JP2018040740A - Liquid sample container holding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid sample container holding mechanism which is configured to detachably hold a liquid sample container designed to allow a liquid sample accommodated in a cylindrical main body having an opening provided at the top to be collected through the opening, and to allow the container to be safely detached therefrom even in the event of liquid leakage.SOLUTION: A liquid sample container holding mechanism is configured to hold a liquid sample container 1 comprising a cylindrical main body 11 having an opening at the top, and includes a holder 33 configured to detachably hold the cylindrical main body 11 in such a way that a center axis of the cylindrical main body 11 is tilted with respect to the vertical direction from a side opposite a direction of the tilt.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a mechanism for holding a liquid sample container in an apparatus for analyzing a liquid sample, such as a mass spectrometer.

  In a mass spectrometer, which is one of devices for analyzing a liquid sample, the liquid sample is vaporized and charged by an ion source, ionized, and mass separated for measurement. Such an analyzer is provided with a liquid sample container holding mechanism for holding a liquid sample container containing a liquid sample to be measured, and the liquid sample container is detachably held in a standing posture.

  In a mass spectrometer, a liquid sample container having a cylindrical main body having an opening at the top and a lid attached to cover the opening is widely used. The lid is provided with a liquid supply pipe that reaches a position lower than the liquid level of the liquid sample accommodated in the main body, and a gas pipe connection part that connects a gas pipe of an external gas supply source is formed. Yes. A lid is attached to the main body, a liquid sample introduction tube provided in the mass spectrometer is connected to the liquid feeding tube, and a gas tube is connected to the gas pipe connection portion. When gas is supplied from the gas supply source and the inside of the main body is pressurized while the inside of the container is sealed, the liquid sample is introduced into the ion source of the mass spectrometer through the liquid feeding tube and the liquid sample introduction tube. The amount of the liquid sample introduced into the analyzer is adjusted by the pressure of the gas supplied to the inside of the main body of the liquid sample container through the gas pipe.

  Normally, the connection between the liquid sample introduction tube of the analyzer and the liquid sample container's liquid supply tube is sealed to prevent the liquid sample from leaking out. It may deteriorate and liquid leakage may occur from the connecting part. As described above, since the liquid sample introduced into the analyzer is adjusted to a predetermined amount by the pressure of the gas supplied to the inside of the main body, when such a liquid leak occurs, the amount of the liquid leak is transferred to the analyzer. The amount of liquid sample introduced is less than a predetermined amount. For example, in the quantitative analysis of the target component contained in the liquid sample, the concentration of the target component is obtained on the assumption that a predetermined amount of the liquid sample has been introduced. An error occurs. Therefore, if a liquid leak from the liquid sample container occurs during the measurement, it is necessary to stop the measurement, remove the liquid sample container to eliminate the liquid leak, and perform the measurement again.

Utility Model Registration No. 3121568

  The leaked liquid sample flows down from the connection part to the lid and the side wall of the main body in order. At this time, the position on the side wall of the main body will flow down depending on the slight difference in the posture of the liquid sample container. The route cannot be specified. Therefore, when removing the liquid sample container from the liquid sample container holding mechanism in order to eliminate the liquid leakage, there is a problem that the liquid sample may adhere to the hand of the operator and become contaminated.

  Here, the problem in the prior art has been described with an example of a mass spectrometer and a liquid sample container used in the mass spectrometer, but the liquid sample is accommodated in a cylindrical main body having an opening at the top, and the liquid sample is received from the opening. Various analyzers using the liquid sample containers to be collected have the same problems as described above.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is a liquid sample container holding mechanism for detachably holding a liquid sample container for collecting a liquid sample accommodated in a cylindrical main body having an opening in an upper portion thereof. It is an object to provide a mechanism that can safely perform the work of removing the container even when leakage occurs.

The present invention made to solve the above problems is a liquid sample container holding mechanism for holding a liquid sample container having a cylindrical main body provided with an opening in the upper part,
A holding portion is provided for holding the cylindrical main body detachably from a side opposite to the direction of the inclination in a state where the central axis of the cylindrical main body is inclined from the vertical direction.

  The liquid sample container may be composed only of a main body with an upper portion opened, or may have a lid portion attached so as to cover the opening. As such a lid portion, one in which a sampling port of a sample collecting tool (liquid feeding tube, sampling needle, etc.) having a smaller diameter than the opening of the main body is formed can be used.

  In addition, the holding unit that detachably holds the cylindrical main body from the side opposite to the direction of the inclination includes, for example, the cylindrical side surface of the cylindrical main body, the outer periphery of the side surface Thus, it can be set as the jig | tool hold | gripped from the side located upwards in the state inclined. In the case where an attachment member is provided on the main body or lid of the liquid sample container, it may be a locking member that locks the attachment member.

  In the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present invention, since the cylindrical liquid sample container is held in a state inclined from the vertical direction, the liquid sample leaking from the opening at the top of the main body in this state is It flows down the lowest position. That is, since the path through which the leaked liquid sample flows is limited, the operator can safely remove the liquid sample container by having a position far from this path.

  Usually, the amount of the liquid sample collected from the liquid sample container and introduced into the analyzer is predetermined. For example, when quantifying the target component contained in the liquid sample, it is assumed that the amount introduced is accurate. As a result, the concentration of the target component is obtained. Therefore, when a liquid leak occurs, the amount of the liquid sample introduced into the analyzer decreases by the amount of the liquid leak, and an error occurs in the quantitative result of the target component. Therefore, if a liquid leak from the sample container occurs during the measurement, it is necessary to detect this reliably, eliminate the liquid leak, and repeat the measurement.

  Therefore, the liquid sample container holding mechanism is often provided with a leak tray on which the liquid sample container is placed and a leak sensor that detects the liquid that has flowed down to the leak tray. The bottom surface of the leak tray is provided with an inclination slightly lowering in a specific direction, and a leak sensor is attached to the end portion of the inclination. The liquid sample leaking from the upper opening of the main body of the liquid sample container flows down the side surface of the main body, flows on the leak tray, reaches the leak sensor, and is detected.

Therefore, the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present invention further includes:
A leak tray that is disposed so as to cover a region including a lower position of a lowermost portion of a path through which the liquid sample leaked from the opening flows down the liquid sample container, and has a bottom surface that is inclined so as to be lowered in a specific direction; ,
And a leak sensor attached to the end of the leak tray in the specific direction.

  As described above, some conventional liquid sample container holding mechanisms are equipped with a leak tray and leak sensor, but in the past, the path through which the liquid sample leaked from the liquid sample container flows down the side of the main body is specified. Therefore, the leak tray was provided so as to cover the entire lower part of the liquid sample container. On the other hand, in the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present invention, the path through which the liquid sample flows down is limited, so that the lowermost part of the path through which the liquid sample leaked from the opening of the liquid sample container flows as in the above embodiment What is necessary is just to cover the lower position (for example, the lowest part of the side surface of a main body), and a leak tray can be reduced in size. In the case of a liquid sample container having a lid, in which the liquid sample that has flowed down the lid falls as it is without being transmitted to the main body, the bottom of the lid that is the lowest part of the path through which the liquid sample flows down What is necessary is just to cover the lower position of a lower part.

In the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present invention,
The holding unit detachably holds the main bodies of the plurality of liquid sample containers in a posture inclined in the same direction,
It is preferable that the leak tray is disposed so as to cover a region including a lower position at the bottom of the path through which the liquid sample flows in each of the plurality of liquid sample containers.

  In an analyzer such as a mass spectrometer, a standard sample may be measured in addition to a liquid sample to be analyzed. In particular, a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) performs mass calibration by measuring a plurality of different standard samples according to the mass range in order to perform measurement with high mass resolution. Conventionally, in such a case, liquid sample containers each containing a plurality of liquid samples are arranged side by side, and a large-area leak tray that covers the entire bottom surface of the containers has been arranged. Therefore, conventionally, there has been a problem that it takes time until a liquid sample leaking from a liquid sample container installed at a position far from the leak sensor reaches the leak sensor and is detected. Therefore, the time until the liquid sample that has flowed down to the leak tray reaches the leak sensor is shortened and detected quickly.

Furthermore, the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present invention includes:
It is preferable to provide a lock mechanism for locking and unlocking the state where the main body is held. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the liquid sample container from being detached from the holder due to vibration or the like generated during collection of the liquid sample.

  Preferably, the locking mechanism simultaneously locks and unlocks the main bodies of the plurality of liquid sample containers. As a result, a plurality of liquid sample containers can be locked and unlocked by a single operation, and work efficiency is improved.

  In addition, the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present invention can adopt a configuration for holding a plurality of liquid sample containers in the vertical direction. Thereby, the area of the leak tray can be further reduced.

  By using the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present invention, it is possible to safely remove the liquid sample container even when liquid leakage occurs.

The figure explaining the structure of the liquid sample container hold | maintained in one Embodiment of the liquid sample container holding mechanism which concerns on this invention. The figure explaining the structure of the frame-shaped member of the liquid sample container holding mechanism which concerns on a present Example. The figure explaining the structure of the back member of the liquid sample container holding mechanism which concerns on a present Example. The elements on larger scale of the state which attached the back member to the frame-shaped member of the liquid sample container holding mechanism which concerns on a present Example. The elements on larger scale of the state which hold | maintained the liquid sample container in the liquid sample container holding mechanism which concerns on a present Example. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state which hold | maintained the liquid sample container in the liquid sample container holding mechanism which concerns on a present Example. The figure explaining the liquid leak detection mechanism in the conventional liquid sample container holding mechanism.

  An embodiment of a liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a liquid sample container holding mechanism used in a mass spectrometer, and includes a liquid sample container holding unit and a liquid leak detection mechanism.

  Prior to the description of the liquid sample container holding mechanism of the present embodiment, the structure of the liquid sample container attached to the liquid sample container holding mechanism will be described. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

  The liquid sample container 1 is roughly composed of a main body 11 and a lid 12. A container-side liquid feeding tube 13 extending to a lower side than the liquid surface of the liquid sample accommodated in the main body 11 is fixed to the lid portion 12. Further, the lid portion 12 is provided with a liquid feeding pipe connection portion 14 for connecting the container side liquid feeding pipe 13 to an apparatus side liquid feeding pipe 21 provided in the mass spectrometer. The liquid feeding pipe connection portion 14 is sealed to prevent the liquid sample from leaking out. A gas pipe connecting portion 16 for connecting a gas pipe 22 extending from an external gas supply source is provided on the upper portion of the lid portion 12. A locking tool 15 is provided on the top of the lid 12. The locking tool 15 is provided on the opposite side of the container-side liquid feeding pipe 13 with the central axis indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 (and FIG. 6 described later) interposed therebetween. Further, a ring-shaped portion is formed at the tip of the locking tool 15, and a locking member 33 described later can be inserted therein.

  The liquid sample container 1 accommodates a liquid sample to be analyzed, a standard sample for mass calibration, and the like. When the liquid sample is sent, a gas having a predetermined pressure is sent through a gas pipe 22 from a gas supply source provided outside. As a result, the inside of the liquid sample container 1 is pressurized to the predetermined pressure, and the liquid sample passes through the container-side liquid supply tube 13 and the device-side liquid supply tube 21 in this order and is sent to the ion source of the mass spectrometer. The amount of the liquid sample sent to the ion source of the mass spectrometer is adjusted by the pressure of the gas sent from the gas supply source.

  Next, the liquid sample container holding part which the liquid sample container holding mechanism of a present Example has is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. The liquid sample container holding mechanism of the present embodiment includes a frame-shaped member 30 and a back member 40 attached to the back surface of the frame-shaped member 30. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the frame member 30 and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the back member 40. 2 (a) and 3 (a) are front views, and FIG. 2 (b) and FIG. 3 (b) are side views.

  The frame-shaped member 30 is a member that is attached at a predetermined distance from the wall surface 60 (see FIG. 6) in the liquid sample installation space inside the mass spectrometer, and has two first openings 31a and 31b at the top and bottom. ing. The predetermined distance here is a distance at which the bottom of the container located on the wall surface 60 side contacts the wall surface 60 in a state where the liquid sample container 1 is suspended and held as will be described later. In addition, horizontally long second openings 32a and 32b are provided above the first openings 31a and 31b, respectively, and the cross section is substantially L-shaped between the first openings 31a and 31b and the second openings 32a and 32b. Two locking members 33a to 33d are provided in the horizontal direction. The locking members 33a to 33d include a horizontal portion 331 projecting in the horizontal direction and a vertical portion 332 extending obliquely upward (substantially in the vertical direction) from the tip of the horizontal portion 331.

  The back member 40 has two horizontal portions 41a and 41b that are parallel in the vertical direction and a connecting portion 41c that connects the right end portions thereof. Further, two flat lock members 42a to 42d (four as a whole) are provided so as to protrude from the two horizontal portions 41a and 41b. Further, a flat operation member 43 is attached so as to protrude from the connecting portion 41c.

  When attaching the back member 40 to the frame member 30, the operating member 43 is inserted into the first opening 31a, the locking members 42a and 42b are inserted into the second opening 32a, and the locking members 42c and 42d are inserted into the second opening 32b, respectively. To do.

  FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the state in which the back member 40 is attached to the frame-shaped member 30. 4A, the vertical portions 332 of the locking members 33a to 33d are separated from the lock members 42a to 42d. In FIG. 4B, the upper portions of the vertical portions 332 of the locking members 33a to 33d are covered. Thus, the lock members 42a to 42d are positioned respectively. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 4A is referred to as “unlocked state” and the state shown in FIG. 4B is referred to as “locked state” as appropriate. When the operating member 43 is moved leftward from the unlocked state shown in FIG. 4A, the back member 40 slides to the left side to enter the locked state shown in FIG. Further, by moving the operation member 43 in the right direction from the locked state shown in FIG. 4B, the entire back member 40 slides to the right side to be in the unlocked state shown in FIG.

  In the liquid sample container holding mechanism of the present embodiment, the liquid sample container 1 is attached to each of the four locking members 33a to 33d. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the vicinity of the locking members 33a and 33b. FIG. 5A shows an unlocked state, and FIG. 5B shows a locked state. FIG. 6A is a vertical cross-sectional view of a state in which two liquid sample containers 1 are attached to the locking members 33a and 33c side by side. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the locking member 15 of the liquid sample container 1 is attached to the locking member 33 of the frame-shaped member 30, so that the central axis of the liquid sample container 1 is suspended in a state inclined from the vertical direction. Held down. In the present embodiment, a ring-shaped portion is formed at the distal end portion of the locking tool 15, and the liquid sample container 1 is suspended by inserting any one of the locking members 33a to 33d into the ring-shaped portion. . As shown in FIG. 6A, support members 61a to 61d are attached to positions on the wall surface 60 inside the mass spectrometer where the bottom surface of the main body 11 contacts with the liquid sample container 1 suspended and held. Thus, the posture (inclination angle of the central axis) of the liquid sample container 1 is fixed.

  When the liquid sample container 1 is attached, first, the operation member 43 is moved to the right side to be in the unlocked state shown in FIG. In this state, the locking member 33 is inserted into the ring-shaped portion at the tip of the locking tool 15 of the liquid sample container 1. Thereby, the liquid sample container 1 is suspended as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6A, the bottom surface of the liquid sample container 1 is supported by support members 61a to 61d attached to the wall surface 60. The position of the center of gravity of the liquid sample container 1 varies little by little depending on the amount of the liquid sample accommodated in the liquid sample container 1, but by regulating the bottom of the liquid sample container 1 by the support members 61a to 61d, the liquid sample container 1 The liquid sample container 1 can be held at a constant inclination angle with respect to the vertical direction regardless of the remaining amount. In the present embodiment, the tilt angle of the liquid sample container 1 is fixed using the support members 61a to 61d. However, for example, various recesses having a shape corresponding to the shape of the liquid sample container 1 are formed on the wall surface 60. The tilt angle of the liquid sample container 1 can be fixed by the method.

  In the unlocked state shown in FIG. 5A, when the user accidentally touches the liquid sample container 1 or vibration occurs during liquid feeding, the locking member 15 of the liquid sample container 1 is locked by the locking member 33. There is a possibility that it falls off and falls. In addition, since the inside of the liquid sample container 1 is pressurized during liquid feeding, if the user accidentally touches the liquid sample container 1 and removes the lid 1 in this state, the liquid sample in the liquid sample container 1 is removed. May scatter. In order to prevent these, after the liquid sample container 1 is suspended, the operation member 43 is moved to the left side to position the lock member 42 above the locking member 33 (FIG. 5B). As a result, even if the user accidentally touches the liquid sample container 1 or a vibration or the like occurs during liquid feeding, the liquid sample container 1 falls or the lid 12 is removed and the liquid sample is scattered. Can be prevented. In the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present embodiment, the lock / unlock of the holding state of the four liquid sample containers 1 can be switched at a time only by moving the operation member 43.

  As described above, the connection part 14 between the container-side liquid supply pipe 13 and the apparatus-side liquid supply pipe 21 of the liquid sample container 1 is sealed to prevent the liquid sample from leaking from the connection part 14. However, when the liquid sample is continuously fed for a long time, the seal portion may deteriorate and liquid leakage may occur from the connection portion 14.

  In the liquid sample container holding mechanism of the present embodiment, the liquid sample container 1 is suspended and held obliquely by the locking members 33a to 33d, and the liquid sample leaking from the connection portion 14 has flowed down through the lid portion 12. Then, as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 6A, the lid part 12 falls downward from the lowermost part 12 a. Thus, the path through which the liquid sample leaking from the connection portion 14 flows is limited to a specific region of the lid portion 12. Therefore, when removing the liquid sample container 1 from the liquid sample container holding mechanism for the purpose of repairing the leaked part when the liquid sample leaks, hold the side opposite to the inclination direction of the liquid sample container 1. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent the operator's hand from being contaminated by the liquid sample. In particular, in the liquid sample container holding mechanism of the present embodiment, the liquid sample falls from the lowermost part 12a of the lid 12 of the liquid sample container 1, so that the main body 11 is not contaminated by the leaked liquid sample.

  Next, the configuration of the liquid leak detection mechanism provided in the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present embodiment will be described. Before that, the liquid leak detection mechanism used in the conventional liquid sample container holding mechanism is described. Will be described with reference to FIG. Since the structure of the liquid sample container 101 in FIG. 7 is the same as that in the above embodiment (FIG. 1), detailed description and illustration are omitted. In order to facilitate understanding, in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the inclination of the leak tray is exaggerated from the actual one.

  In the conventional liquid sample container holding mechanism, the liquid sample container 101 is placed side by side on the leak tray 151. Similar to the above embodiment, here, a case where four liquid sample containers 101 are placed side by side will be described as an example. FIG. 7A is a side view showing a state in which four liquid sample containers 101 are held (however, only two liquid sample containers 101 located on the near side are shown for side view), and FIG. 7B is a top view thereof. .

  As shown in FIG. 7A, in the conventional liquid sample container holding mechanism, the liquid sample container 101 is placed on the leak tray 151 substantially horizontally. For this reason, the position of the liquid sample leaking from the connection part flows down on the side wall of the lid part 112 and the main body 111 depends on a slight difference in the posture of the liquid sample container 101, and the path is specified. I can't. Therefore, a leak tray 151 having a size that covers all the bottom surfaces of the four liquid sample containers 101 is used. The leak tray 151 is inclined so as to incline in one direction, and the liquid sample flowing down from the liquid sample container 101 to the leak tray flows on the leak tray 151 along the inclination. A leak sensor 152 is provided at the inclined end of the leak tray 151. There are various types of leak sensors 152. For example, a sensor that monitors the electrical resistance between two spaced terminals and detects a liquid leak from a change in electrical resistance caused by liquid entering between the terminals is used. It is done. The leak sensor 152 is connected to the detection output unit 153, and when the change in the electrical resistance between the terminals is confirmed in the detection output unit 153, it is detected that the user has detected a liquid leak by an appropriate output means such as a screen display or audio output. It is to inform you.

  With reference to FIG. 6 again, the liquid leakage detection mechanism used in the liquid sample holding mechanism according to the present invention will be described. This liquid leak detection mechanism also includes a leak tray 51, a leak sensor 52, and a detection output unit 53 as in FIG. 7, but the shape (size) of the leak tray 51 is different. Since the configurations and operations of the leak sensor 52 and the detection output unit 53 are the same as those in the related art, description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 6 (a) is a side view showing a state in which four liquid sample containers 1 are held, and FIG. 6 (b) is a top view thereof. As described above, in this embodiment, four liquid sample containers 1 are held side by side, two in the horizontal direction and two in the vertical direction. Further, in this embodiment, the liquid sample container 1 is held in a state inclined from the vertical direction (in a state where the central axis of the liquid sample container 1 is inclined), and the liquid sample leaking from the connection portion 14 is covered with the lid portion. 12 reaches the lowermost part 12a and falls downward (the chain line in FIG. 6A).

  Conventionally, since the path through which the liquid sample leaked from the liquid sample container 101 flows down the side surfaces of the lid portion 112 and the main body 111 cannot be specified, it is necessary to use a large leak tray 151 that covers the entire lower part of the liquid sample container 101. It was. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the path through which the liquid sample flows is limited, it is only necessary to cover the position below the lowermost part 12a of the lid 12 of the liquid sample container 1, and the leak tray 51 can be downsized. Can do. Further, the distance from the position where the liquid sample falls on the leak tray 51 to the leak sensor 52 is shortened, and it is possible to quickly detect that the liquid leak has occurred.

  By adopting a configuration in which the liquid sample container 1 is held in an inclined state as in the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to the present embodiment, the following effects can also be obtained.

  In many analyzers, a liquid sample is installed in a substantially cubic installation space surrounded by a wall surface. Conventionally, a liquid sample container is horizontally placed, and a pipe extending vertically upward from the upper part of the liquid sample container is bent approximately 90 degrees in front of the upper wall surface of the installation space, and is laid horizontally along the upper wall surface. It extended to a predetermined position outside the installation space (for example, an ion source of a mass spectrometer). On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the liquid sample container is held in an inclined state, and the pipe extending upward from the lid extends obliquely with respect to the upper wall surface of the installation space, so that it is bent slightly in front of the upper wall surface. The upper wall surface can be made to stand alone. Pipes for liquid sample transport used in analyzers are often made of materials that are difficult to bend, such as PEEK SIL tubes, etc. In this embodiment, the possibility that the pipe breaks and breaks in the middle is greatly reduced.

  Further, in the conventional liquid sample container holding mechanism, when the liquid sample container is inclined due to vibration or the like generated during the liquid sample feeding while the remaining amount of the liquid sample is low, the lower end of the liquid feeding tube is the liquid sample liquid. In some cases, the liquid sample may not be fed at a position higher than the surface. On the other hand, in the liquid sample container holding mechanism of the present embodiment, since the inclination direction of the liquid sample container is determined, the container side liquid feeding tube can be arranged below the inclination. Therefore, even when the remaining amount of the liquid sample decreases, the liquid sample can be delivered more reliably than before. Moreover, since the inclination angle of the liquid sample container is fixed, the remaining amount can be accurately visually recognized by providing a scale based on the inclination.

  The above-described embodiment is an example, and can be appropriately changed in accordance with the gist of the present invention. Although the liquid sample container holding mechanism used in the mass spectrometer has been described in the present embodiment, the same holding mechanism as described above can be used in various analyzers that supply the liquid sample stored in the liquid sample container.

  In the above embodiment, a mechanism that holds four liquid sample containers, two in the horizontal direction and two in the vertical direction, is used. However, a liquid sample that can be held by appropriately changing the number and arrangement of the holders. The number and arrangement of containers can be changed. In the above-described embodiment, the liquid sample container is suspended and held, but various forms such as a holder for holding the side surface of the main body can be used.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid sample container is held in the vertical direction, and the liquid sample leaked from the connection part of the liquid sample container located on the upper side is located on the lower side from the lowermost part of the lid part of the upper liquid sample container. Although the liquid sample container is configured to pass through the lid portion of the liquid sample container and drop onto the leak tray from the lowermost portion of the lid portion, a mechanism for holding the liquid sample container at alternate positions when viewed from above may be employed. In this case, it is preferable that the liquid sample leaked from the connection portion of the liquid sample container located on the upper side falls on the leak tray without touching the lid portion and main body of the liquid sample container located on the lower side.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the liquid sample container having the lid portion is held has been described. However, when the liquid sample container not having the lid portion is held, or because of the structure of the lid portion, the liquid sample is transferred from the lid portion to the main body. If it is unavoidable to flow down and flow down, a leak tray may be arranged to cover the lower position of the lowermost part of the main body.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid sample container 11 ... Main body 12 ... Lid part 12a ... Lowermost part of a lid part 13 ... Container side liquid feeding pipe 14 ... Liquid feeding pipe connection part 15 ... Locking tool 16 ... Gas pipe connection part 21 ... Apparatus side liquid feeding Pipe 22 ... Gas pipe 30 ... Frame-shaped member 31a, 31b ... 1st opening 32a, 32b ... 2nd opening 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d ... Locking member 331 ... Horizontal part 332 ... Vertical part 40 ... Back surface member 41a, 41b ... Horizontal part 41c ... Connecting part 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d ... Lock member 43 ... Operation member 51 ... Leak tray 52 ... Leak sensor 53 ... Detection output part 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d ... Support

Claims (7)

A liquid sample container holding mechanism for holding a liquid sample container having a cylindrical main body with an opening at the top,
A liquid sample container holding device, comprising: a holding unit that holds the cylindrical main body detachably from a side opposite to the inclined direction in a state where the central axis of the cylindrical main body is inclined from the vertical direction. mechanism. A leak tray that is disposed so as to cover a region including a lower position of a lowermost portion of a path through which the liquid sample leaked from the opening flows down the liquid sample container, and has a bottom surface that is inclined so as to be lowered in a specific direction; ,
The liquid sample container holding mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a leak sensor attached to an end of the leak tray in the specific direction. The holding unit detachably holds the main bodies of the plurality of liquid sample containers in a posture inclined in the same direction,
The liquid sample according to claim 2, wherein the leak tray is disposed so as to cover a region including a lower position of a lowermost part of a path through which the liquid sample flows in each of the plurality of liquid sample containers. Container holding mechanism. The liquid sample container comprises a lid,
The said holding | maintenance part inclines and hold | maintains the said main body so that the liquid sample which leaked from the said opening may fall without being transmitted to the said main body from the said cover part. The liquid sample container holding mechanism as described. The liquid sample container holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a lock mechanism that locks and unlocks the state in which the main body is held. The liquid sample container holding mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the lock mechanism simultaneously locks and unlocks the state in which the main bodies of the plurality of liquid sample containers are held.   A mass spectrometer comprising the liquid sample container holding mechanism according to claim 1.

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