shaft portion 13, respectively. . The outer surfaces of the first and second portions 3 and 5 are short-distance portions S and long-distance portions having different distances from the central axis X of the shaft portion 13 to the outer surfaces of the first and second portions 3 and 5, respectively. L.

  In the present embodiment, the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19 are made of screws with rounded tips, and the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19 are attached to the ring 21. The ring 21 is fixed so as not to move with respect to the rotation of the main body portion 15 about the central axis X of the shaft portion 13.

Semi-cylindrical grooves 24 a and 24 b are formed in the first portion 3 and the second portion 5, respectively. The grooves 24a and 24b are formed in the shaft portion from the distal end (the end far from the shaft portion 13) to the proximal end ((the end closer to the shaft portion 13)) of the first portion 3 and the second portion 5. 13 parallel to the central axis X. The grooves 24a and 24b do not reach the proximal end.
When the first part 3 and the second part 5 come into contact with each other, a space 24 is formed between the first part 3 and the second part 5 so that the proximal end side is closed and the distal end side is cylindrical. Configured. The cylindrical central axis coincides with the central axis X of the shaft portion 13. The space 24 has a large diameter portion 24c and a small diameter portion 24d having a diameter smaller than that of the large diameter portion 24c in order from the distal end. Both the large-diameter portion 24c and the small-diameter portion 24d are cylindrical, and the central axes coincide with each other. The outer surfaces of the first and second portions 3 and 5 are each semi-cylindrical.

2. Purpose of Using Sample Pin Holding Attachment First, the purpose of using the sample pin holding attachment 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  In a sample changer corresponding to a screw-type sample pin as described in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as “screw-type sample changer”), a shaft having a recess having a screw groove formed at the tip is provided at the tip of the arm. The screw-type sample pin is held by attaching and rotating the shaft in one direction, and the screw-type sample pin is detached by rotating the shaft in the opposite direction.

  As will be described later, the attachment 1 of the present embodiment has a function capable of holding and releasing the magnet type sample pin by a uniaxial rotation operation.

  Therefore, the attachment 1 of this embodiment is for attaching the screw-type sample changer to the magnet-type sample pin by attaching it to the arm of the screw-type sample changer instead of the above-mentioned shaft having a recess having a screw groove formed at the tip. Can be used.

3. Operation of Sample Pin Holding Attachment Next, the operation of the attachment 1 of this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the first and second portions 3 and 5 of the tongue 7 of the attachment 1 of the present embodiment are both semicylindrical on the outer side and the inner side at the distal end, respectively. is there. Therefore, in the plane perpendicular to the central axis X of the shaft portion 13 when viewed from the distal end side of the first and second portions 3 and 5, the outer surface and the inner surface of the first and second portions 3 and 5 are Both are semi-circles. The semicircular straight part of the inner side surface overlaps with the semicircular straight part of the outer side surface, and the center of curvature Y of the inner side semicircle is the center of curvature Z1 of the outer side semicircle of the first and second parts. , Z2 and coincides with the central axis X of the shaft portion 13 when the first and second portions 3 and 5 come into contact with each other. For this reason, the thickness of the first and second portions 3 and 5 of the tongue 7 is inclined in the circumferential direction, and in the thick portion, the distance from the central axis X to the outer surface is larger than in the thin portion. become longer. For this reason, the thick part and the thin part become the long distance part L and the short distance part S, respectively.

  In the attachment 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and FIG. 3A, the long distance portion L of the first portion 3 of the tongue 7 is brought into contact with the first pressing portion 17. When the long distance portion L of the second portion 5 of the tongue portion 7 is in contact with the second pressing portion 19, the tongue portion 7 is closed. A force in a direction away from the central axis X (direction of arrow A) is applied to the first portion 3 and the second portion 5 by the spring force of the first leaf spring portion 9 and the second leaf spring portion 11, respectively. The movement of the first part 3 and the second part 5 is prevented by the first pressing part 17 and the second pressing part 19, and the states shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and FIG. 3A are maintained. . This state is the closed state of the tongue 7.

  Next, when the shaft portion 13 is rotated 90 degrees in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1A with the central axis X of the shaft portion 13 as an axis, the entire main body portion 15 rotates together with the shaft portion 13. At this time, the tongue 7 rotates 90 degrees to the right from the state of FIG. The first pressing portion 17 and the second pressing portion 19 are separated from the main body portion 15, and the positions of the first pressing portion 17 and the second pressing portion 19 do not change even when the shaft portion 13 is rotated.

  FIG. 3B shows a state when it is assumed that the tongue 7 does not open when the tongue 7 is rotated 90 degrees to the right. In the state of FIG. 3B, the long distance portion L of the first and second portions 3 and 5 is separated from the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19, respectively, and the short distance of the first and second portions 3 and 5. The part S approaches the first and second pressing parts 17 and 19, respectively. Since the distance between the central axis X and the short distance portion S is shorter than the distance between the central axis X and the long distance portion L, the short distance portion S and the first and second distance portions S of the first and second portions 3 and 5 are the same. A gap is formed between the two pressing portions 17 and 19. A force in a direction away from the central axis X (direction of arrow C) is applied to the first and second portions 3 and 5, and the first and second portions 3 and 5 move in the direction of arrow C by this force. 2 (a) to 2 (c) and FIG. 3 (c), the short distance portions S of the first and second portions 3 and 5 are in contact with the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19, respectively. At this time, the first and second portions 3 and 5 are stopped, and this state is maintained. This state is an open state of the tongue 7. Note that FIG. 3B is a virtual state, and in fact, there is no gap between the short distance portion S and the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19, and the first portion is accompanied by the rotation of the shaft portion 13. The first and second portions 3 and 5 move little by little (that is, the tongue 7 opens little by little), and the closed state in FIG. 3A changes to the open state in FIG.

  Further, when the shaft portion 13 is rotated 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. 2A from the state of FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIG. 3C with the central axis X of the shaft portion 13 as an axis. The tongue 7 is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the open state shown in FIG. 3C to the closed state shown in FIG.

  Here, the case where the tongue 7 rotates 90 degrees to the right has been described as an example, but the rotation angle may be other than 90 degrees. Further, the arrangement of the long distance portion L and the short distance portion S may be reversed. In this case, the rotation direction of the tongue 7 is reversed. Here, the case where the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19 are stationary and the main body portion 15 rotates is described. However, the main body portion 15 is fixed and the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19 are centered. The same effect can be obtained by rotating the axis X as an axis, and the same effect can be obtained by rotating the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19 and the main body 15 in the opposite directions around the central axis X. can get. That is, the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19 and the main body portion 15 may be relatively rotated about the central axis X of the shaft portion 13. However, the structure in which the first and second pressing portions 17 and 19 are fixed and the main body portion 15 is rotated is simple and preferable.

4). Next, a method for holding and releasing the magnetic sample pin 23 shown in FIG. 4 using the attachment 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The main body 15 of the attachment 1 is attached to the distal end of the arm of the screw type sample changer so as to be capable of uniaxial rotation. The first and second pressing portions 17 and 19 of the attachment 1 are fixed to the arm of the screw type sample changer so as not to move with respect to the rotation of the main body portion 15. The sample pin 23 has a base 25 made of a magnetic material and a sample holding part 27. The sample pin 23 is placed on a sample storage rack, and the sample storage rack is arranged in liquid nitrogen.

  First, the tongue 7 is brought into the open state shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIG. At this time, the sample holding portion 27 of the sample pin 23 is disposed in the small diameter portion 24 d of the space 24 inside the tongue portion 7, and the base 25 of the sample pin 23 can be held in the large diameter portion 24 c of the space 24. Next, the tongue 7 is brought close to the sample pin 23.

  Next, the shaft portion 13 is rotated in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. As a result, the tongue 7 is closed as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and FIG. 3A, and the base 25 of the sample pin 23 is sandwiched between the first and second portions 3 and 5. The state at this time is shown in FIGS.

  The cylindrical shape of the large-diameter portion 24c of the space 24 and the cylindrical shape of the pace 25 of the sample pin 23 are substantially the same, and when the base 25 of the sample pin 23 is held in the large-diameter portion 24c, the space inside the tongue 7 24 becomes a sealed space. Since the sample pin 23 is disposed in liquid nitrogen, the above-mentioned sealed space is filled with liquid nitrogen when the base 25 of the sample pin 23 is sandwiched between the first and second portions 3 and 5. As a result, the sample held in the sample holding unit 27 can be held at a low temperature. Moreover, since the space 24 has the small diameter part 24d, the space volume around the sample in the space 24 is reduced, and frosting due to air mixing during transportation can be suppressed. The small diameter portion 24d may be in any shape that can accommodate the sample holding portion 27, and may have a shape other than the cylindrical diameter. The space 24 may have a cylindrical shape having a constant diameter along the direction of the central axis X without having the large diameter portion 24c and the small diameter portion 24d.

  Next, the arm of the sample changer is moved to attach the base 25 of the sample pin 23 to the magnet head of the experimental apparatus.

  Next, the shaft portion 13 is rotated in the direction of arrow B in FIG. As a result, the tongue 7 is opened as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIG. 3C, and the sample pin 23 is released.

  Next, the sample attached to the sample holding part 27 of the sample pin 23 is measured.

  After the measurement of the sample is completed, the sample pin 23 attached to the magnetic head of the experimental apparatus is returned to the sample storage rack by clamping and releasing the magnetic head of the experimental apparatus in the same manner as described above.

  By repeating the above steps, a large number of sample pins 23 in the sample storage rack can be sequentially attached to the magnetic head of the experimental apparatus, measured, and removed. Thereby, the measurement of each sample of many sample pins 23 can be performed easily.

5). Others The configurations of the first and second portions 3 and 5 of the tongue 7 of the attachment 1 are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, and various configurations can be considered.

  For example, in the configuration of FIG. 6, the first and second portions 3 and 5 of the tongue 7 have a rectangular parallelepiped outer surface. In this case, for example, the tongue 7 can be opened and closed by uniaxial rotation of 45 degrees.

  In the configuration of FIG. 7, the first and second portions of the tongue 7 are both planar on the outer surface and the inner surface. In the configuration of FIG. 7, even when the tongue 7 is in a closed state, the first portion 3 and the second portion 5 do not come into contact with each other and liquid nitrogen cannot be stored in the tongue 7 but does not need to be kept at a low temperature. This is not particularly a problem when dealing with.

  In the above description, the case where the tongue part 7 is divided into two parts has been described as an example. However, the tongue part 7 may be divided into three or more parts.

  Further, the configuration of the shaft portion 13, the first and second leaf spring portions 9, 11 and the first and second pressing portions 17, 19 is not limited to the above-described one, as long as they have the same function. Any configuration may be used.

  Various features shown in the above embodiments can be combined with each other. In the case where a plurality of features are included in one embodiment, one or a plurality of features can be appropriately extracted and used alone or in combination in the present invention.

Fig.1 (a)-(c) shows the structure in case the tongue part of the sample pin holding | maintenance attachment of one Embodiment of this invention is a closed state. Fig.1 (a) is a top view, FIG.1 (b) is a right view, FIG.1 (c) is II sectional drawing in Fig.1 (a). FIGS. 2A to 2C show a configuration when the tongue portion of the sample pin holding attachment according to the embodiment of the present invention is in an open state. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a right side view, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 2A. FIGS. 3A to 3C are right side views corresponding to FIGS. 1B and 2B, and are diagrams for explaining the principle of opening and closing of the tongue portion. In Fig.3 (a)-(c), the 1st press part and the 2nd press part are simplified and displayed. An example of the magnet-type sample pin which can be handled with the sample pin holding | maintenance attachment of one Embodiment of this invention is shown. FIGS. 5A to 5C show a state in which the sample pin of FIG. 4 is clamped by the tongue portion of the sample pin holding attachment according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a right side view, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 5A. It is a right view corresponding to FIG.1 (b) and FIG.2 (b) which shows another structural example of the tongue part of the sample pin holding | maintenance attachment of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a right view corresponding to FIG.1 (b) and FIG.2 (b) which shows another structural example of the tongue part of the sample pin holding | maintenance attachment of one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: Sample pin holding attachment 3: First part of tongue part 5: Second part of tongue part 7: Tongue part 9: First leaf spring part 11: Second leaf spring part 13: Shaft part 15: Body part 17: First pressing portion 19: Second pressing portion 21: Ring 23: Magnet type sample pin 24: Cylindrical space 24a, 24b: Semi-cylindrical groove 24c: Large diameter portion of cylindrical space 24d: Cylindrical shape Small diameter portion 25 of space: Base of sample pin 27: Sample holding portion of sample pin X: Center axis of shaft portion Y: Center of curvature of semicircle on inner surface of first and second portions of tongue portion Z1: Tongue portion Center of curvature of semicircle of outer surface of first portion Z2: Center of curvature of semicircle of outer surface of second portion of tongue portion L: Long distance portion of outer surface of first and second portions of tongue portion S: Tong Short distance portion of the outer surface of the first and second portions of the portion

Claims (6)

A tongs divided into at least two parts including a first and a second part and holding a sample pin between the first and second parts, and a first and a second connected to each of the first and second parts A main body portion having two leaf spring portions and a shaft portion coupled to the first and second leaf spring portions, and disposed so as to be separated from the main body portion and to contact the outer surfaces of the first and second portions, respectively. First and second holding portions to be provided,
Each of the first and second leaf spring portions applies a spring force in a direction to move the first and second portions away from the central axis of the shaft portion to the first and second portions, respectively.
The outer surfaces of the first and second parts have a short distance part and a long distance part, respectively, having different distances from the central axis of the shaft part to the outer surfaces of the first and second parts. Pin retention attachment. The first and second portions are configured to form a space between the first and second portions that is closed at the proximal end and cylindrical at the distal end when in contact with each other. Attachment described in. The attachment according to claim 2, wherein the space includes a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion having a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter portion in order from the distal end side. The first and second portions are each semi-cylindrical at the distal end, both outer and inner surfaces;
In a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft portion when viewed from the distal end side of the first and second portions, the semicircular straight portion of the inner surface of the first and second portions is the first and second portions. The center of curvature of the semicircle on the inner surface of the first and second parts is offset from the center of curvature of the semicircle on the outer surface of the first and second parts, respectively, overlapping the straight part of the semicircle on the outer surface of the part. The attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which coincides with a central axis of the shaft portion when the first and second portions come into contact with each other. A method for using the sample pin holding attachment according to claim 1,
The first and second pressing portions are arranged so as to contact the outer surfaces of the first and second portions, respectively.
The first and second pressing portions and the main body portion are moved in the first direction about the central axis of the shaft portion so that the first and second pressing portions contact the short distance portions of the first and second portions, respectively. The tongs are opened by rotating them relative to each other,
The first and second pressing portions and the main body portion are moved in the first direction about the central axis of the shaft portion so that the first and second pressing portions contact the long distance portions of the first and second portions, respectively. A method of using a sample pin holding attachment, comprising the step of closing the tongue by rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The method according to claim 5, wherein relative rotation between the first and second pressing portions and the main body portion is performed by immobilizing the first and second pressing portions and rotating the main body portion.

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