JP2013000690A - Centrifugal separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a centrifugal separator for automatically controlling the start of a cooling device in consideration of energy saving property.SOLUTION: The centrifugal separator 1 includes: a rotor 4 for holding a sample; a rotation chamber 3; a door 6 for closing the rotation chamber 3; a motor 5; the cooling device 9 for cooling the rotation chamber 3; a control part 7 for controlling the temperature of the cooling device 9; and an input part 10 for inputting an operation condition to a control part 7. An automatic cool mode is provided, by which the cooling device 9 is started when prescribed control information of the centrifugal separator 1 is input from the input part 10. In the automatic cool mode, when a centrifugal separation-operating condition, such as a rotational speed, an operation time, cooling temperature, and the kind of the rotor, is set, the cooling device 9 is automatically started. When the rotation of the rotor 4 is not indicated within a prescribed time after the start, the cooling device 9 is stopped.

Description

  The present invention relates to a centrifuge having a cooling device, and more particularly, to precool control of a centrifuge that predicts the start of a centrifuge operation and cools a rotary chamber in advance.

  A centrifuge separates and purifies a sample by inserting a sample to be separated (for example, a culture solution or blood) into a rotor through a tube or a bottle and rotating the rotor at a high speed. The set rotational speed of the rotor varies depending on the application, and a product group from a low speed (about several thousand revolutions) to a high speed (the maximum rotational speed is 150,000 rpm) is provided according to the application. There are various types of rotors used in centrifuges. Angle rotors that can handle high rotation speeds with tube holes fixed, and buckets loaded with tubes change from vertical to horizontal as the rotor rotates. There are swinging rotors. In addition, there are rotors of various sizes such as a rotor that rotates at a very high rotation speed to apply a high centrifugal acceleration to a small amount of sample, and a rotor that can handle a large volume of sample at a low rotation speed. Since these rotors are used in accordance with the sample to be separated, the rotor is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a rotating shaft of driving means such as a motor, and the rotor can be replaced.

  When the rotor rotates at high speed in the air, the temperature of the rotor rises due to frictional heat (windage loss) with the air. Some samples to be separated must be kept at a low temperature, and therefore a centrifuge having a cooling device for cooling the rotor during operation is widely used. This centrifuge has a cooling device (consisting of an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve) in the main body, and allows the refrigerant to flow through a copper pipe that is wound around the outer periphery of the bowl on the outer wall of the rotating chamber. The rotor is cooled by this, and the rotor is cooled by this cooling.

  In the centrifuge, when the main power source of the main body is ON and the door is closed, the cooling device is operated regardless of the operation of the driving means based on the set temperature input from the operation panel. Therefore, power from the cooling device was consumed until the operation was started with the main power turned on and the door closed.

  In order to eliminate this power consumption, there is known a centrifuge provided with a so-called “precool function (precool mode)” that starts cooling in the rotating chamber in advance as in Patent Document 1. In this centrifuge, if [Pre-Cool] is selected in advance from the operation panel, when the door of the centrifuge's rotating chamber is “closed”, the rotating chamber has a predetermined temperature (from the temperature at the time of centrifugation). The temperature is controlled to a higher predetermined temperature). This predetermined temperature is, for example, 15 ° C. In this mode, it is detected whether the rotor is installed in the rotating chamber when the door of the rotating chamber is “closed”, and when it is detected, the rotating chamber is set to the set temperature set from the operation panel. The cooling control is executed.

JP 2001-104830 A

  As in the technique described in Patent Document 1, in the precooling function for cooling the rotation chamber of the centrifuge in advance, the time for cooling to the temperature set from the start of the rotation of the rotor is set in order to cool the rotation chamber in advance. Has the advantage of shortening. Here, during the period from when the door of the rotating chamber is closed to when the operation is started, a large amount of power is required to automatically maintain the temperature set from the operation panel. When the time until the start of operation is long, useless power consumption may occur. In addition, if the operator sets an empty rotor with no sample set and closes the door after cooling is started by the precool function, the operator does not intend to start operation. There is a risk that cooling to the temperature will automatically begin.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object thereof is to provide a centrifuge that automatically starts cooling a rotating chamber before starting operation of a rotor.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugal separator that performs automatic start control of a cooling device in consideration of energy saving.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge that has a plurality of control modes with different conditions for starting the cooling device and is easy to use.

  The characteristics of representative ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be described as follows.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a rotor for holding a sample to be centrifuged, a bowl defining a rotating chamber for rotating the rotor, a door for closing the rotating chamber, a motor for rotating the rotor, and a bowl In a centrifuge having a cooling device that cools the cooling device, a control unit that controls the temperature of the cooling device, and an input unit that inputs operating conditions to the control unit, when predetermined control information of the centrifuge is input from the input unit An auto cool mode is provided to start the cooling device. As a result, the centrifuge starts auto cooling mode, pre-cool mode that activates the cooling device when the door is closed, and the cooling device when the main switch of the centrifuge body is ON and the door is closed. The normal mode is configured to have any one or all three modes.

  According to another feature of the present invention, in the auto cool mode, the control unit activates the cooling device when detecting a predetermined operation condition setting operation, and the door is not closed within a predetermined time after the activation. To stop the operation of the cooling device. Further, in the auto cool mode, the control unit performs the centrifugal separation operation according to the operation condition when the door is closed after the cooling device is started and the rotation start instruction of the rotor is given. At this time, the control unit controls the operation of the cooling device so that the cooling temperature of the rotor set by the control information is reached.

  According to still another feature of the present invention, the control unit controls the cooling device in the precool mode so that the first temperature higher than the cooling temperature of the rotor is maintained when the door is opened. The predetermined control information described above is the rotational speed of the rotor during the centrifugal separation operation, the operation time of the rotor, the cooling temperature of the rotor, or the type of the rotor. Note that it is preferable that a warning such as a sound or an alarm display by a screen display be issued before the cooling device is stopped without the door being closed after the cooling device is started.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the auto cool mode is provided for starting the cooling device when predetermined control information of the centrifuge is input from the input unit, the operator of the centrifuge can precool the rotor. The rotor can be pre-cooled automatically without being conscious of the above operation, and the cooling device can be started up efficiently only by performing a normal input operation such as setting conditions of the centrifuge. In the auto cool mode, the cooling device is operated before the rotation of the rotor is started, so that the cooling time required for cooling the rotor chamber to the set temperature can be shortened.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since it is configured to have three modes of the auto cool mode, the pre cool mode, and the normal mode, the operation mode of the cooling device can be selected according to the preference of the operator. A user-friendly centrifuge can be realized.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, no maintenance power is required to control the temperature from the closing of the door of the rotating chamber to the start of operation to a predetermined temperature in order to cool the rotating chamber in advance. No need to use extra power. Moreover, since temperature control is stopped when the door of the rotating chamber is not closed within a predetermined time after the operation start preparation is predicted, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

  According to the invention of claim 4, in the auto cool mode, the control unit performs the centrifugal separation operation in accordance with the operation condition when the door is closed after the cooling device is started and the rotor rotation is instructed. The need to use can be greatly reduced. In particular, as in the conventional precool mode, when the mounting of the rotor is detected, the maintenance power for controlling the temperature in the rotating chamber to the temperature set from the operation panel becomes unnecessary.

  According to the invention of claim 5, in the auto cool mode, the control unit controls the cooling device so that the rotating chamber becomes the cooling temperature set by the control information after starting the cooling device, so that power consumption is suppressed. It becomes possible.

  According to the invention of claim 6, in the precool mode, the control unit controls the cooling device so as to be maintained at the first temperature higher than the set cooling temperature of the rotor when the door is opened. Energy loss due to cold leakage due to door opening can be suppressed.

  According to the invention of claim 7, since the predetermined control information is the rotational speed of the rotor, the cooling temperature, or the type of the rotor, the operation of the cooling device is efficiently controlled by the input operation of information that is normally used. Can do.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the door is not closed, a warning is issued before the operation of the cooling device is stopped, so that the operator can be alerted to an operation delay and wasteful energy consumption. Can be suppressed.

  The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

It is sectional drawing which shows the whole structure of the centrifuge 1 which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen 11 displayed on the operation panel 10 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the numerical value input state in the screen 11 of FIG. It is a circuit block diagram of the prediction means and temperature control means in the control apparatus 7 of FIG. It is a time chart which shows control of the cooling device in the conventional centrifuge. It is a time chart which shows control of the cooling device 9 in the centrifuge 1 which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the auto cool mode in the centrifuge which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the drawings for explaining the embodiments, members or elements having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of a centrifuge 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The centrifuge 1 is provided with a bowl 2 formed of a thin metal plate inside a housing made of box-shaped sheet metal or the like, and the rotating chamber 3 is defined by the bowl 2 and the door 6. The door 6 seals the opening of the rotating chamber 3 and can be rotated in the vertical direction around a hinge (not shown) provided in a part of the housing. The rotor 4 holds the sample to be separated and rotates at a high speed, and is attached to the rotating shaft 5 a of the motor 5.

  On the side of the door 6, an operation panel 10 for displaying various information while a user inputs conditions such as the rotational speed and separation time of the rotor is disposed. The operation panel 10 serves as an input unit for inputting control information necessary for the centrifuge. In this embodiment, by using a so-called touch panel type liquid crystal display, it also functions as a display unit for displaying necessary information to the operator. The operation panel 10 may be composed of not only a touch panel type liquid crystal display but also other input / output devices, or a combination of a known display device and a known input device.

  The rotating chamber 3 is configured such that the upper opening can be sealed by the door 6, and the rotor 4 can be attached to or detached from the rotating chamber 3 with the door 6 opened. The rotor 4 is appropriately selected according to the sample to be centrifuged and the sample container holding the sample, and is attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 5. The control device 7 controls the entire centrifuge 1, and performs rotation control of the motor 5, operation control of the cooling device 9, and the like according to various information for centrifugal operation input from the operation panel 10.

  The temperature of the rotor 4 is indirectly measured by a temperature sensor 8 a installed in the rotating chamber 3. Various positions for providing the temperature sensor 8a are conceivable. In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 8a is provided at the bottom of the bowl 2. Further, an ultrasonic sensor 8 b that detects the distance between the lid of the rotor 4 and the door 6 is provided inside the door 6 and in the vicinity of the upper portion of the rotor 4. By using the ultrasonic sensor 8b, it is possible to detect whether or not the rotor 4 is set in the rotating chamber 3. Outputs from the temperature sensor 8 a and the ultrasonic sensor 8 b are input to the control device 7 and used for overall control of the centrifuge 1.

  The bowl 2 is made of a metal alloy such as stainless steel, and a copper pipe is spirally wound around the outer periphery thereof. The copper pipe 9a constitutes a part of the cooling device 9, and a refrigerant sent through a compressor and a condenser (both not shown) included in the cooling device 9 is supplied to the copper pipe 9a, and the bowl The inside of the rotating chamber 3 is cooled by rapidly taking away the heat of the bowl 2 at the outer peripheral portion of 2. By operating the cooling device 9 in this way, the control device 7 is monitored by using the output of the temperature sensor 8a so that the rotor inside the rotating chamber 3 has a set temperature set. 9 is controlled.

Next, a display example of the screen 11 displayed on the operation panel 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation panel 10 is a touch panel type liquid crystal display device in which a display unit and an input unit are integrated, and predetermined information can be input by touching (or pressing) a display area on the screen with a finger. . In the screen 11 of the operation panel 10, a plurality of display areas (12 to 15) are set. The rotational speed display unit 12 is an area for displaying the rotational speed of the rotor. A large number at the center indicates the current rotational speed, and a small number below the “SET:” is displayed by the operator. Indicates the set rotational speed. The unit of the rotation speed is rpm or min- ¹ . The operation time display unit 13 is an area for displaying a time for performing the centrifugal separation operation. A large character at the center indicates the current operation time, and a number displayed below “SET:” is a small number below the operation time. The set rotation speed set by the operator is shown. The unit of time is min: sec.

  The set temperature display unit 14 is an area for displaying the set temperature of the rotor 4. A large number in the center indicates a temperature measurement value by the current temperature sensor 8 a, and a small number below that is displayed below “SET:”. The number indicating the set temperature set by the operator. The temperature display unit is ° C., and in the illustrated state, the temperature in the rotating chamber 3 is 13 ° C., and the set temperature is 4 ° C. Various information display areas 15 are provided in the lower half of the screen 11. In the various information display area 15, for example, a rotor selection key 16, a start key 17, and a stop key 18 are displayed. These keys 16 to 18 are displayed in an icon format, and a predetermined operation can be started by touching or pressing these keys with a finger.

  The rotor selection key 16 is an icon for setting the type of the rotor 4 set in the rotary chamber 3. When the rotor selection key 16 is selected, a rotor selection screen is opened, and storage means (not shown) in the control device 7 is previously opened. A list of rotors is displayed from the information database regarding the rotors stored in (). When the operator selects the mounted rotor 4 from the list and presses an enter key (not shown), the mounted rotor 4 is recognized by the control device 7. Although not shown in FIG. 2, when the rotor 4 is selected, the type of the rotor 4 is displayed in the various information display area 15.

  The start key 17 is an icon for starting the centrifugal separation operation. When the start key 17 is touched, the rotor 4 starts to rotate. The stop key 18 is an icon for stopping the rotation of the rotor, and the rotation of the motor 5 is stopped when the stop key 18 is touched.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a numerical value input screen. For example, in the display state of FIG. 2, when the operator selects the area of the rotation speed display unit 12 with a finger, the numerical value input screen 19 is displayed in the lower half of the screen 11 as shown in FIG. 3. open. The numerical value input screen 19 is an input unit for inputting a numerical value of a selected portion. The numeric keypad 19a including numbers 0 to 9, the clear key 19b for deleting numerical values in the middle of input, and the centrifuge are continuously operated. A hold key 19d for closing and a close key 19c for closing the numerical value input screen 19 are displayed. An enter key 20 for confirming the input numerical value is displayed on the lower right of the numerical value input screen 19. For example, when the operator presses in the area of the rotation speed display unit 12, the numerical value input screen 19 is opened. In the state of FIG. 3, it is not known whether any of the display units (12 to 15) is selected. For example, when the rotation speed display unit 12 is selected and the numerical value input screen 19 is displayed, the selected display unit is displayed. It is preferable to make it clear at a glance which display part (12 to 15) is currently input by making the part of the white part white, changing the color, or changing some display form.

  For example, when inputting the set rotational speed to 20000 (rpm) on the numerical value input screen 19, after inputting “2”, “0”, “0”, “0”, “0” in order with the numeric keypad 19a. When the enter key 20 is touched, the set rotational speed “20000” is confirmed, the numerical value input screen 19 is automatically closed, and the state shown in FIG. 2 is restored. In the present embodiment, the operation of touching (selecting) the enter key 20 at the time of input predicts that the operator intends to drive the centrifuge 1 from now on, and starts the cooling device 9.

  Similarly, the operation time display unit 13 and the set temperature display unit 14 are touched, and a numerical value is input using the numeric keypad 19a of the numerical value input screen 19 and then the enter key 20 is touched. It is possible to predict that there is an intention to drive. In addition, it is possible to predict and determine that the operator intends to drive the centrifuge 1 by touching the enter key 20 after selecting the rotor to be used by touching the rotor selection key 16. The order in which numerical values are input to the rotation speed display unit 12, the operation time display unit 13, and the set temperature display unit 14 and the order in which the rotor selection key 16 is selected are arbitrary, and the operator can input from any item. good. In the present embodiment, when any one of these is selected first and the enter key 20 is touched, it is determined that the operator intends to operate the centrifuge 1 and the cooling device 9 is started.

  As described above, after the operation of setting any one of the display units (12 to 14) and the rotor selection key 16 is performed, the operator performs the centrifugal operation by detecting the operation of selecting the enter key 20. Predicting and judging that there is an intention, the cooling device 9 in the auto cool mode is used as a trigger for starting operation.

  Next, a circuit for predicting the start of operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a means for predicting the start of operation using hardware logic. The means 30 for predicting the start of operation comprises means 31 for predicting preparation for start of operation, a rotary chamber door open / close detecting means 36 and an AND gate 38. The means 31 for predicting the operation start preparation is a means for detecting four operations performed via the operation panel 10, that is, a rotational speed setting operation detecting means 32, a time setting operation detecting means 33, a temperature setting operation detecting means 34, Rotor setting operation detecting means 35 is provided.

  Regarding the rotational speed setting, for example, when the set rotational speed is input as 20,000 (rpm), “2”, “0”, “0”, “0”, “0” with the numeric keypad 19a (see FIG. 3). ”Is entered and then the“ Enter key 20 is pressed to determine the set rotational speed “20000”. Therefore, the rotational speed setting operation detecting means 32 detects an operation of touching the Enter key 20 after inputting the numerical value of the set rotational speed. Then, the logic signal “1” is output to the OR gate 37. Similarly, the time setting operation detection means 33 and the temperature setting operation detection means 34 also input numerical values with the numeric keypad 19a (see FIG. 3), and then When the enter key 20 is pressed, the logic signal “1” is output to the OR gate 37.

  In the case of the rotor setting operation detection means 35, the rotor 4 on which the operator is mounted (or mounted) is selected from a plurality of rotors displayed in a list after the rotor selection key 16 in FIG. 2 is touched. Then, by touching a confirmation button (not shown), the rotor setting operation detection means 35 outputs a logic signal “1” to the OR gate 37. From the above configuration, when any of the setting operations of the rotation speed setting operation detection means 32, the time setting operation detection means 33, the temperature setting operation detection means 34, or the rotor setting operation detection means 35 is detected, preparation for start of operation is made. Since the output 41 (ie, the output of the OR gate 37) of the predicting means 31 outputs the logic signal “1”, the output of the OR gate 37 becomes “1”. Then, the temperature control means 42 for preparing to start operation prepares the cooling device 9 for operation. The temperature control means 42 for operation start preparation receives the output 41 as a prediction signal for operation start preparation and operates the cooling device 9 to control the temperature in the rotating chamber 3 to a predetermined temperature, for example, 15 ° C. It is a temperature control means.

  On the other hand, the means 30 for predicting the start of operation is provided with a rotating chamber door open / close detecting means 36 for detecting the open / closed state of the door 6 of the rotating chamber 3. The rotation chamber door open / close detection means 36 receives an output of a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the door 6 (not shown), outputs a logic signal “0” when the door 6 is “open”, and the door 6 is “closed”. In the "" state, a logic signal "1" is output.

  If the rotation chamber door open / close detection means 36 does not detect the rotation chamber door “closed” within a predetermined time 43, for example, within 5 minutes after starting the temperature control means 42 for operation start preparation, The temperature control means 42 can be stopped to eliminate unnecessary power consumption. In this way, it is possible to predict and determine that there is an intention to start operation by detecting any of the operation condition setting operations, so that the operator of the centrifuge does not need to be aware of the precooling operation of the rotor. The rotor can be precooled. When the operation start temperature control means 45 detects that the rotation chamber door “closed” is detected by the means 31 for predicting the operation start preparation and the rotation chamber door open / close detection means 36, the output 44 of the AND gate 38 becomes the logic signal “1”. Therefore, this can be used as a prediction signal for starting operation.

  In response to the output 44 becoming “1”, the temperature control means 45 at the start of operation determines the temperature of the rotor 4 set in the rotating chamber 3 from the numerical value input screen 19 on the display unit of the operation panel 10. Control to maintain the input set temperature, for example, 4 ° C. is started. When the output from the start signal 40 cannot be detected within a predetermined time 46, for example, 5 minutes after the temperature control is started, the temperature control means 45 for starting operation is stopped. As described above, in the auto cool mode, it is detected whether any of the four operations of the rotational speed setting operation, the time setting operation, the temperature setting operation, and the rotor setting operation has been performed, and the cooling is performed immediately when these operations are detected. Since the operation of the apparatus 9 is started, the rotating chamber 3 can be cooled efficiently and quickly. Further, when the door 6 of the rotating chamber 3 is not closed even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the operation of the cooling device 9 is stopped, so that unnecessary power consumption can be eliminated.

  Next, description will be made of the prior art cooling in the rotating chamber 3 and the cooling by the predicting means with reference to the time charts of FIGS. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a precooled state in the rotating chamber 3 in the precool mode of the prior art. In FIG. 5, when the door 6 of the rotating chamber 3 is “closed” at time T 1 as indicated by the state line 51, the operation of the cooling device 9 is started as indicated by the state line 57 and the rotating chamber 3 is kept at a predetermined temperature. For example, temperature control is performed at 15 ° C. This temperature control at 15 ° C. is continued until the rotor 4 is mounted.

  When it is detected that the rotor 4 is mounted in the rotating chamber 3 at time T2 and “closed” of the door 6 is detected, the control device 7 displays the rotating chamber 3 on the set temperature display unit 14 of the operation panel 10 (see FIG. 2). Control the temperature to the set temperature. In the normal mode in the conventional example (when the main switch of the centrifuge body is ON and the door is closed, the operation of the cooling device is controlled to the set temperature that has already been set for input), the door 6 is opened at time T1. The temperature control is continued to the temperature set in the set temperature display unit 14 until the time Ta from when the “closed” is touched to the start key 17 of the operation panel 10 until the rotor starts rotating. The maintenance electric power which controls to the temperature set from 10 was required. A state line 59 indicates a change in surface temperature in the precooled rotating chamber 3 in the prior art.

  FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a precooled state in the rotating chamber 3 in the auto cool mode in the present embodiment. In the auto-cool mode of the present embodiment, even when the door 6 is “closed” at time T1 as indicated by the state line 51, the cooling device 9 remains stopped as indicated by the state line 57a. Further, even if the attachment of the rotor 4 is detected as indicated by the state line 52 at time T2, the cooling device 9 is in a stopped state as indicated by the state line 57a. At time T3, when the means 31 for predicting the start of operation detects an operation of pressing the enter key 20 after inputting the numerical key of the rotation speed display unit 12 of the operation panel 10, as shown in the state line 57a, the operation start prediction signal An output 44 appears, and the operation of the cooling device 9 is started by the temperature control means 45 for starting operation. The set temperature at this time is the temperature of the rotor 4 such that the rotating speed of the cooling device 9 is increased to rapidly cool the rotating chamber 3 as shown by the surface temperature 59a and the temperature set by the set temperature display unit 14 is reached. Take control.

  Here, the time from when the operation of the cooling device 9 is started until the start key 17 is touched and turned ON is Tb. It becomes shorter than the time Ta in the prior cooling in the rotating chamber of the prior art, and the power consumption of the precool can be reduced. The surface temperature 59a indicates a change in the surface temperature in the rotating chamber 3 when cooled by the prediction means. When the start key 17 is touched, the motor 5 is driven to rotate the rotor 4. Control is performed at a predetermined rotational speed, for example, 20,000 rpm, which is input from the numerical value input screen 19 on the display unit of the operation panel 10.

  In this embodiment, since the door 6 is closed before the operation for predicting the start of operation, the cooling device 9 is operated to be cooled to the set temperature at time T3. However, there is also an operation procedure in which the door is opened at the time of an operation for predicting the start of operation, and then the start key 17 is pressed after the door is stopped. In this case, when there is an operation for predicting the start of operation, the cooling device 9 is operated by the temperature control means 42 in preparation for operation start in FIG. 4, and the temperature in the rotating chamber is controlled to about 15 ° C. Thereafter, when the door 6 is closed, the signal of the AND gate 38 shown in FIG. 4 becomes “1”, so that the cooling device 9 is controlled to cool the rotating chamber 3 to the set temperature.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, in the centrifuge having the temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the rotor and the means for controlling the temperature of the cooling device, one of the operation condition setting operations is detected in the auto cool mode. When the door “closed” is detected, the start of operation is predicted and cooling of the rotating chamber is started, so that the centrifuge operator can automatically rotate the rotor without being aware of the precooling operation of the rotor. Can be pre-cooled. Further, when the start key is not pressed within a predetermined time after predicting the start of operation, the temperature control is stopped, so that unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

  Next, a control procedure of the centrifuge 1 having three modes of an auto cool mode, a pre cool mode, and a normal mode will be described using the flowchart of FIG. This flowchart is realized by software control by a microcomputer (not shown) included in the control device 7 executing a computer program.

  When a power switch (not shown) of the centrifuge 1 is turned on, the control device 7 determines whether the “auto cool mode” described in the first embodiment is turned on (selected). (Step 101). The operation control mode of the cooling device 9 includes an “auto cool mode” according to the present embodiment, a “pre cool mode” used in the conventional device, and a “normal mode” that does not correspond to any of these. In the case of “pre-cool mode” or “normal mode” in step 101, the centrifugal separation operation using the control of the cooling device 9 according to the conventional example is performed (step 130). Since the control contents of this embodiment and step 130 are not directly related, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  When it is determined in step 101 that the auto cool mode is selected, the control device 7 determines whether the operator has set (inputs) the rotational speed of the rotor 4 when performing centrifugation from the operation panel 10 and is input. Then, the process proceeds to step 106 (step 102). Next, if not input in step 102, the control device 7 determines whether or not the operator has set (input) the operation time of the rotor 4 when performing centrifugation from the operation panel 10. Then, the process proceeds to step 106 (step 103). Next, if not input in step 103, the control device 7 determines whether the operator has set (input) the temperature of the rotor 4 when performing centrifugation from the operation panel 10. Proceed to step 106 (step 104). Next, if not input in step 104, the control device 7 determines whether or not the rotor 4 when the operator performs centrifugation from the operation panel 10 is set (selected). Proceed (step 105).

  As described above, in steps 102 to 105, it is detected whether or not information on the rotational speed, operating time, cooling temperature, and rotor type during the centrifugal separation operation has been input by the operator. . In the second embodiment, the prediction of the operation start preparation is determined based on the rotational speed of the rotor 4, the operation time, the cooling temperature, and the presence / absence of the rotor type input. Without being limited thereto, other information input before the operation of the centrifuge 1 or an operation operated before the operation may be used as a reference.

  In step 106, the cooling device 9 is turned on to start cooling. The cooling temperature is controlled with the set temperature setpoint as a target. The reason why the temperature of the cooling device 9 is suddenly controlled to the target temperature in this way is that the probability of operating the centrifuge 1 by the input of specific information by the operator is very high. In this flowchart, if the process branches from Steps 102 and 103 to Step 106, the temperature setting by the operator may not be completed. In that case, the cooling device 9 may be configured to operate using the set temperature at the time of the previous centrifugal operation, or using the frequently used set temperature (for example, 4 ° C.).

  Next, the control device 7 determines whether or not the door 6 is closed within a predetermined time after the cooling device is operated (step 107). If it is not closed within a predetermined time, the temperature control in the rotating chamber 3 is stopped by turning off the cooling device, and the process is terminated (step 110). If the door is closed or has already been closed in step 107, the process proceeds to step 108, and the control device 7 determines whether or not the start key 17 (see FIG. 2) has been touched (step 108). Since the flowchart of FIG. 7 is executed in parallel with the control flow for acquiring various conditions of the centrifuge, when the start key is pressed in step 106, the rotational speed of the rotor 4, the operating time, the cooling temperature, and All of the rotor type input presence / absence is set.

  If the start key 17 is touched, the process proceeds to step 120, where a centrifugal operation is performed under the set centrifugal conditions. Since the control of the centrifuge 1 in step 120 is the same as the known control conventionally used, description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, at step 109, the control device 7 detects whether a predetermined time has passed without the start key 17 being pressed. Here, the elapse of the predetermined time means that the centrifugal separation operation has not started, so the operation of the cooling device 9 is stopped (step 110), and the control flow of FIG. 7 is ended. As described above, by executing the computer program, the control of the present invention can be realized by software control, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In order to realize this, it is necessary to prepare a new computer program, but it is not necessary to add new hardware equipment or modify a conventional centrifuge except for an increase in storage capacity for storing the computer program. .

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the Example, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example, A various change is possible within the range which does not deviate from the meaning.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Centrifugal separator 2 Bowl 3 Rotating chamber 4 Rotor 5 Motor 5a (Motor) Rotating shaft 6 Door 7 Controller 8a Temperature sensor 8b Ultrasonic sensor 9 Cooling device 9a Copper pipe 10 Operation panel 11 Screen 12 Rotational speed display unit 13 Operation Time display section 14 Set temperature display section 15 Various information display areas 16 Rotor selection key 17 Start key 18 Stop key 19 Numeric keypad 19b Clear key 19c Close key 19d Hold key 20 Enter key 30 Means for predicting operation 31 Operation Means for predicting start preparation 32 Rotational speed setting operation detection means 33 Time setting operation detection means 34 Temperature setting operation detection means 35 Rotor setting operation detection means 36 Rotary chamber door open / close detection means 37 OR gate 38 AND gate 40 Start signal 41 Output 42 luck Temperature control means 43 a predetermined time 44 the output 45 operation start temperature control means 46 a predetermined time of start preparation

Claims (8)

A rotor for holding the sample to be centrifuged;
A bowl defining a rotating chamber for rotating the rotor;
A door for closing the rotating chamber;
A motor for rotating the rotor;
A cooling device for cooling the bowl;
A controller for controlling the temperature of the cooling device;
In the centrifuge having an input unit for inputting operating conditions to the control unit,
A centrifuge provided with an auto cool mode for starting the cooling device when predetermined control information of the centrifuge is input from the input unit.   The centrifuge has three modes: an auto-cool mode, a pre-cool mode that cools to a predetermined temperature by the cooling device when the door is closed, and a normal mode that cools to a set temperature when the door is closed. The centrifuge of claim 1 having two modes.   In the auto cool mode, the control unit activates the cooling device when detecting a predetermined operation condition setting operation, and the door is not closed within a predetermined time after the cooling device is activated. The centrifuge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation of the cooling device is stopped.   2. The auto-cool mode, wherein the control unit performs a centrifugal separation operation according to the operation condition when the door is closed after the cooling device is activated and an instruction to start rotation of the rotor is given. The centrifuge according to any one of 1 to 3.   The said control part controls the said cooling device in the said auto cool mode so that the said cooling chamber may become the cooling temperature of the rotor set by the said control information after starting the said cooling device. 4. The centrifuge according to 4.   The said control part controls the said cooling device in the said precool mode so that it may maintain at 1st temperature higher than the cooling temperature of the said rotor, when the said door is open | released. 5. The centrifuge according to 5.   5. The centrifugal separation according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined control information is a rotational speed of the rotor during a centrifugal separation operation, an operation time of the rotor, a cooling temperature of the rotor, or a type of the rotor. Machine.   The centrifuge according to claim 3, wherein a warning is issued before the operation of the cooling device is stopped without the door being closed after the cooling device is started.

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