JP3047149B2 - Dilution method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for diluting a sample such as a food sample or a drug to be tested for a bacterial count with a diluent to a predetermined dilution ratio.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, bacterial counts and chemical tests of foods have been performed according to official methods. This test is performed by diluting a desired sample with an appropriate liquid such as water. Therefore, the sample is accurately weighed and put into a sterilized predetermined container, and further, a predetermined amount of a sterilized diluent is put therein,
Next, predetermined dilution is performed in a process called mixing. Specifically, for example, when diluting a sample such as a food sample to be tested for bacterial count or a sample such as a drug with a diluent, the test tube is a container containing the sample and the diluent. An operator holds the test tube appropriately, and makes the bottom of the test tube come into contact with the diaphragm vibrated by driving a motor or the like. By such an operation of the operator, the sample in the test tube is mixed with the diluent by the vibration of the diaphragm, and a predetermined dilution is performed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional dilution method, the contact pressure between the test tube and the diaphragm, the contact point and the contact time, the holding posture of the test tube, and the like vary from individual to individual. In addition, since the same operator varies from operation to operation, there is a problem that the sample and the diluent are not uniformly mixed. Also, in order to intervene humans in the work,
It is virtually impossible to work under aseptic conditions, and it has been extremely difficult to improve the accuracy of the test using a diluted specimen. In order to further improve the inspection accuracy, a large-scale facility for ensuring sterility is required, and an extremely large physical and mental burden is imposed on an operator, and the work time is increased. was there.

[0004] The present invention provides a dilution method and apparatus capable of uniformly and stably and accurately diluting a sample with a diluent, thereby greatly improving the accuracy of a test using the sample. It is intended to provide.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above object of the present invention, test
The container containing the body and diluent
Vibration for a specific time on the lower side
In addition, in the dilution method to make dilution water, the sample and diluent
Are held in a specific arrangement state, and the
While maintaining the arrangement posture, the specified transport path is intermittently moved.
Transport, and pause during this intermittent movement.
In the container stop position near the transport path
The lower portion of the container is adjusted by the provided vibration applying means.
Push up a predetermined height, at this height the upper part of the container
Position is elastically held by the holding means, and the upper side of the container
A plane circular motion eccentric by a specific amount with the part
The predetermined vibration to be caused to the lower part by the
In addition to the container, the sample is diluted by the eddy current generated in this container.
After making dilution water uniformly mixed with the liquid,
Release of the container by the application means and the holding means.
The dilution method is characterized in that the container is allowed to move while being moved .

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a sample and a diluent.
The container containing the sample and the diluent
Vibration is applied for a specific time by vibration applying means to dilute
Holds specimen and diluent in a water diluting device
A rack for holding the plurality of containers in a specific posture;
Transport means for intermittently moving the rack along the transport path;
Disposed above the container stop position in the vicinity of the transport path.
Holding means capable of elastically holding the upper part of the container
Wherein the vibration imparting means includes a container near the transport path.
It is arranged below the stop position and the container at this stop position
This container is moved up and down in the
The holding means of the container at the stop position which can be pushed up to
A certain amount of eccentricity with the upper part sandwiched by
A predetermined vibration, which is a plane circular motion,
This is achieved by a dilution device characterized by adding to the site .

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

In one dilution method and apparatus according to the present invention, a container containing a sample and a diluent is held by holding a portion on the opposite side (upper side) of the sample and the diluent in the container. While maintaining a predetermined posture,
By raising the lower part of the container by the vibration applying means, and by appropriately holding the upper side to generate vibration by the vibration applying means, it is possible to accurately rotate the liquid in the container, Accurate dilution of the sample can be performed.

[0010] In another dilution method and apparatus according to the present invention, a large number of containers accommodating a specimen and a diluent are used.
Along with using the transporting means for transporting while temporarily stopping after a predetermined time, performing the dilution operation using the above-described vibration imparting means and the holding means in the temporarily stopped state allows the sample and the diluent to be accurately and accurately. In addition to rapid dilution, a large number of containers can be continuously diluted.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a diluting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. First, the overall schematic operation of the present apparatus will be described. In FIG. 1, a test tube 10 which is a container containing a specimen which is a food sample such as bulk powder and liquid and a diluent (water).
Are arranged in, for example, two rows on the rack 20 as the arrangement means, and the table 11 is intermittently moved and paused by the conveyance means 30 at predetermined time intervals.
Conveyed above. In the state where the transportation by the transportation means 30 is temporarily stopped, the test tubes 10 located at the predetermined vibration application positions M are respectively lifted by the vibration application means 40 rising from the lower side and arranged on the upper side. With the upper end held by the holding means 60 as a fulcrum, a predetermined vibration that generates a circular motion on the horizontal plane at the bottom is given by the vibration applying means 40, and the sample is evenly mixed and diluted with the dilution water.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, an insertion hole 21 into which the test tube 10 can be inserted is provided on the upper surface of the rack 20, and the bottom plate 22 of the rack 20 has the same shape as each of the insertion holes 21. At a corresponding position on the vertical line, a fitting hole 23 into which the bottom of the test tube 10 can be fitted is provided. The insertion hole 21 and the fitting hole 23 are respectively provided on the upper surface or the bottom plate 22 of the rack 20 at predetermined intervals L in the transport direction (the direction of arrow A) (FIG. 1).
Are arranged (five in this embodiment), and are arranged in a plurality of rows (two in this embodiment) at predetermined intervals P (FIG. 2) in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction A. The rack 20
By inserting each test tube 10 into the insertion hole 21 and fitting the bottom of the test tube 10 into the corresponding fitting hole 23, a plurality of test tubes 10 are arranged in a plurality of rows (five in two rows in this embodiment). (Total 10 lines each), and stand vertically.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the transport means 30, a transport pin 31 engaged with the rack 20 is
Of the test tube 10 in the transport direction A by the same amount as the distance L between the test tubes 10 in the transport direction A.
Is moved in the transport direction A. The transport pins 31 are mounted on the rack 2
After moving the substrate 32 in the transport direction A, it is lowered to a position where it does not engage with the rack 20 with the lowering of the transport table 33, and as the substrate 32 moves in the direction opposite to the transport direction A, the original It is returned to the position. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated. As a result, each rack 20 is intermittently conveyed by the same amount as the interval L after a predetermined time. Therefore, in each rack 20, each test tube 10 ( (In this embodiment, two as shown in FIG. 2)
Are transported to a predetermined vibration application position M while being temporarily stopped.

Each of the transport pins 31 is provided on the upper surface of the transport table 33 in a large number (in this embodiment, a total of 42 pins, 21 in two rows along the transport direction A). As the table 33 moves up and down, it protrudes upward from the slits 12 (FIGS. 2 and 4) provided on the table 11,
It is moved up and down between a height position where it engages with the rack 20 and a height position below the table 11 that does not engage with the rack 20. The tip of the transport pin 31 is formed in a tapered shape so as to taper upward, and the slit 12
When the rack 20 is projected upward, the rack 20 can be smoothly engaged with the lower rear end in the transport direction A.

The transfer table 33 is fixed in a horizontal state to the upper end of a cylinder rod 35 of a vertically movable cylinder 34 provided on a substrate 32, and is moved up and down by the operation of the vertically movable cylinder 34 to move each transport pin 31. Move up and down. Substrate 3
2 is slidably supported by the guide rod 36,
It is connected to the tip of a cylinder rod 39 of a transport cylinder 38 via a bracket 37 fixed to the lower surface. The guide rod 36 is suspended from the lower surface of the table 11 in a horizontal state. The substrate 32 is slid along the guide rod 36 by the operation of the transport cylinder 38, and reciprocates the transport pins 31 in the transport direction A.

In the vibration applying means 40, the conveying means 3
In a state in which the transport of the rack 20 due to the intermediate stage 50 is temporarily stopped, the rotor 41 is
And closely adheres to the bottom of the test tube 10 at the vibration applying position M via the support pad 44 at the tip of the rotor 41, and is lifted by a predetermined amount. And rotor 4
Reference numeral 1 denotes a state in which the upper end of the test tube 10 is appropriately clamped by a holder 62 of a holding means 60 described later.
A predetermined vibration is applied to the bottom so as to make a plane circular motion eccentric by a specific amount with the held upper end as a fulcrum. In addition,
This vibration is given by rotation of a motor 46 transmitted via an eccentric 45 described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotor 41 has an eccentric
5 in the transport direction A (FIG. 1)
A plurality of (two in this embodiment) are provided at the same interval as the interval P of the test tubes 10 in a direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 2) perpendicular to the output shaft of the motor 46 via the eccentric 45. 4
8 is linked. The lifting cylinder 42 is fixed via a lower plate 42. Each rotor 41 is moved up and down together with the motor 46 and the eccentric 45 as the middle plate 50 is moved up and down by the lifting cylinder 42. That is, each of the rotors 41 has a support pad 44 such as a suction cup provided at the upper end thereof.
Slit 12 of table 11 and fitting hole 2 of rack 20
The test pad 10 is protruded upward from 3 and is in close contact with the bottom of the test tube 10, and is raised and lowered between a height position at which the test tube 10 is lifted by a predetermined amount and a height position at which the support pad 44 retreats below the table 11.

The motor 46 is appropriately fixed to the upper surface of the upper plate 49. The upper plate 49 is a plurality of (four in this embodiment) vibration-isolating rubbers 5 arranged in the circumferential direction on the middle plate 50.
1 and is fixed to the middle plate 50. Middle plate 50
Is provided with a plurality (four in the present embodiment) of guide rods 52 projecting vertically in the direction of the lower plate 43, and the guide rods 52 are inserted through a slide fitting member 59 provided on the lower plate 43 to move up and down. It is movably supported, and is raised and lowered by a cylinder rod 53.

The eccentric 45 is a member interposed between the output shaft 48 of the motor 46 and the rotor 41, and converts the rotation of the motor 46 into a predetermined vibration. This eccentric 45
In FIG. 3, the base end of the eccentric pin 54 is eccentrically connected to the output shaft 48 of the motor 46 via an eccentric boss 55 by a predetermined amount H, as shown in FIG. The bearing case 47 is supported via a bearing 56 so as to be relatively rotatable. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of springs 57 are extended between the bearing case 47 and the upper plate 49. The springs 57 hinder the free rotation of the bearing case 47. 41 causes a predetermined vibration. That is, the bearing case 47 performs a plane circular motion eccentric by a specific amount on the bottom of the test tube 10 to which the rotor 41 is in close contact via the support pad 44, with the upper end held by the holder 62 of the holding means 60 as a fulcrum. Cause. Due to the vibrations of the bearing case 47 and the rotor 41, the contents in the test tube 10 generate a tornado-shaped vortex as shown in FIG. 6, which has a cavity at the center, and the sample is uniformly mixed in the diluent. You. A balancer 58 (FIG. 3) is fixed to the base end of the eccentric pin 54, and the bearing case 4
7 is configured to cancel the moment associated with the eccentric rotation.

The holding means 60 is provided at a vibration applying position M (FIG. 1).
In this configuration, the upper end of each test tube 10 lifted by a predetermined amount by the rotor 41 of the vibration applying means 40 can be held by a holding member 62 that can be opened and closed at the tip of the hand member 61. The hand member 61 is horizontally movably supported by a mounting portion 80 supported by a pair of upper and lower or two pairs of guide rods 63.
It is moved by the cylinder rod 65 of the horizontal movement cylinder 64. The guide rod 63 is, for example, a table 1
1 through the vertical plate 66 erected on the upper surface,
Even in a configuration in which the guide rod 63 moves horizontally along a direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 2) orthogonal to FIG. 1 (FIG. 2), the guide rod 63 is fixed to the vertical plate 66 and is horizontally moved by the structure in which the mounting portion 80 is inserted. It may be movable in any direction. Hand member 6
1 is a guide rod 63 by a horizontal moving cylinder 64.
The holder 62 is slid along and the holder 62 can hold the test tube 10, and the holder 62 is
It is reciprocated between the position where the transfer of 0 is not hindered.

As shown in FIG. 5, the holding member 62 holds a pair of main bodies 67, which are molded products made of, for example, resin, with a holding portion 6 of a hand member 61 (FIG. 2) which is operated by air pressure or the like.
8, and a holding groove 69 is formed on each of the opposing surfaces of the main body 67 so as to hold a plurality of test tubes according to the outer shape of the test tubes 10. Each of the main bodies 67 is driven by the holding portion 68 to be opened and closed while maintaining a substantially parallel state. A rubber member 70 is provided on the bottom surface of the main body 67, and the rubber member 70 protrudes slightly inward along the shape of each holding groove 69. That is, the holder 62 holds the rubber member 70 in a state where the main bodies 67 are closest to each other by the holding portion 68.
The test tube 10 is securely held elastically through the, so that the test tube 10 can be securely held while allowing vibration. In a state where the main bodies 67 are most separated, the test tubes 10
To release.

In selecting the test tube 10, since the water level of the diluent rises due to the generation of the vortex during mixing, it is preferable to select a test tube having a length at least twice the water level before mixing. The opening of the test tube 10 contains a sample and a diluent in order to prevent the scattering of the sample such as the bulk powder and to prevent the cross-contamination of the test tube 10 disposed adjacently, as shown in FIG. It is preferable to appropriately cover with the closing member 14.

The operation of the apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. The test tubes 10 containing the sample and the diluent are arranged in a rack 20 and conveyed on the table 11 by the conveying means 30 while being temporarily stopped after a predetermined time. That is, in the transfer means 30, the transfer table 33 is raised by the operation of the vertical movement cylinder 34, and the transfer pins 3
1 projects upward from the slit 12 of the table 11,
It engages with the lower end of the rear end of the rack 20 in the transport direction A. In this state, the substrate 32 is slid by the operation of the transfer cylinder 38 along the guide rod 36 in the transfer direction A by a predetermined amount, and together with the vertical movement cylinder 34, the transfer pins 31 and the transfer table 33 are moved.
Is moved in the transport direction A. As a result, the rack 20
The test tube 10 is pushed by the transport pin 31 by the same amount as the interval L, and is moved on the table 11 along the guide rail 13 in the transport direction A.

Thereafter, the transport pins 31 and the transport table 33 are
The substrate 32 is lowered to below the table 11 by the operation of the vertical cylinder 34, and the substrate 32 is slid in the direction opposite to the transport direction A along the guide rod 36 by the operation of the transport cylinder 38, whereby the substrate 32 is moved together with the vertical cylinder 34. It is returned to the original position. That is, in the transport unit 30, the operation of the transport pin 31 and the transport table 33 is a box motion that draws a rectangular shape, and the rack 20 is temporarily stopped after a predetermined time by repeating such an operation. While transporting.

In a state where the transportation of the rack 20 by the transportation means 30 is temporarily stopped, the test tubes 10 at the vibration applying position M are each lifted by a predetermined amount by the rotor 41 of the vibration applying means 40 and hold the upper end. A predetermined vibration is generated by the vibration imparting means 40, which is clamped by the holder 62 of the means 60 and then generates a plane circular motion decentered by a specific amount on the bottom with the clamped upper end as a fulcrum.

That is, in the vibration applying means 40, the middle plate 50 is slid upward along the guide rod 52 by the operation of the lifting / lowering cylinder 42. It is raised together with the motor 46 and the eccentric 45. The rotor 41 protrudes upward from the slit 12 of the table 11 and the fitting hole 23 of the rack bottom plate 22, comes into close contact with the bottom of the test tube 10 via the support pad 44, and raises each test tube 10 by a predetermined amount.

At this time, in the holding means 60, the hand member 61 is slid to the test tube 10 side (left side in FIG. 2) along the guide rod 63 by the operation of the horizontal moving cylinder 64, and the holding member 62 is moved to the test tube 10 Has been moved to the vicinity of the upper end. Then, after the test tube 10 is lifted, each main body 67 of the holder 62 is driven to be in the closest state by the holding portion 68, and the upper end of each test tube 10 is moved through the rubber material 70. It is held in the holding groove 69.

Then, in the vibration applying means 40, the rotor 41 uses the upper end of the clamped test tube 10 as a fulcrum.
A plane circular motion eccentric by a specific amount is generated at the bottom of the test tube 10. That is, in the vibration applying means 40, when the output shaft 48 of the motor 46 rotates continuously for a predetermined time and the eccentric boss 55 rotates accordingly, the eccentric pin 54
Rotate around the output shaft 48 with the same radius of rotation as the amount of eccentricity H. At this time, the bearing case 47
Since the free rotation is inhibited by the spring 57, it vibrates in the horizontal direction in accordance with the rotational movement of the eccentric pin 54 while relatively rotating with the eccentric pin 54, and the upper end of the test tube 10 is defined as a fulcrum. A predetermined vibration that causes a plane circular motion decentered by a specified amount is applied to each test tube 10 via the rotor 41. The vibration (rotation) of the test tube 10 is performed for a predetermined time by a control system (not shown). Accordingly, a tornado-shaped vortex is generated in each of the test tubes 10 as shown in FIG. 6, which generates a cavity at the center, and the vortex is generated in the same state with almost no variation in any sample. And the mixed state of the sample and the diluent can be kept constant at all times.

After the sample is uniformly mixed with the diluent, each test tube 10 is released from being clamped by the holder 62 of the holding means 60 and then lowered by the lifting cylinder 42 of the rotor 41 of the vibration applying means 40. , And the bottom portion is fitted into the predetermined fitting hole 23 in the rack 20 again. As the rack 20 is transported by the transport means 30, the rack 20 is sent out from the vibration application position M in the transport direction A.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the test tube 10 containing the sample and the diluent is transported by the transport unit 30 and the predetermined vibration is stopped while the transport by the transport unit 30 is temporarily stopped. At the bottom of the test tube 10 located at the application position M, a predetermined vibration that generates a plane circular motion eccentric by a specific amount is applied by the vibration applying means 40 with the upper end held by the holding means 60 as a fulcrum. Mixing with the diluent can be performed automatically without manual intervention, and the mixing uniformity and working speed can be greatly increased. In addition, the automation as described above makes it possible to easily perform a dilution operation under aseptic conditions. As a result, not only the workability can be improved, but also the accuracy of various tests using a sample diluted by mixing with a diluent can be significantly improved, and high reliability can be secured.
In the above embodiment, the motor 46 of the vibration applying means 40 is continuously rotated for a predetermined time,
And the predetermined vibration is applied to the test tube 10 via the support pad 44. However, the present invention is not limited to one mode of dilution operation. For example, the motor 46 is intermittently rotated or stopped depending on the type of the sample. By performing such control, a stable operation can be reliably repeated even when an extremely complicated operation is required.

In the above-described embodiment, the transfer table 33 of the transfer means 30 is moved up and down by the vertical movement cylinder 34 and the substrate 32 is reciprocated in the horizontal direction by the transfer cylinder 38 so that the transfer pins 31 and the transfer table 33 are moved. The rack 20 is operated in a box motion, and the rack 20 is configured to be conveyed while being temporarily stopped after a predetermined time. For example, a chain conveyor having a chain movable in the conveyance direction A is used to move the chain. It may be configured to perform the operation intermittently after a predetermined time, or may be configured by various known transporting means such as a roller conveyor. That is, the transporting means is not limited to the one in the above embodiment as long as the test tubes 10 arranged in the rack 20 can be transported intermittently after a predetermined time.

Further, in the above embodiment, the vibration applying means 40
Are disposed on the bearing case 47 of the eccentric 45 at the same interval as the interval P in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction A, and are arranged in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction A.
Although a predetermined vibration is collectively applied to the test tubes 10, a larger number of rotors 41 are arranged on the bearing case 47 at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction A. Or a large number of them may be arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction along the transport direction A. According to these configurations, a predetermined vibration can be collectively applied to a larger number of test tubes 10, and the working time can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the hand member 61 of the holding means 60 is slidable along the guide rod 63 in the horizontal direction, and the holder 62 is moved closer to or away from the test tube 10 from the horizontal direction. However, the guide rod 63
Provided along the vertical direction, the hand member 61
May be slidable in the vertical direction, and the holder 62 may be moved closer to or away from the test tube 10 from the vertical direction.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a predetermined vibration that causes a horizontal motion with the held portion as a fulcrum is applied to the portion of the container on the side where the sample and the diluent stagnate. Can always be uniformly mixed with the diluent to dilute it, thereby greatly improving the accuracy of the test using the diluted specimen. Further, according to the present invention, the part opposite to the side where the sample and the diluent stagnates in the container at the predetermined position in the paused state is held at the predetermined height position, and the sample and the dilution in the container are further held. Since a predetermined vibration that causes a horizontal motion with the held portion as a fulcrum is applied to the portion on the side where the liquid stays, the sample can always be uniformly mixed with the diluent and diluted, and thereby the sample can be diluted. The accuracy of the test using the sample can be greatly improved. Further, according to the present invention, a condition for giving a predetermined vibration that causes a horizontal movement with the part held by the holding means as a fulcrum, to the part on the side where the sample and the diluent stagnates in the container by the vibration applying means. Is always constant, so the sample can always be mixed and diluted under the same conditions with the diluent,
Thereby, the accuracy of the test using the diluted sample can be significantly improved. Further, according to the present invention, in a state in which the transport by the transport unit is temporarily stopped, a horizontal position with the portion held by the holding unit as a fulcrum is provided on the portion of the container at the predetermined position on the side where the sample and the diluent stay. Since the predetermined vibration causing the movement is given by the vibration applying means, not only the inspection accuracy can be improved but also the workability can be dramatically improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a diluting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the dilution device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a motor part and an eccentric of a vibration applying means in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a rack on which test tubes are arranged and a conveying means.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a holder of the holding means.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state during mixing of a test tube.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Container (test tube) 20 Rack 30 Conveying means 40 Vibration imparting means 60 Holding means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 1/10 G01N 1/36 G01N 35/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container containing a sample and a diluent,
Vibration applying means to the lower side where body and diluent stay
To make dilution water by shaking for a specific time
The multiple containers containing the sample and diluent
, And maintain the alignment posture while intermittently moving.
In addition to transporting a fixed transport route,
In the suspended state, the volume near the conveyance path
Of the container by the vibration imparting means disposed at the vessel stop position.
Push the lower part up by a predetermined height, and at this height,
The upper part of the container is elastically held by the holding means, and
A plane eccentric by a specific amount with the upper part of the container as a fulcrum
The circular motion is caused to a lower part by the vibration applying means.
A predetermined vibration is applied to the container, and a vortex generated in the container is generated.
After making the dilution water in which the sample is evenly mixed with the diluent in the flow
The vibration applying means and the holding means
It is characterized by releasing the holding of the container and allowing the container to move
The dilution method to be used. 2. A container containing a sample and a diluting solution is
Vibration applying means to the lower side where body and diluent stay
In a diluting device that makes vibration for more specific time to make dilution water
And holding the plurality of containers containing the specimen and the diluent in a specific posture.
Between the rack and the rack along the transport path.
Transport means to move the container and stop the container near the transport path
The upper part of the container is
Holding means that can be sexually pinched;
Is disposed below the container stop position near the transport path.
The vertical movement of the lever at the stop position toward the container
Can be pushed up to the holding position of the holding means, and stopped.
Upper part of the container at the position nipped by the holding means
Is a plane circular motion eccentric by a specific amount with the position as a fulcrum.
Vibration is applied to a lower portion of the container.
Dilution device.