JP2013190277A - Container cleaning apparatus and container cleaning method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively clean a container for a biochemical test, dry it and remove residue in the container.SOLUTION: A container cleaning apparatus 1 includes a lid body 2 mounted on an aperture 8c of a container 8, and a nozzle group 25 held by the lid body 2. The nozzle group 25 includes cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a, 6b for supplying cleaning liquid into the container 8, a suction nozzle 5 for suctioning the cleaning liquid in the container 8, and gas supply nozzles 7a, 7b for supplying gas into the container 8. The suction nozzle 5 is arranged so as to extend in the axis line of the container 8, and the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a, 6b and the gas supply nozzles 7a, 7b are arranged so as to be inclined to the outside downward with respect to the axis line.

Description

  The present invention relates to a container cleaning apparatus and a container cleaning method used in a reaction container for biochemical tests such as immunoassay.

  An immunoassay (immunoassay) using an antigen-antibody reaction such as ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is known. In the immunoassay, washing of the reaction vessel, such as B / F separation, is important for accurate analysis.

  The following techniques have been developed as techniques relating to immunoassays.

  In Patent Document 1, when a sample is examined using an antigen-antibody reaction, a sample is poured into a well of a microplate whose inner surface is coated with a reagent, and then an unreacted sample is aspirated on the inner surface of the well. A suction device is described for effectively removing unreacted samples without adversely affecting the reaction products formed. This suction device has a discharge nozzle for discharging a cleaning liquid into the well and a plurality of suction nozzles for sucking the liquid in the well, and the bottom surface of the well is in a state where the tips of these nozzles are placed in the well. Along a predetermined route.

  Patent Document 2 describes a nozzle device for efficiently sucking a liquid in a container such as a well on a microplate. In this nozzle device, the nozzle for sucking the liquid in the container has a brush-like portion divided into a plurality of suction tentacles whose front end side can be bent. The plurality of brush-like parts are bent and spread radially by contacting the bottom surface of the container, and the liquid in the container is sucked in this state.

  Further, Patent Document 3 discloses an inner tube for discharging a cleaning liquid and a suction device for sucking a liquid in a container as a nozzle device for cleaning a reaction container inside used for measurement of biochemical reaction such as immune reaction. What has an outer tube is described.

  In Patent Document 4, as a technique for smoothly inserting a cleaning nozzle that cleans the inside of the container into the container, an insertion assisting member that guides the insertion of the cleaning nozzle into the container is disposed above the opening of the container. What to do is described.

  Patent Document 5 describes a configuration in which a plurality of tubes are arranged around a dispensing nozzle, and the liquid adhering to the tip of the dispensing nozzle is removed by flowing compressed air through the tube.

  Further, in Patent Document 6, the discharge nozzle is arranged in the center, and a plurality of suction nozzles are evenly arranged around it. Thereby, uniform cleaning becomes possible. It is described that it has a member for positioning with respect to the reaction vessel, whereby the distance between the lower end of the suction nozzle and the bottom surface of the reaction vessel can be positioned uniformly, and the liquid can be sucked without residual liquid. Has been.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-83939 JP 2003-42912 A JP-A-4-164256 JP 2009-36595 A JP 2009-31174 A JP 2011-58902 A

  For example, in sandwich ELISA, a specimen containing an antigen (or antibody) to be measured is dispensed into a reaction container on which an antibody (or antigen) is immobilized, and the antigen or the like in the specimen is immobilized. Etc. Thereafter, unreacted antigen and the like are removed by washing (B / F separation). Then, a solution containing the enzyme-labeled antibody (or antigen) is dispensed, and the enzyme-labeled antibody or the like is bound to the antigen or the like bound to the immobilized surface. Thereafter, unreacted antibodies and the like are removed by washing (B / F separation), and then fluorescence and chemiluminescence are detected. The above cleaning is performed by discharging and sucking a cleaning liquid. If this washing is not performed well, unreacted substances remain, which adversely affects the analysis results such as a decrease in S / N.

  However, the actual situation is that a technique capable of reliably and quickly washing the inside of the reaction vessel has not yet been developed.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a container cleaning apparatus and a container cleaning method capable of reliably and quickly cleaning the inside of a reaction container.

  The present invention is a container cleaning apparatus for cleaning a biochemical test container having a bottom wall and a side wall, the upper part being opened and a drug being formed in the lower region of the bottom wall and the side wall. A nozzle group that includes a lid, a cleaning liquid supply nozzle that supplies a cleaning liquid into the container, a suction nozzle that sucks the cleaning liquid in the container, and a gas supply nozzle that supplies a gas into the container, and is held by the lid And the cleaning liquid supply nozzle and the gas supply nozzle are inclined downward and outward with respect to the axis of the container.

  In the present invention, the suction nozzle is provided along the axis of the container, and while supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply nozzle, the lower end of the suction nozzle is set so that the liquid level of the cleaning liquid is at the upper end position of the medicine in the container. This is a container cleaning device.

  The present invention is a container cleaning apparatus characterized in that a nozzle driving unit for adjusting the positions of a cleaning liquid supply nozzle, a suction nozzle, and a gas supply nozzle of a nozzle group is provided on a lid.

  The present invention is a container cleaning apparatus in which the nozzle driving unit independently adjusts the positions of the cleaning liquid supply nozzle, the suction nozzle, and the gas supply nozzle.

  In the present invention, a cleaning liquid supply source is connected to the cleaning liquid supply nozzle, a gas supply source is connected to the gas supply nozzle, a suction source is connected to the suction nozzle, and the cleaning liquid supply source, the gas supply source, and the suction source are controlled by the control unit. The control unit is a container cleaning apparatus characterized in that after the supply of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply source is stopped, the gas supply source and the suction source are operated to dry the inside of the container.

  The present invention relates to a container cleaning method for cleaning a biochemical test container having a bottom wall and a side wall, the upper part being opened and a drug being formed in the lower region of the bottom wall and the side wall. A step of supplying a cleaning liquid to clean the inside of the container, and a step of supplying a gas toward the side wall of the container and discharging the cleaning liquid in the container while sucking and drying the inside of the container. This is a container cleaning method.

  In the present invention, when supplying the cleaning liquid to the container, the cleaning liquid in the container is sucked, and the suction position of the cleaning liquid is set so that the liquid level of the cleaning liquid is positioned at the upper end position of the medicine in the container It is a cleaning method.

  As described above, according to the present invention, after supplying the cleaning liquid into the container and cleaning the inside of the container, the inside of the container is reliably dried by sucking the inside of the container while supplying gas to the cleaning liquid in the container. be able to. For this reason, the residue in a container can be removed reliably.

Schematic which shows one Embodiment of the container washing | cleaning apparatus by this invention. The arrangement figure showing the position of the cleaning fluid supply nozzle, the suction nozzle, and the gas supply nozzle of the container cleaning device. The whole schematic diagram which shows a container washing | cleaning apparatus. Schematic which shows embodiment which applied the container cleaning apparatus by this invention to the microplate. The figure which shows the control part of the container cleaning apparatus by this invention. The flowchart which shows the container cleaning method by this invention.

Embodiment Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described embodiments of the present invention.

  1 to 3 and FIGS. 5 to 6 are views showing an embodiment of a container cleaning apparatus and a container cleaning method according to the present invention.

  The container cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is for cleaning a biochemical test container used in an immunoassay (immunoassay) based on an antigen-antibody reaction, such as ELISA.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the container 8 cleaned by the container cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has a bottom wall 8a and a side wall 8b extending upward from the periphery of the bottom wall 8a, and an opening 8c is formed on the upper side. ing.

  As will be described later, the container 8 to be cleaned by the container cleaning apparatus may be considered as a part of a microplate 15 that is composed of a large number of containers 8 and a connecting plate 14 that connects the containers 8 and is used in an immunoassay. Yes (see FIG. 4).

  The surface of the bottom wall 8a of the container 8 is planar, and the side wall 8b is provided substantially perpendicular to the surface of the bottom wall 8a. A cylindrical container 8 is constituted by the bottom wall 8a and the side wall 8b. The container 8 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may have a shape in which the bottom wall portion is narrowed as it goes below the container, so-called U bottom, V bottom, or the like.

  On the inner surface of the bottom wall 8a of the container 8 and the inner surface of the lower part of the side wall 8b, a drug 20 made of an antibody or an antigen is immobilized and fixed. For example, in the sandwich ELISA, the primary antibody is provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall 8a of the container 8 and the inner surface of the lower part of the side wall 8b.

  Next, the container cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described. The container cleaning apparatus 1 includes a lid 2 attached to the opening 8c of the container 8, a pair of cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b for supplying the cleaning liquid 21 into the container 8, and a suction nozzle 5 for sucking the cleaning liquid 21 in the container 8. And a pair of gas supply nozzles 7 a and 7 b for supplying gas into the container 8.

  Among these, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6 a and 6 b, the suction nozzle 5, and the gas supply nozzles 7 a and 7 b constitute a nozzle group 25, and the nozzle group 25 is held by the lid 2.

  Further, in the nozzle group 25, the suction nozzle 5 is disposed on the axis of the cylindrical container 8, and the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b are inclined downward with respect to the axis of the container 8 so that the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 6a, The cleaning liquid 21 is ejected from 6b toward the inner surface of the side wall 8b of the container 8 (see FIG. 2).

  The gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b are also inclined downward and outward with respect to the axis of the container 8, and gas is ejected from the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b toward the inner surface of the side wall 8b of the container 8.

  For example, when the depth of the container 8 is 11.4 mm and the inner diameter is 6.8 mm, the lower end of the suction nozzle 5 is disposed at a position 6 mm from the bottom wall 8a, and the lower ends of the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b are from the bottom wall 8a. It arrange | positions in the position of 6 mm, and the lower end of each gas supply nozzle 7a, 7b is arrange | positioned in the position of 6 mm from the bottom wall 8a.

  The lower end position of the suction nozzle 5, the lower end positions of the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the lower end position of the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 7a and 7b can be freely set. For example, the lower end of the suction nozzle 5 is disposed at the lowermost position, the lower ends of the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b are brought above the lower end of the suction nozzle 5, and the lower ends of the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b are connected to the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b. You may also come above the lower end.

  By the way, when the cleaning liquid 21 is supplied from the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6 a and 6 b into the container 8 to clean the inside of the container 8, the cleaning liquid 21 in the container 8 is sucked by the suction nozzle 5. In this case, the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 21 in the container 8 is determined by the lower end position of the suction nozzle 5 and slightly below the lower end position of the suction nozzle 5. At this time, the lower end position of the suction nozzle 5 is set so that the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 21 is slightly above the upper end of the medicine 20 in the container 8 or at least the upper end position of the medicine 20. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid 21 can always cover the medicine 20 during the cleaning operation, and the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 21 does not greatly exceed the upper end of the medicine 20. For this reason, the cleaning liquid 21 is not unnecessarily used when cleaning the inside of the container 8.

  The nozzle group 25 including the suction nozzle 5 having such a configuration, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b is attached to the opening 8c of the container 8 and seals the opening 8c. Held by. Further, the lid 2 is provided with a nozzle drive unit 3, and the nozzle drive unit 3 drives the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b in the vertical direction.

  In this case, the nozzle drive unit 3 may drive the nozzle group 25 including the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6 a and 6 b and the gas supply nozzles 7 a and 7 b as a single unit in the vertical direction. 5. The cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b may be individually driven in the vertical direction.

  A cylindrical packing 4 that abuts the outer surface of the side wall 8 b of the container 8 is provided at the lower end of the lid 2 that seals the opening 8 c of the container 8, and the inside of the container 8 can be sealed by this packing 4. The material of the packing 4 can be selected from materials such as general rubber or silicon rubber.

  Further, the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b constituting the nozzle group 25 are all held by the lid 2, but the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and The gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b are both detachable from the lid 2 and can be converted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a suction line 5 </ b> A is connected to the suction nozzle 5, and the suction line 5 </ b> A is connected to the cleaning liquid storage tank 12. Further, a vacuum pump 11 is connected to the cleaning liquid storage tank 12, and the vacuum inside the cleaning liquid storage tank 12 is maintained by the vacuum pump 11.

  A cleaning liquid discharge pump 9 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b via a cleaning liquid supply line 6A, and a compressed air pump 10 is connected to the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b via a gas supply line 7A.

  Moreover, the container washing | cleaning apparatus 1 has the control part 18, and the nozzle drive part 3 is controlled by this control part 18 (refer FIG. 5). The control unit 18 controls the cleaning liquid supply pump (cleaning liquid supply source) 9 and the compressed air pump (gas supply source) 10. Further, the control unit 18 also controls a vacuum pump (suction source) 11 that maintains the cleaning liquid storage tank 12 in a vacuum.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described. First, a sandwich ELISA method (enzyme immunoassay) using the container 8 will be described.

  First, a specimen (eg, serum or urine) containing an antigen to be measured is dispensed into a container 8 in which a drug 20 containing a primary antibody is solid-phased, incubated for several minutes, and subjected to a primary reaction. Are combined.

  Next, primary washing (B / F separation) is performed to remove unreacted antigens and the like.

  Next, the solution of the enzyme-labeled secondary antibody is dispensed into the container 8 and incubated for several minutes to cause a secondary reaction to bind the secondary antibody to the antigen. This produces a primary antibody / target antigen / secondary antibody complex.

  Next, secondary washing (B / F separation) is performed to remove unreacted secondary antibodies and the like. Next, the luminescent substrate is dispensed into the container 8 and incubated for several minutes to react the enzyme with the luminescent substrate.

  Then, the light emission amount of the liquid in the container 8 is measured by a photodetector such as a photomultiplier tube.

  Meanwhile, the above-described two cleaning steps are performed by the container cleaning method using the container cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  The container cleaning method according to the present invention will be described below.

  First, the lid body 2 is attached to the opening 8 c of the container 8, and the opening 8 c is covered with the lid body 2. At this time, the packing 4 provided on the lid body 2 comes into contact with the outer periphery of the side wall 8 b of the container 8 to seal the inside of the container 8.

  Next, the nozzle drive unit 3 is driven and controlled by the control unit 18, and the nozzle group 25 including the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b is lowered by the nozzle drive unit 3 (F1 in FIG. 6). reference).

  Thereafter, the controller 18 drives the cleaning liquid discharge pump 9, and the cleaning liquid 21 (for example, organic solvent-based or water-based cleaning liquid) is ejected from the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a, 6b toward the inner surface of the side wall 8b of the container 8 (FIG. 6). F2). At this time, the cleaning liquid 21 is withdrawn from the suction nozzle 5 while convection in the container 8, and the cleaning liquid 21 from the suction nozzle 5 is guided into the cleaning liquid storage tank 12 via the suction line 5A.

  In this case, the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 21 supplied into the container 8 reaches a position corresponding to the lower end of the suction nozzle 5. The lower end position of the suction nozzle 5 is set so that the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 21 is slightly above the upper end of the medicine 20 in the container 8 as described above. The medicine 20 can be covered, and the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 21 does not greatly exceed the upper end of the medicine 20. For this reason, while being able to wash | clean the inside of the container 8 effectively, the usage-amount of the washing | cleaning liquid 21 can be restrained during a washing | cleaning action.

  Next, the control unit 18 stops the cleaning liquid discharge pump 9, and the supply of the cleaning liquid 21 from the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b is stopped to stop the cleaning action.

  Next, the control part 18 operates the suction pump 11 and makes the inside of the washing | cleaning liquid storage tank 12 into a vacuum state (refer F3 of FIG. 6). In this case, the cleaning liquid 21 remaining in the container 8 can be sucked by the suction nozzle 5, and the cleaning liquid 21 sucked by the suction nozzle 5 is guided into the cleaning liquid storage tank 12.

  Thereafter, the control unit 18 operates the compressed air pump 10 while operating the suction pump 11 to keep the cleaning liquid storage tank 12 in a vacuum state (see F4 in FIG. 6). In this case, compressed air (gas) of 0.2 MPa, for example, is supplied from the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b into the container 8, and the air supply action from the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b and the suction action by the suction nozzle 5 The cleaning liquid 21 can be reliably removed from the container 8, and no residue remains in the container 8.

  Thereafter, the nozzle drive unit 3 raises the nozzle group 25 including the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b, and the container cleaning method ends (see F5 in FIG. 6).

  The present embodiment is not limited to use for cleaning biochemical test chemicals, but may be used for cleaning chemicals used when manufacturing biochemical test containers.

Application Example of the Present Embodiment Next, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the container cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a microplate 15 including a plurality of containers 8 and a connecting plate 14 for connecting the containers 8 together.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the same parts as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 5 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a microplate 15 including a plurality of containers 8 and a connecting plate 14 connecting the containers 8 is configured, and the microplate 15 is cleaned by the container cleaning device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the container 8 of the microplate 15 cleaned by the container cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has a bottom wall 8a and a side wall 8b extending upward from the periphery of the bottom wall 8a, and has an opening 8c upward. Is formed.

  The surface of the bottom wall 8a of each container 8 is planar, and the side wall 8b is provided substantially perpendicular to the surface of the bottom wall 8a. A cylindrical container 8 is constituted by the bottom wall 8a and the side wall 8b.

  On the inner surface of the bottom wall 8a of the container 8 and the inner surface of the lower part of the side wall 8b, a drug 20 made of an antibody or an antigen is immobilized and fixed. For example, in the sandwich ELISA, the primary antibody is provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall 8a of the container 8 and the inner surface of the lower part of the side wall 8b.

  Next, the container cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described. The container cleaning apparatus 1 includes a lid 2 that is attached to the opening 8c of each container 8 in the microplate 15, a pair of cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b that supply the cleaning liquid 21 into each container 8, and the inside of each container 8. And a pair of gas supply nozzles 7 a and 7 b for supplying gas into each container 8.

  Among these, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, the suction nozzle 5, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b constitute a nozzle group 25 corresponding to each container 8, and each nozzle group 25 is a lid provided for each container 8. It is held by the body 2.

  Further, in the nozzle group 25, the suction nozzle 5 is disposed on the axis of the cylindrical container 8, and the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b are inclined downward with respect to the axis of the container 8 so that the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 6a, The cleaning liquid 21 is ejected from 6b toward the inner surface of the side wall 8b of the container 8 (see FIG. 2).

  The gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b are also inclined downward and outward with respect to the axis of the container 8, and gas is ejected from the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b toward the inner surface of the side wall 8b of the container 8.

  For example, when the depth of the container 8 is 11.4 mm and the inner diameter is 6.8 mm, the lower end of the suction nozzle 5 is disposed at a position 6 mm from the bottom wall 8a, and the lower ends of the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b are from the bottom wall 8a. It arrange | positions in the position of 6 mm, and the lower end of each gas supply nozzle 7a, 7b is arrange | positioned in the position of 6 mm from the bottom wall 8a.

  The lower end position of the suction nozzle 5, the lower end positions of the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the lower end position of the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 7a and 7b can be freely set. For example, the lower end of the suction nozzle 5 is disposed at the lowermost position, the lower ends of the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b are brought above the lower end of the suction nozzle 5, and the lower ends of the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b are connected to the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b. You may also come above the lower end. By setting it as such a positional relationship, the washing | cleaning liquid in the container 8 can be removed more reliably.

  The nozzle group 25 including the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b having the above-described configuration is mounted on the opening 8c of each container 8 and seals the opening 8c. It is held by the body 2. In addition, a nozzle drive unit 3 is provided on the lid 2 attached to each container 8, and the nozzle drive unit 3 drives the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b in the vertical direction. Is done.

  In this case, the nozzle drive unit 3 may drive the nozzle group 25 including the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6 a and 6 b and the gas supply nozzles 7 a and 7 b as a single unit in the vertical direction. 5. The cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b may be individually driven in the vertical direction.

  A cylindrical packing 4 that abuts the outer surface of the side wall 8b of the container 8 is provided at the lower end of the lid 2 that seals the opening 8c of each container 8, and the inside of the container 8 can be sealed by the packing 4. The material of the packing 4 can be selected from materials such as general rubber or silicon rubber.

  The suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b constituting the nozzle group 25 are all held by the lid 2, but the suction nozzle 5, the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b, and the gas The supply nozzles 7a and 7b are both detachable from the lid 2 and can be converted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a nozzle driving unit 3 is provided above the lid 2 corresponding to each container 8, and the nozzle driving unit 3 corresponding to each container 8 is connected to each other by a connecting member 16. Yes.

  Then, the suction nozzle 5 corresponding to each container 8 reaches the joining member 16 via the lid 2 and the nozzle drive unit 3 and joins, and the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b corresponding to each container 8 are driven by the lid 2 and the nozzle drive. It reaches the connecting member 16 via the part 3 and merges. Further, the gas supply nozzles 7 a and 7 b corresponding to the respective containers 8 also reach the connecting member 16 through the lid body 2 and the nozzle driving unit 3 and merge.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a suction line 5 </ b> A is connected to the suction nozzle 5 joined in the connecting member 16, and the suction line 5 </ b> A is connected to the cleaning liquid storage tank 12. Further, a vacuum pump 11 is connected to the cleaning liquid storage tank 12, and the vacuum inside the cleaning liquid storage tank 12 is maintained by the vacuum pump 11.

  A cleaning liquid discharge pump 9 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply nozzles 6a and 6b joined in the connecting member 16 via a cleaning liquid supply line 6A, and a gas supply line is connected to the gas supply nozzles 7a and 7b joined in the connecting member 16. A compressed air pump 10 is connected via 7A.

  Moreover, the container washing | cleaning apparatus 1 has the control part 18, The nozzle drive part 3 corresponding to each container 8 is controlled by this control part 18 (refer FIG. 5). The control unit 18 controls the cleaning liquid supply pump (cleaning liquid supply source) 9 and the compressed air pump (gas supply source) 10. Further, the control unit 18 also controls a vacuum pump (suction source) 11 that maintains the cleaning liquid storage tank 12 in a vacuum.

  In FIG. 4, the container control method is executed by substantially the same method as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 5 to 6.

  In the container control method shown in FIG. 4, after each container 8 is cleaned with the cleaning liquid 21, the cleaning liquid 21 is discharged from each container 8 by the air supply action from the gas supply nozzles 7 a and 7 b and the suction action by the suction nozzle 5. It can be effectively removed.

  Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described. In the present example, the microplate 15 including 96 containers 8 was cleaned using the container cleaning apparatus shown in FIG.

  150 μl of pure water was put in each container 8 of the microplate 15, and compressed air was supplied from the gas supply nozzles 7 a and 7 b while sucking the pure water with the suction nozzle 5. Thus, the cleaning residue when the pure water was sucked and dried was measured.

  In this case, the weight of the microplate 15 was measured before and after suction drying to confirm.

As the suction pump 11, a pump having a pump capacity of 1 kg / cm ² and 8 L / min was used. The air supply pressure from the compressed air pump was 0.2 MPa.

  As a result, a cleaning residue of 0.00037 ± 0.0002 g per container 8 was obtained, and good results were obtained.

  On the other hand, as a comparative example, a container cleaning device having the same structure as that of the example except that there was no gas supply nozzle was prepared, and the container was cleaned by this container cleaning device.

  In a container washing apparatus as a comparative example, 150 μl of pure water was put in each container of a microplate, and pure water was sucked with a suction nozzle to dry the pure water. The washing residue at this time was measured.

  In this case, the weight of the microplate was measured before and after drying to confirm.

A suction pump having a pump capacity of 1 kg / cm ² and 8 L / min was used.

As a result, a cleaning residue of 0.005 ± 0.002 g per container 8 was confirmed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container washing | cleaning apparatus 2 Lid 3 Nozzle drive part 4 Packing 5 Suction nozzle 6a, 6b Cleaning liquid supply nozzle 6A Cleaning liquid supply line 7a, 7b Gas supply nozzle 7A Gas supply line 8 Container 8a Bottom wall 8b Side wall 8c Opening 9 Cleaning liquid discharge pump 10 Compressed air pump 11 Suction nozzle 12 Cleaning liquid storage tank 14 Connection plate 15 Microplate 16 Connection member 18 Control unit 20 Drug 21 Cleaning liquid 25 Nozzle group

Claims (7)

In a container cleaning apparatus for cleaning a biochemical test container having a bottom wall and a side wall, wherein the upper part is opened and a drug is formed in a lower region of the bottom wall and the side wall,
A lid attached to the opening of the container;
A cleaning liquid supply nozzle that supplies the cleaning liquid into the container, a suction nozzle that sucks the cleaning liquid in the container, and a gas supply nozzle that supplies gas into the container, and includes a nozzle group held by the lid,
The container cleaning apparatus, wherein the cleaning liquid supply nozzle and the gas supply nozzle are inclined outward with respect to the axis of the container. The suction nozzle is provided along the axis of the container,
A container cleaning apparatus, wherein the lower end of the suction nozzle is set so that the liquid level of the cleaning liquid is positioned at the upper end position of the medicine in the container while the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid supply nozzle.   2. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle driving unit for adjusting the positions of the cleaning liquid supply nozzle, the suction nozzle and the gas supply nozzle of the nozzle group is provided on the lid.   4. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the nozzle driving unit independently adjusts the positions of the cleaning liquid supply nozzle, the suction nozzle, and the gas supply nozzle. A cleaning liquid supply source is connected to the cleaning liquid supply nozzle, a gas supply source is connected to the gas supply nozzle, a suction source is connected to the suction nozzle,
The cleaning liquid supply source, the gas supply source and the suction source are controlled by the control unit,
2. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the gas supply source and the suction source to dry the inside of the container after stopping the supply of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply source. In a container cleaning method for cleaning a biochemical test container having a bottom wall and a side wall, wherein the upper part is opened and a drug is formed in a lower region of the bottom wall and the side wall,
Supplying a cleaning liquid toward the side wall of the container to clean the inside of the container;
Supplying gas toward the side wall of the container, and discharging the container while sucking the cleaning liquid in the container to dry the container;
A container cleaning method comprising: When supplying the cleaning liquid to the container, the cleaning liquid in the container is aspirated,
7. The container cleaning method according to claim 6, wherein the suction position of the cleaning liquid is set such that the liquid surface of the cleaning liquid is positioned at the upper end position of the medicine in the container.

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